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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune’s Environmental Restoration Program was recognized as the best of its type throughout the military and defense communities with a Secretary of Defense Environmental Award, April 21.
Environmental Restoration, a section of the base’s Environmental Management Division, assesses and properly addresses ordnance and contamination throughout the base.
“I couldn’t be more honored and pleased by the Department of Defense’s recognition of the tremendous efforts of the unsung professionals who lead Camp Lejeune’s environmental restoration mission,” said Brig. Gen. Robert F. Castellvi, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East - Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “The award is a worthy reflection of the exceptional commitment and dedication to the stewardship of this base, demonstrated every day by the entire Environmental Management Division.”
The program was judged by a panel made up of experts in the field.
Camp Lejeune’s Environmental Restoration stood out due to its cost-effective sustainable efforts to protect human health and the environment, while cleaning up contamination, according to an American Forces Press Service press release.
The program has saved the base millions of dollars. Three sites aboard the base with more than 16 acres of contaminated soil were treated, establishing more than 55,000 tons of soil nonhazardous and saving $5.5 million in costs.
Since the program’s inception in 1983, they have performed environmental responses at more than 900 locations and are currently addressing more than 80 active sites.
While some sites offer military specific challenges, such as unexploded ordnance, other sites are comparable to what is faced in a civilian environment, with contaminants such as fuel, oil, pesticides, or chlorinated solvents.
“We clean the world one day at a time,” said Charity Delaney, an environmental engineer and the program’s manager.
Environmental Restoration’s Underground Storage Tank program removed more than 70 storage tanks and 14,000 tons of soil contaminated with petroleum.
Environmental Restoration also performs extensive assessments at potential construction sites, which they refer to as due-diligence assessments, where they identify and address risks.
The program implemented an effective, innovative way by adding an extra step to their investigation process. Through expanded site inspections, where personnel collect extra data before launching a full investigation, members of Environmental Restoration can determine if a site warrants a full examination.
“(The restoration team) have all made the environment a measurably cleaner and safer place by their commitment, professionalism and solution-oriented leadership,” said John Townson, Director of Camp Lejeune’s Environmental Management Division. “Winning the Secretary of Defense award this year is a great honor and is a tribute to the many years of success the Environmental Restoration program has had at Camp Lejeune.”
The program will receive a trophy, a Secretary of Defense certificate of Achievement and an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Earth Day.
The program also holds a quarterly public forum where members of the community can discuss environmental restoration issues. The Restoration Advisory Board’s next meeting is scheduled May 28 at 6 p.m. in Room BT105 at Coastal Carolina Community College.
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2014 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 127282 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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