California Suit Targets 100LL

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A California environmental group has served notice it will sue more than 40 suppliers of avgas in the state to force them to stop selling it. The Center for Environmental Health has given a legally required 60 days of notice to all the major oil companies that sell 100LL and the FBOs that pump it at 25 airports to stop. “The oil and aviation industries need to know Californians will not tolerate lead pollution that threatens our health and healthy environments,” Michael Green, executive director of CEH, said in a statement. “We expect the industries to take immediate action to eliminate pollution that endangers children and families who live, work and play near airports across the state.” CEH cites a 2008 EPA report that shows avgas is polluting the air and in some cases groundwater around airports with piston traffic.

CEH notes that Van Nuys Airport, one of the busiest GA airports in the U.S., shows the highest level of lead pollution of more than 3,000 airports covered in the report. As we’ve reported and commented on extensively, the EPA is now considering its options in dealing with 100LL in response to a petition from Friends of the Earth. The CEH route is a little more direct. It alleges violations of the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. Protesters recently staged a small rally outside Santa Monica Airport complaining about lead pollution.

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