EPA is working on regulations for leaded aviation fuel due to environmental and public health concerns, especially near smaller airports. Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the need for new standards to address leaded gasoline's risks, particularly to children.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: Tailwind seaplane captain Holt Lindeberer takes a photo of Manhattan as he flies the Tailwind Seaplane on April 14, 2023 in the air over New York City.
Regulating Lead Fuel in Small Planes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to regulate leaded fuel usage in smaller aircraft, citing environmental and public health concerns. Administrator Michael Regan emphasized the need to propose new standards for limiting leaded gasoline in aviation, given the risks it poses.
These aircraft can expose nearby residents to lead emissions, mainly smaller piston-engine planes frequenting smaller airports. Known to cause long-lasting health issues, Engadget reported that lead pollution remains a concern particularly in children.
Although lead exposure in the US has significantly decreased due to extensive product regulations since the 1980s, living near airports using leaded gasoline increases the risk.
This action places the Biden administration at the heart of an emerging controversy surrounding the ongoing sale of leaded gasoline at airports, with a particular focus on smaller airfields.
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Despite the evident health risks associated with this potent neurotoxin, there remains a contentious debate about the timeframe for phasing out leaded gasoline, given that over 170,000 piston-engine aircraft still rely on it. The dispute revolves around the pace at which this fuel can be eliminated at numerous airports across the country.
As stated on its official press release, EPA has made a clear declaration regarding the severe health risks posed by lead exposure, particularly in children. This announcement has highlighted the aircraft industry's role in lead emissions, specifically those generated by piston-engine aircraft.
Consequently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed its intention to take regulatory action aimed at controlling or eradicating lead emissions originating from piston-engine aircraft in the aviation sector.
In parallel, Congress is engaged in discussions for a comprehensive reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. This conversation includes a bipartisan proposal, recently passed in the House, which effectively mandates small airports to continue selling leaded gasoline.
Collaborating with the Administration
Responding to these developments, a coalition comprising ten industry groups has expressed their commitment to collaborating with the administration. They are focused on achieving the eventual elimination of lead in aviation fuel by or before 2030. The emphasis is on executing this transition systematically on a national scale to ensure aviation safety.
The group, composed of prominent organizations such as the National Air Transportation Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the American Petroleum Institute, voiced their concerns about the potential early elimination of a vital aviation fuel that numerous aircraft depend on for safe operations.
The Washington Post reported that they emphasized that such a move could jeopardize the safety, effectiveness, and economic sustainability of the United States' airspace and airport systems, as well as the broader general aviation sector and transportation infrastructure.
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