DoD recognizes community concerns and uncertainty about the impacts of PFAS on human health and the environment, and concerns regarding the duration of ongoing cleanup and remediation efforts. The Department is striving to continuously improve communication and consistently report on its progress to address these concerns and keep community members and other stakeholders informed. Community engagements, in-person installation visits, outreach events, technical presentations, and reports and briefings are some of the ways in which DoD is currently engaging with the public, Congress, and other stakeholders. Additional information about these activities can be found below.
DoD hosts outreach events with members of affected communities to share the latest developments in DoD’s PFAS efforts, receive feedback, and take questions from members of the public.
To view event slides and transcripts from previous outreach events click here.
In 2019, DoD hosted a media roundtable to share information on the establishment of the Department’s PFAS Task Force and its PFAS related objectives and efforts. A transcript from this event is available here.
In 2019, DoD hosted a technical symposium in support of the development of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Alternatives, called the Art of the Possible, bringing together experts from universities, think tanks, industry, and U.S. and international governments.
DoD regularly engages with Congress and staff concerned with PFAS-related issues, including briefing these offices when requested, and providing the status of the Department’s efforts to identify and address DoD’s PFAS releases, support research and development of PFAS-free firefighting foam and cleanup technologies, and to ensure that the Department protects the health of our Service members, their families, the DoD civilian workforce, and communities surrounding affected bases.
Communicating with the public about DoD’s cleanup activities is most effective and comprehensive at the local level. Military installation representatives work with the local communities to identify communication needs and to develop a communication strategy that addresses concerns and public interest. Information on cleanup can be found or requested from a site’s administrative record (many times available online).
An installation identifies how a community can obtain cleanup information its Community Involvement Plan (CIP). Further, depending on community needs, some installations establish Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs). More information on those communication tools can be found here.