Hillsboro Airport Community Advisors Meeting 11/15/2022

November 11, 2022

The next Hillsboro Airport Community Advisors (HACA) meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 11/15/2022 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. The agenda and Zoom link for the online meeting are available here. There will be an opportunity to offer public comments.

Hillsboro Airport: One of the Top Lead-Polluting Airports in the World

Hillsboro Airport (HIO) ranks eighth out of nearly 20,000 U.S. airports in lead emissions. As a direct result of the enormous amount of HIO aviation activity, Washington County is the most lead-polluted jurisdiction in the entire state. HIO releases more than 1300 lbs of lead every single year during the landing and take-off cycle alone. Ground run-up and cruise phase emissions, including repetitive flight training operations, spew additional lead into the atmosphere. Scappoose, McMinnville, Twin Oaks, Aurora and other airports in the region also contribute to the noise and pollution generated by Oregon's publicly funded network of toxic airports.

Children are disproportionately impacted. The CDC has warned that there is no safe level of lead in a child's blood. Even small amounts of exposure to this toxin are known to contribute to diminished IQs, ADHD, learning problems, juvenile delinquency, conduct disorder, low birth weight, brain damage, and a host of other lifelong and potentially irreversible outcomes.

Adults are also negatively affected. Findings from a Lancet Public Health study revealed that 412,000 cardiovascular deaths per year in the U.S. are linked to lead contamination. In addition, lead exposure contributes to miscarriages, kidney disease, cancer, and increased violence.

Municipalities Seek Ban on Leaded Aviation Fuel

Due to the highly toxic nature of the leaded aviation fuel at airports around the country, a number of communities are urging lawmakers to follow the leadership of Santa Clara County in banning the sale and storage of leaded fuel.

The Board of the Town of Middleton, Wisconsin, a petitioner on the Endangerment Finding for Leaded Aviation Fuel, sent a letter dated October 3, 2022, to the City of Middleton requesting a ban on the sale of leaded fuel at the Morey Municipal Airport.

The Long Beach City Council is also initiating action to reduce lead emissions at the Long Beach Airport, the second most lead-polluting airport in the U.S. Some impacted residents are calling for a complete ban. See Long Beach Could Use Incentives to More Quickly Eliminate Leaded Aviation Fuel at Airport for additional details.

The Port of Portland should also ban the use of this toxic fuel. The health and well-being of community residents should take precedence over the profit motives of the Port, PCC, the flight training industry, foreign governments, private pilots and other HIO users.

Aviation Noise is a Public Health Hazard

According to the American Public Health Association, "Chronic noise, even at low levels, can cause annoyance, sleep disruption, and stress that contribute to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, metabolic disturbances, exacerbation of psychological disorders, and premature mortality. Noise interferes with cognition and learning, contributes to behavior problems, and reduces achievement and productivity. The health of more than 100 million Americans is at risk, with children among the most vulnerable. Noise-related costs range in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year."

In addition to the increased deaths and health concerns from lead and noise, other pollutants emitted by HIO, including but not limited to benzene, PM2.5, PM10, and a host of other toxins, are known to increase the risk of cancer, asthma, and respiratory illnesses as well as contribute to global warming.

Clearly, HIO poses a serious and ongoing threat to residents of this community.