Washington State legislators have tabled a bill that would ban the sale of leaded aviation fuel in the state by 2030. The bill was introduced in the House and has been referred to committee. It has a long way to go before it’s law but if it survives the process, the phased-in ban would begin with select airports in the Seattle area and spread to less densely populated areas over the ensuing four years.
It would also require airports selling leaded gas in the meantime to “submit and implement a plan to minimize lead exposures based on Ecology’s guidance and best practices identified by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, beginning November 1, 2024, and to develop a plan and budget to finance aircraft fueling infrastructure improvements to allow for the supply of unleaded aviation gasoline on the same timeline as the phase-out of leaded gasoline.”
A coalition of aviation groups have written a letter opposing the bill, urging the lawmakers to allow the plans already in place to permit the orderly and safe phase-out of lead nationwide. The group said general aviation is already working with the FAA and EPA to get lead out of fuel and the Washington bill won’t help that effort. “The premature effort of phasing out leaded avgas in HB1554 will not support this initiative and could have negative consequences on aviation safety in the State of Washington and hinder progress by causing distraction and redirecting resources,” the letter reads.
