State lawmakers are working to curb and document the use of contaminated firefighting foam with a trio of bills.
Fire chiefs who use firefighting foam that contained per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances would be required to report its usage within 48 hours, including details on the location, quantity used, nearby waterways and cleanup efforts.
The bill also would require the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to begin a voluntary collection program for the estimated 37,000 gallons of PFAS-containing foam sill present in fire departments throughout the state.
“While the federal government has begun the process of addressing use of this chemical, it could take up to three years,” said bill sponsor Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, who discussed it in a Tuesday committee hearing. “I think we could do better.”
The legislation would amend Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration policy as well as firefighting training rules to require training specific to the usage and storage of PFAS-containing foam, even if a department doesn’t use the substance.