California Suit Targets
100LL
A California
environmental group has served notice it will sue more than 40 suppliers of
avgas in the state to force them to stop selling it. TheCenter for Environmental Healthhas
given a legally-required 60 days of notice to all the major oil companies
that sell 100LL and the FBOs that pump it at 25 airports to stop. "The
oil and aviation industries need to know Californians will not tolerate lead
pollution that threatens our health and healthy environments," Michael
Green, executive director of CEH, said in a statement. "We expect the
industries to take immediate action to eliminate pollution that endangers
children and families who live, work and play near airports across the
state." CEH cites a 2008 EPA reports that show avgas is
polluting the air and in some cases groundwater around airports with piston
traffic.
CEH notes that Van Nuys Airport, one of
the busiest GA airports in the U.S., shows the highest level of
lead pollution of more than 3,000 airports covered in the report. As we've
reported and commented on extensively, the EPA is now considering its options
in dealing with 100LL in response to a petition from Friends of the Earth.
The CEH route is a little more direct. It alleges violations of the
California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Protesters recently
staged a small rally outside Santa
Monica Airport
complaining about lead pollution.
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