The Atlanta Eight-Hour Ozone Attainment Demonstration 

# Appendix Q

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Reduction in Emissions of Ozone

PrecursorsThe Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internationa l Airport (HJAIA) is one of the world’s busiest airports, and a source of emissions of ozone precursors in the Atlanta metro area. The purpose of this section is to inform th e reader about the steps being taken by HJAIA to minimize emissions of ozone precursors in li ght of the fact that the activity generating the emissions is not expected to decrease . Georgia EPD does not have authority to impose equipment specific emission standards or operational standards due to federal preemption law. Therefore, minimization of emissions at HJAIA must take place on a voluntary basis as well as be an inherent portion of future HJAIA facility management plans.

According to the National Resources Defense Council,

Air pollution totals from automobiles and many major
industries have stabilized or decreased with time while aircraft continue to emit more and more ground-level ozone precursors....Although airports are major emitters of VOC and NOx, they are not regul ated like other significant air pollution sources. While the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 effectively targeted motor vehicles and industrial sources for emissions reducti ons, it left state and local officials essentially unable to control air pollution from an airport’s planes. [NRDC pages 36-37].

Sources of emissions of ozone precursors in clude aircraft, auxiliar y power units (APUs), ground support equipment (GSE), passenge r-related motor vehicles, construction, deicing, aircraft refueling, engi ne testing, fire training, boiler s, generators, fuel storage tanks, and emergency generators. Figures Q.1 and Q.2 illustrate the relationship of emissions from HJAIA with other emitting activities in the me tro Atlanta region.

Figure Q.1 2005 Actual NOx Emissions (tons per year)

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000

2005

CategoryNOx (tpy) HJAIA

Plant Bowen

Bowen Unit 1

Bowen Unit 2

Bowen Unit 3

Bowen Unit 4Figure Q.2 Relationship Between HJAIA and Motor Vehicle Emissions Budget for Metro Atlanta Region NOx Em issions (tons per summer day)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

2005 2009 HJAIA

MVEB

HJAIA has undertaken the follo wing projects to either reduce negative environmental effects associated with operating the airport or that will enhance customer service and provide an environmental benefit.

MARTA Heavy Rail Airport Station: Ridership through the MARTA Airport Station has steadily increased during the last few y ears. MARTA rail access to the airport has become extremely important for reducing passe nger vehicle trips to the airport. The station has also played a key role in ensu ring that some of the lower-wage airport employees have reliable transp ortation to and from work.

Delta Air Lines MARTA Airpor t Station Ticket Counters: One reason more Delta passengers are taking the train to the airport centers on the availability of ticket counters

in the MARTA station. The ti cket counters’ availability means that passengers are not required to carry their baggage to the Delta ti cket counters located at the east end of the terminal. Providing passengers this option makes riding the train a more viable option for passengers with luggage and helps reduce vehicle trips to the airport.

Terminal Area Roadway Improvements: Some segments of the terminal area roads, the Ground Transportation Center, and access to the parking decks were upgraded. These upgrades have resulted in traffic that fl ows more freely, reduci ng congestion on the curbfront and in the Ground Transportati on Center, which produces fewer emissions.

Parking Information Available on Ra dio Station and Airport Web Site: The Department of Aviation operate s a radio station (830 AM) that provides real-time airport status information, including park ing lot availability. This same information is available on the airport web site, atlanta-airport.com. The web site has been quite successful, logging over 138,000 hits in some months. Pr oviding this information to passengers inbound to the airport prior to reaching it allo ws passengers to plan which lot they willuse, reducing the number of passengers circlin g the terminal area roads looking for an available lot and space.

Local and Intercity Bus Service: The Department of Aviation strongly believes in ensuring that HJAIA maximizes its ability to serve as an intermodal facility, giving airport users the opportunity to use a mode of transportation other than their personal automobile. Besides MARTA heavy rail, HJAIA is served by MARTA bus service and Greyhound bus service to Columbus, Auburn, and Montgomery. Additionally, Clayton County operates bus service to Hartsfield, providing Cl ayton County residents and employees with bus acc ess to the airport.

Hartsfield Area Transportation Management Association (HATMA): The Department of Aviation is a charter memb er of HATMA. The mission of HATMA includes increasing accessibility and mobility; reducing congestion and improving air quality; and promoting economic development in the HJAIA area. A number of Fulton County-based business are HATMA members.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fueling Station: The DOA commissioned a CNG fueling station on the airfi eld’s south side in 2001.

Four-Gate Expansion of Concourse E – In 2001, four additional gates were added to Concourse E to accommodate the growth in in ternational travel. Without these gates, aircraft would have been required to pa rk remotely, away from a gate and from preconditioned air and 400 hertz po wer. When an aircraft is parked remotely, it must run its auxiliary power units continuously, creati ng emissions. Additionally, passengers have to be transported to and from the Concourse via Planemates – the airport’s diesel-fueled passenger transport vehicles.

Expediting of Critical Airfield Construction: HJAIA cannot tolerate the loss of a runway or taxiway without resulting in the delay of aircraft. Aircraft delayed on the ground produce excessive emissions. With that in mind, HJAIA has successfully expedited critical airfield construction a nd maintenance in about 60 days or less compared to 6 months using conventional construction methods.

Delta Air Lines Use of Electric Baggage Tugs: Delta Air Lines has been proactively upgrading select ground service equipment, replacing their traditional diesel engine driven equipment with electric equipment. This equipment is currently charged at a charging station located below Concourse E.

Delta Air Lines Use of Super Tugs: Delta’s hub operation requires the towing of aircraft around the airfield. Aircraft are typically towed to either reposition an aircraft from one gate to another or to taken an airc raft to the Technical Operations Center for maintenance. Previously, a mechanic certified to taxi the aircraft was used to move the aircraft, requiring that aircraft engines be started to move th e airplane. With the use of a Super Tug, a driver attaches th e tug to the nose gear and tows the airplane. While theSuper Tugs produce emissions, their emissions production is much less than that of an aircraft taxiing under its own power.

Reduce Effects of the Airport as a Heat Island: Research conducted during the 1990s demonstrated that downtown Atlanta and the HJAIA area were the two largest heat island sources in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Dark colored surfaces create surface heat

retention that leads to the likelihood of oz one formation. DOA has implemented a policy that all future construction must use light co lors on surfaces exposed to the sun to reflect sunlight and reduce surface temperature.

Taxiway N5, M14, and Intersection Upgrades: This project, completed in December 2002, is designed to enhance runway crossing capa bility and aircraft m obility in critical areas of the airfield. Allowing aircraft to move more easily results in less delay and

emissions.

No Open Burning of Vegetative Material: The Georgia EPD has mandated that no open burning shall occur during ozone season (May 1-September 30). The Department

of Aviation has chosen to take this furthe r and not permit any open burning of vegetative material. Instead, vegetation th at is cleared is mulched and used to help control erosion

and sedimentation.

Use of Clean Construction Equipment: DOA incorporates language in construction bid documents that encourages contractors to use “clean” construc tion equipment (Tier 1 or better). Recent contracts show that the contractors have been complying with this request, as equipment used on two active proj ects consists of 83 a nd 94 percent meeting Tier 1 requirements. 100 percent of the fi fth runway prime contractor’s construction equipment met either Tier 1 or, at the time, the more stringent Tier 2 requirements. The DOA continues to incorporate this language, reviewed periodically for stringency, in

construction contracts.

Fueling Carts: Aircraft refueling requires that prio r to fuel entering the aircraft, it must be filtered and the quantity put on the aircra ft measured for billing purposes. Previously, a specially equipped pick-up truck was used fo r this function, requiring the truck to be driven around the ramp to gates. Now, th e vast majority of HJAIA gates are equipped with fueling carts that perform the same f iltering and measuring ta sks, but without the emissions associated with the operation of the pick-up truck.

The following projects are either under cons truction or are anticipated to be under

construction in the near future.

Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal (MHJIT): This project will add ten gates to Concourse E and add an east terminal for local international travelers. Without the gates, aircraft would be required to park remotely from gates, resulting in a reduced passenger level of service and re quiring aircraft to run thei r auxiliary powe r units when on the ground. Additionally, passengers woul d have to be transported to/from the

Concourse via Planemates. Term inal opening is expected in 2010.Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC): The CONRAC will be located west of Interstate-85. The facility will use an automated people mover to shuttle passengers between the facility and existing terminal. Passengers using the APM will no longer be required to ride diesel-powered rental car agency shuttle buses, reducing traffic volumes

on the terminal roads and enha ncing air quality. Completion is scheduled for early 2009.

Extension of Taxiway “L”: This taxiway extension will provide air traffic controllers more flexibility to sequence aircraft depa rting from Runway 27R. Providing this flexibility will result in redu ced delay and emissions when en route conditions dictate that certain aircraft are not allowed to depart Atla nta. The embarkment for the extension is in place. The taxiway is exp ected to be operational by 2010.

Runway 8R Endaround Taxiway: This taxiway will allow Runway 26R arrivals to taxi around Runway 26L instead of crossing the runway and delaying Runway 26L departures. The reduced delay experienced by Runway 26L depart ures will result in fewer emissions produced. The taxiway, form ally, designated as Taxiway “V”, will be operational in spring of 2007.

Continued Use of Conveyor to Supply Airfield Embankment: The DOA received an environmental award from the Airports Counc il International-North America for its use of an overland conveyor to supply fill material for the airport’s fifth runway. The use of the conveyor negated the need to have dump trucks transport 17.6 million cubic yards of fill material from quarries to the constructio n site. The DOA is continuing to use the conveyor to provide fill material to raise the area between Runway 9R-27L and Runway 10-28 for future airfield development.

Recycling of Pavement: Because fill material is quite expensive, demolished pavement from the reconstruction of two runways, f our taxiway segments, and two partial ramps have been recycled or set aside for r ecycling. As of spring 2007, approximately 675,000 tons of portland cement concrete has been or will be recycled by being incorporated into

embankment.

Use of Two Departure Headings: In the summer of 2006, a second jet departure heading was added to Runway 26L. By usin g two headings, contro llers are able to increase departure throughput from Runway 26L, there by reducing queuing time of

aircraft and emissions.

Parking Pay-on-Foot: As part of the parking revenue control system project, customers will be given the option to pay on foot at a pay station located inside the terminal. By paying at one of these stations , they can then avoid queuing at a parking exit toll plaza and thereby avoid generating emissions associ ated with queuing at the plaza. This feature became operational in the fall of 2006 and is con tinuing implementation through

2007.Airlines Optimizing Fleet Mixes: Due to the high price of jet fuel, airlines are continuing to fine tune schedules and the aircra ft types to fly these schedules. With some carriers shifting their fleets to regional aircra ft, aircraft of very specific sizes can be accurately matched to a given destination by ti me of day and anticipated passenger load. Aircraft that fly with higher load factor s result in fewer emissions per passenger.

Delta Air Lines Electric Ground Serv ice Equipment Charging Stations: Delta is expanding its charging capability by constr ucting additional chargi ng stations on ramp

level at Concourse E. These stations will be completed in the spring of 2007.

Single Engine Taxi: While single engine taxi has alwa ys been recognized as a means to conserve fuel, the practice has become increasingly important due to the high cost of jet fuel. It is at the pilot’s discretion to determine when an aircraft taxis with only one engine operating.

Automatic Vehicle Identification ( AVI) in Ground Transportation Center: The Ground Transportation Center is served by s huttle buses from many hotels and other

facilities. These vehicles will dwell for excessive period s of time with their engines running. With the implementation of the AVI project in the Center, vehicles will be equipped with transponders and bus operators will be billed based on the number of times they access the Center and the amount of time they spend in the Center. Because they

will be billed for their use of the Center an d the amount of time spent within the Center,

there will be a disincentive to dwell ex cessively, thereby reducing emissions.