Existing law, the State Aeronautics Act, governs various matters relative to aviation in the state, and authorizes the Department of Transportation to adopt, administer, and enforce rules and regulations for the administration of the act. Under existing law, a violation of the State Aeronautics Act is a crime.
This bill would prohibit an airport operator or aviation retail establishment, as defined, from selling, distributing, or otherwise making available leaded aviation gasoline to consumers, consistent with a specified timeline, as provided. The bill would exempt an airport operator or aviation retail establishment from that prohibition if the board of supervisors of the county in which the point of sale occurs has made a final, written determination
supported by clear and convincing evidence, after a noticed public hearing, that an unleaded aviation replacement fuel is not commercially available in the county. The bill would authorize an airport operator or aviation retail establishment to make a written request to the board of supervisors of a county to make the above determination, as provided.
This bill would require the department, in consultation with the State Department of Public Health and the California Environmental Protection Agency, to identify best management practices for reducing public health and environmental exposures to lead associated with airport operations. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2025, to publish on its internet website initial guidance for airport operators regarding best airport operating practices to minimize environmental and public health impacts of lead exposure. The bill would require the department to publish updated
guidance on or before July 1, 2026, as specified.
This bill would require each airport operator, on or before November 1, 2025, to submit to the department, and begin implementing, a plan to implement the best practices identified by the department to minimize environmental impacts and public health risks associated with leaded aviation gasoline use at airports. The bill would require each airport operator, by December 1, 2026, and each December 1 thereafter, to provide a status report to the department regarding its implementation of the plan, including the status of planning and investments to facilitate the supply of unleaded aviation gasoline replacement fuel at the airport, except as specified. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the State
Department of Public Health and the California Environmental Protection Agency, to offer technical assistance to each airport operator that has not submitted a plan, or that does not implement the plan submitted to the department in the manner described in the plan.
This bill would provide that a person in violation of the prohibition on selling, distributing, or otherwise making available leaded aviation gasoline to consumers is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day that leaded aviation gasoline was sold, distributed, or supplied. The bill would provide that a person who remains in violation of the requirements to submit a plan or status report to the department 30 days after the offer of technical assistance by the department is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day of continued noncompliance. The bill would also
make its provisions severable.
Because the above provisions would be a part of the State Aeronautics Act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.