Assessing the Potential Environmental Consequences of a New Energetic Material: A Phased Approach
Abstract
The U.S. Army Environmental Quality Technology Ordnance Environmental Program developed a protocol to address environmental, safety and occupational health (ESOH) risks during the research and development of new energetic materials. This work is being performed by a team led by the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. The protocol established ESOH properties as critical performance parameters equivalent to traditional parameters such as energy, sensitivity, weight, yield and cost. This will enable researchers to determine and refine ESOH properties throughout development through modeling and simulation in the early stages and testing in the later stages. Researchers will use this knowledge to identify and mitigate potential ESOH risks at each stage of development. This protocol will reduce the risk of ESOH impacts from the fielding of new energetic materials. Researchers will address all materials with high ESOH risks as soon as they are identified. If unacceptable ESOH risks cannot be reduced, development of the material will be halted, or risks will be mitigated. This knowledge will help in preparing other required documents that assess ESOH impacts, including the Programmatic Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Evaluation and the Environmental Assessment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA485448
Entities
People
- Betsy M. Rice
- Bonnie Packer
- Edward F. C. Byrd
- Kimberly Watts
- Margaret M. Hurley
- Mark S. Johnson
- Matthew J. Mcatee
- Michael J. McQuaid
- Patrick J. Taylor
- William H. Ruppert
Organizations
- United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine