Airport Alert: Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce the Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act
February 22, 2022
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and a bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation that would incentivize airports to purchase equipment to safely test firefighting equipment without discharging PFAS-containing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF).
The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would temporarily increase the AIP federal cost share to 100 percent for in-line proportioner (input-based) testing systems, which eliminate the need for AFFF to be discharged onto the ground or into a collection and containment vessel. It would also direct the FAA to identify options for reimbursing airports that already acquired these devices without federal funding. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joined Peters in introducing the bill.
AAAE, ACI-NA, several Michigan airports, and a number of other groups have expressed support for the legislation. 'Environmental stewardship is a top priority for airport executives, and AAAE appreciates this bipartisan effort to enhance the federal government's support for airports to safely test aqueous film forming foam (AFFF),' AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli said. 'While airports eagerly await federal approval of PFAS-free foam and significant long-term federal support to transition from FAA-mandated AFFF, this legislation is a positive step forward that merits support. We are grateful to Senator Peters and his colleagues for continued leadership on this important issue.'
In 2019, FAA allowed for the use of input-based testing equipment during FAA safety inspections in response to requests from airport operators for an alternative to output-based testing. Since this time, FAA has made this equipment AIP-eligible and has recommended that airports use an input-based testing system to satisfy Part 139 testing requirements while minimizing possible environmental impacts.
AAAE continues to impress on lawmakers the need for the federal government to fully address and remediate any impacts stemming from FAA's decades-long mandate to use AFFF at airports. This past summer, AAAE established a PFAS Coalition, consisting of airport and industry experts, which is actively working to assess and estimate the financial impacts on the airport industry. AAAE recently sent airport directors an anonymous and confidential survey developed by the Coalition that will be integral to this initiative and evaluating industry impacts. For airports who didn't receive the survey but would like to participate, please reach out to Justin Barkowski at justin.barkowski@aaae.org. We've been encouraged by the volume of submissions so far, and higher participation will result in more accurate cost estimates to ensure that policymakers understand the needs and concerns of airports.
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and a bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation that would incentivize airports to purchase equipment to safely test firefighting equipment without discharging PFAS-containing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF).
The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would temporarily increase the AIP federal cost share to 100 percent for in-line proportioner (input-based) testing systems, which eliminate the need for AFFF to be discharged onto the ground or into a collection and containment vessel. It would also direct the FAA to identify options for reimbursing airports that already acquired these devices without federal funding. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joined Peters in introducing the bill.
AAAE, ACI-NA, several Michigan airports, and a number of other groups have expressed support for the legislation. 'Environmental stewardship is a top priority for airport executives, and AAAE appreciates this bipartisan effort to enhance the federal government's support for airports to safely test aqueous film forming foam (AFFF),' AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli said. 'While airports eagerly await federal approval of PFAS-free foam and significant long-term federal support to transition from FAA-mandated AFFF, this legislation is a positive step forward that merits support. We are grateful to Senator Peters and his colleagues for continued leadership on this important issue.'
In 2019, FAA allowed for the use of input-based testing equipment during FAA safety inspections in response to requests from airport operators for an alternative to output-based testing. Since this time, FAA has made this equipment AIP-eligible and has recommended that airports use an input-based testing system to satisfy Part 139 testing requirements while minimizing possible environmental impacts.
AAAE continues to impress on lawmakers the need for the federal government to fully address and remediate any impacts stemming from FAA's decades-long mandate to use AFFF at airports. This past summer, AAAE established a PFAS Coalition, consisting of airport and industry experts, which is actively working to assess and estimate the financial impacts on the airport industry. AAAE recently sent airport directors an anonymous and confidential survey developed by the Coalition that will be integral to this initiative and evaluating industry impacts. For airports who didn't receive the survey but would like to participate, please reach out to Justin Barkowski at justin.barkowski@aaae.org. We've been encouraged by the volume of submissions so far, and higher participation will result in more accurate cost estimates to ensure that policymakers understand the needs and concerns of airports.
