Minnesota National Guard among winners of Defense Department environmental awards
By American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – The Minnesota National Guard is among the winners of the 2014
Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. The announcement coincides with the
worldwide observance of Earth Day, a celebration to raise environmental
awareness.
Each year since 1962, the Defense Department has honored individuals, teams
and installations for their outstanding achievements in environmental
performance, officials said, noting that over the past 10 years, DOD has
invested about $42 billion to ensure the success of its environmental
programs.
In fiscal 2012, DOD spent about $4.1 billion for its environmental programs
-- $2 billion for environmental restoration activities, $1.9 billion for
environmental quality activities, and $213.6 million for environmental
technology.
These investments protect and sustain the environment while strengthening
operational capacity, reducing operational costs and enhancing the well-being of
military members, civilians, and their families and communities, officials
said.
Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and
logistics, praised this year’s award winners.
“Their remarkable achievements exemplify the department’s continued
commitment to sustain mission readiness while cost-effectively addressing
environmental issues, thereby increasing efficiencies and supporting the quality
of life for service members, their families and local communities,” he said.
The nine winners chosen from 33 nominations are:
- Environmental Quality, Individual/Team: Environmental Quality Team,
Minnesota National Guard, which employed cross-functional expertise in resource
protection and conservation, with special attention to informational training
and stakeholder involvement
- Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation: Marine Corps Base
Hawaii, which demonstrated the innovative use of limited funding to protect the
environment while accomplishing the base’s mission
- Natural Resources Conservation, Individual/Team: The Eglin Air Force Base,
Fla., Natural Resources Team, which offered long-range solutions that ensured
regulatory compliance while maximizing the use of land and water ranges to
maintain mission readiness
- Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Fort Hood, Texas, which
led the way in environmental quality innovation and proactive community
interaction, partnerships and training
- Sustainability, Industrial Installation: Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach,
Calif., which exceeded goals in energy reduction, water conservation, recycling,
eliminating hazardous waste, and implementing low-impact development projects
demonstrating innovative approaches to sustainability in the face of economic
challenges
- Environmental Restoration, Installation: Marine Corps Installation
East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., which demonstrated cost-effective
sustainable efforts to protect human health and the environment in cleaning up
contamination from past activities
- Environmental Restoration, Individual/Team: The Base Realignment and Closure
Cleanup Team, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Fla., which achieved environmental
excellence through its quick, innovative and timely responses to environmental
restoration efforts
- Cultural Resources Management, Installation: Fort Wainwright, Alaska, which
successfully ensured that its lands remain available and in good condition, not
only to support its mission, but also to preserve the cultural history that is
inherent to Fort Wainwright's heritage
- Environmental Excellence in Weapon System Acquisition, Large Program
Individual/Team: Air Force Life Cycle Management Center F-35 Environmental,
Safety and Occupational Health Support Team, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, which increased efficiencies in aircraft development, project
prioritization, resource access, and other critical mission areas that
contribute to their environmental and overall excellence in weapon system
acquisition.