EPA Moving to Regulate Aircraft Emissions
The items EPA issued June 10 "lay the necessary foundation for the development and implementation of a domestic aircraft standard, in accordance with U.S. law and the ICAO process," according to the agency's announcement.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced June 10 that it is proposing to find under the Clean Air Act that greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aircraft are contributing to the pollution that causes climate change and thus are endangering the health and welfare of Americans. EPA also released information about the international process, in which EPA is participating, by the International Civil Aviation Organization for developing international carbon dioxide standards for aircraft; EPA is now asking for public input on how it should proceed.
The ICAO standards are expected to be adopted in early 2016. The items EPA issued June 10 "lay the necessary foundation for the development and implementation of a domestic aircraft standard, in accordance with U.S. law and the ICAO process," according to the agency's announcement.
It says U.S. commercial aircraft emit roughly 11 percent of GHG emissions from the U.S. transportation sector and 29 percent of GHG emissions from all aircraft globally. The EPA actions don't apply to small piston-engine planes or to military aircraft.
For more information and the advance notice of proposed rulemaking, visit http://epa.gov/otaq/aviation.htm.