2000
[DOCID: f:s1019is.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1019
To provide for monitoring of aircraft air quality, to require air
carriers to produce certain mechanical and maintenance records, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 12, 2001
Mrs. Feinstein introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for monitoring of aircraft air quality, to require air
carriers to produce certain mechanical and maintenance records, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Aircraft Clean Air Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) Aircraft air quality incident.--The term ``aircraft air
quality incident'' means an incident in an aircraft used in air
transportation which results in crew members or passengers
reporting a symptom that is consistent with exposure to
neurotoxins or asphyxiants. Such symptoms include dizziness,
fainting, disorientation, memory loss, peripheral neuropathy,
muscle tremors, muscle twitching, or tunnel vision.
(3) Mechanical and maintenance records.--The term
``mechanical and maintenance records'' with respect to an
aircraft involved in an aircraft air quality incident includes
records regarding the use of, and any loss or leakage of,
hydraulic fluids, lubrication oils, or fuel, and records
regarding any repairs that are, or could be, reported under the
Air Transport Association Specifications, including chapter
2100 (Air Conditioning), chapter 2900 (Hydraulic Power),
chapter 3600 (Pneumatics), chapter 4900 (Airborne Auxiliary
Power), and chapter 7200 (Engine).
SEC. 3. DISCLOSURE OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS.
(a) Request Made to Administrator.--
(1) In general.--Any crew member, passenger, or their
representative that experiences an aircraft air quality
incident may, not later than 30 days after the incident, file a
request with the Administrator for the mechanical and
maintenance records of the aircraft involved in the aircraft
air quality incident. The request may cover records with
respect to the aircraft for the 90-day period preceding the
incident, and the 30-day period following the incident.
(2) Special rule for previous 5-year period.--Any crew
member, passenger, or their representative that experienced an
aircraft air quality incident in the 5-year period preceding
the date of enactment of this Act may file a request with the
Administrator for the mechanical and maintenance records of the
aircraft involved in the aircraft air quality incident if the
request is made not later than 90 calendar days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(3) Verification by health care professional.--A request
described in paragraph (1) must include a statement by a health
care professional verifying that the individual making the
request reported at least 1 symptom described in section 2(2).
(b) Request Forwarded to Air Carrier.--Within 15 calendar days of
receiving a request described in subsection (a), the Administrator
shall record receipt of that request, and forward it to the air
carrier.
(c) Information To Be Disclosed.--An air carrier that receives a
request described in subsection (a) shall provide the requested records
to the individual making that request--
(1) not later than 15 calendar days after receiving the
request described in subsection (a)(1); or
(2) not later than 30 calendar days after receiving a
request described in subsection (a)(2).
(d) Civil Penalty for Noncompliance.--
(1) In general.--Any air carrier that does not produce the
records requested pursuant to this section shall be subject to
a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day that the air carrier
fails to produce the records.
(2) Fines increased for inflation.--In the case of any
calendar year beginning after 2001, the dollar amount described
in paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under
section 1(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
for the calendar year in which the fine is assessed,
determined by substituting ``calendar year 2000'' for
``calendar year 1992'' in subparagraph (B) of such
section 1(f)(3).
(e) Retention of Mechanical and Maintenance Records.--The
Administrator shall require that air carriers retain the records
described in section 2(3) for a period of not less than 5 years, or for
such longer period if required under any other provision of law.
(f) Retention of Related Materials and Documents.--The
Administrator shall require that air carriers retain all reports,
investigative documents, studies, data, memos, and letters relating to
or arising from any complaint, report, or request regarding air quality
on aircraft for a period of not less than 10 years.
SEC. 4. RELEASE OF FILTRATION MEDIA.
(a) Request Made to Administrator.--
(1) In general.--Any crew member, passenger, or their
representative that experiences an aircraft air quality
incident may file a request with the Administrator not later
than 30 days after the incident for the filtration media used
in the air supply system of the aircraft involved in that
aircraft air quality incident.
(2) Verification by health care professional.--A request
described in paragraph (1) must include a statement by a health
care professional verifying that the individual making the
request reported at least 1 symptom described in section 2(2).
(b) Request Forwarded to Air Carrier.--Within 15 calendar days of
receiving a request described in subsection (a), the Administrator
shall record receipt of that request, and forward it to the air
carrier.
(c) Media To Be Provided.--An air carrier that receives a request
described in subsection (a) shall provide the filtration media to the
Administrator not later than 30 calendar days after replacing the
requested filtration media.
(d) Action by Administrator.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after receipt of
filtration media under subsection (c), the Administrator
shall--
(A) analyze the media to determine the content and
chemical properties of any materials contained in the
filtration media; and
(B) provide the results of the analysis performed
under subparagraph (A) to the individual making the
request in subsection (a).
(2) Retention of information.--The Administrator shall
retain the results of any analysis performed under paragraph
(1) for a period of not less than 5 years.
(e) Civil Penalty for Noncompliance.--
(1) In general.--Any air carrier that does not produce the
filtration media requested pursuant to this section shall be
subject to a civil penalty of $1
1b97
,000 for each day that the air
carrier fails to produce that media.
(2) Fines increased for inflation.--In the case of any
calendar year beginning after 2001, the dollar amount described
in paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under
section 1(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
for the calendar year in which the fine is assessed,
determined by substituting ``calendar year 2000'' for
``calendar year 1992'' in subparagraph (B) of such
section 1(f)(3).
(f) Retention of Filtration Media.--The Administrator shall require
that an air carrier retain and properly store all filtration media for
a period of not less than 45 days after any filtration media is
replaced.
SEC. 5. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ON PRODUCTS USED IN THE MAINTENANCE,
OPERATION, OR TREATMENT OF AIRCRAFT.
(a) Request Made to the Administrator.--
(1) In general.--Any crew member, passenger, or their
representative may file a request with the Administrator for
information on the chemical constituents of products (either
alone or in combination, including the byproducts generated by
thermal degradation or decomposition of those products) used in
the maintenance, operation, or treatment of aircraft to which a
crew member or passenger may be or may have been directly
exposed.
(2) Special rule for the previous 5-year period.--Any crew
member, passenger, or their representative may file a request
with the Administrator for the information described in
paragraph (1) regarding a product that was used during the 5-
year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act if the
request is made not later than 90 calendar days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(b) Request Forwarded to Air Carrier.--Within 15 calendar days of
receiving a request described in subsection (a), the Administrator
shall record receipt of that request, and forward it to the air
carrier.
(c) Information To Be Disclosed.--
(1) In general.--An air carrier that receives a request
described in subsection (a) shall provide the information to
the individual making that request--
(A) not later than 15 calendar days after receiving
a request described in subsection (a)(1); and
(B) not later than 30 days after receiving a
request described in subsection (a)(2).
(2) Information to be included.--An air carrier shall
provide to a person making a request described in subsection
(a) the following:
(A) Information on the toxicity and toxicology of
the products described in subsection (a).
(B) Any report of an aircraft air quality incident,
including any first aid and medical treatment or tests
required by any person in connection with the aircraft
air quality incident.
(C) Any monitoring data, including measurements of
exposures of personnel in the work environment,
measurements of ambient air and surface contamination
in the work environment, and in-duct measurements.
(D) All reports, investigative documents, studies,
memos, and letters related to or arising from any
complaint, report, or request regarding air quality on
aircraft.
(E) Any health or symptom survey distributed to
crew members.
(d) Civil Penalty for Noncompliance.--
(1) In general.--Any air carrier that does not produce the
information requested pursuant to this section shall be subject
to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 and not less than
$100 for each day that the carrier fails to produce the
records.
(2) Fines increased for inflation.--In the case of any
calendar year beginning after 2001, the dollar amount described
in paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under
section 1(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
for the calendar year in which the fine is assessed,
determined by substituting ``calendar year 2000'' for
``calendar year 1992'' in subparagraph (B) of such
section 1(f)(3).
(e) Retention of Information on Products and Byproducts.--The
Administrator shall require that an air carrier retain the records
described in this section for a period of not less than 5 years, or for
such longer period as is under any other provision of law.
(f) Relationship to Other Disclosures.--The information required to
be provided under this section shall be provided to the crew member,
passenger, or their representative in addition to any information
provided in the material safety data sheet.
SEC. 6. CABIN PRESSURIZATION.
(a) Study of Cabin Oxygen Levels.--The Administrator, in
consultation with the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Air
Quality in Passenger Cabins of Commercial Aircraft, shall award a grant
to an eligible applicant described in subsection (b) to conduct an
aeromedical research study to determine what cabin altitude must be
maintained to provide sufficient oxygen to ensure that the short- and
long-term health of 95 percent of a representative sample of cabin crew
and passengers is not adversely affected.
(b) Eligible Applicant.--An eligible applicant described in this
subsection is an expert in an appropriate academic field who is
affiliated with a school of public or occupational health that does not
receive funding from the airline industry.
(c) Elements of the Study.--The study shall include--
(1) measurements of blood oxygen saturation collected at
cabin altitudes that range from 5,000 to 8,000 feet from a
sample of crew members and passengers selected to represent the
range of weight and health considerations that could affect
blood oxygen transport (including cardiovascular and
respiratory conditions); and
(2) a review of existing data and published literature.
(d) Report.--The eligible applicant selected to receive the grant
under this section shall complete the study and submit a report
regarding the results of the study to the Administrator not later than
18 months after the receipt of the grant funds.
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