NATA Member Alert: Florida Diesel Exhaust Fluid Bill Signed Into Law, January 1, 2022 Compliance Deadline
On June 4th, Governor DeSantis signed the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) bill into state law, which directs public use airports to require Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) to develop and document formal management plans for DEF. The legislation applies to all public-use airports in Florida at which FBOs deliver aviation fuel treated on site with fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII) and that utilize DEF in mobile refuelers or GSE.
Specifically, the legislation requires affected airport sponsors to require FBOs to develop a DEF Safety Mitigation & Exclusion Plan containing the following minimum components:
- DEF & FSII inventory process
- Designation of DEF & FSII storage areas and areas where DEF may be added to vehicles
- Implementation of “best practices” for management of DEF and FSII
- Training for employees on DEF & FSII storage and handling
- Physical measures to secure fuel system icing inhibitor fill points on FBO fuel trucks
The affected airport must make required DEF Safety Mitigation & Exclusion Plans available for inspection by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) by January 1, 2022. Additionally, the legislation requires FDOT to convene a working group to develop a uniform industry standard based upon the NATA Safety 1st DEF Contamination Prevention Operational Best Practice (OBP) by November 1, 2021.
The National Air Transportation Association is a leader in DEF mitigation standards and training with the establishment of Safety 1st OBP 36-DEF Handling and Contamination Prevention and Safety 1st training for the prevention of misfuelling and DEF contamination incidents, which many of our members have already adopted. NATA will continue to provide guidance to our Florida members throughout the plan development process to ensure compliance ahead of the effective deadline.
