Environmental committee finds Area I on track

By Ms. Margaret Banishdonaldson (USACR/Safety Center)March 25, 2009

USAG CASEY, South Korea Aca,!" The Area I and 2nd Infantry Division environmental committee held its quarterly environmental quality control meeting March 20 in the USAG-Casey Digital Conference Center.

"The purpose of the EQCC meeting is to provide updated information on environmental programs and activities, and advise tenants on environmental priorities, policies and strategies," said Lt. Col. Donald Meisler, USAG-Casey commander. "All the momentum from last year shows the units and supporting agencies have done a good job and are on track."

Results on the checklists from the staff assistant visits showed 100 percent for the second quarter in fiscal 2009.

"We were successful with the program because the senior leadership had tremendous impact on ensuring the units focused on flushing out nonconformities," said Richard Davis, USAG-Red Cloud deputy commander. "We now need the units and internal offices and agencies to verify the information for environmental officers appointed and trained and the hazardous waste and hazardous material handlers appointed and trained before our internal audit in May. This inspection will not include everyone, but will be random selections."

Internal audits are done every year, whereas external environmental management system audits are conducted every three years by the Army Environmental Center, Center for Preventive Medicine and Promotion of Health along with Installation Management Command-Korea.

The Area I and 2nd Infantry Division external audit was done Feb. 25 - March 7, 2008, and showed six positive findings; six in conformance, one major nonconformance and 11 minor nonconformances.

"All 11 nonconformances were corrected," Meisler said. "The one major nonconformance is scheduled to be completed by May 2009."

Results of the last environmental performance assessment survey conducted at the same showed 48 findings.

"Thirty findings were corrected as of Aug. 31, 2008 and six were corrected as of Feb. 28, 2009," Meisler said. "The remaining 12 findings are scheduled for completion by June 30, 2009."

Furthermore, to meet the Army's requirements for integrated social waste by fiscal 2010 the USAG-Red Cloud directorate of public works is working on a plan to be submitted at the next quarterly EQCC meeting June 12.

"The goal is for all defense installations to divert no less than 40 percent of the nonhazardous solid waste and 50 percent of the construction and demolition wastes," Meisler said. "In order for us to meet this goal by fiscal 2010, we are going to have to do a better job of sorting our trash, which is now done by contractors. This will probably occur within the next six months."