By Mike Barton
Public Affairs Specialist

Naval Air Depot employees who make a real effort to preserve Mother Earth are eligible for special recognition now through a new program created by the Industrial Environmental Program Division.

The depot’s environmental experts designed the Environmental Stewardship Recognition program to acknowledge and encourage individual environmental excellence. In short, any employee or shop that displays exemplary performance in the protection of the environment is eligible for the new award.

“We have people here who actively seek ways to improve our impact on the environment,” said Michelle Burroughs, an environmental protection specialist (for air quality) here. “This is our way of giving them the credit they deserve.”

According to Burroughs, achievements in all aspects of the depot’s environmental program are considered, including sustained achievements in integrating environmental policies into organizational decision making; reducing the amount of hazardous material used; reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated; and preventing environmental violations. This applies to air quality, water quality, pollution prevention and recycling.

A prime example would be efforts by Darryl James, the first winner of the award. James is the ISO 14001 (environmental) management representative in the 930 Division. James helped put the depot two years ahead of schedule for a federal requirement in environmental management. “We planned to reduce our methylene chloride usage by 30 percent in fiscal year 2005,” said Burroughs. “We have already exceeded a 70 percent reduction.” Although James was not the only person involved in the reduction, he was awarded for pursuing the goal above and beyond all expectations.

“It was really just a change of attitude for the people who work down here in the strip barn,” said James, who noted that is where “the lion’s share of nasty stuff” is used. “When we found a different chemical stripper that worked almost as well, we agreed that we should make every effort to replace the methylene chloride whenever possible, not just because it was a requirement, but because it was the right thing to do.” It was that adopted attitude, said James, that helped the crew in the strip barn move so far ahead of schedule. According to James, the newer chemical also added an extra benefit – it dramatically cut the turnaround time on aircraft thanks to its different drying properties.

“We have always been determined to improve our environmental status,” said Burroughs. “We have reinforced that by committing to ISO 14001 registration, which will help us monitor our progress.” Depot Industrial Environmental Program personnel believe that it takes every person that works here to make the environmental management system work. And while some employees have more potential to further the cause of the EMS than others, what they do with that potential is up to them.

Burroughs hopes to see the award given out at least quarterly. Anyone interested in nominating an employee for the new environmental award may do so by contacting her via telephone at 464-8051, or by e-mail at [email protected].

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Cutline: Darryl James, 930 Division ISO 14001 (environmental) management representative, stands with containers that once held methylene chloride. Huge reductions in use of this chemical to remove paint allow James and his fellow artisans to service five times more aircraft than they serviced with the same amount just a few years ago. (Photo by Mike Barton)