MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. --
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow was recently recognized for its environmental achievements by winning the Secretary of the Navy's Pollution Prevention award for an Industrial Installation and also being runner-up for the Department of Defense's award for fiscal year 2001.
The awards were presented to representatives from winning installations and runners up during ceremonies held April 30 in Washington, D. C.
The continued commitment of our Marine Corps installations to environmental excellence, which these recipients represent, is critical if the Corps is to ensure that future generations of Marines have the same training opportunities enjoyed today, stated MARADMIN 246/02 announcing the Marine Corps winners.
Pollution Prevention (P2), also known as source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. By reducing the total amount of pollution that is produced, there is less waste to control, treat, or dispose of, and there are less hazards posed to public health and the environment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The nomination package, submitted by MCLB's Environmental Division for award consideration, described how the P2 process was implemented and the changes that occurred after its inception.
It states that the P2 plan was designed for MCLB and all of its tenants and serves as a hub of all activities that take place on the installation including contracting and purchasing, repair and rebuild, planning and estimating, and quality assurance.
During the past fiscal year, MCLB had 16 Pollution Prevention projects noted during this timeframe. One of the most notable projects was the improvement of the Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Facility.
From FY'98 through FY'01, improvements to the facility has resulted in a savings of more than $1.8 million dollars and decreased 82 million pounds of wastewater that was hauled off base for recycling.
This, according to the package, was accomplished through education and awareness programs, stressing better acquisition practices, recycling and reuse of processed materials, improved facilities management, component substitution, conservation measures, and innovative pollution prevention technologies and strategies.
Environmental Division is continuing to look for new ideas and projects in the area of Pollution Prevention.
Some of projects under development and consideration for the future include: antifreeze recycling, oil change alternative technology, and a mini-max steam cleaner and automatic paint gun washer equipment.
By anticipating the future, pollution prevention reduces both financial cost (waste management and cleanup) and real environmental costs (health problems and environmental change). This is why pollution prevention is so important, according to the EPA.
As Environmental continues its aggressive stance on pollution prevention and getting more people involved in the process, "future generations can have the same opportunities we have today."
"I like winning this award because it signifies our employee's understanding of the importance of pollution prevention by choosing wise behavior instead of being compelled by law or regulation," said Jack Stormo, Environmental Division head, on winning the Secretary of the Navy's Environmental Award, and runner up for the Department of Defense award.