NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND - Ongoing efforts by the command’s Industrial Environmental Competency were recognized by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) March 15 with Fleet Readiness Center Southwest’s (FRCSW) selection as the CNO’s Fiscal Year 2016 Environmental Award for Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation.

A total of 30 recipients were selected to receive awards in 10 categories.

Joining FRCSW in the Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation category was Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., and Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Wash.

The annual Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Environmental Awards Program   “… recognizes Navy ships, installations, and people for outstanding performance in promoting environmental stewardship.”

During FY 2015 and 2016, FRCSW completed 12 Environmental Program Office (EPO) projects which garnished more than $900,000 in annual energy cost savings.

FRCSW’s EPO is a branch of the Industrial Environmental Competency, and oversees the command’s environmental programs ensuring that state, local and federal regulatory requirements are met.

This year’s CNO environmental award submittal targeted FRCSW conformance to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS), Executive Orders (EO) 11514 and 11991, and being in compliance with applicable environmental regulations.

The ISO 14001 was created to help organizations improve environmental awareness and performance, and prevent pollution.

Organizations registered to the ISO 14001 are regularly audited to monitor and document environmental improvements and performances.

FRCSW’s EMS was established 18 years ago and is based upon the voluntary requirements of the ISO 14001. The EMS is designed to identify deficiencies within the competency’s EPO.

EO 11514 was issued March 1970 and is intended to protect and enhance the quality of the country’s environment. To that end, it directs federal agencies to “…direct their policies, plans and programs so as to meet national environmental goals.”

EO 11991 was issued May 1977 and amends EO 11514 to mandate federal agencies to clarify and support environmental impact statements and reduce paperwork.

Some of the areas where the EPO completed projects for FY 2016 include: ISO 14001 compliance; air quality management, energy and greenhouse gas management, water conservation management; pollution prevention and waste water tank management; hazardous material and waste management; and recycling and storm water management. 

FRCSW achieved zero major discrepancies under the ISO 14001 EMS, which resulted in a 100 percent environmental regulatory compliance for its FY 2016 goals, and met or exceeded all applicable EO objectives.

Further, the command reduced the number of hazardous waste storage risks and the number of hazardous material checkout locations in order to improve its control over these environmental factors. 

Like the ISO 14001 EMS program, the command’s Air Management Program registered zero notices of violation during FY 2016.

The air management team permitted several pieces of equipment, such as a Plastic Media Blasting (PMB) bay in Building 468, which serves to minimize FRCSW's reliance on the toxic chemical, methylene chloride, as a paint stripper.

In a move that will result in a reduction of hydrocarbons/nitrous oxide emissions by over one ton per year, the team designated old forklifts as low-use and helped the command purchase seven new near-zero emitting forklifts.

Current air management projects include permitting a paint booth, grinding booth, and PMB bay, all of which will save hundreds of man-hours, increase operational capabilities, and reduce emissions of certain pollutants by up to 99.97 percent.

A top energy and gas management project was a full upgrade of the Navy Primary Standards Lab (NPSL) in Building 379 that included a high-efficiency chiller and compressed air system and an LED lighting retrofit. 

Non-utility savings, which total roughly $450,000 per year, includes items like the rental chiller that cost $170,000 per year and well testing for vapors in Building 66 (the former NPSL location) that cost $90,000 annually. 

Also, while in Building 66, the lab made more than four trouble calls per week costing $180,000 per year in maintenance and repair, as well as causing the lab’s production to drop 40 to 50 percent resulting in an additional $45,000 per year in lost manhours. 

The new energy-efficient equipment will not only meet the lab’s tight humidity and temperature requirements, but will enable an increase in production by 40 to 50 percent. Utilities savings will total approximately $100,000 per year.

Several water conservation measures were also added to the NPSL upgrade: The lab converted from a single-pass water system to a closed loop recycling system which will save approximately 150,000 gallons per year. 

Furthermore, a solar thermal heating process was installed with a projected savings of 850 British Thermal Units (MMBTU) per year.

In pollution prevention measures, FRCSW installed a state-of-the-art Arbor Tech “Washer Filter System” which features a reusable metal filter with laser size holes just large enough to allow aqueous chemical cleaning solution through the filter.

The filter eliminates all of the contaminant particulates out of the cleaning solution used to clean aircraft parts, doubling and tripling the cleaning chemical bath life.

This technology minimizes the chemicals needed and reduces hazardous waste by two to three times depending on the chemical solution. Aircraft cleaning chemicals are expensive so the return on investment time is less than one year.

FRCSW has P.E. certified all tank systems that contain industrial waste water. Waste water collection sumps or trenches, piping, and tank are all double-walled and leak detection sensors are placed throughout the tank systems to monitor leaks. 

The tank alarm system is audited every year by a third party to ensure that the system is working properly and to provide any repairs as required. 

In controlling used hazardous waste products, the materials are stored in designated hazardous waste accumulation stations near the issue centers and transferred to the hazardous waste storage yard. This streamlined approach continues to reduce hazardous waste by 106,000 pounds per year.

In addition, the EPO added new latching drum lids to ensure hazardous waste content is properly contained to meet quality and compliance regulations.

FRCSW’s recycling program managed to recycle 75 percent of all non-hazardous solid waste (i.e., all metals, cardboard and paper) and 100 percent of all surplus electronics.

Recycled hazardous waste, like used oil and other petroleum products, totaled 109,000 pounds and 18,000 pounds, respectively.

To better protect the environment from storm water runoff at the command’s newest hangar in Building 325 a spill catch trench was installed leading to a catch basin to divert potential spill releases away from storm drains leading to the bay. 

The storm water team audits the facility on a regular basis to ensure that structural and non-structural best management practices are in place to protect the environment.