Lincoln Journal
May 29, 2003

Chemicals may be used on Hanscom runways in winter

By Barbara Forster / Correspondent

When snow returns to New England next winter, it could get a rather warm reception from runways at Hanscom Field - literally.

On May 20, Massport presented plans to the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission about the possible use of chemicals to remove snow on runways and taxiways.

Currently, Massport relies on mechanical equipment, snow plows and snowblowers, to remove the white stuff at the field. Runways are sanded to improve friction and deicer is used only on aircraft.

Last winter's snowfall, however, was an impetus for change.

"Tenants were very concerned this winter," said Airport Director Barbara Patzner. "It was very difficult to get to bare surface."

According Patzner, the military was also concerned.

"They were one of the entities that called this winter and asked why we weren't using deicers," she said.

For decades, Hanscom runways have been a deicer-free zone. In fact, language in the 1978 Master Plan for the field states that Massport "will not use deicing at the airport" and that it does not plan to do so.

Unfriendly environmental chemicals were another factor driving the no-deicer approach. But times and science changes, explained Gary Mercer of Camp, Dresser & McKee, which prepared the study about deicers and their effects on the environment.

"Today we have better products," added Patzner.

The study projects that deicing would not be a regular occurrence. Last winter, for example, which brought a whopping 76.8 inches of snow and is considered atypical, deicers would have been used only approximately 10 times. During more typical winters, Massport believes the use of deicers would be less frequent.

"It would only be during severe and inclement weather," said Mercer. "These are expensive products."

What the Study Says

Three compounds were studied: propylene glycol (currently used on planes), sodium formate, and potassium acetate. The brand names are Dilute ArcoPlus, Safeway SF, and Cryotech E36.

Massport proposes to use sodium formate, which is a solid product, on the runways.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department, all three deicing compounds are considered "relatively harmless" to the aquatic ecosystem. Although all three chemicals consume dissolved oxygen in water, their concentrations will not affect aquatic life. When the oxygen consumption rate is higher than the re-oxygenation rate, water experiences a "DO sag." If this is great enough, oxygen in the water could be severely depleted and a fish kill can result.

In addition none of the deicers is considered harmful if ingested and none has known long-term health impacts.

Massport surveyed four other airports with similar levels and types of operations as Hanscom: Teterboro and Morristown in New Jersey, Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York and White Plains, New York. All use various deicing products including White Plains which is adjacent to a public drinking source.

However, Mercer acknowledged that state and federal environmental agencies have no standards for these chemicals.

"Neither EPA or DEP has identified an unsafe environmental concentration for these deicers," he added.

What effect additional sodium would have on the water supply is yet to be addressed. HFAC member Sheldon Moll of Bedford noted that sodium is often a problem for his town.

"Bedford uses some salt (on roads in winter), and in the summer the sodium content in the water is high," he said.

Mercer and company will provide information regarding the salty chemical.

Massport will also prepare a plan to implement deicing that includes establishing a baseline as well as a monitoring and reporting schedule.

Current Deicing Use

When the study was done, Shuttle America had six daily departures. Although all six are de-iced if necessary, the company indicated that they rarely need to de-ice more than three per day.

The Air Force deices fewer than one plane per storm and, often fewer than one plane per season.

Looking ahead at the moderate growth scenario of 2015 as presented in the last environmental study about Hanscom, Massport concluded that deicing activities would not "adversely" affect the water supply for Bedford or Burlington.

Next Steps

Conservation commissions in Bedford and Burlington and the Environmental Sub-Committee of the Hanscom Area Towns Committee will review the study and make recommendations to HFAC. Burlington is included because the analysis for the Shawsheen River goes approximately eight miles downstream, past the Bedford wells, to the water supply intake for the town of Burlington.

According to Massport, a Stormwater Permit for the air field allows the agency to use deicers.

Fee Increase

Massport's announcement that new rates for T-hangars, tie-downs, Transient Aircraft Parking, and Landing Fees at Hanscom go into effect on June 1 was given a cool reception. Chairman Peter Enrich of Lexington pointed out that Massport did not give the commission an opportunity to provide input into the decision.

Massport's position, according to a letter from Chief Executive Officer Craig Coy, is that the rate increases were business negotiations.

"It is not Massport policy to discuss specific business negotiations in a public forum prior to going to the Massport board."

Tie-down fees will go up 25 percent; T-hangar fees 50 percent. In some cases rates had remained the same for more than a decade. Landing fees for commercial and transient aircraft were also implemented along with Customs Fees. Fuel fees and civil terminal tenant rates were not changed.

However, Enrich argued that for public agencies "any kind of fee" is a regulatory decision and subject to public discussion. "Furthermore, in this case the setting of fees does have an impact on who is going to use the airport," he said.

Sara Mattes of Lincoln pointed out that the commission has an executive committee to handle sensitive issues. "That was a mechanism that could have been employed and that respected our need to weigh in on our concern about fleet mix," she said.

Enrich also objected to Coy's statement that Massport has an obligation to keep the commission informed so "that the members are in a position to advise constituents."

"This is contrary to statue, precedent, good sense and it is a complete distortion of the proper function of this commission," said Enrich. "Our role is to advise Massport."

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