Army Chesapeake Bay Strategy Highlighted at 2010 Earth and Arbor Day Celebration

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Top officials from the Pentagon, the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency today participated in the 2010 Earth and Arbor Day celebration at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Mr. Tad Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, highlighted the daily environmental stewardship efforts of the Army with respect to the public resources entrusted to it.  He also called attention to the July 2009 Army Chesapeake Bay Strategy, which sets the Army's direction and integrates conservation and protection efforts for the Chesapeake Bay into the Army's national defense activities.

Mr. Davis was joined by James B. Balocki, Chief, Environmental Community of Practice, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Shawn M. Garvin, Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency Region 3.

The Army operates 19 major installations totaling more than 220,000 acres in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with wetlands collectively covering more than 26,000 acres. Additionally, many smaller Army Reserve and Army National Guard properties are also located within the Bay watershed.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works program plans, designs, and constructs projects related to ecosystem restoration, navigation and flood risk management with support from non-federal sponsors. The USACE Regulatory Permit program provides protection of the Bay watershed by regulating placement of dredged or fill materials into the Bay and its tributaries, both tidal and non-tidal, including wetlands.

The Army recognizes that it has an environmental stewardship obligation to meet while at the same time ensuring that Army soldiers are prepared and ready for their national defense mission. As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, the Army prepared an Army Chesapeake Bay Strategy to define goals, objectives and targets that the Army plans to integrate into its national defense mission to assist in Chesapeake Bay conservation and protection efforts.

The strategy incorporates stewardship initiatives for the Chesapeake Bay into the Army's daily mission activities and promotes partnerships with governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, the community and others to maximize Army resources and efforts. The five goals are based on the priorities established in the 2008 Chesapeake Action Plan, the Department of Defense Chesapeake Bay Strategic Action Plan, and Executive Order 13508, Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration.

Army Chesapeake Bay Strategy Goals:

1. Contribute to restoring and sustaining the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
2. Restore and sustain living resources and healthy habitats on Army installations.
3. Support the implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management.
4. Strengthen storm water management practices and maintain healthy watersheds.
5. Foster Chesapeake Bay stewardship.

"Sustaining the Environment for a Secure Future"

For more information on the U.S. Army Environmental Command, visit http://aec.army.mil

SOURCE U.S. Army Environmental Command