# Plain Language Summary: Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act

This bill addresses a serious pollution problem at airports caused by firefighting foam. Airports use special foam to fight aircraft fires, and this foam contains chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals are extremely persistent—they don't break down naturally in the environment—and they've been linked to serious health problems including cancer, liver damage, and immune system issues. When it rains or when airports clean their runways, this foam washes into the ground and nearby water supplies, contaminating drinking water and spreading these toxic chemicals into the environment.

The bill requires airports to stop the PFAS-contaminated runoff from leaving their property and entering local water systems. Specifically, airports would need to install and maintain systems that capture, treat, or contain this polluted water before it can spread. The law applies to all commercial airports and gives them a reasonable timeline to make these changes. This protects communities living near airports—particularly those downwind or downstream—from exposure to these dangerous chemicals through their drinking water and local ecosystems.

The practical effect is that airports will need to invest in better water management infrastructure, similar to what some already do for other pollutants. This could include treatment systems, containment areas, or other approved methods to handle the foam runoff. While this creates costs for airports, it prevents the long-term health and environmental damage that comes from PFAS contamination spreading into communities. For residents near airports, this means their groundwater and local water supplies would be better protected from these toxic chemicals.

Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act

Peters, Gary C.

Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act This bill temporarily allows the Federal Aviation Administration to cover 100% of the costs for airports to purchase and deploy equipment to test fire suppression systems that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) without discharging such substances. (PFAS are manmade substances and may have adverse human health effects.)