Henry Waxman (D) Writes To Acting Administrator Huerta To Say Process Is Taking Too Long

California Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman (pictured, left) has written a letter to Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (pictured, right) saying the agency should accelerate efforts to reduce lead emissions from general aviation by taking immediate steps to expand the use of currently available unleaded fuels, which can be used safely and cost-effectively by the vast majority of general aviation aircraft with piston engines.

"For too long general aviation gasoline, also known as "AvGas," has been exempt from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rules that eliminated lead from automotive fuel to protect public health and the environment. Leaded fuel from general aviation now accounts for half of all lead air emissions in the United States," Wasman wrote. "The devastating health effects of lead are well documented. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that has especially debilitating effects on children, damaging the brain and nervous system and impairing development. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no identified level of lead exposure without harmful effects and the effects appear to be irreversible.

"Lead emissions from general aviation are a particular concern at airports located in close proximity to residential areas," the letter continues. "At Santa Monica Airport (SMO), a general aviation facility located in the congressional district I represent, the runway sits just 250 feet from neighboring homes. In 2010, a General Aviation Airport Air Monitoring Study by the South Coast Air Quality Management District recorded significantly elevated lead concentrations on the east end of the SMO tarmac where planes taxi and idle before take-off. 2 Frequent touch-and-go flights by piston aircraft can also result in pollution concentrations in areas surrounding an airport."

The FAA's ARC charged with researching the issue developed an action plan it said was "fiscally responsible" to meet the agency's goal of making an unleaded fuel available for most of the general aviation fleet to replace 100 octane low-lead (100LL) by 2018. The ARC report summarizes the key issues the GA industry faces in the development and deployment of an unleaded avgas. A "drop-in" unleaded replacement fuel that can be seamlessly deployed for the existing fleet of aircraft is not currently available and may not be technically feasible. The industry needs a program to conduct fleet-wide evaluation, certification and deployment of replacement avgas. Since the current fuel, 100LL avgas, is widely available, there are no market driven reasons to introduce a new fuel.

But Waxman says in his letter that the 2018 timeframe is "too long, given the certain and serious harms to human health from lead exposure and the availability of alternatives to leaded fuels. Today, high octane unleaded fuels are already commercially available and can be used in the vast majority of piston engine aircraft. According to one recent study by the Aviation Fuel Club, an organization of sport aviators devoted to fuel issues, the FAA has approved Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) permitting the use of automotive gasoline, also known as "autogas" or "mogas," in over 80% of piston aircraft now in operation. The study also notes that auto gas can be less expensive than leaded AvGas, and aircraft using auto gas can burn half as much fuel per hour."

FMI: Waxman Letter, ARC Report