Document bOYkGp1JGqDYLqgL28EmoGo2y

May 16, 2001 TO: AFFF MANUFACTURERS FLUOROCHEMICAL SUPPLIERS AFFF USERS OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SUBJECT: MEETING ON AFFF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES You are invited to a meeting on Thursday, May 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss EPA's hazard assessment of PFOA and telomers and its potential impact on the sale and use of AFFF firefighting foams. Information on the meeting location and background information on EPA's hazard assessment are presented below. An agenda for the meeting will be distributed next week. Background Perfluorooctyl sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and telomers are all used in AFFF firefighting foams. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed a hazard assessment of PFOS (attached as a pdf file) and has concluded that PFOS is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. Although the agency does not believe that the current PFOS situation presents an imminent health risk to the general U.S. population, it does have concerns about potential future risk to humans and wildlife if PFOS continues to be produced, released, and built up in the environment. Based on these concerns, 3M has voluntarily agreed to phaseout the production of AFFF by the end of 2002. EPA has underway a hazard assessment of PFOA, which it expects to complete in June. At the same time, fluorochemical manufacturers are performing voluntary testing on PFOA and telomers. Based on the results of this testing and EPA's hazard assessment, AFFF products formulated with PFOA or telomers may be subject to future regulatory or voluntary risk management actions. Attached is an EPA PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the current situation regarding PFOS, PFOA, telomers, and AFFF. Purpose of Meeting The purpose of the meeting is twofold. To provide manufacturers, fluorochemical suppliers, and users with an opportunity to meet directly with staff of EPA's Chemical Control Division to discuss the current situation regarding AFFF. US00003041-D  To begin organizing an AFFF industry consortium that can serve as a focal point for the following activities: review of EPA's hazard assessment, review and coordination of voluntary industry testing, development of appropriate voluntary programs, review and comment on regulatory proposals, development of public/customer outreach materials, facilitation of appropriate changes to industry standards and specifications, and collection/ dissemination of information on the development and approval of AFFF alternatives. Considering that EPA's PFOA hazard assessment is expected to be completed next month, it is important that this consortium start functioning as soon as possible. Meeting Location Alcalde & Fay 2111 Wilson Boulevard 8th Floor Arlington, VA 22201 Alcalde & Fay is a government and public affairs firm with a 25-year history of successful client representation. We offer clients the full-range of issue management services, including legislative and regulatory monitoring and lobbying; public relations counseling; coalition and association management; grassroots campaign organization; and conference/meeting planning. Our offices are 10 minutes from National Airport and located across the street from the Courthouse subway station on the Orange line. Hotels Suggested hotels in the area are as follows: Hyatt Regency in Arlington - 703-525-1234 Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn - 703-524-6400 Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City - 703-920-3230 Please let us know if you plan to attend so that we will have an accurate count for lunch. Thomas A. Cortina Partner, Alcalde & Fay 703-841-0626 703-243-2874 (fax) cortina@alcalde-fay.com US00003042-D