Senate Approves Bill to Reduce Lead & Noise Pollution Caused by Aviation
DENVER, CO – Today the Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, and Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, to protect communities from aviation lead and noise pollution.
HB24-1235 would help ensure communities are protected from aviation noise and lead pollution by requiring airports to have effective noise mitigation plans and easing the transition to unleaded fuels for aircraft owners and airports.
“Over the last few years, I have received countless constituent emails, phone calls, and town hall questions about pervasive noise and lead pollution caused by aviation,” Fenberg said. “Time and time again, impacted Coloradans were told that due to federal preemption, there was nothing that could be done to protect them from these negative impacts. This year, we got creative and came up with a bill that asks airports to do their part to reduce aviation noise while supporting them in their transition away from leaded fuels. However, this marks just the first step in meaningfully addressing the problem. There’s much more work ahead to ensure impacted communities and regional airports can coexist in Colorado.”
“Communities I represent in Jefferson County are experiencing firsthand the effects of aviation noise and lead pollution,” said Zenzinger. “These adverse impacts take a toll on a person’s well-being and simply shouldn’t have to be a part of life for folks living near regional airports like Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. This important bill is our response to community concerns to help neighborhoods and airports find a way to coexist, protect the health of Coloradans, and make sure our state remains a great place to live and raise a family.”
HB24-1235 would:
Incentivize aircraft owners to transition their planes from using leaded to unleaded fuel by providing a refundable income tax credit for qualifying expenses;
Designate up to $1.5 million of State Aviation System grant funding per year to aid in the transition away from leaded fuel while expanding the allowable uses of the grant program to include funding for infrastructure that will accelerate the transition away from leaded fuel;
Require grant recipients to adopt a plan for phasing out sales of leaded gasoline by 2030 and enforce a noise abatement plan;
Expand the Colorado Aeronautical Board to add two members who are residents of communities affected by aviation; and
Require the Division of Aeronautics to work with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to evaluate, educate, and provide technical assistance to airports regarding adverse impacts of aircraft noise and leaded aviation fuel.
Leaded fuel, commonly used by small aircraft owners, recreation pilots and pilots-in-training, is a leading source of lead emissions. Elevated lead exposure has adverse effects on kidney function, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system, and is proven to have detrimental impacts on children’s brains and nervous systems.
HB24-1235 now moves to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Track its progress HERE.