Hazardous Materials
Overview
Pollution Prevention (P2) is a top environmental priority at Fort Lee. The current emphasis on P2 is necessary to meet state and national P2 policy goals, protect public health and the environment, reduce the long-term liabilities of waste disposal, and save money by reducing raw material purchases and waste treatment and disposal costs. Pollution Prevention (P2) is a comprehensive initiative to reduce and prevent pollution at the source. Pollution prevention is a cost-effective means of meeting environmental objectives in an era when Army installations are simultaneously subject to stricter standards for pollution control, public criticism of their environmental records, and declining budgets. The costs of failing to prevent pollution are dramatically evident; at some installations, cleanup costs from past disposal practices are estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Environmental liabilities increase directly with the volume of hazardous substances and materials in use and increase to a lesser extent as a result of other materials used and the solid waste generated. Reducing these long-term liabilities requires a commitment, a sound plan, and an aggressive program for modifying past attitudes toward the conservation of all materials. Reducing liabilities also requires actively searching for opportunities to reduce the amount of waste generated and the use of toxic materials, fuels, and chemicals while still accomplishing Fort Lee’s mission.
Program Areas
Sustainability
All projects and exercises must receive an environmental review in accordance with AR 200-2. AR 200-2 is the Army amplification of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Using NEPA as a planning tool, construction projects, renovations and training events will be executed in a manner which best meets mission requirements and also saves Army dollars. All work orders (4283's)submitted to DPW receive a detailed NEPA review. A NEPA review consists of analysis by each of the individual environmental staff, who then provides feedback about any envorinmental considerations that need to be taken when executing the project. This includes mitigation efforts or possibly the need for an elavated review such as an Environmental Imapct Statement (EIS) or an Environmental Assestment (EA). It is important to begin the NEPA planning early as well as EMD involvement because short lead times can jeopardize the project/mission and lead to delays and/or legal complications.
NEPA requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. Based on the environmental impact federal agencies may be required to prepare a detailed statement known as an EIS or EA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews and comments on the EIS/EA, maintains a national filing system, and assures that its own actions comply with NEPA requirements.
For further information call Fort Lee's NEPA/Sustainability Program Manager at 734-5352. Let's think of a few reasons 'Why it CAN be done'.
Protecting the land we defend
Noise
Military installations are, by nature, sources of noise and the Army can receive complaints from the general public regarding military noise. Fort Lee is sensitive to the general public's concerns regarding noise. In order to minimize excessive noise, the installation has implemented an Installation Operational Noise Management Plan (IONMP) written in 2009 and through annual reviews and a journal of changes has ensured that Fort Lee's Noise Management Program is current and that there is the means to report public and military concerns.
Activities generating noise complaints include small unit training activities, small arms ranges, and aviation activities. The chance of a particular activity generating a complaint due to noise depends on a variety of characteristics of the noise including its sound level, number of occurrences, time pattern, abruptness of onset or cessation, or the presence of background noise. The Fort Lee Public Affairs Office (PAO) is the receiving office for handling noise complaints for the installation. The PAO is available to receive complaints by telephone, email, or in person at their office. To learn more about submitting a noise complaint click on the Noise Complaints and Inquires under the Community Relations tab. A representative of PAO follows up each complaint by attempting to make personal contact with the person reporting a complaint to reach a resolution within 24 hours of receipt. In instances where physical damage to property from noise has occurred, the Army has compensated the individual for these specific damages. Fort Lee is a part of the community and would like to continue to be known as a good neighbor.
Pest Management
The Integrated Pest Management Plan contains provisions for managing pests on the installation, outlines the necessary surveillance and control techniques to keep pests at bay, and describes the administrative, safety, and environmental requirements of the program. All entomological services are performed via contract or local purchase (credit card purchase) in accordance with guidelines established in the Fort Lee Policy 17-03.
Child care facilities and food service areas are frequently examined by Preventive Medicine. All other sites are inspected by the facility manager in accordance with the Policy. For more information about these services contact Pest Management at 765-7994.
Cross Connections & Backflow
The Cross Connections/Backflow Program is responsible for the placement, testing, and maintenance of 800 backflows in 250 buildings as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Solid Waste
Solid waste storage and collection at Fort Lee is primarily the responsibility of the Directorate of Public Works (DPW), who has contracted these activities. DPW administers and oversees all aspects of the contractor’s performance and collects excess property for re-use from all areas of the installation. The DPW requires tracking of the amount of waste hauled away from the installation. Data is also collected via Solid Waste Annual Report on the Web (SWARWeb), which allows Fort Lee to track, analyze and report data concerning recycling as well as disposal of materials. For 2009, non-C&D (construction and demolition) waste generation equaled 11,209 tons of which 5,921 was recycled, for a diversion rate of 53%, a marked increase over the 2008 rate of 28 percent. During 2009, C&D waste generation totaled 47,311, of which nearly all (96%) was diverted from the landfill. The increase in waste generated is a reflection of BRAC activities at the Fort Lee, and is expected to decrease over the next several years as C&D activities are performed in anticipation of new BRAC populations. Once the additional personnel arrive, however, non-C&D waste will increase unless other measures are taken to address the increased population. In 2010, C&D diversion rates dropped, as did the generation of all waste, from the 2009 high rates. Commodities recycled include office paper, corrugated cardboard, scrap metal, batteries, electronics, office furniture, rope, aluminum cans, newspaper, green waste, plastics, used oil, used JP-8 fuel, antifreeze and brass.
Recycling
In accordance with Fort Lee Policy 19-03, participation in the Fort Lee Recycling Program is mandatory. It is everyone’s responsibility who serves, works, or resides on Fort Lee to recycle. All organizations will implement an effective recycling program to minimize landfilled waste and achieve Department of Defense (DOD) waste reduction goals.
Fort Lee Recycling Center
In addition to weekly pick-up at each building, Fort Lee also has a Recycling Center for convenient drop-off of bulk items and yard waste.
Download Fort Lee Recycling Center Map
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Behind the Commissary
- Follow A Avenue east of Sisisky Blvd.
- Turn Left by water tower onto 2nd St.
- Pass PX, Commissary, and CIF
- Turn right into Recycling Center
Contact Information: Contract Representative: 804-734-5023
