DLA continues support to firefighting, law enforcement agencies

Courtesy Photo | A Putnam County, Florida, firefighter reaches into his vehicle’s cab in 2011. The vehicle is a Humvee converted to a brush fire truck. The vehicle was turned in to DLA Disposition Services by the Tennessee Army National Guard and then issued to firefighters in Florida.  

BATTLE CREEK, MI, UNITED STATES

07.11.2014

Story by Kenneth MacNevin 

Defense Logistics Agency   

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - The Defense Logistics Agency continues to provide excess military vehicles in support of fire service and law enforcement agencies after consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency determined that was allowable.

While the agency temporarily suspended the flow of excess vehicles outside the Department of Defense on June 19, overall support programs continued. The agency resumed the flow of all authorized equipment for firefighters and law enforcement July 9.

“When we found that some diesel engines used in military equipment had been exempted from EPA standards and were only approved for use by the armed forces, we had to hold vehicles from further distribution until we could consult with the EPA,” said Air Force Col. Michael Cannon, the director of DLA Disposition Services. “We had to ensure we were not in violation of regulations and agreements supporting the Clean Air Act.”

Civilian fire departments and law enforcement agencies that obtain the kinds of vehicles and equipment in question take part in voluntary programs offering that equipment for free, Cannon noted.

“We are very aware of the importance of these programs,” he added. “We had an obligation to ensure that we did not send someone equipment they might not be allowed to use.”

DLA regularly distributes equipment, to include vehicles, to other federal and state agencies for continued use after the military identifies it as excess. The engine restrictions drew scrutiny during a DLA staff review of excess military vehicle regulations.

“We learned that the armed services had received EPA exemptions for certain types of engines in question, because during deployments those engines might have to be able to burn types of fuel not used at home,” Cannon said.

Mike Scott, deputy director of DLA Logistics Operations said DLA immediately began discussions with the EPA “resulting in a determination that DLA would retain title to the vehicles, allowing the national security exemptions to remain in effect.”

“The agreement allowed the flow of vehicles to law enforcement and firefighters to be reestablished,” Scott said.

DLA is the arm of the Defense Department that manages excess property turned over to it by U.S. military units around the world. The agency’s first priority is to encourage other elements within the armed forces to reuse items. If equipment is not reused within the military, it can supply special programs such as the firefighter and law enforcement programs.

Scott noted that DLA can also transfer items to other federal agencies and donate many types of property to state and local governments. Eventually remaining items that are safe for public use are purchased by a contractor who then sells them to the public via online auction.

“We’re continuing to work with the EPA to find effective and compliant ways to provide the engines in question to those other outlets,” Scott said.

• Date Taken: 07.11.2014
• Date Posted: 07.17.2014 14:49
• Story ID: 136407
• Location: BATTLE CREEK, MI, US