OREANDA-NEWS. June 10, 2014. In response to USC’s recently released air quality study, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has issued the following statement:

LAWA officials have not had the opportunity to review the USC study.  However, in January 2014, LAWA completed a multi-year LAX Air Quality Source Apportionment Study, which was one of the most extensive air-quality studies ever performed at an airport. That study and its results are available at www.lawa.org/airqualitystudy .  Some of the key findings of that study:

All major pollutants were below National Ambient Air Quality Standards & California Ambient Air Quality Standards

Air toxics are comparable or lower than elsewhere in the South Coast Air Basin

Air pollutant concentrations show sharp decreases as distance from the source of emissions increases.

Based on data analysis from first season sampling, a supplemental study was conducted to further investigate Ultrafines (UFP) sources.  The following was determined:

Larger UFP particles indicated an association with vehicle emissions.

Smaller UFP particles indicated an association with jet exhaust and possibly secondary particles.

 LAWA cannot directly control aircraft-related emissions.  But, LAWA has taken steps to reduce emissions that are within our responsibility and influence. Some of our accomplishments to reduce the amount of air pollution from airport operations include: 

Aircraft-related:

All LAX aircraft gates are fitted with electrical connections to allow parked planes to use electricity from the airport and to shut off their aircraft engines to reduce unnecessary emissions while on the ground.

Airline use of electric ground-handling service vehicles for aircraft towing, catering, baggage carts/tows, etc.        
   
Vehicle-related:

LAX shuttle buses and many rental car, hotel, and other courtesy vehicles are clean-air, natural-gas-powered to reduce particulate emissions compared to diesel engines.

To reduce the number of vehicles coming to LAX, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is expanding its dedicated FlyAway bus service from four stations (Van Nuys, Union Station, Westwood/UCLA, and Expo/LaBrea) to include three new stations in Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Orange Line within the year.  A number of other sites are being analyzed for possible FlyAway stations. 

Construction equipment used in LAX Modernization projects are specified to have extensive emission controls and construction trucks cannot run idle for more than 5 minutes per trip.

Electric-car chargers in various parking garages at the airport to encourage passenger use of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Each year, LAWA's Employee Rideshare Program saves over 8 million vehicle miles, over 600,000 gallons of gasoline, over 8 billion pounds of air pollutants, and relieves congestion on Southern California's over-burdened streets and freeways.

Planning is underway to implement alternative ways to access the airport using an automated people mover to relieve roadway congestion.

Facility-related:

LAX's new Central Utility Plant is a state-of-the-art, natural-gas co-generation facility that is far more efficient and cleaner than its predecessor.

LAWA is constantly looking at new technologies and opportunities to further reduce emissions in areas where we have control and responsibility.

A PowerPoint presentation with key findings/conclusions of the LAWA air quality study can be found at:
http://www.lawa.org/uploadedFiles/OurLAX/pdf/LAWA%20Sept%202013%20Public%20Meeting%20Boards_4_130925_v2.pdf