Office of Transportation and Air Quality

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Lead Emissions fromPiston-Engine Powered Aircraft:

EPA Activities & Next Steps

For National Tribal Forum on Air Quality

Meredith Pedde

May 21, 2015

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

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Contents of this Presentation• Information on lead emissions from piston-engine

aircraft– Contribution of aircraft to lead inventory– Airports and potentially exposed population– Air quality modeling results for airport lead– Lead concentrations monitored near airports

• OTAQ & FAA responsibilities and activities

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Piston-engine Aircraft

Personal and goods transportation, instructional flying, business, air taxi, aerial application of fertilizers & pesticides, observation, tourism

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Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Lead: 2011 Emissions to Air, TonsPiston-engine Aircraft, 60%

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Metals in-dustrial pro-cessing; 140

Boilers & Process

Heaters; 87

Piston Aircraft ;

490

Other sources; 99

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Airports Servicing Piston-engine Aircraft

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3,600 general aviation airports aresignificant for national transportation

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Airports Servicing Piston-engine Aircraft on Tribal Land

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Approximately 1000 general aviation airports areon tribal land (not all are significant for national transportation)

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Example of Air Quality Model Results

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Most highly impacted zone:• 3-month average

concentrations are above background concentrations at a distance of up to ~500 meters downwind from the runway

• Millions of people live in close proximity to airports

• There are thousands of schools and recreational areas in close proximity to airports

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

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Lead Concentrations at Airports

Van N

uys (C

A)

Cente

nnial (

CO)

Deer Val

ley (A

Z)

Oakland

Cou

nty (M

I)

Brook

have

n (N

Y)

Mer

rill

Field

(AK)

Har

vey Fi

eld

(WA)

Aubur

n M

uni (

WA)

Pryor

Field

(AL)

Nan

tuck

et (M

A)

Palo

Alto (C

A)

Reid-

Hill

view

(CA)

Gilles

pie Fi

eld

(CA)

San

Carlo

s (C

A)

McC

lella

n-Pal

omar

(CA)

Stin

son

(TX)

Repub

lic (N

Y)0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

Maximum 3-month Average Pb Concentrations*

ug/m3

Pb NAAQS Level: 0.15 ug/m3

Half the Pb NAAQS Level: Level above which additional monitoring is required beyond the 1-year study period

Deliberative Material*This is the form of the current Pb National Ambient Air Quality Standard

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

OTAQ’s Authority and Actions• The Clean Air Act gives us the authority to set emissions

standards if we find that lead emissions from aircraft contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health.– Developing nationwide estimates of lead concentrations near

airports– Conducting a demographic analysis of people living within 500

meters of all airports • Timing:

– Proposed endangerment finding in 2017 followed by public notice and comment.

– Final endangerment finding in 2018. 9

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

FAA Authority• The Clean Air Act requires us to consider emission standards

if we make a positive finding of endangerment.– FAA has regulatory authority of fuel composition for fuel that is used

exclusively in aircraft.

• We consult with FAA on aircraft emission standards– EPA shall not change emission standards if it would significantly

increase noise and adversely affect safety.– Regulation takes effect after the period of time determined necessary to

permit the development and application of the requisite technology, considering cost.

• FAA is evaluating fuels to identify unleaded alternatives– FAA is targeting 2018 to identify certifiable unleaded replacement fuel(s)

that meet safety, operability, and environmental requirements

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Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Additional Information• For more information on our aircraft lead work:

www.epa.gov/otaq/aviation.htm Inventory Technical Support Documents Petitions on lead emissions from piston aircraft Our ANPR, responses to petitions, Airport lead monitoring summaries

• For more information on FAA’s activities: www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/avgas

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