CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport has said he knew a year ago about the potential for PFAS contamination connected to firefighting foam used there for decades. But the airport didn't notify the state Department of Environmental Quality and Cascade Township, CEO James Gill said.
Now, Target 8 has found the Ford Airport was asked about its use of the foam two years ago.
In late 2015 and early 2016, the Ford was part of a nationwide group of airports surveyed about their use of PFAS-tainted AFFF firefighting foam that has polluted Air Force bases around the country. PFAS is a likely carcinogen.
When Target 8 brought that survey to the airport's attention on Thursday, the Ford's spokesperson responded in an email, "We did participate in the survey that requested our use of AFFF. The survey clearly states that it was done to explore the use of AFFF in firefighting, which is what we did."
But, she added, "We were not aware of AFFF’s containing PFAS to be a potential threat to the environment until last year."
However, that national survey two years ago by the Transportation Research Board featured questions about possible contamination and about PFAS.