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.
“Tabled” has different usage in Canadian and US English. In Canadian (and UK) usage, it means that it’s been placed into consideration. In US English, it means that it’s been withdrawn, at least temporarily. I think in this case Russ has used the UK/Canadian meaning.
Of course, if the powers that be funded “2nd Pumps” for gasoline, most of use private owners of small planes would have been off of 100LL 40 YEARS AGO. Now it’s some sort of crisis? Meh.
This proposed timeline is in agreement with the FAA/AOPA/industry EAGLE fuels initiative. The primary goal of EAGLE appears to be postponing elimination of 100LL until 2030, and Washington state’s proposed law does that. Should we have expected differently? It’s time to field an affordable and widely available unleaded 100 octane avgas—GAMI’s G100UL, if GAMI can turn STC approval into actual widespread availability, and/or other alternatives.
I read the bill. It will actually ban 100LL in the Seattle area by 2024! Then it would progressively ban it in other areas of the state with a full ban in 2030. So it would have a BIG impact on Washington pilots.
A BIG impact on Washington pilots….and literally zero impact on public health. Of course, they will never admit that when all is said and done.
The FAA invited this when they suspended their enforcement action at reid-hillview.
Now elements in the WA legislature who are opposed to general aviation generally have a lever to kill it in the state.
It might look a litte different if UL94 and G100UL were actually available here, but denying fuel to all piston engine airplanes seems like its aimed at aircraft owners directly.