Base prepares for ECAMP

  • Published
  • By Susan E. Walls
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 10-day internal Environmental Compliance Assessment and Management Program review, which evaluates work areas for state and federal environmental law compliance, will start here Monday. 

"This is our second of two internal assessments," said Ray Hubbard, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental protection assistant and Dover's ECAMP manager. 

The second annual in-house review will provide the base a clear picture of the environmental compliance program here, Mr. Hubbard said. 

"We have a new crop of Dover Team trained ECAMP members, who will evaluate the progress on the two main ECAMP goals of safeguarding human health and environment and preventing regulatory actions against the wing," said Mr. Hubbard. 

In an effort to solicit an impartial point of view, the base requested help from environmental specialists from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Andrews AFB, Md. 

"This effort augments our internal assessment and will be extremely helpful in preparation for the external visit in 2007." 

The ECAMP assessment process runs on a three-year cycle. During the first and second year, assessors from here and other Air Force bases inspect the program. During the third year, Air Mobility Command hires an environmental consulting firm to independently assess the program here. 

"The external inspectors really hold your feet to the fire," said Mr. Hubbard. "They're here checking every nook and cranny, but we are prepared." 

Those being assessed have to be prepared to expect unannounced visits from local authorities, state environmental specialists from Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Controls agency, and federal inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency, according to Mr. Hubbard. 

Lt. Col. Mary Moynihan, 436th Mission Support Group deputy commander and ECAMP chairperson, will head this year's internal assessment. She and approximately 15 ECAMP subcommittee members, selected from the base workforce, will scrutinize work areas for environmental law compliance. 

"We're kicking off the internal ECAMP with a meeting on Monday at 9 a.m. in the (civil engineer) conference room in Building 600," said Moynihan. "This year's team will contact unit environmental coordinators to arrange appointed times to review individual work areas. We want to cause the least amount of disruption possible in our day-to-day mission." 

Each "protocol" task force visits Dover AFB for the purpose of identifying or preventing enforcement action by local, state and federal government. 

"More than 150 sites are scheduled to be visited during the 10-day assessment," said Mr. Hubbard. "Our observations are not meant to put a negative label on a program or technique. It's important to remember each assessment represents a snapshot in time."
As environmental specialists continue to expand regulations to protect the environment and shared resources for future generations, new ECAMP requirements pop up. 

"From 1900 to 1970, there were only about 10 environmental laws in effect," said Mr. Hubbard. "From 1970 to 2000, that number was increased to around 160 environmental laws." 

Although Dover AFB operates and lives in an ECAMP mindset year-round, the entire Dover Team is proactively preparing for the internal assessment by increasing the number of visits to areas of concern to search out and correct environmental issues on base. 

"The entire Dover Team is striving for the same environmental compliance goals and to continue to be good environmental stewards to the community now and in the future. We're looking forward to this internal ECAMP being a success," concluded Mr. Hubbard.