Managing PFAS-Impacted Construction Materials at Airports

Airports across the United States are increasingly encountering per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during construction projects, including in soils, concrete and asphalt pavements, building materials, stormwater, and groundwater. Construction activities such as airfield rehabilitation, terminal modernization, utility work, and other infrastructure projects create challenges related to material handling, reuse, disposal, regulatory compliance, and cost control. Although guidance on PFAS characterization continues to expand, airport owners and contractors lack practical, airport-specific guidance for managing PFAS-impacted materials during construction. As disposal options become more limited and regulatory requirements continue to evolve, airports face increasing costs, schedule delays, and uncertainty in managing construction-phase materials. The objective of this research is to develop airport-specific guidance and practical tools for managing PFAS-impacted materials during construction projects. The research will synthesize construction-phase materials management practices used at airports and other infrastructure programs and develop a framework that links PFAS data quality, construction methods, and material handling options. The project will produce practitioner-ready resources, including materials management plan templates, decision flowcharts, handling guidance for different material types, and other implementation tools that airports can incorporate into construction planning, specifications, and contractor requirements to support consistent decision-making during airport capital improvement projects. The research will build on existing ACRP guidance by focusing specifically on construction-phase implementation rather than site investigation or PFAS characterization.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6112
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $550,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 08-08

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Managing Organizations:

  Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Griffin, Matthew

• Start Date: 20260831
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Airport Cooperative Research Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Construction projects; Contaminants; Materials management
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Construction; Environment; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 02001717
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 08-08
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 2 2026 4:45PM