Lieu Legislation That Addresses Environmental Concerns From South Bay Residences Passes In Commitee

Sacramento, CA – The Assembly Natural Resources Committee approved AB 2501 late Monday, April 24, 2006 authored by Assemblyman Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance) that will gather crucial data to address air pollution problems.

AB 2501 would require the Santa Monica Airport to monitor and record the taxi and idle times of taxis and jet operations for one year as well as makes the data available to the public.

“About one third of the residences in the 90405 zip code live under the flight path of the Santa Monica Airport,” said Lieu. “Ocean breezes carry the jet emissions into the residential neighborhoods to the east of Santa Monica Airport replacing the ocean breeze with the odor and harmfulness of jet kerosene.”

In recent years, the Santa Monica Airport has increased its annual jet operations from about 1,000 in 1983 to more than 18,000 today. As the Santa Monica Airport grows, so do the problems resulting from larger jet aircraft and the pollution caused by them.

One of many factors for the increase of jet air pollution is a Federal Aviation Administration requirement that Santa Monica Airport aircraft must wait for Los Angeles International Airport’s permission before take off. This has created departure delays at Santa Monica Airport, requiring jet aircraft to idle for longer periods of time with their engines running while awaiting permission from LAX to take off.

“We are asking Santa Monica to do the minimum to address the concerns of the surrounding communities in regards to the air pollution from the idling jets,” said Martin Rubin, director of Concern Residents Against Airport Pollution. “AB 2501 will allow an accurate modeling study that will show the extent of the air pollution that is carried into the communities.”

AB 2501 will provide the data to illustrate a more accurate picture of how long aircraft is idling and taxiing on the runways, and provide the needed information for further studies on how specific jet operations are affecting nearby residences. AB 2501 will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the following weeks.