Environmental Management at Sustainable Airport Models
Abstract
Airports experience greater environmental challenges when they develop and/or expand, presenting more opportunities for greener options. Due to higher demand and capacity needs, there is an increase in airport activities especially at commercial service airports. Consequently, the increase in airport related activities means an increase in environmental impacts. To address environmental issues, airports practice environmental management and commonly use an Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Several commercial service airports have gone beyond the minimum compliance requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 and / or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and / or applicable nation, state, federal and local requirements. These commercial service airports have established innovative Environmental Management Programs (EMP), serve as examples and are considered sustainable airport models. The purpose of this paper is to identify (1) sustainable airport models and their (2) environmental management programs and practices established through EMS. (3) Recommend suitable methods, practices and EMP that other commercial service airports can use to improve and /or initiate sustainable environmental practices. These airports have a similar approach to environmental management with long term planning for sustainability. U.S. commercial service airports are capable of addressing environmental issues through similar methods and programs established at the sustainable airport models.