The EPA is evaluating the impact of lead emissions from aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline in order to make a determination regarding whether aircraft lead emissions cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. These actions are in response to petitioners’ requests, which are provided below along with the EPA responses to date. The EPA currently intends to issue a proposed finding on the question of endangerment in 2017. This proposed finding will then undergo public notice and comment. After evaluating comments on the proposal, we plan to issue a final determination in 2018.

• Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF)(30 pp, 719 K, published April 28, 2010)
• Extension of Comment Period (PDF)(2 pp, 141 K, published June 24, 2010)

Additional Resources

Fact Sheets

• Program Overview: Airport Lead Monitoring (PDF)(4 pp, 198 K, EPA-420-F-15-003, January 2015)
• Program Update: Airport Lead Monitoring (PDF)(4 pp, 211 K, EPA-420-F-13-032, June 2013)
• EPA Response to the 2006 Petition from Friends of the Earth Regarding Lead Emissions from Piston-Engine Aircraft (PDF) (2 pp, 135K, EPA-420-F-12-050, July 2012)
• Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Lead Emissions from Piston Engine Aircraft Using Leaded Aviation Gasoline (PDF) (3 pp, 560 K, EPA-420-F-10-013, April 2010)

Other

• Request for Public Comment on Petition to Limit Lead Emissions from General Aviation Aircraft (PDF) (4 pp, 153 K, EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0294, November 2007)
• Airport lead inventories, air quality monitoring, air quality modeling, and other assessments
• Petitions and EPA response memorandums related to lead emissions from aircraft