As residents living in communities near Centennial Airport, we are deeply concerned about the lead and noise pollution caused by piston engine aircraft performing hundreds of training maneuvers, including touch-and-goes, over our homes and schools. The airport opened in 1968 and most homes surrounding the airport were built in the early 70's. It wasn't until recently that the increased noise and lead pollution has adversely affected the livability of our communities putting our health, safety and quality of life at risk. 

Facts about Centennial Airport

• #1 General Aviation Airport in the U.S
• #4 Lead Emitted Airports in the U.S
• In 2022, there were 131,571 local general aviation operations and the airport sold 650,956 gallons of leaded avgas to fuel these operations.
• In 2023, there were 190,181 local general aviation operations (up 69% from 2022) and the airport sold 727,382 gallons of leaded avgas (up 12% from 2022).
• Centennial Airport's Master Plan (page 86) projects over 600,000 operations by 2037.
• There were three crashes involving piston-engine aircraft from Centennial in 2022 and two in 2023. 

Lead Exposure
Piston-engine aircraft continue to use leaded fuel despite a ban on leaded automotive fuel and lead based paint more than 25 years ago. 

In October of 2023, the EPA Determines that Lead Emissions from Aircraft Engines Cause or Contribute to Air Pollution . EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement, “When it comes to our children the science is clear, exposure to lead can cause irreversible and life-long health effects."

This issue has become very personal to us, local residents, as recent lead testing performed in several parks and open spaces in Greenwood Village have tested positive for lead. Alarmingly, this toxic substance was found on playground equipment where our children play. Furthermore, lead is a potent neurotoxin that can affect almost every organ system in the body (Centers for Disease Control). 

In May of 2023, due to pressure from the community, Centennial Airport began offering unleaded fuel. Although unleaded fuel is available, leaded fuel sales continue to rise. 

Noise
In 2022, the Centennial Airport received 5,710 noise complaints from the community and 11,816 noise complaints in 2023 (up 110% from 2022).

Studies have shown that exposure to high levels of noise can cause stress-related illnesses, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and decreased school performance (World Health Organization). 

Our Asks of Local Municipalities Elected Officials
We ask Arapahoe County, Greenwood Village, City of Centennial, Town of Parker, & City of Lone Tree to take immediate action to reduce harmful, excessive noise, and lead emissions from piston engine aircraft at Centennial Airport. We call upon our elected officials to file a lawsuit against the Centennial Airport similar to the one the Town of Superior and the City of Boulder who filed a public nuisance lawsuit against Jefferson County (who owns and operates RMMA). The lawsuit states that touch and go operations deposit unsafe levels of lead particulates on Plaintiffs and expose Plaintiffs’ residents to repeated and excessive noise and thus create unreasonable health and safety hazards for their residents, constitute a public nuisance, and must be enjoined.

Our Ask of You
The negative impacts of lead and noise on the health, safety, and quality of life for those living in communities surrounding the airport cannot be overstated.

Sign this petition if you are against the hundreds of daily touch-and-go operations and training maneuvers over your homes and to ask the elected officials to take legal action against the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, which owns and operates Centennial Airport, and flight schools to reach resolution to save our community from their destruction.

Next Steps
1. Sign this petition and share it if you share our concern about preserving the health and well-being of our community members - especially our children and pregnant woman who are most vulnerable to these hazards.

2. Email your city council person(s) and ask them to support a suit similarly to the Town of Superior and Boulder County. Click HERE for an email template you can use that includes a list of email addresses for city council members for most jurisdictions. 

To learn more about Quiet Skies over Arapahoe County visit QSOAC Website

The donation request on the below is from Change.org not us!