The Early Bird Gets To Protect The Worm's Environment

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort Stewart attributes its environmental stewardship success to early planning, early coordination and involvement of stakeholders. That success was recognized this year, as Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield was named as the non-industrial installation winner of the Secretary of the Army's environmental quality award.

Becoming fully integrated into strategic planning, and every aspect of the installation's decision-making process, has allowed Fort Stewart's Environmental Division to be proactive in its planning and analysis.

A partnership between an installation cross-functional team and the Army Corps of Engineers' Wetlands Regulatory Division helped identify environmental impacts and potential mitigation efforts related to a number of proposed range-related projects at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield. Public input is an important part of this process, and with six counties outside the installation's borders, it is a large task to keep them all updated.

Fort Stewart's environmental team makes it a priority to inform and educate the community both inside and outside the gates. Over the last two years, they have released over 100 articles and sponsored or participated in about 100 community events, with an outreach to about 15,000 of their neighbors.

The extensive training program the installation instituted for Soldiers and civilians inside the installation increases awareness and promotes the highest standards of environmental quality. Hundreds of environmental and recycling compliance courses have been taught.

Along with the learning comes doing. The installation provides cash incentive awards, along with a plaque and command recognition, to those units who do well with their recycling programs. Not only does the recycling program generate revenue to offset management costs, it also saves the entire installation money by diverting recyclable material from the landfill, allowing landfills to remain viable for longer periods.

"Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field have demonstrated that by educating and involving every soldier and civilian a facility can reduce its environmental impact to a level that allows its mission to be sustained for the long term," said Tom Easterly, the commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and judge for the Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards Program. "This is the future of environmental protection, moving from preventing harm to operating in harmony with the natural environment."

The installation has done such a great job operating in harmony with the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker that they are able to contribute more than 30 birds a year to help the effort of growing woodpecker populations in other areas, such as Talladega national Forest, the Avon Park Air Force Range and the Disney Wilderness Preserve.

The installation's partnerships with stakeholders to purchase a conservation easement on lands adjacent to the facility have provided a buffer to protect the woodpecker and other threatened and endangered species. In addition, the buffer ensures incompatible development doesn't negatively impact the important mission of the warfighters at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield.

Another partnership, this time with the city of Hinesville, has been a win-win situation for both the city and Fort Stewart. The city constructed a reuse facility to reduce their wastewater demand on the existing wastewater treatment plant. Fort Stewart is planning to use this water for irrigation at their golf course, which also reduces their demand on the aquifer that serves as the main source of drinking water in the region.

During fiscal 2009, the installation drilled a Lower Floridian Aquifer well, which will help conserve water, something of great concern to the state and the region. The lessons learned during the construction of this well have been shared with the state in another partnering effort.

The partnerships established and nourished both within and outside their gates, early integration of environmental experts in planning initiatives, and proactive initiatives to sustain and improve environmental quality have helped the Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Environmental Office stand out. An early bird mentality has allowed them to protect, preserve, conserve and sustain the environment where Soldiers live, work and train.

An independent panel of judges made up of professionals from federal, state and Army organizations recommended Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Environmental Office for the award. The Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards represent the highest honor in the field of environmental science and sustainability conferred by the Army.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for the Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Tad Davis recognized Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield and the winners of the other eight categories as the best examples of how environmental stewardship and sustainability play a crucial role in the Army's mission readiness.

"The Army recognizes successes that demonstrate mission-driven solutions that protect the environment at installations here and overseas. Whatever we do needs to revolve around supporting the mission, taking care of our Soldiers, civilians and Families," said Davis. "In simplistic terms the Army, our Army, your Army - is building green, buying green and going green. These winning environmental programs make the Army sustainable thereby impacting generations to come."

For details about the Secretary of the Army Environmental Award recipients, visit the U.S. Army Environmental Command's Web site at http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/awards00.html.

"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