IKE Awarded for Being Green

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, AT SEA

04.22.2010

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Kirk 

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)   

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USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At sea – USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is a winner of the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Quality Award in the large ship category for 2009. A formal recognition ceremony was held, April 22, during IKE's Earth Day celebration.

The CNO Environment Award is presented to ships Navywide annually that exemplify environmental stewardship.

This award signifies a job well-done by all IKE Sailors, said Commanding Officer Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne, and he could not be prouder to serve with such a prestigious team.

"This award is reflective of the entire crew and their commitment to being good stewards of the environment," said Mewbourne. "We have a responsibility as mariners to be guardians of the sea. This is where we work and live and, in my mind, we have a sworn duty to protect it."

To win the award, the crew demonstrated the command's efforts to comply with existing environmental standards to minimize potential for discharges into the environment and reduced overall environmental impact both in-port and at sea, said Lt. Tom Nelson, IKE's assistant safety officer and industrial hygienist.

Director of the CNO Environmental Readiness Division, Rear Adm. Herman Shelanski, commended the winners in all ship and shore categories in an official Navy message.

"You have achieved environmental excellence while supporting the maritime strategy. Your sustained commitment to environmental stewardship is an integral part of Navy operations and vital to overall Navy mission accomplishment," said Shelanski.

All departments aboard contributed to IKE winning the award, said Nelson.

"It's an all-hands effort, of course. The most basic of things like separating trash properly, not pouring hazardous materials down the drain, and minimizing use of hazardous materials has an impact," he said.

Nelson added that when looking at the larger level programs, Engineering Department and Reactor played very key roles in minimizing or eliminating solid waste, oily waste and air emissions to the environment.

Reactor Department is committed to strict adherence of the Navy's environmental guidelines, said Lt. Cmdr. Jim Von St. Paul, IKE's main propulsion assistant.

"We continually stress the importance of observing the commanding officer's standing orders regarding pumping of bilges overboard when underway," said Von St. Paul. "Our commitment to environmental awareness does not cease when we're in port however.

Whether in Norfolk or while visiting foreign ports, we always strive to avoid even the slightest inadvertent discharge of oil overboard."

Engineering Department utilizes several types of oil and grease in everyday equipment operation, explained Lt. Barry Sellers of the department's A-Division.

"If spilled or improperly disposed of, these products can cause serious problems for personnel and the environment," said Sellers. "Engineering Department is also responsible for IKE's waste disposal systems, including compress melt units, pulpers and the incinerators. It is imperative that we ensure waste is properly sorted, so that it can be disposed of in the most environmentally friendly manner."

Sellers explained that compress melt units process plastic waste into 20-inch discs for transport and disposal at a land-based facility. Pulpers grind paper and food waste, which is then mixed with seawater and discharged to the sea. The incinerator burns paper and wood waste after it goes through a shredder.

"We rely on our seas to provide us with navigable water, potable water for our use onboard, seawater to help keep us cool, and even the delicate creatures living within the oceans to assist us with many of our missions," said Sellers. "It is important we understand the impact of our actions and mitigate them to the maximum extent possible."

While Engineering and Reactor departments played a huge part, winning this award also took the effort of the entire crew. IKE Sailors played a major part by separating trash and ensuring hazardous material were disposed of properly.

"The key to success in these endeavors is proper supervision, robust pre-planned responses, and frequent training," said Von St. Paul.

When Sailors are initially assigned aboard, they receive basic environmental awareness training in School of Ship, IKE's command indoctrination program, explained Nelson.

"Following this, divisions and work centers really take environmental stewardship to a new level," said Nelson. "Each of our operations has built into it steps that minimize our potential for discharges, whether it be fuel transfers, pumping bilges, fueling at sea, or merely cleaning out spaces. Environmental responsibility starts with people caring about our world from the deck-plate up."

Nelson said the award recognizes IKE's effort to be environmentally responsible.

"Winning this award signifies that we are doing it right," said Nelson. "It also demonstrates that the organization is environmentally minded and that we are truly tracking toward the vision to reduce our collective carbon footprint, and committed to securing healthy futures and sustainable natural resources for generations to follow."

Eisenhower is underway as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. Operations in the 5th Fleet AOR are focused on reassuring regional partners of the coalition's commitment to help set conditions for security and stability. U.S. forces maintain a naval and air presence in the region that deters destabilizing activities while safeguarding the region's vital links to the global economy.