diff --git a/FabApprovalWorkerService/Services/SmtpService.cs b/FabApprovalWorkerService/Services/SmtpService.cs
index 37090be..37f2ef1 100644
--- a/FabApprovalWorkerService/Services/SmtpService.cs
+++ b/FabApprovalWorkerService/Services/SmtpService.cs
@@ -13,12 +13,15 @@ public interface ISmtpService {
 public class SmtpService : ISmtpService {
     private ILogger<SmtpService> _logger;
     private ISmtpClientWrapper _smtpClient;
+    private string _environmentName;
 
     public SmtpService(ILogger<SmtpService> logger, ISmtpClientWrapper smtpClient) {
         _logger = logger ??
             throw new ArgumentNullException("ILogger not injected");
         _smtpClient = smtpClient ??
             throw new ArgumentNullException("SmtpClient not injected");
+        _environmentName = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("FabApprovalEnvironmentName") ??
+            throw new ArgumentNullException("FabApprovalEnvironmentName environment variable not found");
     }
 
     public async Task<bool> SendEmail(IEnumerable<MailAddress> recipients,
@@ -37,29 +40,33 @@ public class SmtpService : ISmtpService {
             bool messageWasSent = false;
 
             try {
-                int remainingRetries = maxRetries;
-                while (!messageWasSent && remainingRetries > 0) {
-                    try {
-                        Task.Delay((maxRetries - remainingRetries--) * backoffSeconds * 1000);
+                if (!_environmentName.ToLower().Equals("development")) {
+                    int remainingRetries = maxRetries;
+                    while (!messageWasSent && remainingRetries > 0) {
+                        try {
+                            Task.Delay((maxRetries - remainingRetries--) * backoffSeconds * 1000);
 
-                        _logger.LogInformation($"Attempting to send notification. Remaining retries: {remainingRetries}");
+                            _logger.LogInformation($"Attempting to send notification. Remaining retries: {remainingRetries}");
 
-                        MailMessage msg = new MailMessage();
-                        msg.IsBodyHtml = true;
-                        msg.From = new MailAddress("MesaFabApproval@infineon.com", "Mesa Fab Approval");
-                        msg.Sender = new MailAddress("MesaFabApproval@infineon.com", "Mesa Fab Approval");
-                        foreach (MailAddress recipient in recipients) msg.To.Add(recipient);
-                        msg.Bcc.Add("chase.tucker@infineon.com");
-                        foreach (MailAddress ccRecipient in ccRecipients) msg.CC.Add(ccRecipient);
-                        msg.Subject = subject;
-                        msg.Body = body;
+                            MailMessage msg = new MailMessage();
+                            msg.IsBodyHtml = true;
+                            msg.From = new MailAddress("MesaFabApproval@infineon.com", "Mesa Fab Approval");
+                            msg.Sender = new MailAddress("MesaFabApproval@infineon.com", "Mesa Fab Approval");
+                            foreach (MailAddress recipient in recipients) msg.To.Add(recipient);
+                            msg.Bcc.Add("chase.tucker@infineon.com");
+                            foreach (MailAddress ccRecipient in ccRecipients) msg.CC.Add(ccRecipient);
+                            msg.Subject = subject;
+                            msg.Body = body;
 
-                        _smtpClient.Send(msg);
+                            _smtpClient.Send(msg);
 
-                        messageWasSent = true;
-                    } catch (Exception ex) {
-                        _logger.LogError($"Message not sent successfully. Exception: {ex.Message}");
+                            messageWasSent = true;
+                        } catch (Exception ex) {
+                            _logger.LogError($"Message not sent successfully. Exception: {ex.Message}");
+                        }
                     }
+                } else {
+                    messageWasSent = true;
                 }
             } catch (Exception ex) {
                 _logger.LogError($"An exception occurred when attempting to send notification. Exception: {ex.Message}");