On July 1, a new Florida law went into effect requiring local fire departments and airport firefighting companies to transition from PFAS-laden fire suppression foam to fluorine-free foams by July 2029.
That means stockpiles in storage facilities and aboard firetrucks must be depleted or removed by that date. All equipment that came in contact with Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) must undergo specialized cleaning or be replaced. That can be a challenging and costly process, especially for airports as the discharge of the material is as rare as plane crashes and jet fuel fires.
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Fire Department Chief Jason Hackley said the transition at the agency, though, will be completed by the end of this year, if not sooner, putting it some 30 months ahead of schedule.
PFAS chemicals are chemicals which, according to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, resist natural degradation and build up in ecosystems. They do not break down in the sun, water or soil and spread rapidly through groundwater and the air. Scientific studies show some of these chemicals in the environment may have health effects for humans and animals…