EPA Determines that Lead Emissions from Aircraft Engines Cause or Contribute to Air =?UTF-8?B?UG9sbHV0aW9u4oCv?=

 Issued: Oct 18, 2023 (11:10am EDT)


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EPA Determines that Lead Emissions from Aircraft Engines Cause or Contribute
to Air Pollution 




 

WASHINGTON (Oct. 18, 2023) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) announced its final determination that emissions of lead from aircraft
that operate on leaded fuel cause or contribute to air pollution which may
reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare under the
Clean Air Act.


“The science is clear: exposure to lead can cause irreversible and life-long
health effects in children,�?? said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
“Aircraft that use leaded fuel are the dominant source of lead emissions in
our air. With today’s action, the Biden-Harris Administration can move
forward in the process to propose new standards to protect all communities
from the serious threat of lead pollution from aircraft.�??  


“I commend EPA for prioritizing public health and safety with the
finalization of this endangerment determination,�?? said House Science, Space,
and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “EPA’s
conclusion confirms what constituents in my district and Americans across the
country know all too well — emissions from leaded aviation fuel contribute
to dangerous lead air pollution. Communities near general aviation airports
— like Reid-Hillview Airport in my district — experience disproportionate
exposure to lead from leaded aviation fuel emissions. EPA’s determination
must now set forth swift action from the Congress and industry to stop the use
of leaded aviation fuel. While today’s announcement is a step forward, we
cannot be complacent. We must finish the job and protect our nation’s
children from all sources of lead.�?? 


“Communities where general aviation airports are located –– including in
East San Jose –– have suffered from lead exposure and pollution for
years,�?? said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA). “Children living near the
Reid-Hillview Airport, which has a flight path over my district, have been
found to have lead in their blood. This is a public health and environmental
crisis. I held a hearing in the House Oversight Committee last year about the
urgent need for action. I’m glad to see the EPA release its findings today
that confirm the harmful impact of leaded aviation fuel on public health and
welfare. I also thank Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren for her decades of strong
leadership on this issue.�??  


Aircraft that operate on leaded aviation gasoline are typically small
piston-engine aircraft that carry 2-10 passengers. These aircraft are
approximately 45 to 47 years old, on average, depending on the type of
aircraft. Jet aircraft used for commercial transport, on the other hand, do
not operate on leaded fuel. Levels of airborne lead in the United States have
declined 99% since 1980, but emissions from aircraft that operate on leaded
fuel may still pose risks to nearby communities, including those with
environmental justice concerns.  


This final determination advances EPA’s Lead Strategy to Reduce Lead
Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities. With this finding, EPA is now
obligated under the Clean Air Act to propose and promulgate regulatory
standards for lead emissions from certain aircraft engines. Under its own
statutes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must develop standards
that address the composition, chemical, or physical properties of an aircraft
fuel or fuel additive to control or eliminate aircraft lead emissions.  


EPA and FAA have already begun work to consider regulatory options to address
lead emissions from aircraft engines and will announce timelines as soon as
possible. EPA and FAA will work in partnership and engage all interested
stakeholders and the general public as the two agencies develop their separate
regulatory actions.  


Lead emissions from aircraft are an important and urgent public health issue.
Protecting children’s health and reducing lead exposure are two of EPA’s
top priorities. Lead exposure can have harmful effects on cognitive function,
including reduced IQ, decreased academic performance, as well as increased
risk for additional health concerns. There is no evidence of a threshold below
which there are no harmful effects on cognition from lead exposure. 


Additionally, the U.S. government takes seriously the objective of maintaining
a high level of aviation safety. EPA and FAA also understand that
piston-engine aircraft play a significant role in transportation in the United
States. 


Separate from EPA’s endangerment finding, in support of the objective to
remove lead from aviation gasoline, in early 2022, the FAA and industry
announced the program “Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions�??
(EAGLE). This program aims to achieve a lead-free aviation system no later
than 2030. The FAA has approved the use of a 100 Octane unleaded fuel (G100UL)
that can be widely used by piston-engine fleet, that is not yet commercially
available. The FAA has also approved for use a lower octane fuel (UL 94),
currently available at approximately 35 airports in the U.S., and the FAA is
working to expand and streamline the process for eligible aircraft to use this
fuel.  


This final endangerment finding does not ban or impose restrictions on the
use, sale, distribution, dispensing, and general availability of leaded fuel,
nor does it establish any new control measures regarding aircraft lead
emissions. EPA announced its proposed determination on October 7, 2022, which
then underwent public notice and comment.  


Additional information regarding EPA’s final finding can be obtained here:
Regulations for Lead Emissions from Aircraft.


For further information: EPA Press Office (epa@press.gov) 
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