Airport Deicing Effluent Guidelines

The Federal Aviation Administration requires airlines and airports that operate during icy conditions to perform deicing and anti-icing of aircraft and airfield pavement. This ensures the safety of passengers and cargo operations. However, when performed without discharge controls in place, these deicing operations can result in environmental impacts.

Airports are required to obtain stormwater discharge permits under the NPDES program and ensure that wastes from deicing operations are properly collected and treated. In its 2004 Effluent Guidelines Plan, EPA reviewed existing permits and decided to develop effluent guidelines for the airport deicing category.

To support the effluent guidelines development, EPA is analyzing data on the engineering, economic and environmental impact aspects of airport deicing operations. Data collection activities include

airport site visits,
field sampling and analysis of airport wastewater/stormwater,
administering industry questionnaires,
consultations with other federal agencies and state agencies,
reviewing permit files and monitoring data gathered by airports, and
reviewing technical and scientific literature.

Industry Questionnaires

EPA sent questionnaires to a sample of airports and airlines in 2006 and 2007. Copies of blank questionnaire forms are available for download.

Site Visits and Wastewater Sampling

EPA visited 20 airports in 2004 and 2005 to collect information on deicing operations and wastewater generation, collection, treatment and recycling. The Agency selected several of these airports for collection of wastewater samples. Two airports were sampled in 2005 and four were sampled in 2006. The samples were analyzed for a variety of pollutants. EPA will use the data to characterize pollutants in raw wastewater prior to treatment and document the performance of wastewater treatment and recycling systems.

Schedule

EPA plans to publish a proposed rule in November 2008 and take final action by December 2009.

Background Document

This report provides information on the industry's wastewater characteristics, treatment system performance, pollution prevention and best management practices, toxicity of deicing chemicals, environmental impacts, estimated pollutant loadings and compliance costs, industry trends. It also describes existing regulations and standards and the economic conditions in the industry in the late 1990's.

Preliminary Data Summary on Airport Deicing Operations (PDF) (2.1MB, 447 pages, About PDF) (EPA-821-R-00-016, August 2000)

Contact Information

If you would like to be included on the e-mail list for this effluent guidelines project, or for more information about the project, please contact the Airport Deicing project manager.

316(b) | UNDS | NPDES