I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4068 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct 
a study relating to ultrafine particles, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 22, 2021 
Mr. SMITH of Washington (for himself, Mrs. STEEL, Mr. PETERS, Ms. MENG, 
Mr. SUOZZI, Ms. NORTON, and Ms. JAYAPAL) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration to conduct a study relating to ultrafine particles, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Airport 
Communities from Particle Emissions Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. AIRBORNE ULTRAFINE PARTICLE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, jointly with the Adminis-
trator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall enter 
into an agreement with an eligible institution of higher 
education to conduct a study examining airborne ultrafine 
particles and their effect on human health. 
(b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—The study conducted under 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) summarize the relevant literature and stud-
ies done on airborne ultrafine particles worldwide; 
(2) focus on large hub commercial airports in— 
(A) Seattle; 
(B) Boston; 
(C) Chicago; 
(D) New York; 
(E) the Northern California Metroplex; 
(F) Phoenix; 
(G) the Southern California Metroplex; 
(H) the District of Columbia; and 
(I) Atlanta; 
(3) examine airborne ultrafine particles and 
their effect on human health, including— 
(A) characteristics of UFPs present in the 
air; 
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(B) spatial and temporal distributions of 
UFP concentrations; 
(C) primary sources of UFPs; 
(D) the contribution of aircraft and airport 
operations to the distribution of UFP con-
centrations when compared to other sources; 
(E) potential health effects associated with 
elevated UFP exposures, including outcomes re-
lated to cardiovascular disease, respiratory in-
fection 
and 
disease, 
degradation 
of 
neurocognitive functions, and other health ef-
fects, that have been considered in previous 
studies; and 
(F) potential UFP exposures, especially to 
susceptible and vulnerable groups; 
(4) identify measures, including the use of sus-
tainable aviation fuels, intended to reduce emissions 
from aircraft and airport operations and assess po-
tential effects on emissions related to UFPs; and 
(5) identify information gaps related to under-
standing relationships between UFP exposures and 
health effects, contributions of aviation-related emis-
sions to UFP exposures, and the effectiveness of 
mitigation measures. 
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(c) ELIGIBILITY.—An institution of higher education 
is eligible to conduct the study if the institution— 
(1) is located in one of the areas identified in 
subsection (b); 
(2) applies to the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration in a timely fashion; 
(3) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Ad-
ministrator that the institution is qualified to con-
duct the study; 
(4) agrees to submit to the Administrator, not 
later than 2 years after entering into an agreement 
under subsection (a), the results of the study, in-
cluding any source materials used; and 
(5) meets such other requirements as the Ad-
ministrator determines necessary. 
(d) COORDINATION.—The Administrator may coordi-
nate with the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
and any other agency head whom the Administrator deems 
appropriate to provide data and other assistance necessary 
for the study. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after submis-
sion of the results of the study by the institution of higher 
education, the Administrator shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
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Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
study including the results of the study submitted under 
subsection (c)(4) by the institution of higher education. 
(f) DEFINITION.—In this Act, the terms ‘‘ultrafine 
particle’’ and ‘‘UFP’’ mean particles with diameters less 
than or equal to 100 nanometers. 
Æ 
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