Funding Program: Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems

Statement of Problem: The U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior use a variety of chemicals to aid in the suppression of fire in wildlands, including long-term fire retardants, short-term retardants, foams, gels, and wetting agents. Some of these chemicals have been used since the 1930s, but toxicological and ecological information has only become available during the last decade. An ecological risk assessment will be completed using the most recently generated scientific information to evaluate any potential impacts to the environment that may result from chemical application and use. This project will provide a programmatic evaluation of ecological risk from different chemical types to ecosystems throughout the United States.

Objective: To evaluate the environmental risk associated with a variety of fire fighting chemicals to ecosystems throughout the United States.