AAAE, together with the Air Transport Association, ACI-NA, National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and Regional Airline Association (RAA), again have requested from the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) a 60-day extension of the comment period for the proposed Effluent Limitation Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards for the Airport Deicing Category rule. Currently, the 120-day comment period on the proposed rule closes on Dec. 28, 2009.
The five organizations previously requested the extension in September because the existing comment period falls within the air transportation industry's peak travel and deicing seasons. This extension was denied, and EPA officials stated that they felt outreach and consultation with industry in preparation for the rule had been sufficient.
The joint letter again was sent to Mary Smith, director, engineering and analysis division for the Office of Science and Technology at EPA, and copied to her superior, Ephraim King, and the project manager dedicated to this rule, Eric Strassler. The request letter was significantly more detailed, citing the large number operational issues that were not considered when drafting this proposal, as well as some of the flaws that were observed in the economic analysis.
AAAE and ACI-NA are submitting comments to the EPA on this proposal. Send any further detail on the impact this proposed rule may have on your airport by Nov. 24 to Leslie Riegle, AAAE director, regulatory affairs, at leslie.riegle@aaae.org.
