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

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1CHAPTER 1 Introduction Small airports and their governing boards are committed to being good neighbors, enhancing environmental efforts, and increasing public awareness of their initiatives. However, they have limited resources and staffing and, as a result, usually do not have a full-time staff environmental practitioner with intimate knowledge of the environmental arena. Additionally, there are limited technical resources available to small airports that summarize in a single document applicable federal environmental compliance requirements and opportunities to improve environmental performance. The objective of this Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports is to promote environmental awareness, identify applicable federal environmental compliance requirements, outline practices that proactively enhance environmental stewardship, and identify resources and tools that small airports can use to be proactive. For the purposes of this Guidebook, “small airports” include small hub, non-hub, reliever, and general aviation airports. However, most, if not all of the Guidebook topics are applicable to an expanded aviation industry audience including the following: • Airport managers • Airport governing boards • Airport operators • Fixed-base operators • Airport tenants • Airport consultants • National and state aviation associations • Federal and state aviation agencies • Federal and state environmental organizations 1.1 Guidebook Content The Guidebook is a reference document presenting information on environmental regulatory applicability, attaining compliance, and pursuing proactive environmental stewardship. Chapter 2 describes how a small airport can use this information to establish or build upon an existing environmental program. In Chapter 2 and each subsequent chapter, the Guidebook provides web-based links to internet sites and documents that further describe the subject matter or provide supporting information. Chapters 3 through 8 provide regulatory summaries grouped by similar subject matter. The summaries consist of high-level overviews of federal environmental compliance requirements including laws, regulations, and other directives. Citations to federal laws, regulations, and other directives are provided should a reader need to locate and review the actual text. Following each federal environmental regulatory summary is a description of general applicability to small airports. Readers should be aware that the regulatory summaries do not address environmental requirements of state and local governments, as these are beyond the Guidebook’s designated scope. Readers can use the federal environmental regulatory program summaries to assess

2 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports applicability and establish a general understanding of each program’s scope, purpose, and typical compliance requirements applicable to small airports. The Guidebook also presents compliance attainment strategies for small airport consideration. These strategies are drawn from good industry practices and the authors’ experience consulting within the aviation industry on the various topics. Additionally, the Guidebook defines commonly used key terms and acronyms. Key terms are highlighted by bold type, defined the first time they are used in each chapter, and are then presented in bold type in subsequent sections within that chapter. Key terms and acronyms are also defined in the Glossary of Terms, and the Acronyms and Abbreviations list, respectively. While the concept of proactive environmental stewardship is referenced throughout the Guidebook, Chapter 9 focuses exclusively on stewardship initiatives applicable to small airports that go beyond regulatory compliance. For the purposes of this Guidebook, “proactive environmental stewardship” is defined as a commitment to continuously and purposefully work toward reducing negative operational and development impacts on natural resources. Environmental stewardship, when considered with efforts to optimize social well-being and economic performance, generally represent the three elements of sustainability, and are often accounted for in industry with “triple bottom line” accounting methods. Appendix A presents numerous proactive environmental stewardship practices grouped by common topics. These practices may be associated with a regulatory requirement, yet they provide a definable environmental benefit; or they may not be associated with any regulatory requirement. Practices included in the Guidebook consider the unique attributes and constraints of small airports and should be selected, prioritized, and implemented based on individual circumstances. Benefits of and considerations for implementing the practices are included to assist in the selection process. The Guidebook also presents as Appendix B case studies of proactive environmental programs implemented by other airports. The case studies offer readers greater insight into the real life experiences of implementing proactive environmental stewardship practices. 1.2 Guidebook Organization The Guidebook is organized to allow the chapters and appendices to be utilized on an as-needed basis rather than requiring the text to be read in sequential order. For readers unfamiliar with environmental programs, compliance requirements, or stewardship practices, the Guidebook provides basic information and frequent cross-referencing of content to facilitate faster identification and location of desired content. This cross-referencing is centered on Table 1, which presents a matrix of common activities that could potentially result in environmental impacts at small airports and applicable environmental topics presented by chapter.

Table 1. Associated activities matrix. (continued on next page) A i r c r a f t D e i c i n g / A n t i - i c i n g A i r c r a f t O p e r a t i o n A i r c r a f t L a v a t o r y S e r v i c e A i r p o r t L a y o u t P l a n ( A L P ) C h a n g e s A u x i l i a r y P o w e r U n i t O p e r a t i o n B u i l d i n g O p e r a t i o n / M a i n t e n a n c e B u l k F u e l a n d O i l S t o r a g e / H a n d l i n g C a r g o H a n d l i n g C h e m i c a l S t o r a g e / H a n d l i n g D e g r e a s i n g D e m o l i t i o n / C o n s t r u c t i o n / D e v e l o p m e n t F i r e F i g h t i n g T r a i n i n g / T e s t i n g / F l u s h i n g G r o u n d S e r v i c e E q u i p m e n t O p e r a t i o n G r o u n d s M a i n t e n a n c e / L a n d s c a p i n g I n c i n e r a t o r O p e r a t i o n M o t o r V e h i c l e O p e r a t i o n O n - a i r p o r t P o w e r G e n e r a t i o n P a i n t i n g P a v e m e n t D e i c i n g P r o p e r t y A c q u i s i t i o n R e f u e l i n g R u n w a y R u b b e r R e m o v a l S p i l l R e s p o n s e V e h i c l e / E q u i p m e n t / A i r c r a f t M a i n t e n a n c e W a s h i n g W a s t e G e n e r a t i o n / D i s p o s a l Chapter 3 Air Quality 3.1 Jurisdictional Authority 3.2 General Regulations • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3.3 Air Pollutant Regulations • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3.4 General Conformity Regulations • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3.5 Mobile Source Regulations • • • • • • • • • • • 3.6 Stationary Source Regulations • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3.7 Regulations on Ozone Depleting Substances • • • 3.8 Airports and Greenhouse Gases • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3.9 Airports and Ultrafine Particulate Matter • • • • • • • • • • • Chapter 4 Emergency Planning and Response 4.1 Community Emergency Planning, Storage, and Release Reporting • • • • • • • • • • • • 4.2 Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure • • • • • • • • • 4.3 Pesticide Application, Certification, and Disposal • • • • • •

Table 1. (Continued) A i r c r a f t D e i c i n g / A n t i - i c i n g A i r c r a f t O p e r a t i o n A i r c r a f t L a v a t o r y S e r v i c e A i r p o r t L a y o u t P l a n ( A L P ) C h a n g e s A u x i l i a r y P o w e r U n i t O p e r a t i o n B u i l d i n g O p e r a t i o n / M a i n t e n a n c e B u l k F u e l a n d O i l S t o r a g e / H a n d l i n g C a r g o H a n d l i n g C h e m i c a l S t o r a g e / H a n d l i n g D e g r e a s i n g D e m o l i t i o n / C o n s t r u c t i o n / D e v e l o p m e n t F i r e F i g h t i n g T r a i n i n g / T e s t i n g / F l u s h i n g G r o u n d S e r v i c e E q u i p m e n t O p e r a t i o n G r o u n d s M a i n t e n a n c e / L a n d s c a p i n g I n c i n e r a t o r O p e r a t i o n M o t o r V e h i c l e O p e r a t i o n O n - a i r p o r t P o w e r G e n e r a t i o n P a i n t i n g P a v e m e n t D e i c i n g P r o p e r t y A c q u i s i t i o n R e f u e l i n g R u n w a y R u b b e r R e m o v a l S p i l l R e s p o n s e V e h i c l e / E q u i p m e n t / A i r c r a f t M a i n t e n a n c e W a s h i n g W a s t e G e n e r a t i o n / D i s p o s a l 4.4 Underground Storage Tanks • • • • • • • • 4.5 Hazardous Material Transport • • • • • • • • • • • • • Chapter 5 Noise 5.1 Part 150 Programs • • 5.2 Part 161 Access Restrictions • Chapter 6 Planning and Development 6.1 Historic, Archaeological, and Ethnological Resources • • 6.2 Environmental Protection • • 6.3 Property Transfer • • • 6.4 Public Involvement • • 6.5 Fish, Wildlife, and Plants • • • • Chapter 7 Waste Management 7.1 Hazardous Waste Regulations • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 7.2 Universal Waste Requirements • • • • • • • 7.3 Used Oil and Used Oil Filters • • • • • • • • • •

Ai r c r a f t D e i c i n g / A n t i - i c i n g A i r c r a f t O p e r a t i o n A i r c r a f t L a v a t o r y S e r v i c e A i r p o r t L a y o u t P l a n ( A L P ) C h a n g e s A u x i l i a r y P o w e r U n i t O p e r a t i o n B u i l d i n g O p e r a t i o n / M a i n t e n a n c e B u l k F u e l a n d O i l S t o r a g e / H a n d l i n g C a r g o H a n d l i n g C h e m i c a l S t o r a g e / H a n d l i n g D e g r e a s i n g D e m o l i t i o n / C o n s t r u c t i o n / D e v e l o p m e n t F i r e F i g h t i n g T r a i n i n g / T e s t i n g / F l u s h i n g G r o u n d S e r v i c e E q u i p m e n t O p e r a t i o n G r o u n d s M a i n t e n a n c e / L a n d s c a p i n g I n c i n e r a t o r O p e r a t i o n M o t o r V e h i c l e O p e r a t i o n O n - a i r p o r t P o w e r G e n e r a t i o n P a i n t i n g P a v e m e n t D e i c i n g P r o p e r t y A c q u i s i t i o n R e f u e l i n g R u n w a y R u b b e r R e m o v a l S p i l l R e s p o n s e V e h i c l e / E q u i p m e n t / A i r c r a f t M a i n t e n a n c e W a s h i n g W a s t e G e n e r a t i o n / D i s p o s a l 7.4 PCB Waste • • • • • • • 7.5 Asbestos Containing Material Management • • • • • • 7.6 Lead • • • • • • Chapter 8 Water Resources 8.1 Drinking Water • 8.2 Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activities • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8.3 Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activities • • • • 8.4 Storm Water Discharges Associated with Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8.5 Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment • • • • • • • • • 8.6 Surface Waters and Wetlands • • • Chapter 9 Other Opportunities for Proactive Environmental Stewardship 9.1 Sustainability Planning • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9.2 Other Environmental Stewardship Practices • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9.3 Environmental Stewardship Practice Financing • • • • • • • • • • • • •

6 Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports The following two examples demonstrate a step-wise process for how readers can use Table 1 to locate information of interest within the Guidebook. • Example 1 1. Identify Need: What potentially applicable federal air quality regulations are associated with my planned installation of a new diesel fuel tank and dispenser? 2. Identify Activities from Matrix: Bulk Fuel and Oil Storage/Handling 3. Identify Applicable Chapter(s) and Section(s): 3.2 General Regulations, 3.3 Air Pollutant Regulations, 3.4 General Conformity Regulations, and 3.6 Stationary Source Regulations • Example 2 1. Identify Need: What common small airport activities are associated with universal waste generation? 2. Identify Applicable Chapter(s) and Section(s): 7.2 Universal Waste 3. Identify Activities from Matrix: Building Operation/Maintenance, Chemical Storage/Handling, Demolition/Construction/Development, Grounds Maintenance/Landscaping, Spill Response, Vehicle/Equipment/ Aircraft Maintenance, and Waste Generation/Disposal The proactive environmental stewardship practices presented in Appendix A are also cross-referenced with federal environmental regulatory programs, where applicable. This enables readers to quickly locate and review regulatory information when considering practices that facilitate or go beyond regulatory requirements.