DoD Takes Environmental Honors

White House officials presented 31 awards as part of the president's program requiring federal agencies to adopt recycling programs and purchase environmentally friendly products. Defense facilities took 14 awards, and the Coast Guard won three.

The annual awards recognize federal programs and individual efforts in several categories: affirmative procurement, sowing the seeds of change, waste prevention, environmental innovation, model facility demonstration and recycling. Individual challenge awards are presented to people instrumental in environmental efforts.

"You have accepted the challenge to ensure that as we move together into the 21st century, the federal government will continue to lead by example," Vice President Al Gore said in a letter to the winners. "You have proven there is environmental excellence in government."

The winners are "local heroes showing their commitment to the president's call to leave our environment safe for future generations," federal environmental officials said.

"Award winners not only benefit surrounding communities with their commitment to environmental protection," said Fran McPoland, federal environmental executive. "They are going the extra mile to protect Amercia's backyards and the health of future generations."

DoD winners are: Individual Challenge Awards:Army:

• Edward C. Cooper, Corpus Christi (Texas) Army Depot, Engineering for a Greener Government
• Ronald Barnett, Directorate of Environmental Quality, Fort Sill, Okla., Integrating Pollution Prevention into Environmental Program ManagementNavy:
• Mary Joe Bierberich, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock, Md., Meeting the Challenge of Pollution Prevention Afloat
• Cathy Andrews, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., Pollution Prevention: Effective Outreach to Facility StakeholdersClosing the Circle Awards:Navy:
• Closed Loop Recycling, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
• Recycling Center Operations and Direct Sales of Recyclable Materials Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• Hazardous Materials Center and Pollution Prevention Program, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.Air Force:
• Environmentally Improved Space Launch Rocket Systems, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles
• Team Scott Air Force Base Recycling Program, 375th Civil Engineer Sqaudron, Environmental Flight, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
• Global Environmental Outreach, Air Combat Command, Civil Engineering, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
• Waste Prevention at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Environmental Management Directorate, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.Marine Corps:
• Parris Island Legacies Handed Down Forever, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.Defense Logistics Agency:
• Marketing Rerefined Oil at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va.
• Ozone Depleting Substance Reserves at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va.Coast Guard
• Designing a Hazardous Materials Management System, Coast Guard Yard, Baltimore
• Cultural Change Reduces Waste, Increases Recycling and Protects Nature, Coast Guard Station, Cape Cod, Mass.
• Institutionalizing Change: Pollution Prevention in Aircraft Maintenance, Coast Guard, Washington