Base wins two environmental awards

  • Published
  • By Gary Hatch
  • 95 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Two teams from Environmental Management were recognized for excellence by Air Force Material Command as they won the 2008 General Thomas D. White Environmental Awards for pollution prevention and cultural resources. 

"We've got a great team at EM that works hard every day to ensure the Edwards mission can go forward without delay and in full compliance with all environmental requirements," said EM director Robert Wood. 

"These awards are not only representative of the work accomplished within EM, but also of the tremendous support we receive across the base,"  he said.

The efforts in both pollution prevention and cultural resources were wide-ranging, far-reaching and substantial, Wood said. 

The pollution prevention team helped Edwards earn a Bronze Award designation from the EPA in its Federal Electronics Challenge. The challenge is set up to gauge federal programs as they demonstrate effective management through the lifecycle of electronics devices. 

Through the team's efforts, Edwards donated 2,200 computers, 2,100 monitors, 360 printers, 330 laptops and 100 servers - primarily to Federal Prison Industries and approved General Services Administration vendors. The base also donated more than 1,000 computers, more than 220 laptops and servers and more than 10 monitors to local schools. 

Donating the equipment also had the side benefit of cost avoidance totaling more than $6,000 for disposal of the items. 

Team members certified the Fisher-Tropsch synthetic fuel blend for various aircraft - including the B-1, B-52 and C-17 - and for refueling trucks. 

They also stepped up efforts to promote awareness and participation around the base in pollution prevention efforts. The team: 

· Established a reuse center for usable equipment and furniture, which cuts both procurement and disposal costs and saves landfill space. 

· Developed a Green Procurement Plan that considers environmental factors in purchasing decisions and keeps the base on track to meet executive order requirements and objectives.
 
· Met the Environmental Management System objectives and targets for reduction of hazardous waste. 

· Increased awareness of its programs through tours, workshops and newspaper articles. 

· Implemented at Hazardous Material Management Process quarterly newsletter for base organizations. 

· Set up booths at on- and off-base events. 

· Promoted the Environmental Volunteer Program. 

The cultural resources award covers a three-year period, and during that time the cultural resources team has reviewed more than 3,000 projects as part of its Environmental Impact Analysis Process. This process ensures all cultural resources are protected in accordance with existing laws and regulations and without delaying the projects. 

The team's efforts in this area were on display during the base runway replacement project. Construction for the temporary runway was going to run through part of the historic town of Muroc, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Before any work started, the cultural resource team completely catalogued the site, logging nearly 130,000 artifacts. They also evaluated 48 other sites in the footprint of the project, all without any project delays.
 
Just this year, the team has surveyed 15,000 acres, identifying sites and entering them into the base's geographical information system. 

All told, the cultural resource team has catalogued more than 4,000 sites including more than a million artifacts. Hundreds of thousands of those artifacts are stored at the curation facility located near the Air Force Flight Test Center museum. 

Additionally, the cultural resources team has been busy sharing their expertise. They have trained 5,000 base employees about cultural resources and site protection through targeted briefings the past three years. They have also incorporated cultural resources elements into newcomer orientation and commanders call briefings. 

Also, building managers of historic structures have been trained in using historically relevant materials and techniques for care and maintenance of their facilities. 

The cultural resources team also promoted conservation by: 

· Training local students and teachers through tours and workshops.
 
· Conducting tours focusing on base history and regulations regarding preservation for the Air Force Association, the Antelope Valley Civilian/Military Support Group, the base commander and guests and other VIP groups. 

· Setting up displays and participating in activities like the base's Earth Day 
celebration, Plant 42's Salute to Youth, the Antelope Valley JetHawk Stadium Career Day and the base's annual air show.