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The New Mexico Environment Department (“NMED”) issued a May 19th Request for Information (“RFI”) addressing:
Scientific Findings and Available Technology Related to PFAS-Contaminated Livestock and Disposal and/or Destruction of PFAS
NMED is seeking information related to:
- PFAS disposal and/or destruction across various forms, sectors and media
- Data specific to individual PFAS compounds/classes of PFAS
- Relevant scientific studies, technology testing, policy considerations and active research projects
PFAS have been used in various industrial applications and consumer products such as:
- Fabrics for furniture
- Paper packaging for food and other materials resistant to water, grease or stains
- Firefighting at airfields
- Utilization in several industrial processes
They have been described as persistent in the environment and resist degradation.
The RFI identifies what it deems as relevant information such as:
- PFAS-contaminated livestock, including any information on bioconcentration, products of metabolism, strategies to reduce PFAS concentrations in animal tissue and plasma, etc.
- Composting PFAS-contaminated livestock carcasses, including the composting method and resulting concentrations of PFAS compounds in the compost.
- PFAS destruction, including methodology and efficacy data.
- Incineration of PFAS-contaminated material, including:
- By-products (e.g., dioxins/furans) and PFAS residuals,
- Air emissions associated incineration,
- Fate and transport of PFAS during incineration, and
- Subsequent disposal of solid material (e.g., ash) in a landfill.
- Data from placing PFAS-contaminated material in a hazardous waste landfill or associated research into short- and long-term risks.
- Related to the above topics:
- Technology testing,
- Research studies, and
- Case studies or pilot projects
In the “Background” section of the RFI it is noted that PFAS-contamination in groundwater related to the U.S. Department of Defense at Cannon Air Force Base resulted in contaminated livestock at the Highland Dairy. Highland Dairy has apparently prepared a two-phase removal plan addressing contaminated livestock. It is described as the first of its kind and the development it was developed in consultation with the:
- Farm Service Agency
- USDA NRCS
- State Veterinarian of New Mexico
- New Mexico Department of Agriculture
- NMED
The RFI states that information it collects will:
. . . support strong policy and science-based decision-making during implementation of Phase 2 of the Removal Plan.
A copy of the RFI can be downloaded here.