Earthjustice Submits Updated Petition Requesting Endangerment Finding for Leaded Aviation Fuel

On 10/12/2021, Earthjustice sent the EPA an updated version of the petition requesting an endangerment finding for leaded aviation fuel. It was initially sent on 8/24/2021. The link to the updated petition in its entirety is available at Earthjustice Petition.

One of the primary changes is the decision by the Wisconsin Town of Middleton in Dane County to sign on as a petitioner. As explained in the revised document,

"Consistent with its duties to protect the public health and safety, the Town of Middleton has a significant interest in protecting all its residents, especially children, from the airborne lead exposure from general aviation operations. The Town of Middleton is investing significant resources in investigating the extent of airport-related lead emissions there."

"The Town of Middleton is located adjacent to the City of Middleton's predominantly recreational municipal airport, Middleton Municipal Airport – Morey Field (also known as Morey Airport or C29). The area of the Town located in the vicinity of Morey Airport is primarily a relatively dense area of single-family residences. The Town of Middleton and City of Middleton are separate legal entities. According to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources data, Dane County has the second highest level of airborne lead emissions in the State of Wisconsin, and Morey Airport operations annually produce a substantial percentage of all airborne lead emissions in Dane County. Areas around and in the immediate vicinity of Morey Airport in the Town and City of Middleton are highly developed with residences, schools, parks, and playgrounds that are impacted by airborne lead from Morey Airport operations. Conservatively, over 5,000 children spend time in residences and schools within three miles of Morey Airport boundaries in the Town and City of Middleton and other adjoining communities."

Accompanying the petition was an updated letter of support. The opening paragraph reads as follows:

"The undersigned 57 organizations and 146 medical professionals, professors, advocates, and other individuals submit this letter in support of the October 12, 2021 updated petition, originally submitted on August 24, 2021, of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Center for Environmental Health, Friends of the Earth, Montgomery-Gibbs Environmental Coalition, and Oregon Aviation Watch, and by the County of Santa Clara, California and the Town of Middleton, Wisconsin, petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") to make an endangerment finding under section 231 of the Clean Air Act that leaded aviation gasoline ("avgas") contributes to air pollution that harms public health and welfare."

The full letter, including the list of signatories, is available at Earthjustice Letter of Support.