Environmental Impacts of Airport Operations, Maintenance ...

1 Order Code RL33949 Environmental Impacts of Airport operations , Maintenance , and ExpansionApril 5, 2007 Linda LutherEnvironmental Policy AnalystResources, Science, and Industry DivisionEnvironmental Impacts of Airport operations , Maintenance , and ExpansionSummaryFunding authorization for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs setforth in the Vision 100 Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act ( 108-176,hereafter referred to as Vision 100) are set to expire at the end of FY2007. Duringthe current reauthorization process, methods to address the Environmental impactsassociated with Airport operations and expansion are likely to be debated.

2 This issueis important to various stakeholders, particularly those whose health, property values,and quality of life may be affected by such Impacts . The concerns of communitymembers and local, state, and tribal agencies regarding Environmental Impacts haveled to the delay and cancellation of some Airport expansion address these concerns, airports may be required to implement projects thatwould minimize the Environmental Impacts of their operations . Some of theseprojects qualify for federal funding. For example, in its FY2008 budget, the FAArequested $354 million to meet its Environmental Stewardship goals.

3 Projectsfunded under this category address the Environmental Impacts of airports, primarilyto abate Airport noise ( , soundproofing homes, purchasing noise barriers andmonitors, and relocating persons or businesses). Among other uses, funds may bespent on projects to minimize water quality Impacts ( , funding projects that wouldcontrol the discharge of deicing chemicals) and to reduce Airport -controllable airemissions ( , purchasing alternative fuel vehicles to replace the Airport s groundservices equipment). Funds also are authorized for researching new aircrafttechnology that would reduce noise and air anticipated growth in air travel has heightened the significance andcomplexity of some Environmental regulatory issues.

4 Also, several new requirementsare expected to affect Airport operations (in terms of procedural changes and potentialinvestment in infrastructure). The most significant issues include changes toEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards applicable to deicing operationsand oil spill prevention procedures, as well as state and local agency directives tomonitor and control air pollution, particularly toxic air February 14, 2007, the FAA proposed legislation to reauthorize FAAfunding ( 1356, the Next Generation Air Transportation System FinancingReform Act of 2007).

5 Environment-related provisions of the proposal would fundprojects intended to minimize Environmental Impacts or help airports comply withregulatory obligations; fund environment-related research, such as new technologythat would produce quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft; and amend existingenvironmental regulatory better understand the need for funding environment-related Airport projectsand research, this report provides an overview of the main Environmental impactsassociated with Airport operations : noise, water quality, and air quality.

6 Alsodiscussed are the Environmental review requirements of the National EnvironmentalPolicy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Environmental provisions in proposed legislationto reauthorize FAA of Airport Environmental Issues ..2 Noise Issues ..3 Water Quality and Anti-icing Storage ..8 Air Quality of Criteria Pollutants ..10 Emissions of Toxic Air Pollutants ..12 Environmental Reviews Under FAA and Procedural Changes To Assist Environmental Compliance ..15 For Additional Information ..16 List of TablesTable 1. Selected Approaches To Addressing Airport Noise.

7 41 See FAA Budgets in Brief, available at [ ].2 Airports rely on various funding sources, some public and some private, to finance theircapital development. For information about federal funding available to airports, see CRSR eport RL33913, Aviation Finance: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Reauthorization and Related Issues, by John Fischer. For information about all fundingsources (public and private), see General Accounting Office (GAO, now called theGovernmental Accountability Office) report GAO/RCED-98-7, Airport Financing: FundingSources for Airport Development, March 1998, and GAO-03-497T, Airport Finance.

8 PastFunding Levels May Not Be Sufficient to Cover Airports Planned Capital Development,February Impacts of Airport operations , Maintenance , and ExpansionFunding authorization for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programsmost recently set forth in the Vision 100 Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act( 108-176, hereafter referred to as Vision 100) are set to expire at the end ofFY2007. During the current reauthorization process, methods to address theenvironmental Impacts associated with aviation and airports are likely to be issue is important to various stakeholders, particularly those residing incommunities near airports, whose health, property values, and quality of life can beaffected by such Environmental its FY2008 budget.

9 The FAA requested $354 million to meet the agency s Environmental Stewardship Projects funded under this category address theenvironmental Impacts of airports, primarily aircraft noise. Among other uses, thosefunds may be spent on projects to abate Airport noise Impacts ( , soundproofingresidential homes, purchasing noise barriers and monitors, and relocating persons orbusinesses); to minimize water quality Impacts ( , funding projects that wouldcontrol the discharge of deicing chemicals); and to reduce Airport -controllable airemissions ( , purchasing alternative fuel vehicles).

10 Funds also are authorized forresearching new aircraft technology that would reduce noise and air illustrate how airports would potentially utilize these funds,2 this reportprovides an overview of the main Environmental Impacts associated with airportoperations: noise, water quality, and air quality. Also discussed are theenvironmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of1969 (NEPA, 42 4321-4347) and an overview of Environmental provisionsin proposed legislation to reauthorize FAA report does not discuss the national or international Environmental impactsof aviation in general.