Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association

March SM Airport Commission Meeting hosted Air Quality Workshop

Apr 20, 2003

On April 16, 2003, Friends of Sunset Park issued the follwong Santa Monica Airport Update.

The Airport Commission hosted an Air Quality Workshop ar the Commission's meeting on March, 14, 2003.

Rod Merl presented an in depth report on regulations controlling Aircraft Emissions including their inherent complexities. On a federal level, the primary regulators are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is the international agency for setting standards. The Federal Clean Air Act of 1970 gave the EPA the authority to set standards for emissions and testing procedures and gave the FAA the authority and responsibility for enforcement. Even thought the Clean Air Act allows states to set higher standards of air quality in other areas, it prohibits adoption or enforcement of standards other than the federal ones for aircraft.

The FAA and the EPA work with the ICAO on development of international aircraft engine emission standards. California State Officials feel Aircraft Emissions standards need to be more stringent. The FAA wants to see less strict Emission Standards. (Big surprise there!!) California needs more strict standards to meet their air quality attainment goals by 2010.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that the process of Noise Reduction and Overall Emission Reduction by using higher heat engines actually increases emission component NOx (Nitros Oxide). FAA is having NASA do technological studies on aircraft engine design to improve aircraft emissions.

To learn more, see the complete Staff report on the SM Airport web site santamonicaairport.org The Staff report is attached to the Airport Commission Agenda for March 24, 2003.

Mr. Merl stated today (April 16) the EPA released new federal standards for diesel engines. He felt this was a strong precedence for future stricter standards for Aircraft Engines. He also said the Head of the Southern California Air Quality Management District(AQMD) and three of his department chairs have committed to meet with the SM Airport Staff and Representatives from the Airport Commission and The Santa Monica Environmental Task Force. Stay tuned for more info...

The City's Goal is to gain support from the AQMD and the State. Then, approach to the EPA as a united force with in depth studies to support the need for stricter Aircraft Emission Standards.

Status Report: SMAA Lawsuit

The SMAA (Santa Monica Airport Association--local pilots) lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica is currently in trial. The SMAA is challenging the 95decibal Noise Limit at the Santa Monica Airport. City Attorney Marty Tachiki estimates that the trial will continue into the beginning of June.

Status Report: Staff Proposed Aircraft Conformance Standard (B-II Standard) and Safety Zone Implementation

Unfortunately, because of the demands of the SMAA Lawsuit, the Airport Staff has had to postpone further progress on this issue until the trial is over. At that time, Airport Manager Bob Trimborn, said implementation of these Safety Enhancements will be a priority. This proposal will establish Safety Zones at the ends of the runways (currently none exist) and eliminate C and D Class Aircraft (basically the larger ones) which do not meet FAA recommended safety standards for SM Airport runway dimensions.