Lummis-Led Legislation to Minimize Toxic Exposure at Airports Becomes Law

Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and a number of her colleagues was signed into law Wednesday by President Joe Biden. The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act aims to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports. Airports in Wyoming are required 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 puts firefighters, the environment, and the public at risk of exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals.

The legislation will 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. Seven Wyoming airports are eligible for this PFAS remediation funding. This legislation encourages airports to purchase relatively low-cost devices, also referred to as an input-based testing system, to help limit and prevent exposure to PFAS. These chemicals are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down, presenting threats to the environment and the communities surrounding airports.