PFAS Testing & AFFF
Transition Grant
RFP for Airport Grant PFAS Testing 2025-06-17: Environmental investigation and firefighting foam management.
Program Overview
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in conjunction with the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART), is soliciting grant applications for airport PFAS testing and transition to fluorine-free firefighting foams.
Refers to FAA Regulation 14 CFR Part 139, which governs the certification of airports serving scheduled and unscheduled air carrier aircraft. These airports were historically required to use AFFF containing PFAS for fire safety.
Eligible airports include those with a current or former FAA Part 139 certification, as well as general aviation airports with a history of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) use or storage.
Key Criteria
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. This agency provides technical oversight and sets the sampling standards for all PFAS investigations under this grant.
Detailed Scope of Services
- Preliminary Site Investigation: Applicants must conduct a thorough desktop review of the airport's history, focusing on Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) usage. This includes identifying specific locations for fire training activities, nozzle testing, emergency response incidents, and hangar suppression systems where PFAS-containing foam may have been released into the environment.
- Environmental Sampling and Analysis: The grant funds the professional collection of soil and groundwater samples. All environmental media must be analyzed for the current list of PFAS analytes as specified by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Sampling must adhere strictly to EGLE’s PFAS Sampling Guidance to ensure data integrity.
- Laboratory Data Standards: Laboratory analysis must be performed by a laboratory certified by EGLE for PFAS analysis. The methodology must follow EPA Method 1633, which is the gold standard for testing non-potable water, soil, and biosolids, ensuring the highest level of precision in identifying Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.
- ARFF Vehicle Decontamination: A critical component of the grant is the cleaning of Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicles. This involves a specialized decontamination process to remove residual PFAS from the onboard foam tanks, plumbing, and nozzles. This process is essential before the airport can transition to using Fluorine-Free Foam (F3) to prevent cross-contamination.
- AFFF Management and Disposal: The scope includes the safe collection and temporary storage of legacy AFFF stocks. The grant covers the transport and disposal of these hazardous materials at a facility approved to handle PFAS waste. This prevents future accidental releases and ensures that the airport is no longer storing restricted chemicals.
- Hydrogeologic Assessment: Where sampling indicates the presence of PFAS, funds may be used to determine the direction and rate of groundwater flow. This assessment helps the airport and MPART understand if PFAS plumes are migrating toward off-site drinking water wells or surface water bodies like lakes and streams.
- Transition to Fluorine-Free Foam (F3): Coordination and technical support for the procurement and installation of F3. This includes ensuring that the new foam meets FAA performance standards (MIL-SPEC) and that all airport personnel are trained on the different application techniques required for fluorine-free alternatives compared to legacy AFFF.
- Reporting and Documentation: Grantees are required to submit comprehensive technical reports detailing all findings, laboratory data sheets, and maps of sampling locations. These reports must be formatted for inclusion in the MPART public database to facilitate transparency regarding Michigan's environmental health.
Fluorine-Free Foam. The modern alternative to AFFF that does not contain PFAS chemicals but still meets rigorous firefighting performance requirements.
A comprehensive test method used to measure 40 different PFAS compounds in various environmental media like soil and wastewater.
Airport Rescue and Firefighting. Refers to the specialized category of firefighting that involves response and hazard mitigation at airports.