range xxi - U.S. Army Environmental Center

14
PURPOSE
BENEFITS
TECHNOLOGY USERS
DESCRIPTION
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RESULTS
POINT OF CONTACT
ACQUISITION TEAM
ARMY 500
The Department of Defense requires weapon system program managers
(PMs) to implement hazardous materials management programs and
pollution prevention programs. Army 500 is a management tool being
developed to help PMs rank hazardous materials and make informed
decisions regarding their use.
To provide an automation tool that helps weapon system PMs and staff
collect information on hazardous materials and rank the materials based
on human toxicity and environmental hazards.
Army 500 will help program offices analyze hazardous materials and
identify opportunities to eliminate the use of these materials. Reducing
requirements for hazardous materials will reduce lifecycle costs for
weapon systems.
Program, project and product managers throughout the acquisition
community, and environmental staffs at major commands and
installations.
Use of hazardous materials increases costs associated with occupational
health and safety, as well as environmental liability. Requirements to
implement hazardous materials management and pollution prevention
programs compel PMs to identify the hazardous materials required in the
design, manufacture and support of their weapon systems. Where possible,
PMs must eliminate the need for hazardous material use or mitigate the
environmental, health and safety impacts when elimination is impossible.
Army 500 is designed to assist in the evaluation of hazardous materials for
elimination.
Army 500 consists of an Excel spreadsheet into which PM staffs can enter
information on known hazardous materials and their applications. Once
the data are entered for all materials under consideration, the spreadsheet
ranks the materials according to human toxicity and environmental
hazard. Inputs to the spreadsheet include factors for permissible exposure
limits, threshold limit values, reportable quantities, legislative risk, and
treatment and disposal methods. The spreadsheet also considers costs and
produces a rank-ordered listing with values assigned for each factor. The
spreadsheet will be made available to the acquisition community and other
potential users on a World Wide Web site.
The users (PM offices) are reviewing Army 500. The comments received
will be incorporated into the document, and any appropriate changes will
be made. The final release of the Army 500 is anticipated during March or
April of 2001.
Charles George