Aviation Associations Commend EPA Recognition of Industry Voluntary Pollution-Reduction Program

April 30, 2012
Several associations commended the EPA for finalizing new aircraft deicing regulations that recognize and build on the industry’s strong safety and environmental record while recognizing the unique operations of airlines and airports.

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2012 – Airlines for America (A4A), Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA), the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Regional Airline Association (RAA) today commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for finalizing new aircraft deicing regulations that recognize and build on the industry’s strong safety and environmental record while recognizing the unique operations of airlines and airports.

The associations issued the following joint statement:

“By recognizing the voluntary pollution-reduction program, the EPA is enabling airports and airlines to design effective environmental-protection strategies for their communities and specific circumstances that put safety first.”

The EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) set technology-based standards designed to reduce discharges related to pavement deicing and aircraft deicing at new airports built after the rule goes into effect. The EPA further supported the industry’s voluntary pollution-reduction program, heralding its “potential to significantly reduce aircraft deicing discharges in a safe manner.” As such, the agency further agreed that applying such standards to aircraft deicing at existing airports would be impracticable and deliver few benefits.

For more than 15 years, A4A, ACI-NA, AAAE and RAA worked with EPA in its efforts to develop national ELGs. In response to the rule proposed by EPA in 2009, the associations raised concerns that parts of the rule would not achieve the desired environmental benefits. As an alternative, the associations developed a voluntary pollution-prevention program where airports and airlines will work collectively to implement coordinated, effective and location-specific measures to minimize the impacts from aircraft deicing operations.

ABOUT A4A:

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 10 million U.S. jobs. A4A airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesdotorg.

ABOUT ACI-NA:

Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. More than 350 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

ABOUT AAAE:

Founded in 1928, AAAE (www.aaae.org) is the world's largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE's 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.

ABOUT RAA:

Founded in 1975, Washington, D.C.-based RAA also provides a wide array of technical, government relations and public relations services for regional airlines. With safety as its highest priority, the association's 28 member airlines and nearly 200 associate members represent the key decision-makers of this vital sector of the commercial aviation industry. With more than 13,000 regional airline flights every day, regional airlines operate more than half of the nation’s scheduled flights with nearly 75 percent of U.S. airports relying on regional airlines exclusively.