Depot successful in passing tough air inspection

By Michelle Marien
NAVAIR Depot North Island

CORONADO, Calif. – The challenge keeps getting tougher, but NAVAIR Depot North Island rose to the occasion once again. The Depot successfully completed its recent semi-annual inspection by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. The district found the Depot to be fully in compliance with its air pollution-operating permit, and as a result no notices of violation or notices to comply were issued to the command.

The Depot currently holds over 130 air pollution permits for a variety of industrial processes including cleaning, degreasing, painting, abrasive blasting, fiberglass grinding, plating and foundry operations. Each of these permits contains numerous conditions regarding operation, maintenance, testing, record keeping and reporting. In addition, the air district recently issued the Depot a Title V federal operating permit, which encompasses all of the more than 130 individual operating permits plus additional, facility-wide conditions and requirements. This was the first inspection completed by the Air District to include the new Title V requirements.

In the past, district inspectors have issued notices of violations and fines to the command for violation of air pollution laws and regulations. As recently as 1999, NAVAIR Depot North Island received three notices of violation and a fine assessment of $3,325. These violations were issued for failure to sweep the floor in the Building 65 foundry area and for a one-inch diameter hole in the cover of a solvent degreaser. In comparison, this year’s inspection was a major accomplishment. To complete this recent inspection with zero deficiencies – especially under the new, more stringent Title V permit requirements – can only be attributed to the hard work and continual improvement by those employees within the permitted production shops.

Jared Ogdon, the district’s air quality inspector, looked through every major production area in the Depot. “I looked at every permit,” Ogdon said during the command out brief. “The command is doing an excellent job; the record keeping is fantastic.”

“I spent three hours with Jared as he inspected the final finish area and shops,” said James Compagnon, Aircraft Services Product manager, Code 6.2.5. “I was very impressed with the scope of his inspection, it was very thorough.”

By law, the Air District is required to inspect the Depot on a regular basis. Look for the next inspection to occur again in April or May 2004. The Depot’s challenge will be to maintain a standard of air pollution compliance that continues to produce successful inspections.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technologies through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From aircraft and weapons development to carrier launch and recovery; from sensors to real-time communications to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons sustainment to state-of-the-art training; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.