The California State Assembly voted to approve Assembly Bill 700, a requirement for the City of Santa Monica to measure emissions of aircraft using Santa Monica Airport (SMO) for one year. “If the legislation is approved and signed into law, this would mark the eighth study of its kind regarding emissions at SMO,” the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) explained. AB 700 still must be considered by the California State Senate.

NATA urges California aircraft operators and companies that do business in the state to contact state senators to oppose the bill. “Passage of this legislation represents a back-door attempt to curb operations at SMO,” the association said, “as well as other general aviation airports throughout the state. The legislation would also preempt existing federal regulations and place greater control of the airport in the hands of local politicians, without regard for SMO’s role in the national air transportation system.”