French Prairie Environmental Concerns 2012

Ben Williams, Friends of French Prairie

Lead pollution from General Aviation

Quiz Question #1

When & Why was the Aurora Airport created?

During World War II for flight training

Quiz Question #2

True or False: Aurora Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in Oregon?

True

Quiz Question #3

True of False: aviation gasoline still contains lead.

True

Quiz Question #4

What level of lead in children is considered by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as acceptable?

“NO level of lead in a child's blood can be specified as safe."

# 5 – Jeopardy Question !!

Answer: Because they didn’t enforce their own lead emission regulations!

Question: Why did Earth Justice sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in March of 2012?

Lead – Aviation’s dirty little secret

Federal Government required the removal of lead as an autogas additive in 1995.

Avgas got a waiver-it still contains lead.The EPA’s National Emission Inventory in

2002 estimated that 622 tons of lead were emitted annually in the US.

In 2002, 45% of lead emissions were from general aviation aircraft (piston).

In 2010 that was up to 50%.

Lead – why does it matter?

Lead is a toxin.Lead is a heavy metal and accumulates in

soil.Elevated tissue concentrations of lead in

children (or pregnant mothers) can result in cognitive impairment.

Other major lead emission sources are ore mining and refining.

General aviation is now the largest lead emitter at >50%.

Lead in Oregon

Aurora State Airport is Oregon's third busiest airport, and tied for fourth place for Oregon airports with the highest levels of lead emissions (over 400 lbs/year).

HIllsboro Washington County 0.6 tons/year Portland International Multnomah County 0.4 tons/year Corvalis Municipal Benton County 0.3 tons/year Eugene Mahlon Sweet Field Lane County 0.2 tons/year Aurora State Airport Marion County 0.2 tons/year

Source: EPA, “Lead Emissions from the Use of Leaded Aviation Gasoline in the United States”

Documenting Lead emissions

Hillsboro Airport is tied for 23rd worst General Aviation airport in the USA (with 18 others), emitting over 0.6 tons per year

A more detailed view of the lead cloud at HIO

The Facts:• Most lead is emitted during Landing & Takeoff• Testing has shown highest concentrations w/in 1500 feet of runway• Lead emission concentrations are calculated based on avgas fuel burn• Lead is emitted from most GA aircraft & helicopters (not jets)

This is a Regional problem

The Lead cloud at Aurora

This image is for illustrative purposes only, by assuming similar dynamics and variables at Aurora and HIO, and creating an equivalently sized dispersion area centered on the Aurora runway

What’s the worry at Aurora?

ODA, FAA & Marion County are embarked on a three phase project: Tower, Runway lengthening, new aprons & taxiways.

Tower funding application & AA Master Plan predict increased operations.

They are doing everything possible to avoid doing any kind of environmental assessment.

What’s the risk?

Impact of lead emissions on families and children living within the lead cloud.

Impact of accumulated lead from 60 years of general aviation.

Effects of emitted and accumulated lead in agricultural lands surrounding Aurora Airport.

Effects of accumulated lead on ground water and the Pudding River.

The open environmental questions

What is the residual lead buildup after 60 years?

Will construction increase lead exposure?How much will aircraft operations

expansion increase lead emissions?What is the impact of GA lead emissions

on surrounding soil and water?What public health consequences have

already been incurred?