Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act

Bill: 117-hr-4068
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Introduced: 2021-06-22
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality

Arizona

Aviation and airports

California

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

District of Columbia

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Georgia

Government studies and investigations

Illinois

Intergovernmental relations

Massachusetts

Minority health

New York State

Public-private cooperation

Washington State
Latest action: action_date: 2021-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-22
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act </b></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to jointly contract with an institution of higher education to study the characteristics, distributions, sources, and potential human health effects of airborne ultrafine particles.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4068 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 Infrastructure , 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 Administration to conduct a study relating to ultrafine particles, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Airport Communities from Particle Emissions Act . 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 Administrator 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 studies 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; (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 concentrations when compared to other sources; (E) potential health effects associated with elevated UFP exposures, including outcomes related to cardiovascular disease, respiratory infection and disease, degradation of neurocognitive functions, and other health effects, 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 sustainable aviation fuels, intended to reduce emissions from aircraft and airport operations and assess potential effects on emissions related to UFPs; and (5) identify information gaps related to understanding relationships between UFP exposures and health effects, contributions of aviation-related emissions to UFP exposures, and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. (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 Administrator that the institution is qualified to conduct 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, including any source materials used; and (5) meets such other requirements as the Administrator determines necessary. (d) Coordination The Administrator may coordinate with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 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 submission of the results of the study by the institution of higher education, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 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.