WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports.
The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would deploy more existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for commercial airports to purchase devices necessary to test their firefighting equipment without discharging toxic PFAS chemicals. This legislation would incentivize commercial airports to purchase the relatively low-cost devices – also referred to as an input-based testing system – to help limit and prevent exposure to PFAS, which are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down.
“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,” Senator 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. I’m pleased my colleagues joined our effort to advance this legislation in the Senate, recognizing the importance of testing airport rescue and firefighting equipment without dispersing dangerous PFAS chemicals into the environment.”
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