The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation on Sept. 6 that would reduce the spread of toxic per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination at commercial airports.
The legislation, the Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act, S. 3662, would allocate more Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for commercial airports to buy devices that would test firefighting equipment without discharging toxic PFAS chemicals. If enacted, the bill would incentivize commercial airports to purchase low-cost “input-based testing systems” to help limit or prevent exposure to PFAS.
The bill was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and cosponsored by Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
“The FAA requires regular testing of firefighting equipment, which may put undue burdens on regional, commercial airports, and lead to the discharge of harmful chemicals like PFAS,” Capito said. “Specifically, the Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would benefit several airports in West Virginia – like Yeager, Greenbrier, and Mid-Ohio Valley – and improve overall safety of their operations.”
Congress directed the FAA to stop requiring PFAS in the foams used to fight certain fires at commercial airports by Oct. 4, 2021. PFAS are known as “forever chemicals,” because they never break down.