Fire departments would have 48 hours to tell state regulators about the use of a chemical-based firefighting foam type that’s caused drinking water contamination around Michigan under legislation signed into law.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bills 4389 and 4390 on Wednesday, July 8. The bills regulate the use and reporting of aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, made with “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
Firefighters would also get more training for handling PFAS-based foams under the bills, which were sponsored by Reps. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, and Jeff Yaroch, R-Richmond.
The bills, introduced last March, are the first substantial state legislation passed to address PFAS contamination beyond funding for emergency response and cleanup.