Fri, May 13, 2011
Coyne: Action "Cannot Be Allowed To Threaten An Entire
Industry"
This week, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), an
environmental group located in San Francisco, CA, has charged
numerous aviation businesses in California, including aviation fuel
suppliers and fixed base operators, with violating California state
law for selling aviation gasoline, which contains lead. The notices
indicate CEH's intention to file a lawsuit under state law, and
also include a proposed settlement to stop the lawsuit that
includes halting the sale of aviation gasoline and payment, to CEH,
of 25% of any "civil penalty," of up to $ 2.7 million, assessed.
When asked in a recent interview about the revenue received
from Proposition 65 lawsuits, CEH Research Director Caroline Cox
responded, "We try to recover our legal fees and then perhaps make
some money for [our] organization."
NATA said in a statement that it is very concerned about this
attempt to use California state law to shut down the entire
piston-engine general aviation industry in California through a
suit that involves a private organization seeking monetary damages.
General aviation is a national resource that provides economic
growth and jobs in thousands of California communities. This growth
and these jobs are now endangered by one organization's threat of a
lawsuit and demands for monetary damages and an end to the sale of
leaded aviation gasoline.
Any environmental concerns arising from the sale and use of
aviation gasoline belong under the purview of the U.S. EPA and the
FAA. Currently, both of these agencies, along with numerous
industry stakeholders, are engaged in a collaborative process to
address the issues arising from the use of leaded aviation
gasoline.
"NATA takes environmental concerns very seriously," said NATA
President James K. Coyne (pictured), "but a single organization
suing for monetary damages cannot be allowed to threaten an entire
industry. NATA will continue its cooperative work with the EPA and
FAA on addressing the long-term future of aviation gasoline in the
United States and will support the general aviation industry in
California against this attack."
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