926th Engineer Brigade Commander speaks at Baghdad's first environmental symposium

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Keefer | Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, commander of 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National...... read more read more

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Keefer | Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, commander of 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, speaks to the gathered attendees during Baghdad's first environmental symposium, Jan. 5, at the Mansour Hotel in Baghdad. The native of South Bend, Ind., is MND-B's chief engineer and an associate professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Notre Dame in his civilian profession.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.12.2009

Story by Chief Warrant Officer Jennifer Keefer 

926th Engineer Brigade

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By Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jennifer Keefer
926th Engineer Brigade

BAGHDAD – Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, the commander of Multi-National Division – Baghdad's 926th Engineer Brigade, spoke at Baghdad's first environmental symposium in the Mansour Hotel, Jan. 12, and provided the attendees an overview of the environmental challenges and possible solutions surrounding Baghdad.

Talley, a native of South Bend, Ind., is Baghdad's chief engineer for Multi-National Division – Baghdad. He earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering and is a registered professional engineer. In his civilian profession, Dr. Talley is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, and his specialty includes environmental processes and treatment of contaminated surface water, groundwater, soil and sediment.

The conference was a joint venture by Iraqi and MND-B officials.

MND-B's Joint Reconstruction Operations Center, from the 926th Eng. Bde., was instrumental in working in partnership with the Baghdad Provisional Council to plan and conduct the first environmental conference in Iraq," said Col. Dwight Pearson, JROC's director. The Baghdad Provisional Council consists of the Ministry of Health, the Amanat Baghdad and the Ministry of Environment.

Some of the environmental problems discussed during the conference included landfills, sewage, water and air pollution, in addition to medical and industrial waste.

Talley said some of the main environmental challenges in Baghdad include the aging and war damaged infrastructure in addition to the tremendous urban growth.

"As we progress to restore peace, we have to balance the environmental concerns of land/soil, water, air, sediment and trash," said Talley. "With the population of Baghdad reaching 8 million, the key to sustaining life is balance. We need to act locally but think globally."

The Notre Dame professor used a verbal illustration of a cup of clean hot water, then adding a tea bag to the liquid shows how the color will change due to contamination.

"The same effect happens with soil, water, sediment and air that have been contaminated," he said. "In this case, we will have to remove the hazard [contaminants] and mitigated exposure to the pollution."

Talley's overview included potential sources of the hazards: industrial waste and sewage; exposure pathways: dust and water intake; and risk controls: education, waste and water management.

"There has been some positive impacts provided by the coalition forces with the Government of Iraq," he said, "like water treatment, sewage collection and treatment, solid waste collection and disposal, and improving air quality to name a few."

He concluded his briefing with recommended solutions on the road to environmental recovery.

"The national energy policy should be linked to the environmental policy and public education," said Talley, "Involvement is important to successful environmental programs; pollution prevention and waste minimization plans need to be initiated. Water issues require international cooperation, and environmental solutions should focus first on human health and then ecology."

It is hoped this conference, which is the first of its kind in Baghdad, is merely the springboard for future environmental success in the area.

"It was rewarding to see such a good Iraqi turnout and demonstrates the fact they recognize the importance of environmental issues facing them today and in the future," said Pearson. "It was obvious that they appreciated Brig. Gen. Talley's keynote speech and support."