At Fort Stewart the early bird gets to protect the worm's environment

By Cathy KroppMay 6, 2010

New well provides helps installation and community
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – In 2009, FS/HAAF drilled a Lower Floridan well at HAAF. The well meets and/or exceed Georgia's requirement to reduce water usage from the Upper Floridan Aquifer. This provides the city with a source for their water and is a win-win for both the city ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Prescribed burns are ecologically favorable
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Recycling pays
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spreading the word about recycling
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mr. Thomas Fry, Chief DPW Environmental Division, discusses Fort Stewart's recycling program with the garrison commander at the Fort Stewart Community Showcase. FS/HAAF is considered a leader in recycling and provides assistance to Savannah in the de... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker are banded and tracked
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – This shows one of the many endangered Red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCW) living within the boundaries of Fort Stewart. A Fort Stewart biologist applies colored celluloid leg bands to a RCW. The Fish and Wildlife Branch is responsible for managing the ins... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Lower Ogeechee River Conservation Corridor adjacent to installation
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lower Ogeechee River Conservation Corridor (LORCC) encompasses 13,500 acres along the Ogeechee adjacent to the installation. LORCC offers biodiversity and a buffer for the installation. Fort Stewart's ecosystem provides habitat crucial to the continu... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - 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 every aspect of the installation's decision-making process, including strategic planning, 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 for 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, it has released more than 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 for the installations' Soldiers and civilians increases awareness and promotes the highest standards of environmental quality. Hundreds of environmental and recycling compliance courses have been taught.

With 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. The recycling program generates revenue to offset management costs, and it saves the 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 it is able to contribute more than 30 birds a year to help the efforts of growing woodpecker populations in other areas, such as Talladega National Forest, Avon Park Air Force Range and 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 impact the warfighters' mission at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.

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

During fiscal 2009, the installation drilled a Lower Floridan 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 Division stand out. An early bird mentality allows it 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 <a href="http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/awards00.html">http://aec.army.mil/usaec/newsroom/awards00.html </a>.

Related Links:

U.S. Army Environmental Command