NEWS RELEASE
SENATOR GARY PETERS
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U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (MI) announced bipartisan legislation he authored to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports has passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. 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 encourage 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. It would also direct the FAA to identify options for reimbursing airports in Michigan and elsewhere that already acquired the devices without federal funding. Prior to passing the Senate with unanimous support, Peters’ legislation was previously approved by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee where Peters is a member, in addition to Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports.
“There are common sense, fiscally responsible steps we can take to further mitigate PFAS contamination,” said Peters, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “I’m pleased my bipartisan Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act passed the Senate because it would incentivize commercial airports nationwide to use existing federal funds to buy testing equipment that prevents the spread of PFAS contamination into the surrounding environment. The bill would also make this equipment more affordable while protecting our airports, first responders, families, and the Great Lakes – and I’ll push to get it signed into law.”
“Commercial airports should have the necessary equipment to test their firefighting equipment in a manner that does not expose firefighters or the surrounding communities to toxic PFAS foams,” said Sen. Moran. “Passing this legislation in the Senate is the first step to promote the health and wellness of firefighters and aviation employees at commercial airports, as well as protect the communities that surround them.”
“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,” said Sen. Capito. “Specifically, the Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would benefit several airports in West Virginia – like Yeager, Greenbrier, and Mid-Ohio Valley – and improve the 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.”
“As we work to ensure the safety of all travellers and airport workers, reducing the spread of toxic substances must be a priority,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This bill will make a real difference by aiding airports in obtaining the equipment needed to help prevent toxic substance contamination. Now that it has passed the Senate, I look forward to it being signed into law.”
“PFAS contaminations around airports is a serious problem with a very easy solution. With simple testing solutions that are already funded under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, we can protect the environment without creating more burdensome regulations on small airports around Wyoming,” said Sen. Lummis. “I am thrilled this important legislation passed the Senate, and I hope the House will pass it quickly. Thank you, Sen. Peters, for your work on this legislation.”
“We’ve known for decades that some PFAS chemicals pose a dangerous risk to public health,” said Sen. Duckworth. “Despite this knowledge, we’ve continued to use these harmful foams to put out fires—especially at airports—and continued to allow them to seep into our ground, our water and ultimately to our neighbors and loved ones. We need to do more to reduce the spread of toxic PFAS contamination using common-sense solutions that are already available, which is why I’m proud this important bill passed the Senate and hope it can quickly become law.”
The FAA has required commercial airports nationwide to use firefighting foam that contains toxic PFAS chemicals. For years airports were required to discharge this foam as part of routine, federally-mandated testing of their firefighting equipment. This put firefighters, the environment and the public at risk from exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals.
The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act – which Peters introduced earlier this year with U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) – would make more funding from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program available to commercial airports to purchase devices that avoid discharging PFAS chemicals when testing firefighting equipment. It would also direct the FAA to identify options for reimbursing airports in Michigan and elsewhere that already acquired the devices without federal funding.
Peters has led the charge in the Senate to address PFAS contamination. In July, Peters introduced bipartisan legislation to help advance the federal government’s understanding of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to better inform plans to effectively address PFAS contamination. As chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, last month, he held a field hearing in East Lansing to examine federal efforts and coordination with state and local governments to clean up and prevent PFAS contamination. Previously, he convened a hearing in December examining the Department of Defense's failures to protect servicemembers, military families and Michigan communities from PFAS exposure. Peter's bill to help protect firefighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure in the line of duty also passed the Senate.
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