RELEASE: KHANNA APPLAUDS EPA RESPONSE TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY’S PETITION TO ELIMINATE LEAD POLLUTION FROM AIRCRAFT

Washington, DC – Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, applauded the EPA's response to Santa Clara County's Petition for Rulemaking to eliminate lead pollution from aircraft.

The County of Santa Clara's petition came after a study commissioned by the county on lead exposure for 13,000 children living near Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose. The study found that children living within a mile and a half of the airport had significantly higher levels of lead in their blood – those closest with twice the level seen at the height of the Flint Water Crisis.

"Putting a stop to pollution from piston-engine planes is an environmental justice and public health issue," said Rep. Khanna. "Communities surrounding airports where these planes are located are exposed to harmful pollutants every day, including at the Reid-Hillview Airport. I'm glad to see the EPA ​​grant Santa Clara County's petition to initiate the process for making an endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act for leaded aviation gasoline."

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About the Office

Congressman Khanna represents the 17th District of California, which covers communities in Silicon Valley. Visit his website at khanna.house.gov. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RepRoKhanna.