Thursday, April 29, 2010

Please Raise Your Hand If You Want More Lead In the Air

The EPA is asking for comments regarding the continued use of lead in aviation engines. The program is titled:

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Lead Emissions From Piston-
Engine Aircraft Using Leaded Aviation Gasoline; Proposed Rule

and can be found at:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-9603.htm

Excerpt follows:

Given the recent findings of the science summarized by EPA in the
AQCD for Lead as well as the findings of the CDC, the Agency is
concerned about the potential for health and welfare effects from
exposure to lead emissions from aircraft engines using leaded avgas. On
a national basis, emissions of lead from aircraft engines using leaded
avgas are the largest single source category for emissions of lead to
air, comprising approximately half of the national inventory.\6\ There
are almost 20,000 airport facilities in the U.S. at which leaded avgas
may be used, and in some areas of the country there are densely
populated residential developments immediately adjacent to these
airport facilities. As described in Section V, we estimate that up to
16 million people reside and three million children attend school in
close proximity to airport facilities servicing piston-engine aircraft
that are operating on leaded avgas.


Be sure to wave at the next piston plane as it flys over your home, children and gardens.