The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mulling new regulations under the Clean Water Act that would cover all U.S. airports that spray de-icing fluid on airplanes to avoid ice buildup in the winter. Until now, many airports have let the toxic antifreeze drip off planes into streams and rivers, polluting them with few if any repercussions.
Now, airports and other experts have until the end of the year to comment on new rules that would force them to spend tens of millions of dollars each to recover the de-icing fluid, also known as ethylene glycol, and treat it.
The story came to light in our region in 2003 when a chemical cloud formed over Gunpowder Creek, which runs off the international airport servicing Greater Cincinnati onto property that flows behind homes and drains into the Ohio River, source of area drinking supplies.
Scientists tested the stream and called it “dead”, as polluted as raw sewage. They traced the culprit to deicing fluid from the airport. An I-Team investigation found the state of Kentucky knew about this problem but wasn’t fining the airport. Instead the state let the airport’s environmental permit expire and never issued a new one.
In the years since, the airport’s spent $50 million to build pollution control recovery systems and treatment plants. And the state finally issued a new permit.
A storm water plant the airport built treats deicing fluid and cleanses it so it can be released safely back into the environment.
Homeowner Delores Burke says she can see and smell the difference. When she first moved creekside almost 60 years ago, Gunpowder Creek was clear to the bottom. Then all the fish died and the water turned murky. She says it was "Black. You could see it from the top. It was black. We were upset because it was something that God made."
But now Burke can sit on her chair swing along the banks again, enjoying the sounds of nature. Airport Operations Chief Dale Keith says “We think we've made a lot of improvements in the two to three years the storm water plant has been in existence."
The airport is keeping its eyes on the EPA’s proposed guidelines that will regulate about 200 of the nation’s larger airports. The rules target what chemicals airlines can use and how airports collect and treat the runoff. The EPA is allowing airports and other experts comment until the end of December before issuing the final regulations.
Keith says he feels the local airport’s ahead of the curve because of its investment in recent years “If there's something in there that we're not meeting, we want to try and meet it. We don't see anything at this point that's going to cause us a lot of problems."
Deloris Burke says she’s glad airports everywhere will have to comply so neighbors around the country can enjoy the beauty in their back yards.
