Document bBGEJeZL464Q4qjKJoq11KJ7k

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 3000 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON DC 20301-3000 A C Q U IS IT IO N A N D TECHNOLOGY MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION fit: ^ 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 bun future production and imporl 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 persislo.nt, hioaeeumulating 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 3 I, 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 u 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 uumbei of cjideal 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, Materiais arid 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 of 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, 1E80I, Room 4, Pentagon. We also requested the Defense Logistic Agency to brief DoD'a uses of PFOS. Attached is the meeting agenda. My POO for this Workshop is 1.1 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 US00003060-D Aqueous Film Forming (AFFF) W orkshop Agenda Introduction (Overview) Mr. Curtis Bowling AFFF Environmental Issues Dr. Doug Iherd nrr, 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 O n AF TBD, DASAF(RSOH) Overview of AFFF Uses and Impact to Fire fighting O p eratio n s TBD, National Fire Protection Association Impact AFFF Voluntary Production Ban On FAA TDD, Federal Aviation Administration PFOS Uses TBD, Defense Logistics Agency The Way Ahead Workshop Members US00003061-D DASAF(ESOH) DASN(E&S) DASA(ESOII) Defense Logistics Agency AFRL/MM D USEPA Federal Aviation Administration National Fire Protection Association D istrib u tio n US00003062-D