EPA Proposes 'Endangerment Finding' for Lead Emissions from Aircraft Engines

We knew it was coming in light of the nearly rabid race toward 'green' one-ups-manship, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed determination that emissions of lead from aircraft that operate on leaded fuel cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare.

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA reportedly reviews information on air pollutants and sources of air pollution to determine whether they threaten human health or welfare. They call this an “endangerment finding” – a first step in using EPA’s overly broad authority to address this source of lead pollution.

While levels of airborne lead in the United States have declined 99 percent since 1980, the EPA claims that aircraft that operate on leaded fuel are the largest remaining source of lead emissions into the air.

The majority of aircraft that operate on leaded aviation gasoline are piston-engine aircraft. These are typically small aircraft that carry 2-10 passengers. Jet aircraft used for commercial transport do not operate on a fuel containing lead.

This proposed endangerment finding will undergo public notice and comment, and after evaluating comments on the proposal, EPA plans to issue any final endangerment finding in 2023. EPA claims that it is not proposing aircraft engine lead emission standards with this action. EPA’s consideration of endangerment is a first step toward application of EPA’s authority to address lead pollution. If the proposed finding is finalized, EPA would subsequently propose regulatory standards for lead emissions from aircraft engines.

The 'ready-fire-aim' attitude of the Biden-Harris Administration has targeted leaded aviation gas as part of their green agenda... pretty much ignoring the many efforts the industry has made to produce unleaded alternative fuel sources.

Already, the FAA has approved the safe use of an unleaded fuel that can be used in a large number of piston-engine aircraft, along with other unleaded fuels for specific aircraft.

Further, the FAA and aviation and energy industries announced the Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) initiative, an effort to transition piston-engine aircraft to unleaded fuels.

FMI: www.epa.gov