Airports move people and materials around the globe daily.  Activities connected with airports include use and storage of fuels, movement of toxic materials, and generation of waste materials.  As a result, airport activities require careful management to prevent harm to human health and the environment.  Federal, state, and local agencies regulate airports by assigning monitoring and remedial requirements depending on facility specific environmental burdens.  Leaks from Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems are specifically addressed and regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA).  As part of cleanup efforts from leaking UST systems, governing bodies can mandate facility specific testing and monitoring.  Monitoring and remedial efforts address a range of pollution constituents including oil, diesel, gas, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

The Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) formed the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Under NPDES, airports are required to meet specific criteria for discharging into US waters.  Regulatory authorities require testing to determine if pollutants are present and if effluent limits are needed in a discharge permit.  Based on the permit, a monitoring program may be implemented.

Scheduled monitoring as part of a management plan is designed to mitigate risk, manage water quality, and ensure compliance.  Additionally, remediation efforts for accidental spills or legacy contamination may require periodic testing to monitor remedial effectiveness or plume migration.  Testing frequency can vary or be a set periodic program.  No matter what testing frequency is implemented, AAI provides site specific testing for airport compliance programs.