Due to weather conditions, the Florida Highway Patrol has closed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Aviation and Spaceports Office
Air Quality Management
Aviation Fuel Management
Aviation Noise Management
Landfill Waste Management
Wildlife Hazard Management
Air Quality Management
Air
Quality Handbook ("Air Quality Procedures for Civilian
Airports and Air Force Bases"), provided by the FAA's
Office of Environment and Energy, is a comprehensive guide
intended to assist air quality analysts or environmental
specialists in assessing the air quality impact of FAA
or USAF actions at airports and air bases. It provides
guidance, procedures, and methodologies for use in carrying
out such assessments. Air quality assessments for proposed
federal government actions are required for compliance
with the "National Environmental Policy Act", the "Clean
Air Act" and other environmental regulations or directives.
Aviation Fuel Waste Management
Florida law prohibits dumping "sumped" aviation fuel on
the ground (soil, pavement, or waterway). Violators
are subject to a fine of up to $50,000. See Section
403.727, Florida Statutes for details.
Studies indicate that over 3 million gallons of aviation gasoline (AVGAS) are poured on aircraft parking ramps every year from sampling fuel during preflight inspection. As a pilot, fixed base operator (FBO), or aviation technician, you are required by law to dispose of your "sumped" fuel properly.
A hazardous waste is defined as being corrosive, toxic, flammable, and containing toxic amounts of lead. Waste aircraft fuel meets the definition of hazardous waste, most obviously being flammable. A previous procedure for disposal of "sumped" fuel was to throw it onto the tarmac, expecting the fuel to evaporate. This illegal practice causes air pollution, as well as possible runoff issues contaminating the soil.
Several options and devices are available to assist with the testing and proper disposal of preflight fuel. One option is the GATS (Gasoline Analysis Test Separator) jar developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A preflight procedure using the GATS jar allows the return of clean fuel back into the aircraft fuel tank and contaminated fuel to be dumped into a disposal unit located on the ramp. Several other types of fuel filtering devices are available on the market and can be purchased through aviation supply companies. Another option is to use your current fuel-testing cup but to dispose of the fuel sample into an appropriate waste fuel container.
By using new fuel testers, such as the GATS jar, environmentally responsible procedures, and properly disposing of "sumped" fuel, you are not only complying with Florida law, but you are also protecting our environment and may be saving money by returning clean fuel to your aircraft tank.
WARNING - Always "sump your tanks" prior to flight, in accordance with the normal procedures of your pilot's operating handbook. Fuel testing, or "sumping", is a necessary safety measure, and in no way should be circumvented or eliminated from your preflight inspection.
For more information, please contact:
| Ms.
Janine Kraemer Environmental Specialist Hazardous Waste Section FL Department of Environmental Protection Phone: 407-893-3323 E-mail: Janine.Kraemer@floridadep.net |
Mr. Jack Haun Director, Aircraft Maintenance Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Campus Phone: 386-226-6810 E-mail: haunj@erau.edu |
Aviation Noise Management
FAA
Aircraft Noise Issues are addressed by the Noise Division
of the Office of Environment and Energy, which provides
extensive noise-related information to include policy,
regulations, notices of rulemaking, guidance, a computerized
"Integrated Noise Model", aircraft noise levels, Reports
to Congress, and more.
FAR Part 150, Airport Noise Compatibility Planning of the Federal Aviation Regulations prescribes the procedures, standards, and methodology governing the development, submission, and review of airport noise exposure maps, and airport noise compatibility programs, including the process for evaluating and approving or disapproving those programs. It prescribes single systems for (a) measuring noise at airports and surrounding areas that generally provides a highly reliable relationship between projected noise exposure and surveyed reaction of people to noise; and (b) determining exposure of individuals to noise that results from the operations of an airport. FAR Part 150 also identifies those land uses, which are normally compatible with various levels of exposure to noise by individuals. It provides technical assistance to airport operators, in conjunction with other local, state, and federal authorities, to prepare and execute appropriate noise compatibility planning and implementation programs.
FAA Noise Compatibility Planning Toolkit implements the FAA's Land Use Planning Initiative's (LUPI) short-term recommendations to develop a land use planning information package for FAA regions. This toolkit is designed to aid regional offices in assisting state and local officials and interested organizations for airport noise compatibility planning around the nation's airports. The toolkit is organized into six sections: FAA Policies, Regulations, Programs, and Funding Sources; FAA Guidance Materials; Planning Tools; State and Local Noise Compatibility Programs; Communication Tools; and Additional Tools.
FAA Status of Airport Noise Programs website for all states and for the Florida Airport Noise Programs by the FAA's Community and Environmental Needs Division, Office of Airport Planning and Programming provide program status and grant information on airports participating in the Federal Aviation Regulation, Part 150 Noise Compatibility Planning Program.
Boeing - Airport Noise Regulations website provides an introduction to airport noise regulation information to track and report airport noise restrictions and government noise regulations for Boeing's customers. This site contains a database on noise abatement procedures and other noise-related information on about 600 airports worldwide, including Airport Noise Regulations in Florida at 24 Florida airports.
Landfill Waste Management
Rule
Chapter 62-701.320 (13) of the Florida Administrative
Code, Solid Waste Management Facilities, Permit Requirements,
General, Airport Safety section implements provisions
of the Florida Solid Waste Management Act contained in
Section IV, Resource Recovery and Management, of Chapter
403, Florida Statutes, Environmental Control. The rule
describes standards, practices, requirements, and procedures
implementing the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's
statutory obligations for construction, operation and
closure of solid waste management facilities in the vicinity
of public-use airports.
62-701.320 (13) Airport Safety
(a) Applicability. This subsection applies to those solid waste management facilities constructed after January 6, 1993, as well as lateral expansions of facilities, which were constructed prior to January 6, 1993. For purposes of this subsection, an "airport runway" does not include facilities used solely for helicopters or other aircraft, which take off and land vertically.
(b) Solid waste management facilities where waste is stored, disposed, or processed outdoors, shall not be located within 10,000 feet of any licensed and operating airport runway used by turbine powered aircraft, or within 5,000 feet of any licensed and operating airport runway used only by piston engine aircraft, unless the applicant demonstrates that the facility is designed and will be operated so that it does not pose a bird hazard to aircraft.
(c) Applicants proposing to construct new landfills within a six mile radius, and applicants proposing to construct lateral expansions of existing landfills within a five-mile radius, of any licensed and operating airport runway used by turbine powered or piston engine aircraft shall notify the affected airport, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Florida Department of Transportation when the application is filed with the Department, and shall provide evidence of such notification to the Department.
(d) The following facilities are exempt from the requirements of this subsection:
1. Enclosed solid waste management facilities where waste is received and processed indoors, where all waste or residue is removed by enclosed or covered vehicles, and where putrescible waste is not processed, stored, or otherwise managed outdoors except in enclosed or covered vehicles;
2. Recovered materials processing facilities;
3. Yard trash processing facilities;
4. Land clearing debris disposal facilities;
5. Ash monofills;
6. Construction and demolition debris disposal or recycling facilities which are not co-located with other solid waste disposal facilities accepting putrescible wastes; and
7. Any other solid waste management facility, which does not accept putrescible waste for disposal, processing, or recycling.
For additional information regarding the location of sanitary landfills in the vicinity of public-use airports also see the following:
Wildlife Hazard Management
FAA
Airport Wildlife Hazard Mitigation website by the
William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center provides extensive
information for users to better understand and to practice
wildlife hazard mitigation at airports through wildlife
control. The site also includes FAA
Form 5200-7 Bird/Other Wildlife Strike Report, access
to the National
Wildlife Strike Database of strikes to civil aircraft
in the United States 1990-2001, and a link to the U.S.
Air Force's Bird/Wildlife Airstrike Hazard (BASH) Team research
and database website.
Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports is a manual that has been prepared by Edward C. Cleary, U. S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration and Richard A. Dolbeer, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. This handbook is designed to inform airport personnel about the scope of the wildlife strike problem and to serve as a ready reference regarding legal authority, regulations and the development, implementation and evaluation of Wildlife Hazard Management Plans for airports.
FAA
AC 150/5200-33 Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or near
Airports
This Advisory Circular by the Federal Aviation
Administration provides guidance on locating certain land
uses having the potential to attract hazardous wildlife
to or in the vicinity of public-use airports. It also
provides guidance concerning placement of new airport
development projects (i.e. airport construction, expansion,
and renovation) pertaining to aircraft movement in the
vicinity of hazardous wildlife attractants.
