Wed, Oct 26, 2011
Legislation Passed Monday On A Voice Vote
The NBAA on Tuesday said it welcomed passage of bipartisan
legislation prohibiting the implementation of a new carbon-trading
regime for aircraft flying from the U.S. to the European Union.
The legislation, entitled "The European Emissions Trading Scheme
Prohibition Act of 2011" (H.R. 2594), was passed overwhelmingly by
the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday. The bill prohibits all
U.S. airlines and general aviation flight operators from
participating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
(EU-ETS) if it is unilaterally imposed on them. It also orders FAA
Administrator Randy Babbitt to do all within his ability to ensure
flight operators are not penalized by the program.
"We applaud the House of Representatives for passing this
important measure, which sends a strong, unified signal to EU
regulators that their planned Emissions Trading Scheme is
unacceptable," NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. "Global
aviation standards are overseen by the International Civil Aviation
Organization, and any new standards should be decided by ICAO."
Bolen's concerns were echoed in a letter NBAA and a number of
other aviation organizations recently sent to House lawmakers
strongly opposing the EU-ETS. The letter notes: "In September 2010,
the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Triennial
Assembly agreed to an action plan to address aviation emissions,
including efficiency targets and principles to govern future
activities. In doing so, ICAO recognized that unilateral emissions
schemes like the EU ETS undermine the need for a global solution
for a global industry."
The EU-ETS program is slated to go into effect January 1, 2012.
It charges a carbon tax on all aircraft operations overflying or
landing in a European Union Country. Under the plan, the amount of
tax to be paid by flight operators would depend on the type of
aircraft and the total distance flown.
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