The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has determined that lead air pollution could reasonably be expected to endanger public health and welfare within the meaning of section 231(a) of the Clean Air Act. I have filed a draft report in the Federal Register stating that there is. activity. See EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0389.
EPA also lists lead air pollution levels that could reasonably be expected to endanger public health and welfare under Section 231(a) of the Clean Air Act. We are proposing findings that are the cause or contributor.
The aircraft engines and classes of aircraft covered by the proposal are referred to as “Covered Aircraft Engines” and “Covered Aircraft”.
Aircraft engines covered in this context include those that can use leaded aviation gasoline. In addition, covered aircraft include all aircraft and ultralight vehicles with covered engines.
The EPA represents the proposal that piston-engined aircraft are the largest source of lead emissions to the air in the United States. Such aircraft are said to contribute to 70% of the leads that enter the air each year. Additionally, lead emissions from aircraft using leaded fuel are said to cause elevated lead levels in the air near airports.
Suggested sources from EPA’s previous scientific evaluations of lead developed as part of its periodic review of air quality standards (i.e., 108[a][2]) Clean Air Act National Air Quality Standards for lead and lead. The agency says such scientific assessments, in its view, provide a comprehensive review, synthesis, and assessment of the most policy-relevant science, building on the conclusions of previous assessments.
The proposed action (i.e., consideration of the hazard findings) states:
. . . This is the first step towards enforcing EPA and Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) statutory authority to address lead contamination from aircraft.
EPA will also remove lead from aircraft engines if it makes a final determination that lead emissions from aircraft engines cause or contribute to air pollution reasonably expected to endanger the health and welfare of the public. said it would propose regulatory standards for lead emissions in the United States. It also triggers Federal Aviation Administration statutory mandates to establish standards for the composition or chemical or physical properties of aviation fuels or fuel additives to control or eliminate lead emissions from aircraft.
You can download a copy of the proposal here.
