The Westchester County Airport is committed to achieving excellence in environmental protection by integrating environmental values into all airport activities.
Refer to our 2021 Air Emissions Inventory Report (using 2017 data)
The airport’s environmental policy provides for conservation of natural resources, sustainable operations and prevention of pollution, mitigation of environmental harm, full compliance with all environmental laws, regulations and other requirements, and notification to the public of airport environmental performance reports.
This is accomplished through the AEMS, an ISO 14001 certified Airport Environmental Management System through which the airport’s environmental performance is monitored, airport-wide environmental management practices are continually improved and employees receive environmental training. Airport environmental aspects and impacts are identified and objectives and targets are determined annually to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts.
Through its Environmental Management System, the Airport Environmental Department carefully monitors and reports the airport’s impacts on surface water, groundwater and noise. A baseline study of air emissions has also been completed. The County has also developed the Airport PFAS Investigation and Remediation Program.
The Westchester County Airport was, in 2004, the third airport in the United States to achieve this level of environmental performance. Its achievement was recognized by Airports Council International with an Honorable Mention at the Environmental Achievement Awards in 2005. The airport has also been singled out by storm water professionals for its extraordinary efforts to protect water quality as part of its Environmental Management System.
The AEMS was recently described as a case narrative in the "Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 44: Environmental Management System Development Process" and "Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 43: Guidebook of Practices for Improving Environmental Performance at Small Airports" published by the Transportation Research Board. These publications outline federal environmental regulations and requirements for airports and identify activities and practices whereby airport operators can proactively promote environmental stewardship.