THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
RUG -4 P333 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 16, provides: 
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
The serious ground level ozone, noise, water pollution, and solid waste disposal problems 
attendant to airport operations require a thorough evaluation of all significant sources of 
pollution. 
In the United States, a study of air pollution problems has determined that airports are 
significant sources of air pollution and has led to the creation of an airport bubble concept. The 
airport bubble concept is an approach that treats an airport and the area within a specific radius 
around the airport as a single source of pollution that emits a range of pollutants, including air, 
noise, water, and solid waste and seeks, by implementation of specific programs or regulations, 
to reduce the pollution from each source within the bubble and the overall pollution in that area. 
Hence, this bill seeks to require the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to 
conduct a feasibility study for applying airport bubbles as a method for identifymg, assessing, 
and reducing the adverse environmental impacts of airport ground and flight operations and 
improving the overall quality of the environment. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO 
CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR APPLYING AIRPORT BUBBLES AS A 
METHOD OF IDENTIFYING, ASSESSING, AND REDUCING THE ADVERSE 
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE AIRPORT GROUND AND FLIGHT OPERATIONS 
AND IMPROVING THE OVERALL QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Right to Know About Airport 
Pollution Act.” 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to require the Secretary. of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct - 
(1) a feasibility study for applying airport bubbles to airports as a method of 
assessing and reducing, where appropriate, air, noise, water, and solid waste pollution i n  and 
around airports and improving overall environmental quality; and 
(2) a study of pollutant emission standards for airplane engines to determine 
whether it is feasible and desirable to strengthen the standards. 
SECTION 3. Definitions. - In this Act - 
(1) SECRETARY - The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of thi Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources. 
(2) ALRPORT BUBBLE - The term “airport bubble” means an area 
(A) in and around an airport (or other facility using aircraft) within which 
sources of pollution and levels of pollution from those sources are to be identified 
and reduced: 


(B) containing a variety of types of air, noise, water, and solid waste 
sources of pollution in which the aggregate of each type of pollutant from the 
respective sources is regulated as if the various sources were a single source. 
SECTION 4. Study of Using Airport Bubbles. - 
(1) IN GENERAL - The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the 
feasibility of regulating air, noise, water, and solid waste pollution from all sources in and around 
airports using airport bubbles. 
(2) WORKING GROUP - In conducting the study, the Secretary shall establish 
and consult with a working group comprised of - 
(A) the Administrator of the Airport Transportation Office (or a designee); 
(B) the Secretary of Defense (or a designee); 
(C) the Secretary of Transportation (or a designee); 
(D) a representative of environmental research groups; 
(E) an airport manager; 
(F) a representatives of the bus lines that serve airports who is familiar 
with the emissions testing and repair records of those buses, the schedule of those 
liens, and any problems with delays in service caused by traffic congestion; 
(G)a representative of the taxis and limousines that serve airports who is 
familiar the with the emissions testing and repair records of the taxis and 
limousines and the volume of business generated by the taxis and limousines; 
(H) a representative of law enforcement agencies or other entities 
responsible for traffic conditions in and around airports; 
(I) a representative of environmental specialists from airport authorities; 
and 
(J) a representative from an aviation union representing ground crews. 
(3) REQUIRED ELEMENTS -In conducting the study, the Secretary shall - 


(A) collect, analyze, and consider information on the variety of stationary 
and mobile sources of air, noise, water, and solid waste pollution within airport 
bubbles around airports in the country, including - 
(i) aircraft, vehicles, and equipment that service aircraft (including 
main and auxiliary engines); and 
(ii) buses, taxis, and limousines that serve airports; 
(B) study a statistically significant number of airports serving commercial 
aviation in a manner designed to obtain a representative sampling of such airports; 
(C) consider all relevant information that is available; 
(D) consider the air quality implications of airport and ground and in- 
flight aircraft operations, such as routing and delays; 
(E) assess the role of airports in domestic and international travel and 
commerce and the environmental and economic impact of regulating airports as 
significant sources of air, noise, water, and solid waste pollution; 
(F) propose boundaries of the areas to be included within airport bubbles; 
(G) propose a definition of air pollutant emissions for airport bubbles that 
includes hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and other ozone precursors 
targeted for reduction under existing air pollution law; 
(H) develop an inventory of each source of air, noise, water, and solid 
waste pollution to be regulated within airport bubbles and the level of reduction 
for each source; 
(I) list and evaluate programs that might be implemented to reduce air, 
noise, water and solid waste pollution within airport bubbles and the 
environmental and economic impact of each of the programs, incIuding any 
changes to relevant laws (including regulations) that would be required for 
implementation of each of the programs; 
(J) evaluate the feasibility of regulating air, noise, water, and solid waste 
pollutants in and 
around airports using airport bubbles and make 


recommendations regarding which programs should be included i n  an effective 
implementation of airport bubble methodology; and 
(K) address the issues of air and noise pollution source identification and 
regulations that are unique to military air bases and stations. 
(4) REPORT - Not later than three (3) years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the results and recommendations 
of the study required by this section. 
SECTION 5. Study ofEmission Standards for Airplane Engines. - 
(1) IN GENERAL - The Secretary shall conduct a study of air pollutant emission 
standards for airplane engines to determine whether it is feasible and desirable to strengthen the 
standards. 
(2) REPORT -Not later than two (2) years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the results and recommendations of 
the study required by this section. 
SECTION 6. Progress Reports. - Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter until the reports under sections (4) and (5) are submitted, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that details the progress being made by the Secretary 
in carrying out sections (4) and (5). 
SECTION 7. Reporting of Toxic Chemical Releases. - Not later than one hundred eighty 
(1 80) days after the d ate o f enactment o f t his Act, the S ecretary shall promulgate regulations 
requiring each airport that regularly serves commercial or military jet aircraft to report releases 
and other waste management activities associated with the manufacturing, processing, or other 
use of toxic chemicals, including toxic chemicals manufactured, processed, or otherwise used - 
(1) during operation and maintenance of aircraft and other motor vehicles at the 
airport; and 
(2) in the course of other airport and airline activities. 


SECTION 8. Funding. - The Secretary shall cany out this Act using existing funds 
available to the Secretary. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not othenvise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1854