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Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports (2010)

Chapter: Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship

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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 9 - Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22897.
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101 CHAPTER 9 Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship There are a number of opportunities for small airports to reduce their environmental impact through practices that are not intended to directly meet regulatory requirements. As noted by the Sustainable Aviation Guidance Alliance (SAGA) (1), such “proactive environmental stewardship” practices can offer a number of environmental, social, and financial benefits, including: • Reduced life cycle costs of capital assets • Reduced operating costs • Reduced environmental footprint • Optimization for new and better technologies • Reduced costs of asset development • Enhanced bond ratings • Reduced environmental, health, and safety risks • Improved work environment for employees leading to higher productivity • Better customer service and satisfaction • Enhanced relationships with the surrounding community It is important for small airports to recognize that proactive environmental stewardship activities do not always cost more or require increased staff resources. In many cases, the benefits listed above offset the initial investment for these practices. In other cases, practices can be implemented at no or little incremental cost and/or effort. For example, an airport could convert runway lighting to Low Emitting Diode (LED) lights at relatively low cost. By incorporating this environmental stewardship initiative into a larger funded project, like rehabilitation of a runway, the lighting may result in no additional capital cost to the airport. The topics presented in Chapter 9 include: • Sustainability Planning • Other Environmental Stewardship Practices • Environmental Stewardship Practice Financing 9.1 Sustainability Planning Airport sustainability is defined by Airports Council International-North America as “a holistic approach to managing an airport so as to ensure the integrity of the Economic viability, Operational efficiency, Natural resource conservation and Social responsibility (EONS) of the airport” (2). Planning for sustainability represents a holistic approach to integrating social and environmental factors into traditional airport decisions, which typically consider airport operations and safety as well as financial factors. With the understanding that the health of our environment and communities is valuable,

102 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports integrating environment and community considerations into decision making often results in substantial cost savings. A general framework for sustainability planning is presented here. It is important to note that an airport’s planning approach can be catered to the needs, resources, and environmental and social contexts of the airport. • Develop a Sustainability Vision or Policy—Developing a sustainability vision or policy is an integral element of sustainability planning, as it sets forth a universal direction for the airport and establishes the groundwork for airport-wide adoption of the principles of sustainability. It is important that the airport’s sustainability policy concur with the airport’s mission, such that the airport’s direction is unified. • Conduct a Baseline Assessment/Gap Analysis—A sustainability baseline assessment determines the airport’s impacts, within parameters that are consistent with an airport’s resources and vision, and should identify potential opportunities for improvement. The baseline assessment also provides an opportunity to inventory any sustainability initiatives already in practice. The baseline can also inform any further refinement of the scope of the project, based on the findings of the assessment. Lastly, the baseline assessment calculates current airport performance as well as performance trends through time. Airport performance can then inform the goals and objectives as well as the performance targets developed in the plan. The baseline assessment is sometimes referred to as the “gap analysis” within an Environmental Management Systems (EMS). • Establish Goals and Objectives—The findings of the baseline assessment can inform the development of sustainability goals and objectives. The goals and objectives are intended to meet the airport’s sustainability vision and can be developed as a collaborative process, involving all airport decision makers and staff as well as the local community and other airport stakeholders. It can be helpful to establish goals within selected environmental categories, such as those defined in this Guidebook. • Set Performance Targets—Based on the airport’s current performance identified in the baseline assessment, the airport could set performance targets and metrics to help meet its established goals and objectives. Performance targets can be determined in conjunction with identification of sustainability practices in order to ensure the targets are achievable with practices that can reasonably be implemented. Some commonly used performance metrics include potable water use per building area (gal/s.f.) or per passenger (gal/passenger); electricity consumption per building area (kWh/s.f.) or per passenger (kWh/passenger); and, rate of recycling waste (as a percentage of total waste generated). Associated Activities • Aircraft operation • Auxiliary power unit operation • Cargo handling • Chemical storage/ handling • Demolition/ construction/ development • Ground service equipment operation • Grounds maintenance/ landscaping • Motor vehicle operation • On-airport power generation • Property acquisition • Vehicle/equipment/ aircraft maintenance • Washing • Waste generation/ disposal Developing a sustainability plan, whether formal or informal, a contained effort or phased process is an effective way to incorporate proactive environmental stewardship into all aspects of airport operations, capital improvements, and into the cultural fabric of the airport management and operations organization. Accordingly, sustainability planning should seek to incorporate stakeholders across all departments and levels within the airport organization as well as reaching out to tenants, the public, and sustainability experts within the municipality or county.

Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship 103 Helpful Hint The City of Albuquerque Aviation Department instituted a small airport sustainability program at Double Eagle II Airport. For more information, refer to the Case Study in Appendix B-3. • Identify Sustainability Practices—Identify sustainability practices that are reasonable and practical based on the airport’s resources. This can include a process for screening practices to determine the most beneficial initiatives for the airport. The screening process would involve assessing each practice that the airport identified as having potential to meet the previously established sustainability goals of the airport. As part of this screening, the airport would identify criteria to evaluate and rank each practice. Criteria can include the priorities of the airport, benefits and costs of each practice, how resource intensive each practice is to implement and maintain, or whether the practice has potential cost savings or a return on investment. SAGA has developed a database of sustainability practices, which airports can use to identify strategies that may help meet its sustainability goals. The database categorizes the practices by airport activity area and also lists associated benefits, which airports could apply to the screening of potential practices. • • This planning framework can be applied as an ongoing, cyclical process, whereby each step is continually revisited and adapted to the airport’s current conditions. In addition, sustainability practices can be implemented on an ongoing basis. Small Airport Applicability Although there is a perception among small airports that sustainability planning is costly to administer and implement, applying an EONS approach to airport planning can help ensure the long term viability and success of the airport. In addition, because it represents an “approach” or a “new way of thinking,” sustainability planning provides the opportunity to scale initiatives to the specific conditions and resources of the airport. Several small airports have already developed sustainability plans that can serve as guidance for developing a sustainability program. These include, but are not limited to, the following: • South Bend Regional Airport (IN) • Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (CO) • Colorado Springs Airport (CO) • Stewart International Airport (NY) Implement Practices—Implementation of the practices the airport has identified to meet its sustainability goals involves identifying priority projects, funding them, and developing schedules and individual responsibilities. Regularly Measure, Report, and Reevaluate—Using sustainability metrics, the airport can measure the progress and performance of its sustainability program. Obtaining this monitoring data plays two important functions: the first is to facilitate reporting to the public and other stakeholders; the other is to provide the necessary information for the airport to evaluate their progress, reevaluate its goals, and take steps to improve its sustainability activities.

104 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports In addition, some large airports such as San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles World Airports, and Boston-Logan International Airport have developed comprehensive sustainability plans to guide their development. Although these plans were intended for airports with more resources and financial capacity, there are elements from these plans, both in the strategies described and approach set forth, that small airports can utilize to inform their sustainability activities. Compliance Attainment Strategies The recommendations that relate to environmental stewardship are voluntary for airports and there are no mandatory compliance concerns from an airport operator’s standpoint. There may be local or state laws and regulations that mandate certain aspects of sustainability planning. Common strategies to implement sustainability planning include: • Implementation of sustainability initiatives • Sustainable Master Plans • Stand-alone Sustainability Management Plans • Facility design and construction guidelines • Integration of sustainability into Capital Improvement Plans Key Terms • EONS—The definition for airport sustainability developed by Airports Council International-North America: “…a holistic approach to managing an airport so as to ensure the integrity of the Economic viability, Operational efficiency, Natural resource conservation and Social responsibility (EONS) of the airport.” • Return on Investment—The calculation used to determine the length of time required to recoup an investment. Additional Resources • SAGA Guidebook and Database www.airportsustainability.org • ACRP Report 20: Strategic Planning in the Airport Industry http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_rpt_020.pdf • ACRP Synthesis 10: Airport Sustainability Practices http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_syn_010.pdf • ACRP Project 08-01, “Sustainable Airport Construction Practices (in development) http://144.171.11.40/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2582 • ACRP Project 02-22: Incorporating Sustainability into Traditional Airport Projects (in development) http://144.171.11.40/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2793 • Global Reporting Initiative www.globalreporting.org • Joint Service Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Library http://205.153.241.230/

Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship 105 9.2 Other Environmental Stewardship Practices Proactive environmental stewardship practices, which reduce airport environmental impacts without seeking to meet any specific regulatory requirements, can take on a number of forms. Whether undertaken as part of a sustainability program or as independent initiatives, airports can improve their environmental stewardship performance by considering practices in the following activity or resource areas: • Administration and Policies • Alternative Transportation • Biodiversity • Climate Change • Energy Efficiency • Renewable Energy • Environmentally Preferable Purchasing • Performance Tracking • Public Relations A list of environmental stewardship practices applicable to small airports in each of these resource areas is listed in Appendix A. Administration and Policies Initiatives directed at administrative or policy changes can have far-reaching effects on an airport by permeating through the organization’s activities. Examples of administrative and policy changes range from establishing a sustainability committee to encouraging staff to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignTM (LEED) accreditation, to specifying purchase of environmentally preferable or “green” products. These types of practices act to gradually build an environmental stewardship culture at the airport and can have small impacts that incrementally build over time. Lastly, airport administration and policy-related practices can often be implemented at no or little expense to the airport, and therefore should be seriously considered by small airports. Administrative and policy-related environmental stewardship practices applicable to small airports are listed and described in Appendix A-24. Alternative Transportation Although some transportation-related impacts are regulated, proactive environmental stewardship practices that address alternative transportation can enhance airport economic activities, address community needs, and reduce ground transportation-related environmental impacts. Alternative transportation- related stewardship practices primarily seek to increased public transportation ridership, use of alternate modes of transportation, such as bicycles, and use of alternatively fueled vehicles. Examples of practices include providing safe bicycle lanes and storage areas or offering public transit incentives to employees. A more comprehensive list of environmental stewardship practices applicable to Associated Activities • Aircraft operation • Auxiliary power unit operation • Cargo handling • Chemical storage/ handling • Demolition/ construction/ development • Ground service equipment operation • Grounds maintenance/ landscaping • Motor vehicle operation • On-airport power generation • Property acquisition • Vehicle/equipment/ aircraft maintenance • Washing • Waste generation/ disposal

106 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports Helpful Hint Potential organizations with which an airport could partner include larger national nonprofits such as the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Foundation, or the Nature Conservancy, or the airport could choose to join efforts with local organizations that tend to focus their efforts on local environmental needs. For more information, refer to Wildlife-11 and Wildlife-12 Practices in Appendix A-13. small airports and that address alternative transportation are listed and described in Appendix A-24. Implementing alternative transportation initiatives can benefit the community by enhancing connectivity to the airport and reducing the cost of getting to and from the airport. Practices that increase the efficiency of transportation systems and offer alternatives to vehicular modes of transportation further benefit the environment and community by reducing energy demands, air pollutants, and emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Biodiversity Supporting the diversity of biological systems is integral to maintaining ecosystems and the services they provide. Biodiversity refers to the variation of living organisms within a given ecosystem. This variation is essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems. Maintaining healthy ecosystems, in turn, supports human society: the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that 40% of today’s global economy is based on biological products and processes. Many other aspects of human well-being also depend on the services ecosystems provide, such as enhanced air quality, carbon sequestration and local climate regulation, water purification, and erosion prevention. To contribute to maintaining these ecosystem services, airports can seek to promote biodiversity on airport-controlled property and to minimize impacts to local and regional biodiversity that may result from airport activities. There are a number of ways to enhance biodiversity at small airports. Some examples include planting non- wildlife attracting native vegetation or joining in partnerships with local environmental organizations. Proactive environmental stewardship practices relating biodiversity seek to maintain local habitats and diversity of species while considering aviation safety. Climate Change The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D, stated, “Climate change is real. It is here, and it is happening now, in our backyards and around the globe” (4). NOAA studies show that GHG may be a contributing factor to climate change. Although small airports may not face immediate or direct regulatory requirements to make changes to operations to reduce GHG emissions, with increased public understanding and awareness of climate change, there may be political and community pressures for airports to address climate change. Small airports should consider ways to reduce energy use or utilize alternative energy sources to reduce GHG emissions. Conducting an energy audit is a good way to determine how and where energy is used at the airport. Implementing a system to turn runway and other facility lights off when not in use, developing no-idling procedures for buses and ground utility vehicles, or purchasing energy star appliances and computers are practices to reduce GHG emissions. Consider including alternative energy sources when planning new buildings, like solar panels to reduce reliance on energy forms that result in GHG emissions. Airports may also be indirectly affected by climate change regulations affecting other industries. As diesel engine standards change, the vehicles the airport purchases in the future may have different engines and require different types of maintenance from engines in service today.

Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship 107 Helpful Hint Tracking ongoing electricity use can be used to justify implementation of energy efficiency measures or to calculate the viability of investment in renewable energy systems. For more information, refer to Energy-20 through 23 Practices in Appendix A-23. Additionally, as weather patterns are predicted to change, small airports should consider climate change in their planning. Airports should identify potential changes in weather patterns in their region and build to accommodate them. For example, airports in areas that may be affected by hurricanes may consider constructing new facilities to withstand higher winds and flooding than what is currently required and consider oversized storm water infrastructure to accommodate increased flood risks. Airports in areas where increased droughts may be predicted should consider incorporating water conservation practices to accommodate potable water shortages. Airports should consider disruptions from climate change to reduce the costs and disturbance of climate events. NOAA has established an office, the NOAA Climate Service, devoted to providing information about climate change and strategies to adapting to changing climate. Airports could use this information, available on the NOAA Climate Service website, to inform decision making. Energy Efficiency Practices that enhance energy efficiency represent some of the most promising proactive environmental stewardship practices as they often offer opportunities for cost savings, due to the increasingly high and fluctuating costs of energy. Energy efficiency practices result in other benefits, such as enhanced air quality and reduced GHG emissions, among others. Examples of energy efficiency practices include installing escalator sleep-mode settings, purchasing Energy Star appliances and computers, tracking energy use, or upgrading indoor lighting to more efficient lighting. Energy efficiency practices seek to optimize airport building systems by replacing less efficient building components and ensuring mechanical systems are in optimal working condition. In addition, energy efficiency practices can address airfield energy uses such as runway and taxiway lighting. Renewable Energy Renewable energy is generally defined as energy generated from natural resources (e.g., sunlight, wind, geothermal heat). Renewable energy technology has increasingly developed in the past 20 years, and many airports in the United States, including a number of small airports, have recently installed on-site renewable energy systems (see Appendix B-5). Although the capital cost of installing renewable energy systems can often be prohibitive, renewable energy generation can be a worthwhile long-term investment. Airports can achieve long- term energy savings associated with increased energy costs, and airports can also achieve potential returns from selling surplus energy back into the grid. To address the sometimes high capital costs of installing such systems, small airports should investigate innovative financing strategies (see Section 9.3).

108 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports Helpful Hint Public input and support was influential in facilitating the Northeast Florida Regional Airport’s innovative low impact hangar development project. For more information, refer to the Northeast Florida Regional Airport at St. Augustine Case Study in Appendix B-1. Helpful Hint Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s solar installation will supply 40% of the airport’s energy. This is estimated to save the airport $13 million over 20 years. For more information, refer to Energy-24 through 31 Practices in Appendix A-23. Some examples of renewable energy installations at small airports include the following: • 2-Megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) module installation at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (CA) • An on-airport wind turbine as well as a 25 kilowatt (kW) PV solar system and a solar hot water thermal system at the Burlington International Airport (VT). The PV system includes 120 solar panels (210 watts each). • Solar panels integrated into the roof of the passenger terminal at Tallahassee Regional Airport (FL) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) refers to purchases of products with “green” components, from recycled content, to use of renewable material, to local sourcing. In addition to reducing the environmental impacts of an airport’s purchases and materials it uses in its operations, EPP has numerous benefits for the airport, as well as the community at large, including: improved worker safety and health, reduced liabilities, reduced waste generation and disposal costs, and increased availability of environmentally preferable products in the marketplace. Performance Tracking Optimizing the performance of an organization requires tracking and monitoring. Whether implementing a comprehensive monitoring system, such as one contained within a formal EMS, or targeting specific environmental categories to track (e.g., energy consumption, water quality levels), tracking performance can have many benefits including the following: • Improved environmental performance—By tracking performance, airport managers are able to proactively address issues that arise prior to them escalating into a more costly or environmentally damaging situation. • Increased efficiency and reduced costs—Monitoring environmental performance enables airport operators to identify opportunities to optimize the efficiency of its operations, minimizing operational costs. Monitoring can show where upgrades and other environmental improvements best fit into an overall business strategy, helping to inform decision-making. • Public image—Having monitoring data readily available also facilitates environmental reporting. Enhancing transparency of environmental performance with the public can significantly boost an airport’s public image and enhance its relationship with the public. Although there is a perception that monitoring performance is a costly initiative, small airports undertaking monitoring programs that were interviewed as part of the development of this Guidebook all reported significant cost savings, either from optimized energy use or from fewer regulatory infringements. Descriptions of specific strategies for monitoring and tracking airport environmental performance are included in Appendix A-23.

Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship 109 Public Relations Garnering community support is an important aspect of operating any airport. Small airports especially value and benefit from a close and positive relationship with its surrounding community. Public support can be a powerful force: if positive, it can facilitate future development at an airport by reducing public opposition; if negative, it can act as a significant obstacle to the operations, future development, and even the existence of the airport. Communicating environmental stewardship practices to the public is one way to enhance public perception of the airport. Although there is variation across regions of the U.S., there is generally increased concern and attention from the public on environmental issues. Environmental stewardship practices that promote community support for the airport include reporting environmental performance, developing educational programs related to the environment, or taking steps to showcase the airport in a positive and transparent light. Small Airport Applicability Compliance Attainment Strategies The recommendations that relate to environmental stewardship are voluntary for airports and there are no mandatory compliance concerns from an airport operator’s standpoint. There may be local or state laws and regulations that mandate certain aspects of environmental stewardship described in this section. Key Terms • Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)—Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Products or services can relate to raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal. • Greenhouse Gases (GHG)—Any gas emitted into the atmosphere that has the potential to trap heat. The most common GHG occurring at airports are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. • Photovoltaic (PV) Modules—Arrays of cells that contain a material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity. Each of the resource areas listed above, although not regulated, apply to small airport activities and development. The benefits of environmental stewardship practices will vary for small airports depending on the resource area being addressed. For example, energy efficiency improvements can result in financial savings, whereas public relations-related practices can serve to enhance the airport’s relationship with the surrounding communities and public agencies.

110 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports Additional Resources • Solar installation at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (CA) http://www.fresno.gov/DiscoverFresno/Airports/PressReleases/2008/Fresno YosemiteInternationalAirportandWorldWaterSolarTechnologiesHostDedicat ionCeremonytoShowcasetheL.htm • Vermont Hosts First On-site Airport Installation of Wind Turbine http://www.ecoseed.org/en/general-green-news/renewable-energy/wind- energy/small-wind/5760-Vermont-hosts-first-on-site-airport-installation-of- wind-turbine • Tallahassee Regional Airport (FL) http://www.talgov.com/airport/ • NOAA Climate Service http://www.climate.gov/ • EPA’s Environmentally Preferred Purchasing website http://www.epa.gov/epp/index.htm • Joint Service Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Library http://205.153.241.230/ • SAGA Guidebook and Database www.airportsustainability.org • ACRP Synthesis 10: Airport Sustainability Practices http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_syn_010.pdf • ACRP Project 11-02: Model for Improving Energy Use in U.S. Airport Facilities http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_rrd_002.pdf • The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) provides a list of links to a number of environmental groups http://www.nrdc.org/reference/environGroups.asp • U.S. Global Change Research Program Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S. http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/ us-impacts • U.S. Global Change Research Program Adaptation Options http://www.globalchange.gov/component/content/article/67-themes/153-our- changing-planet • Westchester County Airport and Northeast Florida Regional Airport at St. Augustine Case Studies (Appendix B) 9.3 Environmental Stewardship Practice Financing Most small airports are limited by financial and staff resources. However, many environmental stewardship strategies can be implemented at low or little costs. Financing projects that are not tied to regulatory requirements often represent a substantial obstacle to environmental stewardship. A number of tools and techniques exist, however, to both justify and finance environmental stewardship projects. Note that many of these tools are used for stewardship practices that have a clear financial cost and benefit. Many environmental

Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship 111 stewardship projects, however, have benefits that are difficult to quantify in financial terms. Some financial assessments and accounting strategies available to small airports include the following: • Commit to utilizing life cycle cost analysis (LCCA). It is estimated that about 25 percent of a traditional airport project’s life cycle costs are associated with the upfront capital costs of the project, while the remaining 75 percent are associated with on-going operations and maintenance as documented by Dillinger (5). LCCA provide important information for an airport to understand long term paybacks relative to the useful life of existing and future infrastructure, an important input for airport decision making. • Estimate the range of cost savings that each project measure or practice could generate. • Establish if practices can achieve the desired ROI. • Determine the financial mechanism that will support the project’s cash flow requirements. Some strategies available to small airports for financing environmental stewardship strategies include the following: • Capture savings from practices for reinvestment in other environmental stewardship practices • Bond programs • Energy Savings Performance Contracts and Green Performance Contracts • Government grants • Public-private partnerships and grants • Power purchase agreements Small Airport Applicability Financing opportunities is especially important to small airports, which often Compliance Attainment Strategies The recommendations that relate to environmental stewardship are voluntary for airports, and there are no mandatory compliance concerns from an airport operator’s standpoint. There may be local or state laws and regulations that mandate certain aspects of environmental stewardship described in this section. Key Terms • Associated Activities • Aircraft operation • Auxiliary power unit operation • Cargo handling • Chemical storage/ handling • Demolition/ construction/ development • Ground service equipment operation • Grounds maintenance/ landscaping • Motor vehicle operation • On-airport power generation • Property acquisition • Vehicle/equipment/ aircraft maintenance • Washing • Waste generation/ disposal have limited available resources for capital improvements and costly investments. Unlike large airports with internal financial resources that can be used to improve environmental stewardship activities, small airports must rely on innovative financing and external sources of funding to justify environmental stewardship activities. Energy Savings Performance Contract—A partnership between an organization and an energy service company in which the energy service

112 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports company provides capital for an initial energy-related investment and is paid back through the returns obtained through energy savings. • Additional Resources The following list provides a sample of resources available to identify funding sources for proactive environmental stewardship initiatives. This is not an exhaustive list of resources, as many funding sources are administered by state and local entities across the country. • ACRP Synthesis 1: Innovative Finance and Alternative Sources of Revenue for Airports http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/acrp/acrp_syn_001.pdf • ACRP Synthesis Project 11-03, Topic S02-05 Strategies and Financing Opportunities for Airport Environmental Programs. [Estimated completion date: 05/2011] • Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?EE=0&RE=1 • The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www1.eere.energy.gov/financing/ • FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low Emissions Program http://www.faa.gov/airports/environmental/vale/ • Department of Energy Clean Cities Program Assistance http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/program_contacts.html#netl Life Cycle CostAnalysis (LCCA)—A decision-making tool that can provide important information for an airport to understand long term paybacks relative to the useful life of existing and future infrastructure.

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TRB’s Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 43: Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports outlines federal environmental regulations and requirements, and identifies activities in which airport operators can be proactive in promoting environmental stewardship.

As a quick reference, summary graphics provide information pertaining to the cost and savings as well as the necessary knowledge and amount of time to implement a particular activity. In addition, there are five case studies that discuss environmental initiatives already undertaken at airports that can serve as a guide for other airports.

The report includes the collection of environmental stewardship practices in a searchable, filterable spreadsheet format on a CD-ROM, which is packaged with the report.

The CD-ROM included as part of ACRP Report 43 is also available for download from TRB’s website as an ISO image. Links to the ISO image and instructions for burning a CD-ROM from an ISO image are provided below.

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Errata

1) ACRP Report 43 contained incorrect information in Figure 2. The corrected version of Figure 2 is available online in PDF format.

2) On page 18 of the print version of the report the first two lines of text were inadvertently omitted. The online version of the report has been corrected.

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