FAA Selects Airports to Participate in Vehicle Emissions Program

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the selection of 10
public-use airports to participate in the Inherently Low-Emission
Airport Vehicle (ILEAV) Pilot Program. The intent of the program is
to improve air quality at the nation's airports by encouraging the
use of alternative fuel vehicles.

The airports selected to participate in the program include:
Baltimore-Washington International, Baton Rouge Metropolitan,
Chicago O'Hare International, Dallas/Fort Worth International,
Denver International, Hartsfield Atlanta International, John F.
Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Sacramento International and
San Francisco International.

"Concern about air quality can be a barrier to capacity
improvements and the ILEAV program provides the FAA with an
opportunity to mitigate some of those concerns," said Woodie
Woodward, acting associate administrator for airports. "The
airports selected are diverse by size, location and types of
vehicles and fuels."

Under the program, each airport sponsor is eligible to receive up to
$2 million dollars in grants through the agency's Airport
Improvement Program. The grants will provide 50 percent of the
cost of low-emission vehicles as well as the cost of refueling and
recharging stations. The airports will fund the remaining costs.

Eligible vehicles include aircraft ground support equipment and
ground access vehicles, such as service and security vehicles
and parking lot shuttle buses. Alternative fuels may include
compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
gas (propane), electricity, hydrogen or a blend of fuel at least 85
percent methanol.

This program will substantially reduce ozone and carbon monoxide
levels at airports that are located in areas where the air quality
standards fail to meet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
requirement. The grants will support the purchase of 2,200
low-emission vehicles and major investments in fueling
infrastructure.

With local matching funds, the program represents a combined
$46 million investment by the government, airports and industry.
Authorized by the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and
Reform Act for the 21st Century, the program is projected to
eliminate 22,000 tons of ozone pollutants and 313,000 tons of
carbon monoxide.

Last fall, airport district offices issued a program announcement
and guidance documents to airport sponsors around the country
soliciting applications for the program with a February 9
submission date to the FAA. After regional review, 21 applications
were forwarded to Headquarters for a technical evaluation by the
FAA with assistance from the Federal Transit Administration,
Department of Energy and EPA.

FAA expects to have all 10 projects under grant no later than
mid-fiscal year 2002.