Navy and civilian leaders joined Col. Chad R. Foster, commander of U.S. Army Garrison – Fort Hood, and Brian Dosa, director of public works, for an environmental high quality management committee assembly, March 31, on the Neighborhood Occasion Middle.
“We try to steadiness the realities of being an Army submit that falls underneath the U.S. authorities’s EPA (Environmental Safety Company) guidelines, legal guidelines and necessities and the State of Texas’ rules and necessities,” Dosa stated. “We have to do these issues so we are able to live on as a submit, and keep good when it comes to compliance.”
The assembly guided navy personnel and civilians by means of a variety of subjects and dialogue that included the environmental efficiency evaluation system, stage one drought situations, environmental compliance assessments and recycling replace. DPW environmental employees highlighted suggestions acquired from exterior and inner inspections of how navy and civilian actions can do higher and recognized areas for enchancment.
Riki Younger, chief, environmental administration department, offered the standing of the EPA’s audit performed by the Army Environmental Command that offered a complete evaluate of compliance throughout the set up.
He defined there have been 34 class I findings for violations of present rules, three class II findings associated to violations of proposed future rules and eight class III findings with reference to violations of insurance policies. A lot of the findings involved hazardous waste, storage tanks and petroleum, oil and lubricants.
“The purpose of getting this conservation is assist us to be taught so we are able to put into observe and put in place issues we are able to do higher,” Foster stated. “Additionally, get extra vigilant on the person level-the Troopers actually doing this work-and making them conscious of the affect that they’ve.”
Younger continued the presentation discussing water conservation and the Stage 1 standing issued by the Brazos River Authority. He defined that Stage 1 measures are usually from Could by means of October, however this yr, because of drought situations, Fort Hood is beginning a month early.
“In consequence, we’re implementing Stage 1 of our plan,” Younger stated. “The most important one shouldn’t be watering your yards between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., particularly through the summer time.”
Dosa emphasised the severity of the drought and the significance of water conservation, since Fort Hood’s consuming water comes from Belton Lake.
“You wish to go into the drought along with your reservoirs full,” he stated. “However our reservoirs are about three-and-half-feet under. Please take again to your items, your groups and your households, we have to all pitch in with water conservation. Don’t let water run, don’t water your grass in the course of the day and report leaks.”
Dan Gomez, environmental compliance assessor, mentioned the general set up compliance standing, which is amber, or 91%. This can be a vital change since July 2021, when the standing was inexperienced, or 95%.
Gomez defined the most important drop is on the navy unit aspect, and a lot of the points are straightforward fixes that may assist improve scores.
Challenges, he famous involved the sediment going into the oil/water separators, inflicting them to improperly perform. This creates an elicit discharge that spills into our consuming water at Belton Lake.
Gomez added there are sources to assist items make corrections and tackle challenges.
“Name us, textual content us or e-mail us and are available say can ‘you come by means of our motor pool and conduct a courtesy environmental evaluation,’” he stated. “This can be a full evaluation with out us taking footage or doing a write up. We stroll by means of and let you know the place you’re good, the place you want enhancements and the place you’ll be able to tighten up your store.”
The assembly wrapped up discussing continued challenges with contaminates like syringes, needles, hazardous waste and animal carcasses discovered within the recycle bins that trigger well being and issues of safety for recycle group members.
Foster defined he’s working with the Household Housing Resident Advisory Board on recycle options and requested items to do the identical inside their footprint.
“Single stream recycling helps to simplify the method. You place all of your acceptable recyclables in a single spot,” he stated. “This helps individuals’s capacity to recycle however what we now have seen to this point is there are nonetheless points. We’re looking for the place we are able to modify our practices and do higher.”
Editor’s observe: Environmental Safety Specialist Kathy Jackson contributed to this report.
