Read the full article by International Association of Firefighters
“President Joe Biden has signed a package of bills into law reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration and improving safety at airports for fire fighters and the traveling public. The sweeping legislation, championed by the IAFF, funds a massive grant program to remove AFFF – a common PFAS-laden firefighting foam – from use and replace it with safer PFAS-free foams.
‘Removing PFAS foams from our airports will eliminate a dangerous exposure point to the deadly toxin,’ General President Edward Kelly said. ‘These funds will help make our dangerous jobs safer and will protect the communities we serve. It was long overdue. Once again, the Biden administration is putting its money where its mouth is in our battle to eliminate cancer from the fire service.’
Among the bill’s provisions was the ‘PFAS Replacement Program for Airports.’ This $350 million grant program will help state and municipal airports fund the adoption of PFAS-free, fluorine-free firefighting foam (also called F3). The program will also assist airports’ efforts associated with AFFF cleanup and disposal, and earmark $30 million to replace aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles that can only operate with AFFF.” …