Acting Navy Secretary Hansford Johnson, right, and William Mattheis, deputy director, CNO Environmental Readiness Division, present the Secretary of the Navy Environmental Quality Award to Capt. James Woolway, NAVAIR Depot North Island commanding officer, Policarpio Sierra, Richard Pfeiffer, and Michelle Marien. Photo by Fel Barbante

Depot lauded for environmental quality by secretaries of Defense and Navy, Chief of Naval Operations

Bill Bartkus
NAVAIR Depot North Island

CORONADO, Calif. – NAVAIR Depot North Island continues to impress officials in the Pentagon.
The Depot recently received the Secretary of the Navy, and Chief of Naval Operations fiscal year 2002 awards in Environmental Quality for an industrial installation. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also noted the Depot’s achievements in the same category and gave the Depot an honorable mention by awarding it a Meritorious Achievement Citation.
“These are very prestigious awards recognizing the men and women at the Depot for their outstanding work to control air, water, land, and noise pollution,” said Byron Doung, who heads the environmental competency.
The Depot previously won the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations top awards in the same category back in 1997, according to Doung. The Depot has also racked up numerous other military environmental awards in the last six years including the White House Closing the Circle Award (team) in 2002.
Capt. James Woolway, NAVAIR Depot North Island commanding officer, accepted both awards with Policarpio Sierra, Richard Pfeiffer, and Michelle Marien, teammates from the Depot’s Environmental Compliance Division.
The awards recognize the Depot’s efforts to protect human health and the environment by achieving full and sustained compliance with all applicable environmental requirements, especially those for environmental planning, waste management, and pollution control.
NAVAIR Depot North Island was the first Defense Department activity to achieve registration to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard. This achievement has instituted a philosophy of continual improvement and resulted in increased awareness of environmental issues across the plant.
Implementing EMS has reenergized the Depot’s pollution prevention program, with significant pollutant reduction efforts achieved over the past two years.
The Depot has reduced hazardous waste generation by 23 percent, emissions of hazardous air pollutants by 12 percent, Toxic Release Inventory reportable chemicals by 65 percent, spills by 65 percent, and electricity consumption by nine percent. Additionally, the Depot shared its expertise in implementing EMS with other Navy commands within the Southwest region.
The Depot’s environmental program has reduced aircraft maintenance costs, improved efficiency, prevented violations, and taken a leadership role in the Navy’s commitment to protect the environment.
“To receive these awards while considering the nature of the work we do here and the fact that we are surrounded by residential and resort communities is testament to the high regard that our people have for protecting our natural environment,” said Woolway. “Well done to all members of the NAVAIR Depot North Island Team!”
NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch and recovery; from sensor data to precision targeting and real-time communications; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment and sustainment; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.