Parking at MBS is cashless using digital tickets.  Choose the entry and exit experience that works best for you. Visit Parking for more information.

Environmental Commitment

MBS airport highly values our place within the tri-cities communities and keeping our area green. Our airport is here to connect individuals and families safely worldwide. As we continue our investigation of PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) here at the MBS International Airport, we’ll update this page with the information.

PFAS are a group of thousands of man-made chemical compounds that have been used since in the 1940s in a wide variety of consumer and commercial products, including certain firefighting foams used around the world to help ensure the safety of the traveling public.

What are PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances)?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a large group of man-made chemicals that are
resistant to heat, water, and oil. PFAS have been classified by the EPA as an emerging
contaminant on the national landscape. For more information on PFAS, please visit:
https://www.epa.gov/pfas.

Examples of every use of PFAS goods are; pots & pans to keep food from sticking to cookware, sofas and carpets resistant to stains, or clothes and mattresses more waterproof. It’s found in cleaners, textiles, leather, paper, paints and wire insulation.

PFAS are also key components in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which is used to fight petroleum-based fires at aviation and manufacturing facilities. For decades, AFFF containing PFAS has been used extensively at airports throughout the world to protect the safety of passengers, crew and others.

Working for a solution

The use of firefighting materials known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), is mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at all commercial airports across the country. Currently, all of the FAA-approved AFFF formulations contain some amount of PFAS that ensures that AFFF will extinguish petroleum-related fires quickly and prevent reignition.

We are working with the FAA, Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Transportation – Office of Aeronautics, Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART), American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and other airports to find a greener solution that will keep our passengers safe.