Minutes

AAAE/ATA/ACI JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES MEETING
UPS Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
November 19, 1997

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

AIRPORT STORMWATER PERMITTING ISSUES

The primary airline concerns are summarized on the agenda and were presented by Carol Vukmanic (USAirways) and Randy Gillespie (Southwest Airlines). Specific comments included:

Varying compliance with standards at airports (ranging from stormwater permit in place to no knowledge of requirement for a permit) and potential liability to airlines.
Different types of SWPPPs and BMPs that have been established
Recent high levels of activity from regulators

Gillespie asked that AAAE and ACI assist member airports in reaching compliance. Carter Morris, AAAE, said that many states have not yet provided compliance information and also stated that AAAE has prepared and distributed SWPPP and BMP templates to assist member airports in preparing plans. Bonnie Wilson, ACI, reiterated that state regulations vary widely where they do exist and that the FAA has only recently provided guidance to airports on stormwater issues. All agreed that communication and education were key to successful implementation of and compliance with SWPPPS and BMPs.

Jacob Snow, AAAE environmental Committee Chairman, asked that airlines provide information on regions or airports where there are specific concerns. The idea of preparing and distributing a survey was then discussed. After some discussion regarding the plans at various airports including available data, who collects and stores what information, and confidentiality and liability associated with providing the data, several actions were identified:

Representatives of each of the organizations would meet to prepare a draft survey that would then be reviewed by legal counsel to ensure that completing it would not generate concern on the part of airport proprietors. (Snow identified Sandy Williams, chairman of the Water Quality subcommittee of the AAAE Environmental Services Committee as the AAAE representative.)
AAAE will publish the names of individuals at airports to contact regarding SWPPPs and BMPs in its Airport Directory.
ATA will provide a list of airline contacts to address these issues at various airports.
A joint data base of information will be pursued based on the survey results and information provided from airports and airlines.

Through the discussion, it was learned that different individuals keep varying types of data or go about obtaining information in different ways. For example, Rhett Phillips (Continental Airlines) said that he keeps a data base of SWPPP and BMP information for the airports it serves. Brad Keith (Southwest Airlines) said that he calls regulators directly if he is unable to get information from airports regarding their permits. Morris encouraged all airlines to contact AAAE rather than regulators to assist in obtaining information. Maybe compile a list of contacts, with phone numbers, at each airport for carriers to contact on stormwater issues.

AIRCRAFT DEICING

Similar discussions regarding the availability of information occurred for the topic of aircraft deicing. The biggest issue is the ongoing battle between the manufacturers of ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PG) and the lack of understanding if the Type I and Type II fluids. Different information and approaches were discussed:

EG is used exclusively in Canada because of tests indicating that it has lower aquatic toxicity than PG.
EG cannot be used at Washington Dulles International Airport because of regulations passed by Fairfax County prohibiting its use.
Several reports have been issued with varying levels of reliability of data and testing.
When airports decide on EG vs. PG, have airports tell carriers why.

It was agreed that more information is needed and it needs to be made available to airport operators and airlines. In addition, regulators need to be educated on issues regarding aircraft deicing and airport operations. It was agreed that the representatives of the organizations addressing the SWPPP and BMP issues would also address the issue of deicing and anti-icing fluids.

COOPERATIVE RBCA AIRPORT REMEDIATION

Dan Tisconik (United Airlines) presented the cooperative airline/airport RBCA effort at San Francisco International Airport. No new information was provided regarding the topic.

HYDRANT FUEL LEAK DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES

Steve Barker (Northwest Airlines) summarized the status of work toward comparing the various leak detection systems and described a planned side-by-side test of the systems to assist in provided realistic comparisons. His committee is in the process of selecting a consultant to develop a study design and study plan, identify existing technologies, and develop a study plan. He asked for cooperation and assistance from AAAE in the form of endorsement, financial assistance, and communication. Laurie Cullen, Chair of the Fuel Tanks Subcommittee of the AAAE Environmental Services Committee, will represent AAAE. She asked about being able to participate in consultant selection, study design, etc. Barker said that participation in all phases of the study would be welcomed.

AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY

This topic was added to the original agenda. Snow gave a brief description of when a conformity determination is needed and how complicated the analysis can be, but promoted the comparison of the build and no-build scenarios in the analysis of emissions and the conformity determination. The intent of the discussion was to indicate that airlines need to assist by providing information needed for descriptions of future projects (particularly terminal projects) and future operational plans to assist in the conformity process. He also pointed out that the conformity and NEPA processes for projects can occur over the same time-frame but that they have different agency review and coordination requirements that complicate the approval processes.

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