FY 2020 STATEMENT OF NEED

Environmental Restoration (ER) Program Area

The objective of this Statement of Need (SON) was to develop improved forensic methods and tools for source tracking and allocation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Specifically, the goal was to address the following research needs:

• Evaluation of conventional or novel analytical techniques or methodologies to differentiate PFAS from aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) versus non-AFFF sources.
• Develop spectral libraries of PFAS to include both AFFF-derived PFAS as well as PFAS derived from other sources.
• Improved analytical methods and/or validated models to predict changes to AFFF mixtures over time, including chemical pathways to the most toxic compounds.

The projects listed below were selected to address the objectives of this SON. Additional information on individual projects will be available soon.

•  
  • Lead Investigator: Christopher Higgins, Colorado School of Mines
•  
  • Lead Investigator: Mark Benotti, NewFields Government Services
•  
  • Lead Investigator: Tohren Kibbey, University of Oklahoma
•  
  • Lead Investigators: Jens Blotevogel, Colorado State University
•  
  • Lead Investigator: David Sedlak, University of California, Berkeley
•  
  • Lead Investigator: Benjamin Place, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Research should lead to a more viable path for the development of PFAS forensic tools at DoD sites. This will in turn help DoD remedial program managers assess the nature and extent of PFAS contamination related to DoD releases, as well as the potential liability associated with those releases.