OLDHAM COUNTY CITIZENS– “JUST SAID NOA!”

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“NO OLDHAM AIRPORT”……..Say Survey Respondents.

 

ETC Institute (a survey company based in Olathe, Kansas) presented the results of a county-wide airport survey to the Oldham County Fiscal Court, on Tuesday, February 3rd.  Here is a synopsis of the results:

 

• Of the 1200 surveys distributed throughout the county, 539 (45%) were returned and included in the survey.  This, according to the survey company was remarkably high for any survey.
• The survey’s level of confidence was greater than 96%.
• The demographics of the survey recipients mirrored that of the county as a whole.
• 90% of the respondents have heard about the airport initiative.
• 70% of the respondents do not support the development of an airport; 17% support an airport; and 13% were either neutral or unsure.
• 65% of the respondents would not support the airport, even if local taxes were not increased;  22% would support it under this condition; and 13% were neutral or unsure.
• 89% of the respondents would not support the airport if it resulted in additional long-term taxes; 7% would support it even under this condition; and 4% were neutral or unsure.
• 71% of the respondents do not want any more state department of aviation funds spent on studying the airport initiative; 18% would support spending more money for more studies; and 11% were neutral or unsure.
• ETC stated the survey shows the citizens of Oldham County will not support the construction of a general aviation airport in Oldham County.

The fiscal court expects the airport board to make a recommendation on what to do in light of this survey, and will take action on the airport initiative in two weeks (February 17th).  It is expected the airport board will recommend termination of the Oldham County Airport Initiative, and dissolution of itself.  While it appears the airport initiative is dead, it requires the fiscal court’s vote to make it so.  Until that happens….anything can happen.

 

In a few days, the complete airport survey presentation is supposed to be available for you to view on the Oldham County Government website, www.oldhamcounty.net.

ARE WE LETTING LEADED GAS BACK INTO OLDHAM COUNTY?

 

Lead Content in Avgas Poses Major Health Concern

Our discussion about a general aviation airport for Oldham County has focused on economics, the impact on property values, and the impact of noise pollutions.  However, the lead content in general aviation gas, poses a major health concern that must be addressed.

The phase out of leaded gas began in 1975 and it was completely banned by the EPA in 1996.  However, this ban applied only to trucks and automobiles, not piston-driven general aviation aircraft.  So, for the past 12 years, general aviation aircraft have continued to burn leaded aviation gas (avgas), and emit lead into our environment.  While the FAA has been working to replace avgas with unleaded fuel, it has been doing so for over 20 years.  Unfortunately, there is no indication that a workable solution will be forthcoming in the near future.  In fact, in May of 2008, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, urged caution in imposing further restrictions on the use of lead in aviation gasoline, stressing that no simple alternative exists for leaded aviation gasoline (1). 

It is not the intent of this paper to discuss the political rationale for the EPA’s decision to exclude general aviation aircraft from the original leaded fuel phase out, why the EPA has failed to set a lead emission standard for aircraft, or why the FAA hasn’t been able to come up with a viable alternative fuel for general aviation aircraft.  It is the intent of this paper to provide factual information about lead, its effects on our children, and how much lead is being emitted by general aviation aircraft.

How does lead affect our children?

I think we can all agree that lead is harmful to the human body.  However, it is our children who are most at risk because they begin to suffer ill effects from lead at very low exposure levels.  Here’s why:

1.     Children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths that can have lead contaminates, such as dirt, food, and toys (2).
2.         A child’s growing body absorbs more lead—about 40 -50% more than an adult’s body (3).
3.        Children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

What Are the Effects of Long-Term Lead Poisoning?

Lead poisoning may lead to a variety of health problems in children, including:

1. poor muscle coordination
2. decreased bone and muscle growth
3. damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and/or hearing
4. speech and language problems
5. developmental delay
6. seizures and unconsciousness (in cases of extremely high lead levels) (3)

How much is too much lead exposure?

Back in the fifties and sixties, the American medical community generally felt that a person could absorb about 60 micrograms of lead (a microgram is one millionth of a gram) per one-tenth of a liter of blood before demonstrating signs of lead poisoning, such as convulsions.  Since the average adult has about 5 liters of blood, a grown person could absorb about 3000 micrograms of lead before showing signs of lead poisoning.

By the nineties, the Center for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the EPA and the National Academy of Sciences have agreed that the ill-health effects begin when an adult body absorbs 10 micrograms of lead per one-tenth liter of blood, or about 500 micrograms of lead in the body (4).

How much lead do General Aviation aircraft emit?

·         In every gallon of avgas, there is 2.1 grams of lead, according to Shell Oil, a producer of avgas.   Lead is not consumed in the engine combustion process, so it is exhausted into the environment.

 

·         In 2002, the EPA’s National Emissions Inventory (NEI) estimated the annual emissions from the use of leaded aviation gasoline amounted to 491 tons, which represents 29 % of all the leaded air pollution emissions (5).  While this fact is sobering, it isn’t particularly useful because it doesn’t tell us how much lead emissions occur over Kentucky.

 

·         In May, 2008, the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, the EPA published a revision to the NEI (6).  This new document estimated the annual amount of lead emissions for piston-engine powered aircraft at over 3,000 airports across the U.S.  However, the EPA only estimates the lead emitted during the takeoff and landing phases of flight.  So, much of the lead emissions generated by aircraft (engine runs, cross country flights, or basically, any flying done away from an airport) still goes unreported and unmeasured.  While the EPA’s newly revised document falls short in measuring the total amount of lead pollution, it does give us an idea of the potential lead exposure in and around airports. 

 

o   In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, during takeoffs and landings, general aviation piston-powered aircraft produced over 4,000 pounds of lead emissions annually. 

 

o   Bowman Field accounts for over 475 pounds, which is the second highest amount in the state. 

 

It would be nice to believe that all this lead simply goes away. Fortunately, part of the lead emissions break down quickly.  Unfortunately, other lead particles can hang around for a long time.

 

What happens to the lead emissions from general aviation aircraft?

Some lead particles (inorganic lead & lead halides) can remain airborne for about 10 days, and can be transported far from the original source (7).  Eventually, lead particles will be deposited on soil and water surfaces.  In the soil, lead does not break down rapidly.  In water, lead attaches to other sediments.  Lead particles can just as easily land on playground equipment, sandboxes, bicycles, and anything else found outdoors.

Is there really a risk associated with lead emissions?  Here’s what the EPA says:

“Lead particles can remain airborne for some time following the initial introduction into the atmosphere. Therefore, residents in the vicinity of [auto] race tracks and general aviation airports where leaded gasoline is still being used as fuel may have an increased risk of lead exposure,” (8)

 

To say that lead emissions from general aviation aircraft are not a serious problem would be a disservice to the residents of Oldham County.  If our fiscal court decides to build an airport in Oldham County, then a by-product of this decision is an increased risk of lead exposure for those who live near the airport.

 

 

References

1.  “AOPA, Greens Battle Over Lead in Avgas,” Kerry Lynch, The Weekly in Business Aviation, Mar 24, 2008.

2.  “Lead Compounds Hazard Summary,” U.S. EPA (April 1992, modified January 2000), available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/lead.html.

 

3.  “The Secret History of Lead, “Jamie Lincoln Kittman, from The Nation, Mar 20, 2000.

4.  “Lead Poisoning, Dr. Kate M. Kronan, “Kid’s Health”, June 2006, available at http://www.kidshealth.org/parents/medical/brain/lead.

5.  EPA National Emissions Inventory, 2002.

6. “Revised Airport Specific Lead Emissions Estimates,” Memorandum from Hoyer, Manning, and Irvine, USEPA to the Lead Ambient Air Quality Standards Docket, dated May 14, 2008, Table 1.

7.  Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Program, National Action Plan for Alkyl-lead, U.S. EPA, June 2002.

8.  NASCAR scheduled all its series racing to use lead free fuel by the end of 2007.

NOA MEETING, Thursday, August 14th

The next NOA meeting will be Thursday, August 14th, at 6:30 p.m., at the LaGrange Community Center.  The center is located at 307 West Jefferson Street in LaGrange.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss plans for NOA activities in the months of August and September.  Please plan on attending this meeting; we still need a large number of volunteers this month for the petition drive.

SPENCER COUNTY DROPS AIRPORT INITIATIVE–AND MORE!

It’s been almost two months since the Oldham County Airport Board last met.  Unfortunately, nothing much was learned at their April 4^th meeting.  In fact, the airport board has taken no substantive action since February.  They have made no apparent headway in securing the finances required to launch an economic impact study.  There is no progress on an airport business plan.  There has been no improvement in communications between the airport board and the citizens of Oldham County.

 

NOA continues to look at economic issues surrounding the construction of an airport.  If you haven’t been to the NOA website in awhile, I would encourage you to at least read the Executive Summary of an article entitled, “The Announcement Effect of an Airport Expansion on Housing Prices.  This study was conducted by the Bryan School of Business & Economics, University of North Carolina.  The results of that study indicated that houses within a 2.5 mile radius of the Greensboro/Winston Salem airport declined approximately 9.2% with the announcement of building a 3^rd runway.  In the next 1.5 mile band, house prices declined about 5.7%.  This occurred where there was already a very active airport!  So, you certainly have reason to worry about when the Oldham County Airport Board will announce an airport site, and where it will be.

 

Meanwhile, in nearby Spencer County, the Fiscal Court heard the will of the people and has decided not to build an airport.  In fact, they will introduce legislation on June 16^th to formally dissolve the Spencer County Airport Board.  I would highly recommend you take a look at the article written in the Spencer Magnet, “Airport Board Dissolved.”  You can find it at www.spencermagnet.com.  Click on the “headlines” tab. 

 

More importantly, please visit www.kyfarms.org.  Click on the GRA analysis link, and you will see another economic impact study that indicates a General Aviation airport is a losing proposition.  It is my opinion that this analysis was also a critical factor in helping the Spencer County Fiscal Court make the right decision.

 

NOA has been in contact with GRA, Incorporated since March.  While Oldham County has some unique issues to work through, NOA believes the results of a GRA study of a proposed airport in Oldham County would be similar to the findings in Spencer County—as well as the one done for Shelby County in 2005.  However, it will take $8,000 – $10,000 in pledges before we can commission a study.  Currently, NOA has received nearly $6,000 in pledges, so we are getting close.  We are asking everyone to make an email pledge to:  jpearsonnoa@yahoo.com.   No money will be collected until we have enough to do the study.  No pledge is too small, so please consider helping fund this important study!

 

We have a window of opportunity to commission an economic impact study from a highly respected firm that provides economic counsel to the transportation industry.  While there is no guarantee that our Fiscal Court will listen to the GRA experts, we do know that our Fiscal Court has chosen not to listen to us.

 

 

Jim Pearson

NOA Executive Director

Money Matters

NOA is commitment to provide you with factual, well documented information that shows why an airport in Oldham County is not a good idea.  A well informed public is the first major step in defeating this airport initiative.  We have a dedicated group of researchers and analysts, with the expertise in aviation, aircraft maintenance, and air traffic control.  We also have research specialists in environmental and real estate issues.   

To provide you with this quality information, we use multiple forms of communication.  While our website is the focal point of our communication network, we also rely on media ads, flyers, and newspaper articles.  Needless to say, this takes money, and we appreciate any donations you can make. 

 Please make checks out to No Oldham Airport.  Donations can be mailed to: 

NOA

P.O. Box 373

Crestwood, KY 40014. 

Every dollar counts and no amount is too small.  Although donations are not tax deductible, your contribution will help us defeat the airport initiative, and keep you from paying more taxes to support general aviation airport.  Thanks so much for your support.  

Jim Pearson

NOA Executive Director

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• Next Fiscal Court Meeting:  Tuesday, March 4th, at 2:00 p.m., in the Oldham County Fiscal Court Building, second floor.  This is your chance to make a public comment.  Warning…..Judge/Executive Murner keeps a mean stopwatch going–you have 4 minutes to speak your mind!

• Next Airport Board Meeting:  Wednesday, March 5th, at 4:30 p.m., in the Oldham County Fiscal Court Building, second floor.  The Agenda should include an update on financing for the multiple studies the board believes are necessary before proceeding with airport selection.  Should be an interesting meeting!

Big Meeting Tuesday Night!

Community Forum Event on Tuesday, January 29th, at the John Black Community Center, in Buckner.

It’s an open forum, from 6 to 8 p.m., and NOA encourages everyone to stop by and tell the magistrates that they don’t want an Oldham County Airport.