Document 3QGXoj4oLo3EJX99NwaLzRLX0

MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION SUBJECT: Aqueous Film Forming (AFFF) Workshop We would like you to attend a one day workshop to discuss the impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S.EPA) proposed rule which has the potential to ban future production and import of perfluorooctyl sulfonates (PFOS) chemicals to the Department of Defense. The Mil Spec for AFFF allows the use of PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and telomers as foaming agents. The U.S.EPA released data this past year that indicates PFOS chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulating and toxic. PFOS has been found in the blood of the general US population, in wildlife, and in people overseas. The 3M Company, the sole United States producer of ninety PFOS chemicals, has chosen to discontinue their manufacture and sale of all uses globally by December 31, 2002, and substantially reduce their manufacture for the most widespread uses of these chemicals by December 31, 2000. The U.S. EPA is evaluating PFOA and telomer chemicals as a substitute for PFOS. PFOA and telomer are also persistence in the environment and more toxic than PFOS. Because of this, they also may be subject to manufacturers' withdrawal from the market place (similar to 3M 's action for PFOS) or future EPA rule making. AFFF is used in a number of critical life saving situations in DoD. Currently, there are no known substitutes that are as effective as the materials in the Mil Spec. We've asked the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate to present recommendations and discuss potential substitutes. We plan to discuss "high-risk" uses of PFOS and what should be done to reduce or eliminate environmental releases o f PFOS. We will also determine if DoD should switched to PFOA or telomer instead of PFOS. We need a multi-disciplinary team to conduct this review and develop an AFFF replacement strategy. The workshop will be held on March 16, 2001, from 0800hrs - 1630hrs, in the OSD Conference Center, 1E801, Room 4, Pentagon. We also requested the Defense Logistic Agency to brief DoD's uses of PFOS. Attached is the meeting agenda. My POC for this Workshop is Lt Col Isaac Atkins, Director Occupational Health Policy, ODUSD (ES)/FP. He can be reached at (703) 604-1628, if you have any questions. Attachment: As stated Curtis Bowling Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Force Protection US00003038-D Aqueous Film Forming (AFFF) Workshop Agenda Introduction (Overview) Mr. Curtis Bowling AFFF Environmental Issues Dr. Doug Dierdorf, AFRL Toxicity of PFOS, PFOA, Telomer TBD, USEPA Impact of AFFF Voluntary Production Ban on Army TBD, DASA(ESOH) Impact of AFFF Voluntary Production Ban on Navy TBD, (E&S) Impact of AFFF Voluntary Production Ban On AF TBD, DASAF(ESOH) Overview of AFFF Uses and Impact to Fire-fighting Operations TBD, National Fire Protection Association Impact AFFF Voluntary Production Ban On FAA TBD, Federal Aviation Administration PFOS Uses TBD, Defense Logistics Agency The Way Ahead Workshop Members US00003039-D DASAF(ESOH) DASN(E&S) DASA(ESOH) Defense Logistics Agency AFRL/MMD USEPA Federal Aviation Administration National Fire Protection Association Distribution US00003040-D