Overview
Department of Defense (DoD) maintenance activities are committed to protecting human health and the environment while ensuring the success of their core mission. DoD strives to ensure effective and efficient compliance with all Federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Environment, safety, and occupational health (ESOH) must be considered as part of a maintenance program’s overall cost, schedule, and performance risk reduction. Due to the inherent dangers of working in maintenance facilities which often involves operating large machines, working with solvents, or dealing with electrical currents; managers must apply risk management strategies and protective measures to reduce or eliminate mishaps, injuries, and illnesses. This forum will discuss some of the ESOH programs and environmental/safety practices implemented at DoD maintenance activities to include hazardous materials management, and DoD environmental research programs.
1300-1309: Welcome and Overview – Greg Kilchenstein (OSD-MPP)
1309-1310: Administrative Notes – Debbie Lilu (NCMS)
1310-1355: Emerging Contaminants – Paul J. Yaroschak, P.E. (OSD-EI&E)
1355-1415: ESTCP/SERDP Environmentally Focused Technology Development – Dr. Robin Nissan (OSD-AT&L)
1415-1445: NAVAIR Environmental/Safety Projects – Jack Benfer (NAVAIR)
1445-1455: Military Services Environmental/Safety Projects – JTEG Principals / Svc Reps
1455-1500: Wrap-up and JTEG Principals Comments
Event: On 3 May, 2016, the Joint Technology Exchange Group (JTEG), in coordination with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), hosted a virtual forum on “Environmental Impacts & Worker Safety”.
Purpose: The purpose of the forum was to discuss some of the ESOH programs and environmental/safety practices implemented at DoD maintenance activities to include hazardous materials management, and DoD environmental research programs..
Welcome: Greg Kilchenstein (JTEG Co-Chair), welcomed everyone to the forum, thanked the presenters and all the listeners for their attendance, and briefly described the purposes of the JTEG and the JTEG technology forums.
Administrative: This was an open forum. The presentations, along with questions and answers, were conducted through Adobe Connect. A separate audio line was used. Approximately 50 participants from across DoD and industry joined in the forum.
Emerging Contaminants – Paul J. Yaroschak, P.E. (OSD-EI&E) gave an overview of the DoD Emerging Contaminants (ECs) Program to include EC definitions and how ECs can affect DoD. He then described the EC Program structure, strategic priorities, assessment process, and risk management actions. He also described the EC Governance Council actions and recommendations.
ESTCP/SERDP Environmentally Focused Technology Development – Dr. Robin Nissan (OSD-AT&L) provided an overview of ESTCP and SERDP to include environmental drivers, project locations, strategic goals, SERDP investment approach, and described several SERDP and ESTCP projects.
NAVAIR Environmental/Safety Projects – Jack Benfer (NAVAIR) provided a description of NAVAIR heavy material reduction operations to include policy guidance and descriptions of numerous technology alternatives to Cadmium & Hexavalent Chromium.
Hazardous Materials Reduction Governance Board– Van Nguyen (AFSC/ENSP) stated that beyond addressing ESOH violations and citations, there needs to be a coordinated, pro-active effort across AFMC to address substitution and elimination within the Hierarchy of Controls. She described the Hazardous Material Reduction Governance Board’s (HMRGB) purpose, framework, activities, success stories, and collaboration opportunities.
Closing Comments: Greg Kilchenstein thanked the presenters for their contributions and the audience for their participation. He commented on the great holistic perspective received from the combination of presenters.
Action Items:
- Coordinate with Paul Yaroschak to post MERIT information to the JTEG Website (LMI / NCMS)
- Ensure ESTCP/SERDP links are up to date on the JTEG website (LMI / NCMS)
- If cleared for public release, post the SERDP cadmium and chromium roadmap to the JTEG website (LMI / NCMS)
Presentation Slides and Questions & Answers: These meeting minutes, the Q&A, and those briefing slides approved for public release, will be posted on the JTEG website at https://jteg.ncms.org/ .
Next JTEG Meeting: The next JTEG virtual forum is 28 June 2016, 1:00 – 3:00 pm EST. The topic is “Ergonomics, Protecting the Workforce”.
POC this action is Ray Langlais, rlanglais@lmi.org , (571) 633-8019
Emerging Contaminants
Paul Yaroschak (OSD-EI&E)
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Q1. If this office oversees the emerging contaminants, how is information formally flowed to the services on chemicals on the list and results of studies?
A1. Three ways: (1) Emerging Contaminants Steering Group – The group is composed of members from the key manufacturing offices, health affairs, the Service Secretariats, Service Chiefs of Staff, etc. They evaluate EC watch list items by looking at 5 areas. If they detect significant risk, it is placed on the Action List. (2) EC Governance Council – they make the “big / high level” decisions. (3) Virtual network called Materials of Evolving Regulatory Interest Team (MERIT).
Q2. Does DoD have a data base tool similar to the automotive industry so our maintainers can assess HAZMAT that they may be exposed to?
A2. Yes, DoD has a system with safety data sheets. We are moving to capture all the chemical content that you buy, not just the information that the supplier provides.
Q3. Have there been any substitutes identified for chlorinated parrafins to date…we use alot of cutting fluids in DoD Mx?
A3. Yes, by the EPA…but we don’t know if they work in individual applications. EPA has risk assessments. I recommend you talk to your supplier and ask for non-chlorinated parrafins.
Q4. Can you discuss DoD’s Hex Chrome elimination strategy and plans?
A4. I will leave that one for Dr. Robin Nissan who speaks next. In 2009 lots of research was conducted. However, there was no forcing function to move people to substitutes.
Q5. What formal reference can be used to document materials that are listed on the EC Watch/Action List?
A5. The DOD Environment, Safety, and Operational Health Network and Information Exchange (DENIX) at http://www.denix.osd.mil/ .
Q6. Has the program developed or will develop new FAR or DFAR clauses as a result of program findings?
A6. It’s possible. We could have a DFAR clause that includes capture of chemical content.
Q7. Can JTEG sign up as a MERAT recipient and post the information on our website?
A7. Absolutely.
NESTCP/SERDP
Dr. Robin Nissan (OSD-AT&L)
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Q1. Are you aware of anyone transitioning chrome 3 in place of chrome 6?
A1. Absolutely. A lot of it is ongoing at NAVAIR.
- Hard Plating – Faraday Tech
- Paint & Primer – Significant effort at Pax River
Statement: CTMA did lots of Tri-Chrome development and demonstration. Those reports are available to all if interested.
Q2. Can you discuss DoD’s Hex Chrome elimination strategy and plans?
A2. That gets to what we are doing with Noblis. There are 3 reports. Strategic plan – if you want to reduce Chrome & Cadmium – here is how you would do it.
Q3. Can we post the cadmium and chrome 5-year strategy and roadmap on the JTEG website when it is released?
A3. Yes. Our intent is to make the reports public release, but it may end up being government and government contractors.
Q4. Are you concerned with the metal powders used during Additive Manufacturing?
A4. I am concerned, but we can put measures to keep safe.
NAVAIR
Jack Benfer (NAVAIR)
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Q1. Jack, are you aware of the “tankless” hard chrome plating tooling that was successfully demonstrated at FRC-SW and CCAD (They use tools around the part instead of big tanks)?
A1. No I was not aware. I would like to learn more about it.
Q2. Is COMFRC moving toward laser de-paint due in part to the significant reduction in hazmat?
A2. We are. Our trip to Hill AFB was sponsored by COMFRC. Laser de-paint is the leading candidate we have. The technology is currently at a changing point.
USAF
Van Nguyen (USAF)
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No questions