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The Georgia Department of Defense Environmental Stewardship Branch
exists to support Commanders and their Mission by reducing environmental
liabilities and promoting the US Army Environmental Stewardship Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP BRANCH STAFF
Our Mission
Georgia Army National Guard
Environmental Stewardship
Branch Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 2
Dania Aponte Environmental Programs Director (678) 569-6707 [email protected]
Butch Thompson Compliance Program Manager (678) 569-9264 [email protected]
Felicia Nichols NEPA & Cultural Program Manager (678) 569-6755 [email protected]
Randy Drum-
mond
Restoration and Clean-up Manager (678) 569-6750 [email protected]
Frances Grieme eMS & Recycling Program Manager (678) 569-6749 [email protected]
Kathryn Norton Energy & Sustainability Program Manager (678) 569-6726 [email protected]
Michael Holloway Environmental Assessor - Cumming (678) 569-9266 [email protected]
Tangy Johnson Environmental Assessor - Ft. Stewart (678) 569-9267 [email protected]
Megan Spells Environmental Assessor & eMS Awareness
Coordinator - Tifton
(678) 569-8458 [email protected]
Vacant Environmental Assessor - Atlanta
Vacant Water & Air Program Coordinator
Summer — Sweet Summertime!
Our Vision
Commanders maintaining readiness while acquiring the knowledge and
resources to make informed decisions that protect and conserve today’s
resources for tomorrow’s National Guard Soldiers and Citizens of Georgia.
July 2014
~Clay National Guard Center- 1000 Halsey Avenue, Building 70, Marietta, GA 30060~
CFMO-ENV Ongoing Projects and Activities for 2014
Page 2
Spring has come and gone. The Environmental department has continued to strive toward keeping the Georgia Army National Guard on track with environmental stewardship!
Environmental Training: Check out the up-coming EO/UECO training classes. See page 3 Compliance Program: Georgia EPD news on open burning. See pages 4 - 6 Compliance Program: Hazardous products at home and at work. See Pages 7 - 9 Natural & Culture: Oglethorpe Readiness Center. See page 9 GeMS: GeMS and potential energy. See page 10 Cleanup & Restoration: GAARNG and polluting of stormwater. See page 11 A Job Well Done—Thank You: GAARNG Soldiers as Environmental Stewards! See pages 12—13
“TEAMWORK — Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.”
- Henry Ford
Page 3
Environmental Officer (EO)/Unit Environmental Officer (UECO) Training Opportunities
In accordance with AR 200-1, CFMO-ENV will provide one 8 hour block of initial training and one 4 hour block of annual refresher training for personnel assigned EO/UECO responsibilities. The 8 hour initial training is for personnel that have not received any EO/UECO training and the 4 hour refresher training is for personnel that have received initial training and require annual refresher training. Training will be conducted at DLC Macon on 15-16JUL14. Initial EO/UECO training will be conducted on 15JUL14 from 0800-1700 and Refresher EO/UECO training will be conducted on 16JUL14 from 0800-1200. Both courses will be conducted in the Computer Lab at DLC Macon. The class sizes are limited to only 20 personnel for each class, to register send an email to Mr. Charles "Butch" Thompson at [email protected]. Ensure email contains rank, full name, and unit/facility assigned to as EO/UECO. EO/UECO training is offered once per calendar quarter by CFMO-ENV and specifically pertains to GAARNG environmental programs, not host installations. GAARNG units on host installations must attend the host in-stallations training and comply 100% with host installation environmental program requirements. GAARNG EO/UECO training rotates between locations at GGTC, DLC Macon, and Clay NGC. All GAARNG units/facilities are required to have a primary and alternate EO/UECO assigned and properly trained by the cognizant train-ing authority to manage environmental issues/concerns at the unit/facility. Remaining EO/UCO training courses for CY-14 are as follows:
14-15OCT14, Bldg 2 (Classroom TBD), Clay NGC, Marietta, GA Courses will be announced quarterly via FRAGO, normally one month prior to each scheduled course. Soldiers are reminded to register for the course nearest their home station to alleviate issues with obtaining travel orders and funding. Training will be conducted on specified dates in accordance with AR 200-1 and FM 3-34.5 (Environmental Considerations).
Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.
- Jack Welch
Upcoming Environmental Training
Page 4
Compliance Program
News from Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) For Immediate Release from GAEPD, Contact: Vicky Giles – 404-362-2536 Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Open Burning Ban Begins May 1, 2014 for 54 Counties (ATLANTA – April 25, 2014) Beginning May 1 and ending September 30, EPD’s open burning ban will be in effect for 54 Georgia counties. The open burning ban has been in effect for the current areas since 2005. The open burning ban prohibits citizens and businesses from burning yard and land-clearing debris during the months of May through Sep-tember. This restriction is in addition to a ban on burning household garbage that exists year-round through-out all of Georgia. Citizens are reminded that these rules are in place for a reason – and the reason is health. Smoke from fires contains chemicals and pollutants that may negatively impact a person’s health. Burning yard waste releases nitrogen oxides and particle pollution into the air. Both pollutants can contribute to lung and heart disease. Ground-level ozone is most commonly produced in the heat of the summer when nitrogen oxides combine with fumes from fuels, paints and vegetation. Ground-level ozone can cause inflammation to the lungs as well as other health problems. Particle pollution is made up of extremely small particles that can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Burning household garbage, banned year-round in Georgia, releases even more dangerous pollution. May through September is a time of year when people, particularly children, are more likely to be outdoors. It is also the time of year when ground - level ozone and particle pollution levels are generally higher.
In December 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized an update to the national air quality standards for fine particle pollution (PM2.5), lowering the annual health standard to a more stringent 12 micrograms per cubic meter, down from 15 micrograms per cubic meter. With this lower stan-dard, and because particle pollution values are typically highest in the summer, the positive effects of the summer burn ban become more significant. Even with a more protective standard, monitoring data shows that the air qual-ity in Georgia is improving. “This is very good news for Georgia,” says Keith Bentley, Georgia EPD Air Protection Branch Chief. “This success is confirmation
that the clean air strategies we have in place in Georgia, including the open burning ban, are working.”
“The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”
-Norman Schwarzkopf
Page 5
Some actions such as campfires and agricultural activities are exempt. Citizens can access more information on the open burning ban by visiting www.georgiaair.org and clicking on the open burning rules graphic, or by calling the EPD District Office in their area (phone numbers listed below). Small businesses can obtain help and information by calling EPD’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program toll-free at 1-877-427-6255. Counties included in the ban and the appropriate EPD District Office phone numbers follow:
Metro Atlanta District Office: 404-362-2671 Carroll, Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Henry, Rockdale, Spalding counties
Northeast District Office (Athens): 706-369-6376 Banks, Barrow, Butts, Clarke, Hall, Jackson, Jas-
per, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Putnam, Walton counties
Northeast District Office (Augusta): 706-792-7744 Columbia, Richmond counties
West Central District Office: 478-751-6612 Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Twiggs, Upson, Meriwether, Troup coun-ties
Mountain District Office: 770-387-4900 Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Daw-son, Floyd, Forsyth, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker counties
Compliance Program, Cont’d
Page 6
Compliance, Cont’d
For more information about alterna-tives to burning such as composting and chipping, please visit www.georgiaair.org, click on the open burning rules graphic and select “Alternatives to Burning” at the bot-tom of the page. You may also access a map of Georgia composting opera-tions at www.epd.georgia.gov/composting-operations-georgia. De-bris can also be hauled to a commer-cial processing/grinding/composting operation or to an inert or construc-tion and demolition landfill. For a list of landfills in your area, please call EPD’s Solid Waste Management Pro-gram at 404-362-2692.
CFMO POC is Mr. Charles “Butch” Thompson at [email protected] or (678) 569-9264.
If human beings are striving towards a sustainable future, then a few precautionary measures must be made. In regards to wildfires, humans need to become aware and educated of the poten-tial consequences of their negligence. If they can learn to live in symbiosis with the earth, then we
can depend on the earth to provide us a sustainable future. — Unknown
What are the rules of the open
burning ban?
Don’t burn anything from May 1—September 20
Some exceptions:
*Agricultural burning exemptions
**Forestry “prescribed burning” exemption
Campfires and barbeques
Fire-fighting training exemption, provided appro-
priate permit is issued
Operation of open flame equipment exemption
Explosive disposal in accordance with U.S. De-
partment of Labor Safety Regulations
* Does not include land use changes
** Not exempted in the 19 county metro Atlanta non
-attainment area: Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clay-
ton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, For-
syth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton,
Paulding, Spalding, Rockdale, and Walton.
Failure to adhere to the burn ban during May —
September may result in fines
Page 7
Hazardous Products at Work and Home Reduce hazardous cleaning products in your home or work place to better protect family member and co-workers from unnecessary risks associated with using or storing them. In a state the size of Georgia — about 9.92 million people — approximately 1,572 tons of liquid cleaners and 576 tons of toi-let bowl cleaners are washed down the drain each month. Read the labels of cleaners and look for the signal words — cau-tion, warning, danger, poison — which indicate the level of haz-ard. Use the least hazardous product to do the job. ("Caution" is least hazardous and "danger" is most hazardous. Extremely toxic products must also include the word "poison"). Read the instructions on how to use cleaning products and be sure to use the correct amount. Remember, you won't get twice the results by using twice as much. Reading labels gives you information on how to use a cleaning product correctly and how dangerous a prod-uct might be. You could also consider using a substitute for cleaning projects around the house. For example, vinegar and water work well to wash windows and floors. Another idea is to share any excess products with someone else who can use them, such as your neighbor or friend, another office or department, or another unit/facility. Instead of buying many different types of cleaners, use one general-purpose cleaner. With so many choices of products to clean with, it can be difficult to choose the best one for your needs. Buying cleaning products with the least dangerous pre-cautionary label or warning and using substitutes will reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals or waste generated. CFMO POC is Mr. Charles “Butch” Thompson at [email protected] or (678) 569-9264.
Compliance, Cont’d
Page 8
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER... MAKE A NON-TOXIC CLEANING KIT
Reach for this non-toxic kit made from simple materials as your first line of defense against everyday dirt in your house or office.
Following is a list of materials to consider when making this kit. Label the containers and put them together in a single bucket or basket so they are readily available, make it convenient and reinforce good habits.
Baking soda for cleaning sinks, tubs, and toilets, and for freshening drains
Vinegar in a pump spray bottle for mirrors and shining
chrome. For cleaning windows, use vinegar or soap and wa-ter, and dry with rags or a squeegee.
Plant-based detergents for cleaning countertops in the
kitchen, bathroom or office, tile, fixtures, appliances and walls. Look for those that disclose all of their ingredients.
Rags and non-scratch sponges for all-purpose cleaning. You
don't need throwaway towels made from bleached paper. Vegetable oil with lemon juice makes a good furniture polish. Borax is a simple laundry detergent that can be used along with "washing soda" to clean clothes.
REMEMBER TO LABEL! For safety, it is important to label any container you reuse that does not have its original contents in it. Make sure that everyone can tell what is inside, even if the substance is non-toxic. Use a permanent marker or la-bel that won't wash or easily peel off, and describe the mixture in your spray bottles.
CFMO POC is Mr. Charles “Butch” Thompson at [email protected] or (678) 569-9264.
Compliance, Cont’d
Page 9
Oglethorpe Readiness Center in Ellenwood, Georgia The Georgia Army National Guard (GAARNG) recently completed a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify, document and address the potential physical, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic effects of the proposed construction and operation of a new Combined Support Maintenance Shop (CSMS) to be collo-cated with the Oglethorpe Readiness Center in Ellenwood, Georgia.
The proposed facility would be constructed using federal funds. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is a federal law that requires if federal funds are spent on a project, operation or activity, the impact of those actions must be assessed, documented and provisions made for public involvement before project initiation. This EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500 through 1508, 32 CFR Part, and guidance provided in the Army National Guard Manual for Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (2006).
The purpose of the EA is to inform decision-makers and the public of the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action and its considered alternatives, prior to making a federal decision to move forward with any action. As part of the NEPA process and development of this EA, the GAARNG conducted extensive agency coordination with the:
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 4.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District.
US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Region 4.
US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS).
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GaDNR) – Historic Preservation Division(State Historic Preservation Office [SHPO]).
GaDNR – Wildlife Resources Division.
GaDNR – Environmental Protection Division (GaDNR-EPD).
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA).
Fulton County Department of Environment and Community Development.
Federally recognized Native American Tribes
The Draft EA concluded that there would be no significant adverse direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts to the local environment or quality of life associated with implementing the proposed construction and opera-tion of a new CSMS. Upon completion, the Final EA will be made available for public review and comment for 30 days in the Clayton News Daily. The proposed construction is scheduled to begin sometime from 2018 to 2023, subject to the availability of funds. CFMO POC is Felicia Nichols at [email protected] or (678) 569-6755.
Natural & Cultural Resources, Cont’d
Page 10
Georgia Environmental Management System
(GeMS)
and Potential Energy
Everyone should know that the GeMS Significant Aspect is energy and the conservation of energy (beginning with measurements at Clay NGC and then moving to the rest of the state). The GeMS program has spread energy conservation awareness through the distribution of pamphlet, cards, posters, and GeMS memora-bilia. The program awareness is paying off; we are all working to make a positive contribution towards meet-ing our goals!
It seems ironic that to continue improving GeMS we also have to
use energy, and lots of it! Oh, not electricity; but potential energy.
The GAARNG is a force, if we concentrate even a tiny bit of that en-
ergy what can be achieved is without limit.
One of the United States Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was
quoted as saying, “Energy and persistence alter all things.” This
quote is true in many ways; production and use of energy have al-
tered our world and our daily lives both positively and negatively.
The GeMS program gives us, each one of us, a chance to use our personal energy to make a positive change
to our environment. Through persistence, your change can continue to become greater each day.
Make a difference by sharing ideas with our Cross Functional Team, talking about GeMS and energy conser-
vation and by being aware of how your daily activities affect the environment!
GeMS POCs Megan Spells (Awareness) and Frances Grieme (Program Coordinator)
GeMS Program
Page 11
Polluting of Stormwater The State of Georgia has continued to increase regulation of stormwater in an effort to reduce pollutants that may en-ter our streams and rivers. In the last couple of years, we have focused on developing a Plan that addresses the storm-water outfalls where water leaves Clay National Guard Center (CNGC). The importance of this plan is magnified due to CNGC, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, and Lockheed property stormwater flowing through storm sewer systems that feed directly into Rottenwood Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. Rottenwood Creek is currently included on Georgia’s list of impaired waters due to elevated fecal coliform bacteria and sediment that impacts water life depend-ent upon Rottenwood Creek (benthic macroinvertebrates). As a result, we are required to file for, and maintain, an industrial stormwater permit from the State of Georgia that pertains to the activities conducted here at CNGC. The permit requires identification of where the stormwater leaves our property (see map below), and scheduled inspections and maintenance to ensure the outfalls are functioning properly. The permit also requires that any industrial activity conducted at CNGC be monitored to ensure that there is no release of pollutants that reaches any of the outfalls. As soldier and civilian citizens of CNGC, we each must ensure that we are cognizant of any polluting activities that may affect the stormwater leaving our property.
CFMO POC is Randy Drummond at [email protected] or (678) 569-6750.
Cleanup and Restoration
Page 12
Highlights of Great Environmental Work Throughout the State
A Job Well Done By Units—Thank You!
Page 13
Call Outs!
Your Environmental Assessors
A Job Well Done By Units—Thank You!
Great Job At The Following Facilities:
CSMS and FMS1—for keeping track of their Hazmat Inventory and a clean, organized
Hazmat storage area
Hunter AASF#3—for keeping a clean and orderly facility; for wanting to learn more
about Environmental issues/concerns
Statesboro RC—for being proactive and for keeping a neat, clean facility
Hinesville/GGTC—for being consistently on top of issues; for their enthusiastic approach
to tackling Environmental issues
Metter RC—for cleanliness and having all appropriate paperwork; very helpful!
Albany FMS—for eagerly doing the ‘right thing’ and for always staying on top of issues;
very neat and orderly facility; always on top of their training (EO/UECO)
Columbus FMS– for their enthusiasm and friendly demeanor; for always staying on top of
issues and for keeping a neat and clean facility; always trained personnel (EO/UECO)
Mike Holloway; (678)569-3841; [email protected]
North GA: Dalton; Calhoun & FMS; Rome; Cedartown; Canton; Cumming & FMS; Lawrenceville;
Winder & FMS/AASF#1; Winder RC; Monroe; Covington; Washington & FMS;
Thomson; Elberton; Hartwell; Toccoa; Gainesville
Felicia Nichols; (678)569-6755; [email protected]
Atlanta/Marietta: CLAY and DARB Facilities
Randy Drummond; (678) 569-6750; [email protected]
Atlanta Metro &: Charlie Brown; Decatur; Douglasville; Newnan; Ft. Gillem; Marietta; Atlanta/
Central GA Lorenzo Benn; Confederate Avenue; Oglethorpe; Kennesaw; LaGrange; Griffin;
Jackson; Barnesville; Forsyth; Milledgeville
Megan Spells; (678)569-8458; Megan.E.Spells@[email protected]
South/SW GA: Ft. Benning Enclave; Columbus FMS; Americus; Cordele; Albany & FMS; Bainbridge;
Thomasville; Valdosta; Tifton; Douglas; Eastman; Robins AFB; Dublin & FMS; Macon
Russell & DLC; Thomaston
Tangy Johnson; (678)569-9268; [email protected]
Southeast GA: Ft. Stewart– GGTC, MATES, CSMS, FMS, RTSM, RTI, HAAF-AASF, RC; Ft. Gordon—
RC, FMS, UTES; Augusta & FMS; Waynesboro; Swainsboro; Statesboro; Springfield;
Metter; Savannah; Glennville; Brunswick
