JUNEAU (AP) - A plan to upgrade the Gustavus airport faces criticism from residents as contractors plan to begin work on the $20 million federally funded project this month.

Residents and organizations such as the Gustavus PFAS Action Coalition want more state accountability after toxic chemicals were found at the airport in 2018, Alaska public radio reported Monday.

The contaminants are known as PFAS, a group of toxic chemicals found in firefighting foam that used to be required at airports and U.S. Defense Department sites.

They are also called “forever chemicals”because they do not...