SOS | SAVE OUR SKIES ALLIANCE
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Air Quality

If there's one thing that is obvious to everyone living on the Front Range (and beyond), it is that our air quality often leaves something to be desired. There are lots of contributors to this issue, including wildfire smoke from our ever-growing wildfire season, but there are factors within our control that contribute to our air quality issues. So far this summer, Denver has been on par with Beijing for multiple days, and that shows no signs of slowing. 

Although much attention is paid to oil and gas operations, power generating stations, oil refineries, and landfills get a lot of attention for their contribution to greenhouse gases and poor air quality, aviation is a big contributor to the low air quality in the Front Range. General Aviation makes up 72% of airborne lead pollutants in Colorado as of 2017, and the number of GA flights only continues to grow year by year. 
Transportation, or mobile, emissions from trucks, trains, aeroplanes and all other motor vehicles comprise the largest single contributor to Denver’s air pollution. 
​     - IQ Air

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Environmental Impacts on Soil and Groundwater at Airports

In addition to noise, air pollution and lead from AVgas, airports present yet another health threat to surrounding communities with soil and groundwater contamination. Studies have shown the main impacts from airports occur from:
  • Fuel storage
  • Stormwater runoff and drainage systems
  • Fuel hydrant systems
  • Fuel transport and refueling
  • Atmospheric deposition
  • Rescue and fire fighting training areas
  • Winter operations
  • Electrical substations
  • Storage of chemical products by airport owners or tenants
  • Maintenance of green areas​​
The contaminants with the highest risk are the perfluorochemicals, benzene and trichloroethylene, chemicals associated with superfund sites.  
​

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and special purpose environmental laws and regulations, require environmental impact analyses of proposed airport actions that are subject to FAA decision. The environmental review process must be completed before a project commences. The FAA provides a Desk Reference guide to assist airport managers in compliance with these standards. ​
"One reason that contributes to such “biased” evaluation is the lack of systematic information about impacts to soil and groundwater from airport activities"

Further Reading

Private jets emitted more climate pollution than all flights departing Heathrow Airport in 2023
What Aspen’s Airport Expansion Could Mean for Ski Towns Everywhere: Aspen’s battle over airport expansion mirrors challenges faced by ski towns everywhere as they grapple with growth and environmental impact.
Wildlife and the inescapable impact of road noise
Who's to blame for PFAS in our drinking water? Here's what hundreds of cities say
Firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals released at Brunswick airport
EPA: Airports Violating Lead Air Quality Standards
Reduce your climate impact - Private Aircraft Climate Program
Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States 1990 – 2022
Tecnam and Rolls-Royce Scrap P-Volt Electric Aircraft
Colorado Air Quality
Denver’s Air Quality Is the 11th Worst in the U.S.
Human activity influences wildlife populations and activity patterns: implications for spatial and temporal refuges
Unfriendly skies: Piston engine aircraft pose a significant health threat: Study shows long-lasting health, economic impacts of lead emissions from U.S. general aviation flights.
    Colorado ozone air pollution spikes 48% above federal limit, state meteorologist says “definitely extreme” -  Gasoline may be re-mixed and more costly after pending EPA downgrade; Colorado state leaders withdraw one idea to cut vehicle emissions
Private jet carbon emissions are soaring. Here’s who pollutes the most.
Alaska Airlines & Delta Air Lines Caught Up In Air Pollution Lawsuit At Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Massport CEO might want to think again about ‘green’ airline fuel - The Boston Globe
Guidance on Using the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) to Conduct Environmental Modeling for FAA Actions Subject to NEPA
Effects of Noise on Wildlife
Atmospheric CO2 levels can cause cognitive impairment
Clock is ticking to clean the Front Range’s dirty air by 2027. The region’s off to a bad start this summer.
Is Noise Pollution the Next Big Public-Health Crisis?: Research shows that loud sound can have a significant impact on human health, as well as doing devastating damage to ecosystems.
Noise from traffic stunts growth of baby birds, study finds: Researchers also find zebra finches 20% less likely to hatch from eggs if exposed to noise pollution
Billionaires are responsible for large amounts of climate pollution from Hanscom, a new report finds - The Boston Globe
The EPA stopped studying the health effects of noise pollution 40 years ago. Now a Pittsfield resident is suing the agency
AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS AND STATISTICS FOR Denver
What’s polluting Colorado’s air? 125 million tons a year of heat-trapping and hazardous gases  
Pollutionwatch: ultrafine particles from aircraft engines endanger lives
US oil and gas pollution inflicts health costs far from wells – study
Private jets polluted more than all flights from Heathrow combined, study finds
Leaded gas at Middleton Airport linked to nearby water contamination
Cheap fix floated for plane vapour's climate damage
Carbon emissions from private jets jump 46% in 5 years
Multiple ozone violations recorded in Colorado’s current bad-air season, heat wave could make it worse: Environment watchdogs say 2024 monitors showing northern Front Range headed toward “extreme” violator status if trends continue
Aviation-Related Impacts on Ultrafine Particle Number Concentrations Outside and Inside Residences near an Airport
Global aviation emissions in 2019 far exceed official reports, reveals study
AOPA: Bird and Wildlife Strikes
More Than a Third of All Americans Live in Communities with ‘Hazardous’ Air, Lung Association Finds
Open Space & Mountain Parks – City of Boulder: Acoustic monitoring report: 2021
Impacts of Aviation Emissions on Near Airport Residential Air Quality
Eco-protests Target Private Aviation: A Call to Action
What Are Colorado’s Biggest Sources of Air Pollution?
City of Denver: Air Quality
Guest Commentary: Polis is deliberately allowing Colo. to face noncompliance with the Clean Air Act and it’ll be a blow to the economy 
Flight Shame in Great Barrington | When it comes to aviation, small is not beautiful.
Brought to you by concerned citizens from all across the Front Range and beyond.
  • National
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    • Affected Areas >
      • Arapahoe County >
        • City of Centennial
        • City of Cherry Hills Village
        • City of Englewood
        • City of Greenwood Village
        • City of Littleton
        • Arapahoe County Updates
      • City and County of Broomfield
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        • Town of Erie
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        • City of Colorado Springs
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        • Security-Widefield
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        • City of Arvada
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      • Larimer County >
        • Town of Berthoud
      • Pueblo County >
        • City of Pueblo
      • Weld County >
        • City of Dacono
        • Town of Firestone
        • Town of Frederick
        • City of Greeley
    • Front Range Airports >
      • Boulder Municipal Airport | BDU >
        • BDU Updates
      • Centennial Airport | APA >
        • APA Documents
        • APA Updates
      • Colorado Springs Municipal Airport | COS
      • Denver International Airport | DIA
      • Erie Municipal Airport | EIK
      • Front Range Airport | CFO
      • Greely-Weld County Airport | GXY
      • Meadow Lake Airport | FLY
      • Northern Colorado Regional Airport | FNL
      • Parkland Estates Airpark
      • Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport | BJC >
        • BJC Updates
        • BJC Documents
      • Van Aire Skyport |
      • Vance Brand Municipal Airport | LMO >
        • LMO Documents
        • LMO Updates
    • Front Range Plane Crashes
  • Background
    • News + Updates
  • Issues
    • Advanced Air Mobility
    • Aviation Safety
    • Drones
    • Economic Impact
    • Electric Aircraft
    • Environmental Impact
    • Federal Oversight
    • Health Impacts
    • Lead Exposure
    • Low-Flying Aircraft
    • Noise Pollution
    • PFAS Contamination
    • Plane Crashes
    • Private Aviation
    • Proposed Solutions >
      • HB24-1235
    • Security Issues
    • supersonic flight
  • Press
    • Front Range Media Coverage
    • National Media Coverage
    • Video Library
    • aviation perspectives >
      • 1500 Hour Rule
      • Aviation Safety
      • Federal Oversight
      • Fly Neighborly/Noise
      • NBAA Guidance
      • Pilot Mental Health
      • Pilot Shortage
      • Unleaded Fuels
  • Get In Touch + Get Involved
    • A Starting Guide for General Aviation (GA) Impacted Communities
    • Legal Resources