CAT TASKING FORM 16118 KUWAIT OIL FIRE HEALTH THREAT 2 MAY 91

File: 980409_sep96_decls22_0005.txt
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Subject = CAT TASKING FORM 16118  KUWAIT OIL FIRE HEALTH THREAT  2 MAY 91 

Box ID = BX003207

Folder Title = CAT TASKING                                                                                     

Unit = OTSG        

Parent Org = HSC         






                                          UNCLASSIFIED

                          THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFPNSP
                                       WASHONO-rom. D.C. 20301.sooo



                                                               Arr. I
        PRODUCTION AND
           LOGISTICS


               MEMORHNDUM FOR DIRECTOR, JOINT STAFF
               SidBJECT: Environmental Health Monitoring and Risk Assessments
                         - Kuwait Oil Fire Smoke


                    This is to request JCS assistance in asking CENTCOM to
               collect environmental health data for use in: (1) assessing the
               acute health risks to DoD personnel exposed to the smoke from the
               Kuwait oil fires, and (2) evaluating the potential long-term
               health risk to our personnel.

                    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is leading an
               interagency working group to determine both short and long-term
               hazards to various populations at risk; i.e., Kuwaiti and Saudi
               civilians U.S. Embassy staff and dependent$, U.S. civilian
               workers and families, and DoD military and civilian personnel.
               The EPA working group believes that there are increased health
               risks. However# they cannot determine the magnitude of the risk
               with any degree of certainty without further measurements and
               surveys (Draft Interagency Interim Report - Attacbrhent 1). The
               EPA health assessment team concluded "C=rent data cannot be used
               effectively in a risk assesgt-mant, aspecia3.ly for long-te= risk"
               (Attachment 2).

                    The ASD(Health Affairs) has formed a Tri-Service working
               group to evaluate EPA and DoD data on potential health hazards.
               The Army Surgeon General has the DoD lead on the assessment
               (Attachment 3). Their efforts could be limited, however, because
               of the preliminary nature of the initial air sampling data from
               the EPA team.

                    Your assistance is needed to ensure a team of DoD scientists
               and engineers collects environmental health samples at DoD
               military and civilian personnel locations for use in assessing
               the health risk to our personnel. The team would support
               CENTCOM's current medical activities and conduct air monitoring
               and evaluations of risks beyond CENTCOM's capabilities. This
               monitoring would be in addition to any air monitoring done or
               planned to be done by the EPA for the State Department or the
               Governments of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The DoD team should work
               with and share information with the EPA team to assure
               consistency and validity of the data.

                    we need to take aggressive action now to ensure the timely
               collection of solid scientific data in order to help establish
               DoD policies for: (1) our currently exposed personnel, and