P1 1WHEREAS, Aviation gasoline, or avgas as it is commonly
2known, is utilized in general aviation aircraft that are powered by
3internal combustion reciprocating piston engines; and
4WHEREAS, Avgas is a leaded fuel and its combustion results
5in toxic air emissions of lead; and
6WHEREAS, According to the United States Environmental
7Protection Agency (EPA), the operation of general aviation aircraft
8is the greatest source of lead emissions in California; and
9WHEREAS, Lead that is emitted into the air can be inhaled or,
10after it settles out of the air, ingested. Ingestion of lead that has
11settled onto surfaces is the main way children are exposed to lead
12originally released in the air; and
13WHEREAS, Once in the body, lead is rapidly absorbed into the
14bloodstream and results in a broad range of health effects. Public
15health officials have concluded that there is no safe level of
16exposure to lead; and
17WHEREAS, Children are especially susceptible to the toxic
18effects of lead. Exposure to lead can result in irreversible brain
19damage and reduce a person’s cognitive function; and
20WHEREAS, Exposure to low levels of lead early in life have
21been linked to effects on a person’s intelligence quotient (IQ),
22learning, memory, and behavior; and
23WHEREAS, Lead has been successfully removed from many
24consumer goods, including household paint and toys. Lead was
25successfully phased out of automobile gas in California in 1992;
26and
P2 1WHEREAS, The EPA adopted a similar program that phased
2lead out of automobile gasoline nationwide in 1996. However,
3despite successes of lead removal programs, avgas remains a public
4health threat due to its high lead content and toxic air emissions;
5and
6WHEREAS, Lead content of avgas is regulated at the federal
7level. All fuels for air transportation must be certified as safe by
8the Federal Aviation Administration; and
9WHEREAS, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
10together with the EPA has developed a goal to identify a viable
11unleaded avgas by 2018, which will ultimately eliminate lead
12emissions from piston engine aircraft; now, therefore, be it
13Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
14supports the FAA’s initiative to certify safe unleaded aviation fuel
15for piston engine aircraft and encourages the FAA and the EPA
16to prioritize the development and certification of unleaded aviation
17fuel in advance of 2018; and be it further
18Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
19this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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