Volume 22, Issue 2 The Corps May 2021 Environment

AmericanAmerican iconicon rescuedrescued fromfrom brinkbrink ofof extinctionextinction 16

Environmental Operating Principle #4 Continue to meet our corporate responsibility and accountability under the law for activities undertaken by USACE, which may impact human and natural environments. Post’s conservation efforts garner 33 recognition The Corps Contents ENVIROPOINTS: Protecting, preserving and ERDC researcher uses sound to deter Guard recognized for efforts in Environment 4 restoring the environment 19 invasive Asian carp 35 sustainability Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon Commanding General Fort Polk’s sustainability program Agreement greenlights completion of Oregon Guard recognized for preservation Publisher 6 supports Army readiness 20 pre-construction engineering, design 37 efforts at Camp Umatilla W. Curry Graham phase Director of Public Affairs Career Program-18 changes name Team of teams takes top honors in cultural Multi-agency partnership stabilizes lake Lara Beasley Executive Editor 7 21 resources 39 bank, improves fish habitat Jenn Miller Managing Editor USAEC environmental quality, research efforts Treatment plant, system upgrades help USAEC supports Army readiness through David San Miguel 8 provide key contributions to Army Installations 23 reduce uncontrolled release of mine waste 40 water management Editor Strategy The Corps Environment is an online USAEC streamlines environmental analysis Mississippi River mussel cleaning ERDC evaluates engineering benefits of quarterly news magazine published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 10 process 24 provides ecological, operational benefits 42 Florida’s mangrove forests under the provisions of AR 360-1 to provide information about USACE and U.S. Army environmental initiatives, policies and technologies. Collaboration a key theme at Engineering Exchange strives for safe, efficient fuel USACE’s enduring mission addresses 11 With Nature book launch event 25 delivery service 43 environmental impacts on tribal lands Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Army or Alaska District garners second Partnership solves complexities of Fort Monmouth property cleanup provides benefits to the Department of Defense. 12 consecutive Army Environmental Award 26 long-standing Superfund site 44 community The Corps Environment’s editorial staff welcomes submissions with an environmental, sustainability or energy Residential soil remediation ensures Army announces excellence in Advanced geophysical classification supports data quality focus from USACE and Army units worldwide. 15 community health, welfare 28 environmental programs 45 at munitions response sites

Send articles, photos, events, letters or questions to the editor, at Corps- Bald Eagle Watch! American icon New England District, EPA mark project Water in the desert: Water catchments help sustain [email protected]. rescued from brink of extinction milestone with land transfer diverse wildlife at Yuma Proving Ground mil. 16 30 48

Submission deadlines are indicated in red: USACE joins state’s efforts to conserve, Maywood Superfund site redeveloped 2021 Army Earth Day Poster December 15 February protect natural resources for community use March 15 May 18 32 50 June 15 August September 15 November https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental.aspx

2 The Corps Environment 3 ENVIRONMENTE NVIROPOINTS Protecting, preserving and restoring the environment By Col. Alicia M. Masson Restoration of Army lands is an Commander important mission, not only for USAEC, U.S. Army Environmental Command but also for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard and our The U.S. Army Environmental partners in the Navy and Air Force. It Command’s vision to provide premier ensures service members have a safe environmental solutions for our Army and environment to train, work and live, and our nation is a central tenet of our purpose also ensures land is available for future to support Army readiness while protecting uses such as modernization, stationing, and preserving the natural environment. training, construction projects, or whatever Historically, USAEC’s most labor intense our nation needs to support readiness mission has been environmental restoration requirements. of active, reserve and non-BRAC excess I would be remiss if I did not mention Army installations. Just over 48 years ago, Earth Day. Last year we celebrated 50 years we began our cleanup mission and in 1986, of Earth Day on April 22, as usual, but 12,699 sites were identified for remediation. our celebration was much less robust than Today, we are down to less than 1,200 planned because of the ongoing COVID-19 sites still to complete. While we’ve had response. Col. Alicia M. Masson great success so far, some of the toughest Likewise, this year our celebration Commander cleanup projects still remain. Add to that of Earth Day was low-key. But still we U.S. Army Environmental emerging cleanup requirements such celebrated where and when we could across Command as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances the Army. The theme for this year’s Army (PFAS), and we have our work cut out for us Earth Day was Restore the Earth, and as in the future. I’ve mentioned, we’ve come a long way since Three years ago we launched a massive our organization was born. effort to identify and clean up lands affected The USAEC staff hosted our annual by the Army’s historical use of firefighting Nature Field Trip this year with our foam containing PFAS. USAEC manages partners, the Fort Sam Houston cleanup at 94 active installations, one Army Elementary School. We also distributed Reserve location, 12 excess installations Earth Day posters (see page 50), children’s where property has been or is being activity books, and bookmarks highlighting transferred to other government and non- various threatened and endangered species governmental organizations, and Kwajalein to Army installations around the world. Atoll. In addition to our team’s work to restore The PFAS cleanup currently includes the land at Army installations, we have 14 Preliminary Assessments, 78 Site staff experts in a variety of areas including Inspections, and three Remedial entomology, toxicology, archaeology, Investigations ongoing at Army biology, chemistry, physics, and all types of installations, not counting PFAS activities engineers working every day to protect and at installations in Germany. So far we have preserve the environment. 13 installations that require no further action. See ENVIROPOINTS, page 5

4 The Corps Environment

E NVIROPOINTS They help commanders’ All of our environmental American Sacred Sites. efforts to protect threatened and efforts and those of our Army Our mission is vital to the success endangered species such as the red- partners combine to support the of our Army and our nation, and we cockaded woodpecker and gopher Army Environmental Program are humbled to be so entrusted by the tortoise, cultural resources such with oversight and guidance American people. To that trust we as petroglyphs at military training from the Army’s Deputy Chief of remain faithful and loyal members of areas, and historic buildings at Army Staff, G-9 and the Office of the the Army environmental enterprise posts, camps, ammunition plants, Assistant Secretary of the Army team, enabling Army operations arsenals and depots. for Installations, Energy and while protecting Soldiers, civilian The USAEC staff of experts advises Environment. employees and Army Families. installation staffs and commanders The Army Environmental The past year has been tough for on compliance with environmental Program encompasses 170 Army America, but our support to the laws and regulations, assists with sites on 13.6 million acres of land Army Environmental Program has technology acquisition for Army protecting and preserving 1.3 million been strong and our dedication to modernization, and conducts acres of wetlands, 266 endangered Soldier and installation readiness programmatic environmental and threated species, 84,637 has remained steadfast. Things are assessments and impact statements archeological sites, 53,820 buildings looking up. This year will be good. in keeping with the National subject to the National Historic Next year will be even better. Environmental Policy Act. Preservation Act, and 130 Native

Environmental Operating Principles 1 Foster sustainability as a way of life throughout the organization. 2 Proactively consider environmental consequences of all USACE activities and act accordingly.

3 Create mutually supporting economic and environmentally sustainable solutions. Continue to meet our corporate responsibility and accountability under the law for 4 activities undertaken by USACE, which may impact human and natural environments.

Consider the environment in employing a risk management and systems approach 5 throughout the life cycles of projects and programs.

Leverage scientific, economic and social knowledge to understand the environmental 6 context and effects of USACE actions in a collaborative manner.

Employ an open, transparent process that respects views of individuals and groups 7 interested in USACE activities.

Learn more about the EOPs at: www.usace.army.mil/Environmental-Operating-Principles

5 The Corps Environment (Photo by Pfc. Vincent Levelev) Soldiers conduct react-to-contact maneuvers during a rotation through Fort Polk, Louisiana. Training such as this is enabled because of the post’s sustainability practices and principles that enhance training opportunities and ensure long-term availability of training areas. Fort Polk’s sustainability program supports Army readiness

By Lori Hogan resources, and minimize waste. in full compliance with Department of U.S. Army Environmental Command Through these efforts, the installation Defense and Department of the Army was awarded the 2020 Secretary of regulations and requirements. the Army Environmental Award in Additional partnerships and increased Sustainability for a Non-Industrial stakeholder involvement also led to urrounded by dense woodlands in Installation. master planning workshops called Area west-central Louisiana, Fort Polk To improve environmental Development Plans. Sencompasses 240,000 acres of land and performance, Fort Polk developed Fort Polk’s energy and water priorities is home to the Joint Readiness Training an Environmental Management have moved beyond conservation to Center. Performance Review. The EMPR tracks resilience and efficiency. The installation includes one brigade training missions and environmental In 2020, Fort Polk’s energy, planning, combat team and four deployable combat program changes from year to year. It is and life-cycle cost analysis identified battalions, with additional support units an important resource for installation multiple projects to make the installation and organizations. leaders, planners and environmental staff more self-sufficient while reducing Approximately 44,000 Soldiers, who seek to analyze environmental and its utility cost and dependence on civilians, and family members live and mission impacts and identify long-term conventional sources. work at JRTC and Fort Polk. environmental trends and performance. These improvement projects included Fort Polk’s Sustainability Program This and other collaborative efforts replacing outdated chillers, boilers, focuses on enhancing training opportunities create a cohesive group of professionals building automation controls, lighting, and ensuring long-term availability of who can focus primarily on sustainability. and recommissioning old facilities no training areas by reducing life-cycle costs, Examples of these groups are longer operating as designed, creating increasing unit performance and managing the Environmental Quality Control approximately $4 million in energy cost avoidance, all of which directly support Committee, the Green Procurement savings annually and reducing energy use the installation’s training mission. Working Group, and the Green Building by 267,300 million British thermal units. Additionally, Fort Polk works to reduce Materials Working Group who all work energy and water consumption, conserve collectively to ensure all programs are See FORT POLK, page 7 6 The Corps Environment FORT POLK continued from page 6 To conserve water, reduce energy use generated $883,000 in revenue and saved included interacting with stakeholders and save money, Fort Polk stopped using the installation $2 million in contract costs. through dynamic multimedia marketing potable water for wastewater treatment Another major feat was better and environmental education outreach plant operational processes and began management of hazardous waste. Through programs to include videos, mascots, skits, using treated wastewater, thus conserving this process, Fort Polk was able to reclaim and hosted events that effectively imparted millions of gallons of potable drinking 272 gallons of solvent and 4,619 gallons of environmental sustainability awareness. water. antifreeze for reuse, saving the installation The combined training and outreach Fort Polk has also implemented $62,556, a significant cost avoidance. efforts in 2019 through 2020 reached over resource-efficient practices that have It also conducted an efficient process 24,300 Soldiers, family members, school significantly increased the number of of managing 48,000 gallons of recycled children and civilian employees. recyclables and waste diverted from landfills. cooking and motor oil and 250,000 pounds “The JRTC and Fort Polk uses The team partnered with Vernon Parish of recycled batteries, saving the installation integrated environmental outreach to through an Intergovernmental Service $224,749 in hazardous waste disposal costs. foster stewardship in Soldiers, civilians, Agreement for solid waste disposal and Fort Polk developed a comprehensive and youth to sustain the environment significantly increased recycled tonnage Environmental Outreach Program for future generations.” said Jonathan for the installation’s Qualified Recycling plan to coordinate and identify all West, Directorate of Public Works Program. environmental outreach activities to meet -Environmental, Conservation Branch In 2019-2020, recycled materials outreach mission requirements. This chief.

CareerCareer Program-18Program-18 changeschanges namename

By Karla Langland career program in the career field, The U.S. Army Corps of USACE, Headquarters there is still a career field name and Engineers comprises the largest for CP-18 that career field name is percentage of the career field at Greetings from CP-18 — or Construction, Engineering, and 75%. should I say Construction, Infrastructure. Army Materiel Command is Engineering, and Infrastructure! The Construction, Engineering, approximately 19%, with most As I wrote in the last edition of and Infrastructure career field is of those positions in Installation The Corps Environment, there has composed of over 100 occupational Management Command. There are been a change to civilian career series. Engineering series (0800) also Construction, Engineering, management structure. As part of makes up the majority of the and Infrastructure career field this change, 32 career programs career field occupational series at employees in a myriad of other have been consolidated into 11 approximately 62%, leaving 38% of commands as varied as Army career fields. There will still be the career field in non-engineering Service Component Commands, career programs, but the idea is to positions. Direct Reporting Units, and Army provide synergy and opportunities The second largest series by staff organizations. We also have for civilian employees in closely population in the career field one employee at the U.S. Military related career programs. is 0401, Natural Resources Entrance Processing Command. As a result, similar career Management and Biological Make sure you are subscribed programs will be grouped into one Sciences at 10% of the total to our Army Career Tracker of 11 career fields. population. webpage for various training and There are three career fields that In addition to a very diverse development opportunities. will be stand-alone career fields, occupational series population, the For more information about where there will be only one career Construction, Engineering, and your training and developmental program within those career fields. Infrastructure career field is also needs, please drop us a line at: One of these career fields is represented in close to 30 different CP18ProponencyTeam@usace. Career Program-18 (CP-18). commands and other Army army.mil. Although there is only one organizations.

7 The Corps Environment USACE environmental quality, research efforts provide key contributions to Army Installations Strategy By Cynthia A. Ries projects and conducting of basic research analyze. temperature, loading mode and rate. USACE, Headquarters in support of Army Futures Command will Machine learning software can In addition, the properties of the provide invaluable contributions to the AIS substantially reduce the time and costs for substrates and coatings themselves affect strategic outcomes. such efforts. ice adhesion. Moreover, it is very difficult to These projects support timely equipment ERDC biologists are currently using game scientifically study each of these variables in he U.S. Army Environmental Quality stationing, real estate transactions, and access cameras and machine learning software across isolation. program supports compliance with and capability to training areas and ranges. a number of installations, including surveys for With decades of experience in ice adhesion Tapplicable environmental laws, regulations, They also serve to mitigate human health skunks at Fort Hood, Texas; feral hogs at Fort testing and evaluation services, ERDC’s executive orders, Department of Defense risks associated with potential pollutant Polk, Louisiana; and bird-plant interactions at Cold Regions Research and Engineering directives, and overseas country-specific final migration and/or exposure. PŌhakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Laboratory is conducting basic research governing standards. USACE teams and experts not only This work has demonstrated the to unravel the fundamental physics of ice It also resources environmental deliver these projects, but more importantly, effectiveness of game cameras for monitoring adhesion by focusing on testing and data conservation, pollution prevention, range are working to advance concepts and ideas to wildlife species, including previously analysis. military construction to address one-time streamline execution. undocumented species interactions. The outcomes of this research will provide mitigation actions and installation National In a constrained fiscal environment, efforts Furthermore, machine learning has been the framework needed to transition coating Environmental Policy Act documentation. to impart greater efficiency are increasingly shown to be an effective solution for image technologies to field scenarios, and to develop The program outcomes help to protect essential. annotation, potentially saving hundreds of new solutions that will increase agility human health and Soldier readiness by The following research and program man hours for image identification. in a broad range of icing scenarios while limiting installation and community exposure support activities demonstrate the important Physics of Ice Adhesion minimizing environmental impact. to pollutants that may be discharged by Army contributions being made in this regard. Environmental clearance activities. Autonomous monitoring This research is sponsored by the U.S. They also support installation readiness by Army and Office of Naval Research. It is led NEPA requires federal agencies to delivering access and capability to mission- This research is sponsored by the National by Dr. Emily Asenath-Smith at ERDC. consider the environmental impacts of (USACE courtesy photo) critical training areas and ranges that may be Defense Center for Energy and Environment The adhesion of ice to structures their proposed actions, evaluate reasonable A photograph of the environmental chamber, or cold room, where ice growth and adhesion testing encumbered by statutorily protected natural and Fort Polk, Louisiana. and vehicles halts missions and severs alternatives, and ensure compliance with are conducted at temperatures from -8 °C to -20 °C. The chamber can reach -40° C, which is and cultural resources. It is led by Jinelle Sperry, U.S. Army communications across a wide array of other applicable environmental laws and important for studies with saline ices. The Environmental Quality program Engineer Research and Development Center settings. regulations. outcomes will become more significant as (ERDC). Although active mitigation systems NEPA environmental clearance is Army actions over time are directed toward The Defense Department is responsible requiring use of fluids and heaters are available, a prerequisite action for deployment of achieving the following end state identified for 30 million acres of land in the U.S., they present drawbacks. De-icing fluids have new weapons systems, land retention and in the Army Installations Strategy, published necessitating a balance between military environmental impact, and thermal methods development of training lands. in December 2020: “Modern, resilient, training and environmental considerations. are energy intensive. USACE has effectively partnered with sustainable installations, enhancing strategic Many installations provide refuge for Increased safety and reliability of the U.S. Army Installation Management readiness in a contested Multi-Domain threatened and endangered species, and yet transportation and communication networks Command, U.S. Army Environmental Operations battlespace, while providing restrictions caused by these species can have a in cold environments can be accomplished by Command and Headquarters Department quality facilities, services, and support to our detrimental impact on the military’s ability to controlling ice adhesion with passive methods, of Army G-9 to ensure effective and efficient Soldiers, families and civilians.” train. such as advanced material coatings. NEPA project execution. The Army Installations Strategy includes Installations are often tasked with Despite extensive DOD investments NEPA experts located at the USACE four strategic outcomes, including Strategic monitoring threatened and endangers species, in passive ice mitigation methods, such as Environmental and Munitions Center of Outcome 4: healthy, sustainable training, but this can be time intensive and costly, advanced material coatings that resist ice Expertise and ERDC routinely partner with working and living environment, which particularly for cryptic species. accumulation or facilitate ice shedding, few USACE geographic districts to enhance the seek to ensure the Army’s readiness posture, To address this challenge, wildlife biologists outcomes have been transitioned to Army quality of NEPA projects, develop contract modernization efforts and our duty to protect are evaluating and demonstrating the use of assets. strategies for efficient project execution, and the safety, health and welfare of Soldiers. autonomous (game) cameras and machine The barrier to transitioning passive ice provide in-house resources for development (USACE courtesy photo) Integral to Strategic Outcome 4 is the learning software to monitor and identify mitigation technologies stems from the lack of of planning documents. Bobcat captured via game camera at Fort Hood, Texas. line of effort to promote stewardship through wildlife species on military lands. formal standards for ice adhesion testing and Efficient execution of NEPA actions has implementation of actions to preserve natural Although game cameras have been used data analysis. become critically important to readiness, resources and sustain the mission. extensively, the sizable datafiles produced from Measured as the force required to remove particularly as related to on-time deployment The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ these devices (often several terabytes over a ice that is adhered to a surface, ice adhesion of new weapons systems required by Army execution of Army Environmental Quality season) require considerable time to sort and depends on many factors including ice type, Futures Command. 8 The Corps Environment 9 USAEC streamlines environmental analysis process By Lori Hogan U.S. Army Environmental Command

The U.S. Army Environmental Command has implemented several practices that streamline the National Environmental Policy Act process including placing staff in direct contact with program managers in the acquisition community, installation, and Army capability managers who develop the training requirements for new weapons systems. This change enables the USAEC NEPA team to more accurately describe the potential installation environment where the systems may be used and how the system(s) may impact those installations. “We are concentrating our efforts on streamlining Army modernization processes, pushing key systems through some choke points such as demonstrating and validating concepts, efficiently and effectively informing Army planners and decision- makers how to integrate environmental considerations into the decision-making process and providing environmental expertise to help ensure acquisition compliance with environment, safety and occupational health requirements,” said Damon Cardenas, USAEC chief of Acquisition and Technology. (USACE courtesy photo) USAEC’s support streamlines The U.S. Army Environmental Command supports installations receivingnew technologies the Army’s modernization efforts by such as the Interim Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense. overcoming bureaucratic inertia and stovepiping that can affect the acquisition Some examples include the MQ9 of the system’s capabilities. Providing process. Reaper Drone, the Laser Avenger and the too much detail could expose critical It will allow the Army to generate IM-SHORAD, which stands for Initial information that adversaries might use to prototype concepts on a continuous basis Maneuver Short Range Air Defense. These discern vulnerabilities of Soldiers or the with carefully considered and planned weapons give U.S. troops the advantage on tactics, techniques and procedures they systems that address the environmental any battlefield in the world. Some of these plan to use during a conflict. impacts prior to or early on in the process weapons have been around for several years “There is a fine line between the and potentially speed up production. but were recently modified, and some are information needed to describe an action The speed of this process is particularly still in production. the Army is analyzing the environmental critical when it comes to training and The IM-SHORAD action alternative impacts of while avoiding disclosure of equipping Soldiers to fight and win the includes analysis of impacts at six possible critical information,” said Roger Paugh, nation’s wars. locations, although currently only three USAEC physical scientist. “Close Prioritizing Soldier lethality ensures locations are under consideration for initial coordination is required with program they have a decisive advantage over fielding. managers in the acquisition community, prospective adversaries and their units can The analysis can be applied, if required, Army capability managers who develop survive and operate in any environment. to additional fielding; however, information the training requirements, and installation “The single most important aspect supplementation would be likely. staff to identify the critical information of my work is to facilitate and enable Despite this, the IM-SHORAD and ensure it is not in the publicly available mission readiness,” said Jenny Lechuga, Programmatic Environmental Assessment NEPA documents.” USAEC biologist. “Our work at USAEC would still shorten and facilitate future USAEC’s synchronized support to is designed to support the installations NEPA compliance needs if the system is Army modernization across multiple receiving these new technologies by fielded at additional locations. lines of effort helps ensure the Army has helping them meet regulatory requirements One of the biggest challenges that well-trained Soldiers with modern weapon prior to implementing the action. Not USAEC staff face is balancing and systems and sufficient capacity to win in doing so could present significant time safeguarding operational security protocols any conflict, on any battlefield, anywhere in delays that impact mission readiness.” with providing sufficient descriptions the world. 10 The Corps Environment Collaboration a key theme at Engineering With Nature book launch event

By Holly Kuzmitski Spellmon continued. “We don’t succeed in “After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, TNC Engineer Research and Development Center delivering the program without partners.” scientists found that coastal wetlands The four critical elements that define prevented more than $625 million in the EWN approach are using science potential property damages. and engineering to produce operational “Having been in the forefront of he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers efficiencies; using natural processes to nature-based solutions for more than a Engineering With Nature maximum benefit; increasing the value decade, it’s clear that the Corps, through Tprogram’s Book Launch Event celebrated provided by projects to include social, the Engineering With Nature program, the release of Engineering is well-positioned to With Nature, an Atlas, accelerate these types of Volume 2 with the public, projects in the period and included speakers ahead,” she said. conveying a shared goal The hour-long for expanding EWN program also featured a practices globally through live discussion panel of collaboration, April 7. several guests, including The Atlas, Volume Eunice Heath, global 2, now available online, director of sustainability showcases EWN principles and implementation and practices in action leader for valuing nature through illustrations and for Dow, and Dan descriptions of 62 projects Bond, deputy director from around the world - of flood and coastal risk from as far afield as Nigeria management strategy for to as close to the U.S. the Environment Agency Army Engineer Research of England. and Development Center “We’re really proud as Ship Island off the to showcase four projects Gulf Coast of Mississippi. in the Atlas this time Twenty-three of the projects around,” Heath said. were contributed by 16 “No matter what the different USACE districts. organizational framework Dr. Todd Bridges, we’re in, we need to national lead of the EWN drive to both fiscal program, opened the event and environmental by welcoming virtual attendees. Click on the illustration above and hear Dr. Todd Bridges, senior research responsibility — and “The projects illustrate scientist and national lead of the Engineering With Nature initiative, it takes collaboration. the power of multisectoral describe the program’s four major elements. Collaboration is key and collaboration and partnership is critical for us all.” in delivering nature-based solutions,” environmental and economic benefits; and Bond shared his perspective on the key he said. “The infrastructure community using collaborative processes to organize, benefits of international collaboration on knows how to build nature-based solutions. engage and focus interests, stakeholders EWN and nature-based solutions. The opportunity before us is to expand and partners. “The real value of the Atlas is that you the application of that know-how and Seven executives and leaders from a can pick it up and see that the context in experience to create value for all.” range of internal and external, national the United States is often no different from Harmonizing with Bridges’ themes, and international partners delivered the context in England, Europe or Africa,” Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, 55th chief perspectives on the release of the book. he said. “The international collaboration of engineers and commanding general, Organizations such as the USACE is about being aware that there are often USACE, said that partnering with Mobile District and Rijkswaterstaat of the others who are better-suited and ahead of nature will be a vital part of delivering Netherlands were represented. you in the game.” infrastructure solutions in the 21st century. Jennifer Morris, chief executive The Atlas, Volume 2 is now available “In the Atlas,” he said, “USACE and a officer of The Nature Conservancy, said, online and can be accessed here: http:// host of organizations show what it means “Investing in nature can provide clean dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/40124. to engineer solutions to meet our climate and reliable water supplies, support fish For more information about the change challenges.” habitats, and reduce risks from floods, USACE Engineering With Nature “Relationships and partnerships are vital droughts, extreme heat and fires - nature- program, please visit https://ewn.el.erdc. ingredients for innovation and progress,” based solutions can save money, too. dren.mil/ or engineeringwithnature.org. 11 The Corps Environment Alaska District garners second consecutive Army Environmental Award

Story & photos by Rachel Napolitan Bowker, deputy district engineer and chief “We’ve had a really good partnership with USACE, Alaska District of the Programs and Project Management the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” Craner Division at the Alaska District. “Overcoming said. “They have been outstanding to work some of our most difficult environmental and with. They see the big picture and understand logistical challenges, they are most deserving the work we do out there - that we want to limbing up the hillside of a remote of this prestigious award.” make it better. Without their cooperation, we Alaskan island, an old tramway rusts Located on a remote peninsula of Unalaska would not be able to do our jobs out there.” Cinto the ground beneath it. With gnarled rails, about 30 air miles from Dutch Harbor in the This strong sense of collaboration and the 2,400-foot structure is a remanent of an Aleutian Islands, the former U.S. Army Signal comradery carried over to the district team abandoned radar facility that provided early Corps facility consists of two primary areas: and its contractor. warning of approaching enemy aircraft during a lower camp in a natural valley and an upper “We work together to get some pretty World War II. camp atop a steep slope that cover a combined incredible stuff done in the field that nobody The tramway is part of a formerly used 160 acres. can get done by themselves,” Craner said. defense site that the U.S. Army Corps of The tramway connects the two sites at an Prior to the cleanup, the team used aerial Engineers, Alaska District worked to clean up average grade of 52% and moved troops and photos, online maps and previous site visits to the past two summers. supplies from the shoreline where they lived to determine the areas of contamination on the This impressive endeavor earned the project the high rocky bluff where they worked. remote location. team a Secretary of the Army Environmental “There are only a few sites that were USACE investigated Cape Prominence Award, the second in as many years for the ever built like that,” said Jeremy Craner, and did some remediation work on the project Alaska District. project manager, while describing the unique in the 1990s. In 2019, the organization received top connecting tramway. In 2017, the organization did an in-house honors for its remediation of the Fort Rousseau The project falls within the Aleutian follow-up investigation with photos and Formerly Used Defense Site near Sitka. Islands Unit of the Alaska Maritime National samples of the remote site. “The Cape Prominence team has delivered Wildlife Refuge and is under the jurisdiction “Based on those results, we determined there another successful Formerly Used Defense and management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife was contamination out there,” Craner said. Site project in remote Alaska,” said Randy Service. See ALASKA, page 14

A crew member for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District excavates contaminated soil at the Cape Prominence Formerly Used Defense Site. During the 2019 and 2020 field seasons, the team removed more than 1,400 tons of contaminated soil from the remote cleanup location.

View looking down the tramway from the upper camp to the lower camp at the Cape Prominence Formerly Used Defense Site. The 2,400-foot tram connected two camps that moved people and supplies during World War II when it operated as a U.S. Army Signal Corps radar facility. 12 The Corps Environment 13 ALASKA continued from page 13 Though rusting, the rails of the tram two project sites. Instead, they used a “Cape Prominence shows the grit and pose no threat to human health or the helicopter to transport people, equipment tenancy of our contractors and what they environment. and materials. can do,” Craner said. “When things got “There wasn’t any contamination related “We used a mini excavator that the tough, they just kept on going and found to the tramway or underneath the tramway contractor broke into pieces and slung up ways to overcome these obstacles.” to deal with,” Craner said. “We are going to the upper camp,” Craner said. Under the FUDS Program, the to leave it in place as a cool historic piece Once the excavator was reassembled, the Alaska District performs environmental for potential visitors.” team filled bulk bags with contaminated remediation of properties that were once The connecting infrastructure is just soil and transported it to the lower camp occupied by the military. In the Aleutians, one aspect of the site though. In total, the for staging. that presence was primarily during the district identified 19 structures for cleanup Before the contaminated soil was World War II era. including the former radar site, storage removed, the field team carefully set aside “In the process of using these sites, areas, barracks, powerhouses and other and preserved the existing vegetative mat. people spilled some things - most likely facilities. Upon completion, the workers gasoline, diesel and things like that,” In the 2019 field season, contractors recontoured the excavations to match the Craner said. “As much as we can, our goal got to work cleaning up the site by surrounding topography and replaced the is to clean things up to their natural state decommissioning tanks, consolidating and organic layer to further enhance restoration in a manner that is as safe and minimally removing drums, and excavating more than and promote natural revegetation of the invasive as possible.” 1,000 tons of soil. site. During the spring and summer of 2020, The site needed further work though. Though a major hurdle for the project, the district team collaborated with industry So, in 2020, a local Alaskan company COVID-19 was not the only challenge to partners, communities and regulators to prepared to finish the cleanup project the cleanup effort. successfully execute multiple challenging at Cape Prominence. But then, the “The weather and remoteness are projects in the Aleutians, including the COVID-19 pandemic started. tough,” Craner said. “When things don’t go waste removal at Cape Prominence. “We had a plan,” Craner said. “We were right, like when things are breaking, it can Similar sites exist all over the state and getting ready to go to the field and then we be tough. Lots of planning, thought and to date, the Alaska District has closed 77 had to change plans on the fly.” extra effort go into a project like this.” of 137 properties that were identified to Once new health measures were in Despite the hardships of operating have environmental hazards. The estimated place to keep contractors and the local in an isolated location, dealing with cost to execute the remaining workload is community safe from the virus, work got equipment setbacks and tackling logistical approximately $1.2 billion. underway to continue restoration activities. issues, the crew completed the work by the “We get to make a positive difference To prevent impacts to the land beyond end of the summer with zero incidents, in the environment through this work,” what was needed to clean the soil, the accidents or lost time during the field Craner said. “We get to make the world a team did not build a road between the work. better place.”

Crews work to recontour excavated areas to match the surrounding topography and replace the organic layer at the Cape Prominence Formerly Used Defense Site. 14 The Corps Environment Residential soil remediation ensures community health, welfare By Shatara Riis USACE, Louisville District

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rom 2019 to 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville FDistrict, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, removed more than 30,000 tons of contaminated soil and installed 857,980 square feet of sod at residential properties of the Jacobsville neighborhood in Evansville, Indiana. Airborne dust, soot and smoke from manufacturing companies that once occupied the neighborhood contaminated the soil with lead and arsenic through industrial operations in the late 1800s at nearly 4,000 residential properties. (Photo by Brett Smith) The EPA remediated about half of those A.D. McDill, an equipment operator/leadman of one of the excavation crews, removes soil properties at the Jacobsville Neighborhood from a Jacobsville neighborhood property. Soil Contamination Superfund site, and asked USACE to remediate the remaining Comprehensive Environmental Response, he ensures health and well-being protocols 2,000 properties. Compensation, and Liability Act process. are followed. “The Louisville District started This phase of the process includes Smith monitors the overall remediation remediating the properties in 2019,” preparing for and doing the bulk of the at the residential sites and is responsible said Corey Knox, Louisville District cleanup at the site. for the coordination with the district Environmental Support Section project While work continues to progress, when historical artifacts, eg., cisterns, old manager. “We awarded a new task order COVID-19 presented some challenges. building foundations, etc., are encountered in September 2020 for $11.2 million to Though the pandemic has affected during excavation activities. continue (environmental remediation) of the work process, “the team adjusted and “Brett has added additional tasks to the properties with our current contractor, pushed forward to review and approve the ensure the workforce is not only protecting Tetra Tech, until 2023. Currently, we workplans in a timely fashion,” Knox said. themselves from the harms of the work, have an Interagency Agreement with the “The contractor was able to complete the but also protecting themselves, their co- EPA to assist with the remediation of the planned 150 property remediations at the workers and the property owners from the properties until 2025.” end of the 2020 field season.” risk of contracting COVID-19,” Knox This remedial action includes excavation “The COVID-19 pandemic has not said. “This has taken additional effort to of contaminated soil per EPA-provided delayed the field work. However, it has ensure safe practices are being followed remedial designs, backfill/restoration of affected the site health and safety plan,” and to obtain and maintain trust with the disturbed areas, transportation and disposal Sternberg said. “Temperatures of site property owners.” of contaminated soil, and completion of workers are taken during morning safety According to Knox, the Jacobsville remediation reports documenting cleanup, briefings, and site workers must always Soil Remediation Superfund site is a large said Dr. Robin Sternberg, Louisville wear masks while on site. Contactless remediation project within the district’s District Environmental Support Section communication with property owners, area of responsibility that is being executed biologist and lead technical manager. such as phone calls and mailings, is now by using a complex cost-reimbursable Returning the soil to beneficial use preferred over in-person interactions.” contracting tool. takes time, but USACE is making good One key factor of safety and to the “Projects of this nature benefit the on plans to restore the Indiana soil to its continued remediation progress is having Louisville District, specifically the former health and has completed a total an on-site representative available. Superfund program, by demonstrating of 188 residential soil remediations during “The Louisville District has an to outside stakeholders that we have the the 2020 field season. on-site project engineer/construction resources, knowledge and capabilities The team also accomplished 38 of the representative residing in Evansville who to manage and execute high-profile planned 350 (estimated) residential soil reaches out to reluctant property owners to environmental projects,” Knox said. remediations for the next field season, allay their concerns,” Sternberg said. “The Louisville District is effecting Knox said. Not only does Brett Smith, Louisville change in the everyday lives of Evansville Currently, the project is in the Remedial District project engineer/construction residents by making their community a Action-Construction phase within the representative, reach out to the residents, healthier place to live,” Sternberg said. 15 The Corps Environment BALDBALD EAGLEEAGLE WATCH!WATCH! American icon rescued from brink of extinction

By Amber Tilton celebratory event than an alarm bell as the There is hope ecause,b if we can save the USACE, Portland District bald eagle has made a full recovery. bald eagle, then what else can we save? Once on the brink of extinction, eagles are Watch Fly Like an Eagle: Exploring now one of the greatest success stories of the Winter Gorge Eagle Migration, a webinar Environmental Protection Act. that explores migration, behavior and ald eagle watches are a popular When people gaze at the bald eagle today, biology and the history of the Gorge Eagle winter event in many states with they no longer see villain; they see victory. Watch program. You can find the recorded Bwintering eagle populations. We get to reflect on the success of the webinar, other videos and more at: www.nwp. Watches began after eagle populations changes we have made as a society that usace.army.mil/eaglewatch2021. crashed in the 1960s to share information prevented this species from disappearing about challenges threatening the birds’ completely. survival. The main challenges at the time were pesticide DDT use and habitat loss. A lesser talked about cause of death was eagle unpopularity. It’s hard to imagine, I know. However, the saying “gossip kills” holds truth as tall tales of bald eagles carrying away children and killing livestock contributed heavily to the senseless shootings and poisonings of eagles. Add to that the myth that they would outcompete fishermen for salmon and, well, they basically suffered from a bad image in the extreme, shoot-to-kill on a wanted poster kind of way. Since then, the reputation of the bald eagle has shifted 180 degrees. The introduction of the “Bald Eagle Watch” has helped create that change by providing outdoor eagle viewing and educational opportunities focused on recovery efforts. As many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects around the country have concentrations of wintering eagles congregating near dams and powerhouses, and along the shorelines of our lakes and rivers, so too shall you find a park ranger pointing at them. All over the country, USACE park rangers host annual eagle watch events. This year, many groups held those activities virtually to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Park rangers used videos, webinars, websites, zoom, press and social media to reach audiences. Today, eagle watches are more of a 16 The Corps Environment 17 Marty Underwood, USACE Fort Worth District Environmental Stewardship Business Line manager, searches for aquatic wildlife below Bardwell Lake’s emergency spillway during dewater maintenance. USACE joins state’s efforts to conserve, protect natural resources Story & photo by Trevor Welsh “My role is to help with the permitting Even though the emergency spillway at USACE, Fort Worth District process, and I am here on site today to help Bardwell has only been activated once in with the freshwater mussel relocation,” said the dam’s 57-year life, this 10-year periodic Bregan Brown, TPWD Kills and Spills maintenance is required and necessary. coordinator for Region 2 out of Tyler, Texas. “We are removing the layer of basin n an effort to preserve the natural “It’s my job to help protect aquatic water that is down below the concrete resources at Bardwell Lake, the U.S. resources in the state,” Brown said. “That structure of the emergency spillway,” said IArmy Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth job is twofold. I am responsible for helping Jeremy Spencer, Bardwell Lake manager. District partnered with the Texas Parks and people obtain the permitting they need “We’re doing that in order to inspect the Wildlife Department to relocate aquatic to relocate aquatic resources that are in basin walls, spillway chute, and baffle wildlife as part of the lake’s emergency danger from the work they are doing, blocks for cracks or damage, and clean out spillway dewater and maintenance. and the other half of my job is to record the basin below the spillway.” Due to the nature of maintenance being incidents where we do have injuries and A total of 25 people took seven days to done on the lake’s emergency spillway, damages to fish and wildlife.” complete this dewater event and wildlife aquatic wildlife would be stranded and As the FRM team uses industrial pumps relocation. The inspection revealed that the in danger. USACE and TPWD took to remove the water from the stilling basin, spillway structure was fully intact and free measures to locate, identify and safely the shoreline recedes, and the freshwater of any damage. move these species of freshwater mussels mussels and fish are exposed. As they are “I would like to thank Texas Parks and and fish to another part of the lake. exposed, the environmental stewardship Wildlife,” Underwood said. “Over the years “Flood risk management is our primary team locates and collects the wildlife. we have built a really good relationship mission, but the environmental stewardship “There were five species of mussels: with them. They trust us and we work mission is just as important in regard to giant floater, paper pondshell, yellow cooperatively to get the job done.” the dewater,” said Marty Underwood, sandshell, lilliput and southern mapleleaf,” To learn about Bardwell Lake, visit: USACE Fort Worth District, Trinity Underwood said. “There were 13 species of https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/ Region Environmental Stewardship fish removed; some were quite large, most bardwell/. Business line manager. “We are obliged to of them were game fish. For more about the TPWD Kills and relocate the treasured aquatic resources in “I have done eight of these dewaters in Spills team, visit: https://tpwd.texas. the state of Texas when we dewater these the past seven years and this one had the gov/landwater/water/environconcerns/ stilling basins. worst conditions for us to get in there,” kills_and_spills/. “The FRM team is in charge of he said. “It was mostly mud; there wasn’t Established in 1950, the Fort Worth removing all the water and cleaning up the much water.” District is responsible for water resources still basin,” he added. “When they do that, This wildlife plays a major role in the development in two-thirds of Texas, freshwater mussels and fish are stranded, lake’s ecosystem. and design and construction at military so our job is to relocate the freshwater “For one, freshwater mussels are really installations in Texas and parts of mussels and the fish back to the lake.” good indicators of stream and lake health,” Louisiana and New Mexico. As the state’s steward of aquatic Underwood said. “If they are in good Visit the Fort Worth District website at: resources, TPWD stepped in to ensure the condition, the water is usually in good www.swf.usace.army.mil and social media process was done properly. condition as well.” at: https://about.me/usacefortworth. 18 The Corps Environment ERDC researcher uses sound to deter invasive Asian carp By Holly Kuzmitski Engineer Research and Development Center

hen Dr. Christa Woodley, a research biologist with Wthe U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, heard about the U.S. Geological Survey study to control invasive Asian carp through acoustics, she was excited by the possibilities. Led by USGS Research Fish Biologist Dr. Marybeth Brey, the multiagency team intends to deter the fish from moving further up the Mississippi River by broadcasting underwater sounds the researchers believe are intrusive only to the invasive carp; and the method will leave virtually no footprint on the environment. “Whenever you put something in the water, you are usually going to have to pay (Photo by George Gonzalez) a cost,” Woodley said. “But this is a win- A 350-ton crane swings the underwater Acoustic Deterrent System weldment, which win — the public should be very interested includes speakers for emitting sounds specific to the hearing range of invasive Asian carp, in any deterrent research that allows us to into place at Lock and Dam 19 on the Mississippi River Feb. 3. achieve our mission without damaging the environment.” What will the Asian carp hear that will boat motor playback on fish behavior, Silver carp, bighead carp, black carp cause them to avoid the area? Woodley concluding that the boat motor and and grass carp are the four types of Asian compares some of the sounds to “an the playback of the boat motor showed carp that pose a threat to the Great Lakes’ engine coming towards you,” others to the potential for deterring invasive carp. $7 billion fisheries; the invasive fish grow predators found in the fish’s home range — “I was able to take the 100-horsepower quickly and compete aggressively with dolphins. boat motor sound, and say, ‘Okay, what native fish for food and habitat. Woodley performed the acoustic part of this sound pattern makes the fish The sounds will be released from an research to isolate the sounds, and she move away versus what part makes them underwater Acoustic Deterrent System describes how her work built on previous comfortable to return?’” Woodley said. (uADS) housed in a weldment - a work completed by partners. She took that sound and broke it down 105-foot-long beam with 16 speakers — in “We do have some universities into 30 principal parts, and played each the approach channel of Lock and Dam involved in the project that helped us part back to the carp to find the exact 19, located in Keokuk, Iowa. with documenting the fish hearing; the components that were causing the fish to “This is all new; it’s not a design that’s University of Minnesota Duluth did quite stop. been used before and it’s never been a bit of that kind of work.” Woodley then integrated those recessed in a lock’s discharge lateral,” Brey “They’re the ones who said, ‘Asian components into the sounds she had said. carp can hear at this range and at these previously engineered, and the team had Designed by a team of 15 USGS and decibels,’” Woodley said. “I took that their sound vocabulary, based on multiple USACE personnel led by Kirk Sunderman, information and said, ‘Okay, if this is the sources. a USACE, Rock Island District project hearing range, then that allows me to Now that the weldment has been engineer and project manager, the uADS create all sorts of sounds that are within successfully installed, the next major was installed in the lock approach Feb. 3. this decibel range and frequency band for project milestone will be tagging the fish. The study is a precursor to the Brandon the fish to hear’ and then ERDC tested the The USGS team, led by Brey, will Road Lock and Dam project, which has sounds.” manage that portion of the study. just commenced. Woodley will utilize the Woodley observed the fish either “The idea is to put together an analysis data collected by the study to evaluate the stopped or turned around when they heard that describes how long it took a fish to get effectiveness of using the acoustic deterrent the sounds in the ERDC-Environmental through the deterrent or to turn around for that project. Laboratory’s 10,000-gallon Cognitive from the deterrent, to mark different types “In the Brandon Road project, 90% of Ecology and Ecohydraulics Research of behaviors that a fish might have in that the lock is being cut out and rebuilt with Facility. lock approach, and compare those to when deterrent systems; the acoustic system will In the meantime, USGS researchers the sound is running and when the sound be one of several types of deterrents,” she had collected laboratory and field data is off,” she said. said. about the effects of a 100-horsepower The study will last up to three years. 19 The Corps Environment Agreement greenlights completion of pre-construction engineering, design phase By Samantha Heilig To help support this effort, it and development are included as part USACE, Rock Island District coordinated a third-party agreement of the National Ecosystem Restoration with the state of Michigan to assist Plan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with funding for the Pre-construction These efforts, which will be Rock Island District and the state of Engineering and Design phase. implemented primarily by other federal Illinois signed a design agreement Dec. Design of the Brandon Road agencies, can begin upon appropriation 29, 2020, allowing for completion of Project includes installation of layered of funding before the physical elements the Pre-construction Engineering and technologies such as an electric barrier, are installed. Design phase of the Brandon Road underwater acoustic deterrent, air “We’re excited to be part of this vital Project. bubble curtain and a flushing lock in a project,” said Col. Steve Sattinger, This project, located at the Brandon newly engineered channel. Rock Island District commander. Road Lock and Dam in the Chicago These structural measures aim to “We’re going to roll up our sleeves Area Waterway System near Joliet, prevent invasive carp movement while and work hand-in-hand with our Illinois, is part of a National Ecosystem continuing to allow commercial and partners and with our stakeholders Restoration Plan to keep bighead, recreational craft passage through the across the country who have an interest silver and black carp — the invasive lock. in protecting the Great Lakes while Asian carp species of greatest concern In addition to the structural maintaining efficient navigation on the — out of the Great Lakes. measures, non-structural measures Illinois Waterway.” The state is the non-federal sponsor such as enhanced public outreach, Pre-construction Engineering and and is responsible for cost sharing monitoring of fish populations, Design of the project is anticipated to the project’s design, construction, integrated pest management, physical take three to four years and is the final operations and maintenance. removal of invasive fish, and research step before construction can proceed.

(Photo illustration by Kelcy Hanson) Projected map of the design agreement at Brandon Road Lock and Dam.

20 The Corps Environment TeamTeam ofof teamsteams takestakes toptop honorshonors inin culturalcultural resourcesresources By Lori Hogan This effort included encapsulation of the Strategic Plan through active participation in the U.S. Army Environmental Command exposed historic structure back to its original Sustainability Management System’s Training pre-tide gate breach condition. The team also Lands Process Action Team and the Integrated monitored the construction activities to ensure no Management Prescription Team. adverse impacts would occur. “While this project was unique, this type of ort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield project coordination with multiple partner is located southwest of Savannah, “While we regularly review all real property, agencies is not unique,” said Thomas Fry, FGeorgia, and is home to the 3rd Infantry Environmental/Natural Resources Division Division. range, maintenance, engineering projects, chief. “Our team’s ongoing relationships with This combined arms division is the largest and non-routine training events, this project important stakeholders has served us well. Army installation east of the Mississippi “While we regularly review all real River and has a distinguished history, dating has set us up for future success and property, range, maintenance, engineering back to World War I. will provide cost savings and installation projects, and non-routine training events, The installation’s Cultural Resources this project has set us up for future readiness in the future.” Management (CRM) program team has success and will provide cost savings and long been successful in supporting and installation readiness in the future,” he said. - Thomas Fry, Chief, Environmental/Natural complementing the military mission Resources Division, Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfiled Throughout the process, the team by reducing training land restrictions, reinforced community relations through a elevating conservation efforts, advancing comprehensive public outreach program archaeological surveys, and reinforcing the Army’s To prevent erosion and sedimentation at the that included archaeology discussion panels commitment to the history and cultural resources site, the team placed fill and riprap in the marsh at Georgia Southern University, Historic abundant in the community. to stabilize and protect the historic causeway and Communities and Cemeteries Council meetings, The installation was recently awarded the 2020 wharf structure. Those measures will help prevent hands-on historic cemetery preservation events Secretary of the Army Environmental Award for future flooding at the “Sleepy Hollow” Training with local schoolchildren, and presentations, Cultural Resource Management for the Team/ Area, reduce continued erosion of the upstream briefings, and training for FS/HAAF personnel Individual category. rail assets used for deployment, and protect the and military families. When a breached tide gate was discovered, natural and cultural resources that have been Installation personnel also participated in installation officials knew they needed to pull entrusted to FS/HAAF. Earth Day and Native American Heritage Day together a team of experts to address the unique CRM staff also used the opportunity to celebrations. combination of engineering and regulatory issues conduct archaeological surveys on 265,911 The team wasled by Brian Greer, CRM related to the age and location of the structures. acres of the installation’s 266,862 acres that are program manager, and included HAAF Tide The location of the breach was in proximity accessible, and completed building surveys on all Gate Project team members: Kyle Daniels, FS/ to two 19th century water control structures that structures built up to 1990. HAAF Engineering; Dena Thompson and were causing erosion to and around the structures; The staff identified eligible properties for Mark Puhalla, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the structures affected included na 18th century the NRHP designation and added them to the project managers; Melissa Kendrick, FS/HAAF ranger outpost listed on the National Register Cultural Resource Action Plan for long-term National Environmental Policy Act program of Historic Places, and an upstream railway protection and monitoring. manager; Larry Carlile, FS/HAAF Fish & causeway and trestle. These efforts also reduced the number of Wildlife Branch chief; and contract staff provided

Through early coordinated efforts with the encumbered areas, allowing for unrestricted access by Aerostar SES: Ashley Moss, archaeological (U.S. Army photo) State Historic Preservation Office, the team was to more training grounds and land management field technician; Jessie Larson, archaeological and Children from the Youth Center assist in cleaning headstones during a cemetery cleanup event at Taylors able to develop an archaeological avoidance plan activities. curations specialist; and George Harris, wetlands/ Creek Cemetery. The event provided them an opportunity to learn about civic responsibility, the installation’s to preserve the two water control structures. This level of accesssupports the Installation water resources specialist. cultural resources, and the importance of protecting and preserving them for future generations. 21 The Corps Environment 22 Treatment plant, system upgrades help reduce uncontrolled release of mine waste Story & photo by Rodney Zion USACE, Seattle District

t the Bunker Hill Superfund Site in Kellogg, Idaho, the BunkerA Hill Central Treatment Plant (CTP) Upgrade and Groundwater Collection System (GWCS) project achieved a significant milestone in October 2020 by commencing the one-year operations and maintenance phase of the contract. Since December 2016, the CTP has undergone several facility-wide upgrades, increasing capacity, improving treatment efficacy, and converting the plant to a high- density sludge treatment facility. Also constructed was an approximately The upgraded Bunker Hill Central Treatment Plant includes the filter and polymer feed 8,000-linear-foot soil-bentonite building (foreground), high density sludge thickener tank (center), and lime/polymer reactor groundwater cutoff wall and new GWCS. structure (to the left of Sludge Thickener). All upgrades were achieved under an ongoing $49.8 million Operate-Design- intercept and collect the contaminated various seasonal and influent flow/quality Build-Operate (ODBO) contract between groundwater and convey it for treatment at conditions to “shake down” the system the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the upgraded treatment plant. as well as implement and incorporate Wood Environmental & Infrastructure The project also included construction of any necessary system and/or operational Solutions, Inc., with funding provided by a new 110,000-cubic-yard geomembrane- revisions. the Environmental Protection Agency. lined Sludge Impoundment Area. Additional high flow/high strength Prior to this contract, the CTP Soon after award of the ODBO acceptance testing will be completed (constructed in 1974 by the Bunker Hill contract, the contractor constructed, during the high flow period this spring. Corporation) treated contaminated mine activated and operated an on-site In October 2021, operations will waters from the Bunker Hill Mine. temporary treatment system (TTS) to then transfer to a follow-on operations The old treatment plant had a treatment allow uninterrupted treatment of mine contractor under contract with the Idaho capacity of roughly 2,500 gallons per water during demolition of portions of the Department of Environmental Quality. minute (gpm). The project upgraded the old facility and construction of the new The expected reductions in the CTP treatment capacity to 8,000 gpm facility upgrades. uncontrolled release of mine waste with the ability to accommodate future In March 2020, after a series of contaminants to the environment is a capacity expansion to 10,000 gpm. operational tests and initial commissioning significant achievement in the ongoing The project also included conversion of the upgraded facility, treatment cleanup at the Bunker Hill Superfund to a high-density sludge process with operations were permanently transitioned Site and the Coeur d’Alene River Basin. an added filtration system for treatment from the TTS to the upgraded CTP. Most noteworthy is the facility’s ability operations, enabling the plant to meet new The GWCS was gradually brought to measurably reduce the amount of discharge requirements. online through the spring of 2020 to dissolved metals (particularly zinc) that In addition to treatment of begin permanently conveying collected were being discharged by contaminated contaminated mine water, the facility now groundwater for treatment at the CTP. groundwater to the South Fork Coeur also treats contaminated groundwater Commissioning and testing activities d’Alene River. intercepted and collected by the newly of the CTP and the GWCS continued Historic estimates of dissolved constructed GWCS. through the summer and early fall of zinc loading to the South Fork Coeur Prior to this project, contaminated 2020. d’Alene River adjacent to the Central groundwater flowing below the After completion of prerequisite Impoundment Area range from 150 to 450 approximately 270-acre Central testing activities, the one-year Operations pounds per day. It is estimated that the Impoundment Area carried dissolved mine and Maintenance phase of the contract collection and treatment of groundwater waste contaminants to the South Fork commenced Oct. 21, 2020. by the GWCS and CTP constructed and Coeur d’Alene River. This phase will enable the contractor upgraded under this project will reduce The newly constructed soil-bentonite to complete a full year of operations the zinc loading to the South Fork Coeur groundwater cutoff wall and GWCS now at the upgraded facility, experiencing d’Alene River by up to 90%. 23 The Corps Environment Mississippi River mussel cleaning provides ecological, operational benefits By Joe Jordan & Dan Kelner Over the years, the MCT has evolved used prior to laboratory and relocation USACE, St. Paul District from an oversight group into an award- activities. winning team dedicated to freshwater Any unused Higgins eye pearlymussels mussel conservation on the Upper were placed in two specific stockpile Mississippi River. sites within the Cordova bed for future his year marks the 20th year the Since 2000, the St. Paul District has propagation efforts. U.S. Army Corps of Prior to their placement at TEngineers, St. Paul District and these stockpile sites, “cleaning” other resource agencies on the zebra mussels off the live Upper Mississippi River take a mussels became a common day and clean native mussels free practice. from zebra mussels. As with any relocation, No, they do not use scrub the stockpile sites diminish brushes, soap, and water, just a over time based on escape, little elbow grease. burrowing and natural Between 1998 and 2000, the mortality. St. Paul District and the U.S The MCT began to Fish and Wildlife Service were replenish the site with mussels involved in formal consultation found within the mussel bed, under the Endangered Species encompassing approximately Act, Section 7. a 3-mile river reach along the This consultation focused on Illinois bank. the Higgins eye pearlymussel (Photo by Joe Jordan) One of the most interesting and impacts from operation Zebra mussels are removed from freshwater native pocketbook discoveries was the abundance and maintenance of the existing mussels, and safely returned to the river during the annual of adult Higgins eye 9-foot channel project for Cordova Mussel Cleaning. pearlymussels found in shallow another 50 years. water areas where previous Zebra mussels, transported by towboats spent over $8 million on a variety of studies have shown that they’re usually and other large craft to upstream areas mussel relocation activities with assistance associated with deeper water. on the Upper Mississippi River using the from the MCT. This involved propagating In 2002, the MCT collected 371 federal navigation system, were a primary Higgins eye pearlymussel and placing adult Higgins eye pearlymussels from the concern because they harm native mussels them into waters not infested with zebra Cordova Higgins eye Essential Habitat by effectively smothering them and mussels. Area (EHA); of which most came from interfering with respiration, feeding and The plan used a combination of five shallow water by wading (pollywogging). reproduction. propagation and relocation methods at The Cordova EHA is one of 14 EHAs As a result, in its April 2000 Biological 10 sites to reach the goal of at least five in the Upper Mississippi River’s two Opinion (BiOp), FWS determined the new populations over 10 years that would tributaries, the St. Croix and Wisconsin continued operation and maintenance of become self-reproducing and viable long rivers, which are used to guide the Higgins the navigation project would jeopardize term. eye Recovery Team to recovery efforts of the existence of the federally endangered For the propagation efforts, the MCT the species. Higgins eye pearlymussel. used three sites for collecting gravid (egg Since 2002, the multiagency and In order to avoid jeopardy, FWS release condition) females and glochidia academic groups have come together for a recommended USACE establish new (mussel parasitic life stage): Lower St. one-day Cordova Mussel Cleaning event populations of Higgins eye pearlymussels Croix River at Hudson, Wisconsin; Pool to restock the stockpile sites using shallow within the species’ historic range in 11 at Cassville, Wisconsin; and Pool 14 at water dwelling mussels. areas with no or few zebra mussels and Cordova, Illinois. These sites were chosen During the event, every mussel is implement a zebra mussel control program. for their Higgins eye pearlymussel genetic identified, cleaned of any zebra mussels, The Mussel Coordination Team (MCT) variability and availability of individuals. and returned to the water. All Higgins eye was formed to assist USACE in complying In the summer of 2001, this relocation are returned to the stockpile sites for future with the terms and conditions of the 2000 was accomplished as part of a mussel propagation and all zebra mussels are BiOp. workshop conducted by the Illinois destroyed and properly disposed. The team includes malacologists from Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Upwards of 75 people usually attend the USACE St. Paul and Rock Island As part of the collection of gravid and collect several thousand mussels districts, FWS, U.S. Geological Survey, Higgins eye pearlymussels, the group representing over 25 live species. National Park Service, state departments of hand-rubbed off any zebra mussels This year, the annual event will be held natural resources, universities, and non- attached to the mussels prior to relocation. August 4. governmental organizations. Additional processing techniques were 24 The Corps Environment Exchange strives for safe, efficient fuel delivery service

By Capt. Garrett Chesonis In 2015, Exchange engineers and and product lines constantly monitored HQ, Army & Air Force Exchange Service fuel specialists addressed this issue and pressure tested, site operators can and hatched a plan to overhaul how it keep accurate and up-to-date records monitors its fuel systems and completes of their systems. This has improved the inventory control. Exchange’s compliance programs and led f you have been on an Air Force base or The crux of the plan revolved around to a decrease in the number of Notice of Army post, you have likely driven past a massive standardization effort to install Violations issued from various regulators Ior filled up your tank at one of the many or replace existing UST Automatic Tank at the local, state and federal levels. exchange retail fuel stations. Gauges with the new Veeder-Root TLS Currently, the Exchange operates over 450Plus ATG, commensurate with private Rapid, direct alarm notification 250 Express stations across The Exchange has the nation and abroad, configured the TLS providing quality fuel and 450Plus to send direct convenient retail to service alerts (email/text) to members and their families. specified people when an This footprint includes alarm occurs. Each site over 850-plus separate can then customize who underground storage at the installation receives tanks and supporting fuel the notification, while dispensing equipment the Exchange arranges systems. for the fire department, Maintenance and environmental personnel operation of all this and Department equipment is a daunting of Public Works task, further complicated technicians to get by stringent environmental alerts. This streamlines compliance requirements (Photo courtesy of Army & Air Force Exchange Service) communication across that vary depending on all parties and reduces which state, U.S. territory, or country the industry standards and proven track response times when spills or leaks occur. Express Station is physically located. records of success in the field. Additionally, the Exchange faces Accompanying this ATG was an Access to Insite360 website challenges educating its Department online, remote monitoring platform called All data is uploaded in real-time to of Defense teammates on retail fuel Insite360. a secure web portal, where a common equipment and operation because it The benefits of these upgrades were operating picture is established, and requires a niche competency separate from instant, returning countless hours to reports and documents can be accessed and bulk fuel storage and above-ground storage associates, providing real-time inventory downloaded at any time. Moreover, the tank systems more commonly employed control and system monitoring, and portal can be accessed from mobile devices, and required by DOD missions. improving environmental compliance allowing for more efficient troubleshooting To address these challenges, the practices. by field technicians and site equipment Exchange looks to private industry for best The upgrade benefits include: operators. practices and standards, then adapts them Exact tank charts to be DOD compliant. 24/7, 365-day, remote monitoring Managing its product inventory along The whole host of subgrade tanks, Thesoftware in the Veeder-Root TLS with the associated equipment alarms and sumps and product lines are constantly 450Plus maps the inside of the tanks, environmental compliance testing across monitored and tested for leaks, then gives a detailed analysis of the tank’s size its massive retail fuel footprint proved reported in real time to a staffed operations and creates a detailed tank chart. It also challenging. center, where technicians and tank corrects any dimensional issues that occur The root cause of these problems was a operators are immediately notified of due to tank deflection or tank tilt. general lack of standardization in fielded potential issues or water intrusions into the Retail fuel site operations and inventory control equipment and training. equipment. equipment are an ever-evolving industry Each site incorporated different Since this constant monitoring was and practice. systems and procedures for monitoring employed, over 60% of problems identified The Exchange serves as the DOD’s its product and equipment, resulting in have been resolved remotely, saving on subject matter expert on retail fueling and redundant, repetitive tasks and inefficient average $350 per issue and countless labor is committed to ensuring that the best manpower uses. These supply chain hours per month by not having to dispatch and safest systems are employed on U.S. challenges were further compounded at fuel technicians. installations. the Exchange’s regional headquarters For more information, contact the where products are ordered and delivery is Environmental compliance Exchange Environmental Team at: coordinated. With the subgrade tanks, sumps [email protected]. 25 The Corps Environment PartnershipPartnership solvessolves complexitiescomplexities ofof long-standinglong-standing SuperfundSuperfund sitesite By Janet Meredith galvanized steel, vulcanized rubber and brass USACE, St. Louis District electrical conductors. But production of paint there took a turn in 1981 when Sherwin Williams reported to the state environmental protection agency that he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, toxic slag deposits had been discovered. in collaboration with the U.S The state’s water test samples indicated TEnvironmental Protection Agency and high levels of zinc, iron, lead and copper Illinois EPA, reached substantial completion resulting in the removal of 18,000 tons of remediation status of the 132-acre Eagle Zinc residue from 10 acres, as well as the issuance Superfund site in Hillsboro, Illinois, on Dec. of a company violation. Around this same 30, 2020. time period two key events took place that Located 50 miles northeast of St. Louis, would shape the future of Hillsboro. Missouri, the Superfund site saw commercial First, in 1984 the facility was sold to Eagle operations terminated in 2003 when Eagle Zinc Co., which continued production for Zinc, the last of a handful of commercial 19 more years despite the 1981 violations. owners, ceased its zinc oxide production Second, the EPA and USACE signed there. But the location had seen 81 years of groundbreaking Superfund partnership production, and the affiliated environmental agreements in 1982 and again in 1984 output was diverse. allowing USACE to provide the EPA with “Zinc has been an important element remedial hazardous waste technical cleanup in society for about 2,500 years,” said Dr. assistance, among other provisions. Michael Larranaga, co-author of Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary, when asked Post-1984 Superfund years about commercial uses. The 20 years between 2001 and 2021 can “It was used by Romans to make coins, reasonably be called the “Hillsboro Superfund kettles and decorations,” he said. “It is a Years” as lead agency EPA cleaned the key ingredient in brass and bronze alloys, contaminated site, made the responsible party galvanizing materials and marine paints, as pay for the work, involved the community in well as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, the process and returned the Superfund site inks, soaps and batteries.” to productive use with assistance from partner agencies such as USACE. (Photo by Andre Billeaudeaux) Years and layers of deposits With a contract for on-site remediation USACE, in collaboration with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois EPA, reached The proud city of Hillsboro, once awarded in early 2017, Kevin Slattery, a substantial completion remediation status of the Eagle Zinc Superfund site in Hillsboro, Illinois, on visited by Abraham Lincoln, celebrates its 21-year-USACE veteran, and the USACE St. Dec. 30, 2020. manufacturing history, highlighting that their Louis District project team were eager after quality of life and growth story is interwoven several years of coordination with EPA Region impermeable layers of clay which, ultimately, which led to 35 contract modifications and with stories of companies who make things. 5 to put an Interagency Agreement in place fully enclose the excavated materials. a mid-project increase of the volume of the According to the city’s 2020 Strategic to provide the technical assistance for the In the case of Eagle Zinc, remediated soils all-important servicing consolidation cell by Plan, “Hillsboro Glass Company made bottles remedial action effort. contained antimony, cadmium, cobalt, lead, 40%. for a variety of products that were distributed “The first day was just anticipation of nickel, and zinc and would be consolidated From start to finish, the four-year massive across the country, supplying bottles for something that we had worked so hard to try in massive cells as deep as 40-feet-deep and cleanup project resulted in the protection companies like the Hiram Walker Distillery. and get a project … to finally be able to prove spread over 10 acres. of public health and the environment while The mines of Hillsboro supplied much we had the capabilities,” he said. But, as good as the initial remediation plan setting the stage for the city’s revitalization. needed energy to our country and the Eagle- Slattery, who holds an environmental provided by EPA was, 81 years of commercial The project also serves as just one example of Picher Company provided zinc oxide for the studies degree, explained his previous production and layers of dangerous how USACE serves the nation by supporting production of paint to a large section of that hazardous material consolidation cell unanticipated residual materials immediately the EPA’s Superfund Program under the industry.” experience at an abandoned glass factory challenged the USACE project delivery team Comprehensive Environmental Response, Meanwhile, the nearly 6,000 citizens of was used to help pitch USACE’s technical on both cleanup tactics and cost. Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. Hillsboro, which incorporated only one year expertise. Indeed, the PDT had to work closely Later this year, the PDT will move past after zinc mining activity started in 1912, also “We would eventually encapsulate the with the U.S. EPA and the Illinois EPA to the substantial completion phase to fully witnessed the byproduct production of sulfuric (Eagle Zinc) material very similar to what we coordinate, innovate, and tactically readjust complete the $25 million project and return it (Photo by Andre Billeaudeaux) acid, zinc oxide and leaded zinc oxide over the did on the glass factory job,” he explained. for a 250% increase in residue treatment to the EPA and ultimately back to Hillsboro Remnants of an old factory on the Eagle Zinc Superfund Site property. years. Other products beyond paint included Consolidation cells are constructed from and a 680% increase in concrete excavation for redevelopment. 26 The Corps Environment 27 Army announces excellence in environmental programs By Troy Darr Their work protects human health, improves Award winners U.S. Army Environmental Command Soldier and family quality of life and protects “The Army recognizes the natural environment.” • Natural Resources Conservation – This year’s winners demonstrated superior Large Installation: successes that program management and presented a Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield he Army announced the winners variety of environmental technical solutions demonstrate the of the 2020 Secretary of the Army that benefit and enable the mission, are • Cultural Resources Management – TEnvironmental Awards Program, the highest transferrable to other Army organizations and Small Installation: Army Environmental honor conferred by the Army in the field of installations, involve local stakeholders, and Camp Umatilla environmental science and sustainability. produce measurable outcomes and a positive Oregon Army National Guard Program’s focus The senior official performing the duties impact. • Sustainability – Non-Industrial of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for The winners of this year’s environmental Installation: on supporting Installations, Energy and Environment, J. E. awards stand out as examples of how U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Polk “Jack” Surash, P.E., selected four installations environmental stewardship and sustainability the highest level of and two teams to represent the Army in the play a crucial role in the Army’s mission • Environmental Restoration – 2021 Secretary of Defense Environmental readiness. Installation: installation Awards Program. Investments that the Army makes in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, “The Army recognizes successes that environmental programs and sustainability Alaska District demonstrate the Army Environmental and Soldier readiness.” initiatives pay dividends in sustaining realistic • Cultural Resources Management – Program’s focus on supporting the highest training and testing capabilities both now and Team/Individual: level of installation and Soldier readiness,” in the future. Cultural Resources Management Team, J.E. “Jack” Surash, P.E. Surash said. For more information about the Secretary Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Assistant Secretary of the Army “This focus ensures the Army continues to of the Army Environmental Awards program, for Installations, Energy preserve the natural infrastructure and realistic visit the U.S. Army Environmental Command • Sustainability – Team/Individual: and Environment environments our Soldiers need in order to website at https://aec.army.mil/index.php/ Sustainability Team, Minnesota Army train, fight and win,” he added. “Our Army awards. National Guard environmental teams deserve this recognition.

(U.S. Army Photo) The Minnesota Army National Guard’s Sustainability Team played an integral role in the design and construction of the new Arden Hills Division Headquarters. The sustainability features include (U.S. Army Photo) (U.S. Army Photo) a 60-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system expected to meet 2.5% of the electrical load, daylighting, Recognized by national fire experts as one of the largest prescribed burn programs in the world, An archeologist recovers a cache of musket balls from an excavated trench from this Fort Stewart solar tube style skylighting and a ground source heat pump system. Fort Stewart’s forestry branch utilizes an aerial ignition system and ground ignition terra-torches archaeological site during phase III mitigation of an 18th century ranger outpost known as Fort to implement its record-setting burn program. Prescribed burns such as these provide installations Argyle. Fort Argyle was the first colonial settlement at Fort Stewart and is listed on the National with wildfire reduction, a superior military training platform, enhanced threatened and Registry of Historic Places. The team also completed a project to mitigate river erosion that could endangered species habitat and an improved forest ecosystem health. have adversely affected the site. 28 The Corps Environment 29 New England District, EPA mark project milestone with land transfer By Ann Marie R. Harvie When in operation, the facility dewatered Contaminated since the 1940s because concern,” Esten said. dewatering process building was a necessary “Strong partnerships like that are critical USACE, New England District hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of of decades of PCB-contaminated waste According to Atilano, when the New component and in some ways a symbol of our to almost every project the New England contaminated dredged material before being dumped into the harbor by local England District first began this project, subtidal cleanup work. Now that the subtidal District undertakes,” he said. “I want to sending it off-site for safe disposal at licensed manufacturers, the New Bedford Harbor is the technology to remediate the harbor’s environment has been remediated, we are thank Mayor Mitchell, Mr. Deziel and my facilities. one of the largest and most complex cleanups contaminants properly and efficiently did not very happy to no longer have need of it. New Bedford Superfund team for the hard he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The New England District completed the district has ever undertaken. exist. “We will continue to work diligently work and dedication they put into getting New England District and the dredging to remove polychlorinated biphenyl Marie Esten, New England District’s “Over the past two decades, this building on the next phases of the project,” he said. this project to where we are now.” TEnvironmental Protection Agency recently (PCB)-contaminated sediments from the project manager, outlined the challenges of housed equipment and processes that “This spring, we look forward to cleaning Atilano also thanked the residents of New turned back a valuable piece of waterfront bottom of the harbor in early 2020, marking cleaning up such a large area. emerged from the evolving state-of-the-art up several wetland areas in New Bedford, Bedford, Fairhaven and Acushnet for their property to the city of New Bedford, the conclusion the sub-tidal remediation “The site itself is 18,000 acres and is more and enabled us to get to where we are today,” Fairhaven and Acushnet.” continued resilience, assistance and interest Massachusetts. that makes up much of the overall project. than six miles long, with several areas so he said. Intertidal/wetland remediation and in the harbor cleanup process. The turnover, which took place Jan. “Today is a historic day, and a proud day, shallow we could not bring a dredge in,” she In the last decade alone, approximately restoration continues along the Harbor “I cannot guarantee you an end date to this 7, signaled a milestone in the decades- for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said said. “It’s also spanned by low bridges that 600,000 cubic yards of material passed shoreline; four of the eight remaining zones phase or the project overall,” he said. “But old cleanup of the New Bedford Harbor Col. John Atilano II, New England District made it difficult to get equipment in and through the dewatering facility, equal to will be completed in 2021. I can guarantee you that the New England Superfund Site. commander. “We have partnered with EPA out. about 50,000 dump trucks. The district commander credited the District will continue to work hard with the The 5-acre property, located along the on the cleanup of this harbor since the late “Additionally, the project is on a tidal “Today, we are turning this valuable piece strong partnership with EPA and the city EPA and local officials to ensure the efforts harbor, was formerly used as a sediment 1980s and we are now closer than ever to the estuary where water flowing both ways makes of real estate back to the people of New of New Bedford for the progress on the are a success.” dewatering facility (Area D). finish line.” recontamination during work a constant Bedford,” Atilano added. “The sediment project.

(Photo by MaryEllen Lorio) USACE, New England District completed dredging to remove PCB-contaminated sediments from the bottom of the harbor in early 2020, marking the conclusion of the sub-tidal remediation that makes up much of the overall project. 30 The Corps Environment 31 (Photo by Michael Haley) Once a heavily contaminated site, Maywood Riverfront Park has been cleaned up and redeveloped for community use. Maywood Superfund site redeveloped for community use By Claudia Garcia with various contaminants. the Trust for Public Land, incorporated USACE, Los Angeles District After a fire destroyed the plant in 1993, the Maywood Superfund Site into a EPA investigations confirmed the presence community park as part of the Los Angeles of hazardous chemicals in the soil and River Greenway project. groundwater. Maywood Riverfront Park opened in or the first time since 1940, the With USACE’s support, the EPA May 2008, and the remaining areas where last area of the 4-acre Pemaco completed a number of cleanup actions USACE supported cleanup activities were FMaywood Superfund Site, located along to protect human health and the opened in November 2018. the Los Angeles River in Maywood, environment. The groundwater and soil vapor California, is redeveloped for community A carbon-based treatment system for extraction and treatment systems continue use. soil vapors and groundwater continues to operate at the site. Vapor is treated The park — located in a mixed to operate while a solar powered energy to meet all air quality standards prior industrial and residential neighborhood system provides supplemental energy to to discharging to ambient air. Treated — offers much-needed athletic and the treatment plant. groundwater and vapor condensate is recreational facilities to a heavily populated The 3.4-kilowatt-hour solar energy discharged to the L.A. County Sanitary urban area. system produces about 5,600 kilowatt District sewer system. Groundwater is The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, hours annually, offsetting about 3.3 tons of sampled semi-annually. Los Angeles District provided technical carbon dioxide emissions each year. USACE provided environmental assistance to the Environmental Protection USACE assisted the EPA in technical assistance and construction Agency through the Comprehensive estimating that it would take two to five oversight of the last undeveloped 1.4 acres Environmental Response, Compensation, years to recover the capital investment cost of the Pemaco Maywood Superfund site. and Liability Act, or CERCLA, Long- for the solar-powered energy system when Redevelopment included installation Term Response Action phase. compared to buying electricity for the site of a geo-membrane and soil cover cap, From the late 1940s to 1991, the operations. landscaping and monitoring wells. Pemaco Maywood Superfund Site was Long-term operations and maintenance The Pemaco Maywood Superfund site a former chemical-mixing facility of of the site’s cleanup plan are ongoing with was an EPA Superfund Redevelopment chlorinated solvents, aromatic solvents and oversight by California’s Department of Initiative, which helps communities flammable liquids. Activities at the site Toxic Substances Control. reclaim and reuse thousands of acres of contaminated the soil and groundwater The city of Maywood, together with formerly contaminated land. 32 The Corps Environment Post’sPost’s conservationconservation effortsefforts garnergarner recognitionrecognition

By Lori Hogan of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Georgia U.S. Army Environmental Command Forestry Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Together, the organizations were able to restore the native longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem by planting ort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield recently 134 acres of wiregrass and 438 acres of longleaf pine, received the 2020 Secretary of the Army and by conducting timber thinning on 5,531 acres. FEnvironmental Award for Natural Resources The thinning and future prescribed management Conservation for a Large Installation. actions will serve to reduce the threat of wildfire- Fort Stewart’s 284,000 acres in southeast Georgia related damages to people and property both on and provide unrivaled training opportunities for Soldiers off the installation. in a diverse environment. “The prescribed burn program not only sustains The lands contain some of the state’s most the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem, it opens up biologically and ecologically diverse areas, including the landscape, creating better training grounds with pine forest, wetlands, blackwater rivers, hardwood less restrictions,” said Jamie Heidle, director of public management areas, forest clearings, and the largest works. tract of longleaf pine ecosystem. Additionally, the forestry branch manages an Its wildlife habitat includes seven species protected extensive timber harvest program, conducting by the Endangered Species Act, more than 20 species timber sales that totaled $5.3 million in support of of concern and a diverse landscape of 948 different the Army’s Conservation Reimbursable and Fee plant species. Collection Program. Through the management strategies developed in The combination of these actions led to improved the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, habitat for the eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise natural resource managers have formulated a balance and the red-cockaded woodpecker. between military training needs and the responsible In fact, continued protection of the woodpecker stewardship of natural resources. has resulted in a 63% increase in its population since To achieve its goals, a team of environmental, they reached recovery in 2012. cultural resources, and training and security FS/HAAF receives more than 148,000 visitors each branches developed detailed integrated management year who recreate, hunt and fish on the installation. prescriptions for each of the installation’s 120 Providing ample, well-maintained hunting and training areas. fishing areas bolstered participation in the recreation Those prescriptions dealt with habitat restoration, program and enhances the community outreach threatened/endangered species, forestry, cultural program. resource sites and surveys, wetlands and training From 2019 to 2020, the team held 287 public facilities. outreach events that reached more than 45,000 The team also worked with federal and state area residents. School programs, both on- and agencies, universities, research institutions and off-post, included Earth Day events, community nongovernmental organizations to ensure that showcases, community safety days and back-to- environmental activities were backed by the best school fairs. These educational events help to increase science available. conservation awareness, which is instrumental Some of the most notable achievements included in successfully conducting natural resource protecting 17,003 additional acres under the Army management to audiences that reach beyond the Compatible Use Buffer Program. borders of the installation. The ACUB program aids in preventing “The lands on Fort Stewart and Hunter Army encroachment from incompatible development Airfield have been used to serve our nation’s defense adjacent to installation boundaries. The result for well over half a century, and this legacy is not increased the total acreage protected to 94,597 acres, taken lightly by those who use them today,” said Col. (U.S. Army photo) guaranteeing superior training opportunities for both Bryan Logan, garrison commander, Fort Stewart/ Access to hunting and fishing areas supports the morale of Soldiers and family members at a current and future generations of Soldiers. Hunter Army Airfield. reasonable cost. With more than 148,000 visits in 2019-2020, the natural resources management Another long-lasting accomplishment was “The natural resource team is dedicated to future program allows customers to enjoy the environment while assisting with the management of fish achieved through land use and forest management generations who will use these lands and their and game populations on the installation. with support from external partners, including the resources.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Department 33 The Corps Environment 34 Guard recognized for efforts in sustainability By Lori Hogan U.S. Army Environmental Command

he Minnesota Army National Guard has two main bases, the 53,000-acre Camp Riley Training Center, and the T1,500-acre Arden Hills Army Training Site; the command’s responsibilities also include 62 facilities in 58 communities. The MNARNG Sustainability Team is charged with securing the viability, resiliency and efficiency of these sites. Its efforts directly support one of the Minnesota Guard’s priority actions to “Optimize Capabilities — establish a collaborative environment through sustainability efforts and resource efficiencies to improve global mobility, cyber and support capabilities,” said Lori Ruff, sustainability manager. The team set its sights on implementing several comprehensive sustainability plans between 2019 and 2020 while working with community partners and internal cross-directorate groups, MNARNG Sustainability Working Group and the Office of Enterprise Sustainability, supporting implementation and helping to navigate licensing and permitting requirements. The Joint Sustainability Master Plan focused on reducing energy use, increasing recycling, promoting a “greener” fleet with reduced emissions, and eliminating waste streams. The Adjutant General’s Campaign Plan also emphasizes sustainability projects vital to the Guard’s mission, particularly energy conservation, renewable energy production, and building new facilities to the LEED or SB2030 design standards. From these plans, the team identified multiple projects over a two-year period that would transform MNARNG’s overall footprint on the environment. Renovation projects at St. Cloud Training and Community Center, Arden Hills Army Training Site and the Inver Grove Heights TACC provided the perfect opportunity to take advantage of renewable energy. Overall the team installed six solar photovoltaic (PV arrays), (U.S. Army Photo) producing 234 kilowatts of electricity. The team also contributed The Minnesota Army National Guard’s Sustainability Team played an integral role in the design and construction of the new Arden Hills Division Headquarters. The sustainability features include a to the building’s design phase, integrating features like geothermal 60-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system that is expected to meet 2.5% of the electrical load, daylighting, solar tube style skylighting and a ground source heat pump system. heating and cooling, daylighting, and water-conserving fixtures. To meet state and federal mandates for fuel-efficient or zero- This program has been expanded and includes education and started in July 2020 is expected to increase water reduction in The Sustainability Team is the cornerstone of the emissions vehicles, the team obtained four Chevy Volt PHEVs awareness campaigns. 2021 and beyond. MNARNG’s long-term sustainability strategy. Its work has for Camp Ripley’s staff. Though the pandemic disrupted operations, they tracked a In addition to water conservation, the team looked at ways to helped to slash waste and grow efficiencies across waste, water The team also replaced older fleet vehicles with more fuel- diversion rate of over 37% by the third quarter of 2020, with improve water quality. and energy usage while realizing cost savings. efficient models, purchasing two Chrysler Pacificas, two Toyota 110 tons of material recycled. They also achieved 100% diversion They identified potential harm to water resources through the For these reasons, the MNARNG was awarded the 2020 Camrys, and one Toyota Rav4. rates for non-hazardous construction and demolition materials, unavoidable use of salt to treat icy roads, sidewalks and parking Secretary of the Army Environmental Award for Sustainability Other measures in the sustainability plans focused on recycling 62 tons of this debris in 2020. lots during Minnesota winters. for a Team/Individual. reducing waste and water consumption. Water consumption was also reduced over the two-year Salt is the most cost-effective treatment for ice on pavement; “The MNARNG Sustainability Team works with staff A previously piloted composting program at Camp Ripley’s period. In 2019, cumulative water use intensity was 0.0123 however, its overuse leads to sodium chloride washing off roads and units to instill sustainable practices within operations, dining facilities emphasized reducing waste by recycling plastics kilogallons per square foot; and in 2020, the intensity dropped to and into surface and groundwater sources. empowering all components of the organization to enhance and aluminum, reducing Styrofoam use and composting organic 0.0088 kilogallons per square foot, a 28% reduction. This led to the “Smart Salting” program that provided environmental activities while keeping the focus on installation material by separating it from other miscellaneous trash items. To further reduce water use, a turfgrass feasibility study training and awareness of over application. readiness,” said Jay Brezinka, environmental program manager. 35 The Corps Environment 36 Oregon Guard recognized for preservation efforts at Camp Umatilla By Lori Hogan In addition, the grounds included tribal cultural task, the CRM program conducted an environmental were rendered non-significant or unsafe, meaning they “It was our agency’s engagement and relationship U.S. Army Environmental Command properties and religious sites deemed important to the assessment of Camp Umatilla under the National could be demolished or re-purposed as needed by the with SHPO that led to a customized approach to Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation Environmental Policy Act process. Army. balancing preservation with the growing needs of (CTUIR). This evaluation revealed that all buildings within Another accomplishment was the development modern facilities,” said James Arnold, Environmental In 2005, as part of the Army Base Realignment and the 7,500 acres could be eligible to be placed on the of a comprehensive Historic District Management Branch chief, Oregon Military Department. amp Umatilla is a small installation that sits Closure program, Camp Umatilla began the process of National Register of Historic Places, which meant Manual designed to guide users on how to conduct “Combining this commitment to cooperation and on the banks of the Columbia River, west of transferring 7,500 acres to the Oregon Army National that all future work on the buildings would require maintenance on the remaining historic structures, the best practices in historic management allowed CHermiston in northeastern Oregon. Guard. individual Section 106 reviews. This type of review complete archaeological surveys across 4,200 acres and Camp Umatilla to open with limited impacts on The camp recently received the Secretary of the The Guard’s environmental office and the Cultural is a costly and timely process that would have tied up document the remnants of an 1874 wagon trail that development or training activities.” Army Environmental Award for Cultural Resources Resources Management (CRM) program were the project for years, delaying construction and crucial was part of a connecting spur to the historic Oregon The installation is now ready to move forward Management – Small Installation for its work in charged with bringing in stakeholders and finding training exercises. Trail. with renovations and new construction of barracks, preserving the historical aspects of the site while ways to preserve the consequential and cultural A solution was developed by the environmental To address the tribal cultural assets, Oregon Guard classrooms and dining halls, as well as the establishment upgrading it to a modern training facility. value of the site while allowing modern training and office and CRM program, in consultation with the partnered with tribal leaders of CTUIR to ensure of small arms ranges and maneuver areas. The Army established Camp Umatilla in 1940 as a operations to proceed. State Historic Preservation Office, considered a access while protecting cultural and religious sites. “An added benefit of the transfer is Camp munitions depot, used primarily for storage, consisting A daunting task, but even more so considering the “Grand Bargain” where 12 buildings and six igloos Transferability is a key aspect in the Army’s ability Umatilla’s ability to connect with the community,” of a thousand concrete igloos, maintenance facilities National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which concentrated in a 15.5-acre and an 8-acre parcel, to reorganize and use existing grounds more efficiently Arnold added. “Portions of the training site are and grounds for testing, demolition and disposal. requires federal agencies to consider the effects of its respectively, would be preserved and established as a and effectively. accessible to the public and hold potential for further Throughout World War II, the installation actions on all historic properties by identifying such historic district. Camp Umatilla is a case in which hundreds of outreach and educational opportunities. Interpretive grew, eventually containing 536 structures and a properties, assessing adverse effects and resolving Those structures were declared significant and potentially historic buildings would have prevented an panels will be erected in the historic district cantonment area of historical significance based on the those effects. would adequately represent American WWII affordable and smooth transfer of land to the Guard providing way-finding and historical context for the wartime era in which they were built. Knowing that it was going to be a monumental construction and history. The remaining 518 buildings and resulted in a significant mission impact. area.”

(U.S. Army Photo) The entry gate to the former Umatilla Chemical Depot will be updated to reflect the change in mission with the Oregon Military Department. 37 The Corps Environment 38 (Photo by Libby Watt) Work executed at the Nolin River Lake will help keep sediment in place and provide multiple benefits, including improved water quality, increased habitat for aquatic life, reduced siltation, and protecting and prolonging the function of the flood control structure. Multi-agency partnership stabilizes lake bank, improves fish habitat By Libby Watt fish habitat came about due to a strong Weather permitting, the final step of USACE, Louisville District partnership with KDFWR. the project will be planting over 1,000 Jeremy Shiflet, a fisheries biologist for live stakes with assistance from Friends of As part of a multi-agency partnership, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, offered to Nolin in the spring. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nolin collaborate on this project and suggested Louisville District plans to continue River Lake was the first reservoir in the a partnership with the Reservoir Fish installation of bank stabilization projects Louisville District to install large concrete Habitat Partnership, a non-profit group in coordination with Chris Haring from reef balls as both fish habitat and as a wave that works to improve fish habitat, working the USACE Engineer Research and break for bank stabilization measures. alongside government agencies. Development Center. The collaboration is part of a larger The grant awarded through Reservoir Haring visited in 2019 through effort with the Kentucky Department Fish Habitat Partnership included a water operations technical support of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Friends $30,000 for patented fiberglass reef ball request and has provided consultation for of Nolin, Friends of Reservoirs, and the molds, supply kits, and training from Reef prioritizing projects and incorporating Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership to Innovations to make the reef balls. Engineering With Nature through the complete a $300,000 bank stabilization While the reef balls are primarily application of natural and nature-based project. for fish habitat, USACE also plans to features sedimentation and sustainability This included installing rip rap using experiment using the larger balls as wave techniques. the longitudinal peak stone toe protection breaks to further protect the shoreline. This effort will help keep sediment in method to promote bank stabilization, To date, accomplishments include over place and provide multiple benefits that planting native seed and shrubs to target 1,000 feet of bank stabilization structure include improved water quality, increased pollinators, and creating more bank fishing installed; 2,600 square feet of fish habitat habitat for aquatic life, reduced siltation, opportunities by enhancing fish habitat structures deployed; 48 reef balls placed; and protecting and prolonging the function with various fish attractors. and 4,500 square feet of native seed of the flood control structure. The concept of using reef balls as planted. 39 The Corps Environment USAEC supports Army readiness through water management By Lori Hogan individual permit is specific to an individual work well based on the local site conditions.” U.S. Army Environmental Command facility. Some of those solutions include building “We continue looking for ways to pocket sand filters, tree boxes and bioretention streamline the process to make it more ponds; and removing fine solids and sediments manageable for the installations,” Rohrs while allowing trees, grasses and other he U.S. Army Environmental added. “For instance, some installations were vegetation to absorb the nutrients. Command’s Water Management permitted as industrial-like facilities, but Another method uses pervious concrete, TProgram safeguards stormwater by meeting they didn’t meet the Standard Industrial which permits water from precipitation and environmental standards designed to reduce Classification definition for an industrial other sources to pass directly through the pollutants discharged into the nation’s waters. stormwater permit. concrete, allowing groundwater to recharge. Stormwater is water from rain or snow “Industrial stormwater permits carry Ortiz noted there has been a shift in the melt that is not absorbed into the groundwater resource-intensive requirements for way stormwater is thought about and how it is supply and which then flows over impervious inspections and analytical sampling,” she said. managed. surfaces collecting trash and pollutants. This “Our analysis indicated these facilities should “In years past, municipalities and facilities water flows into storm drains, and eventually have received an MS4 permit and they were were concerned about the quantity of into creeks, streams and rivers without benefit already meeting those requirements. stormwater and how it affected flooding, of treatment. “Negotiations with the regulators allows whereas today the concern is with both USAEC’s team of subject matter experts USAEC to ensure the installation is correctly quantity and quality,” she said. “Instead works diligently to help installations permitted and reduces the compliance burden.” of using large basins to manage runoff, understand and comply with federal and state In addition to working with installations communities are looking at site-specific, requirements. one-on-one, USAEC works on large-scale localized stormwater solutions.” Suzy Rohrs, a water subject matter programs such as the Chesapeake Bay Ortiz also sits on the Water Services expert in the Compliance Branch of Watershed Program. Steering Committee, made up of all the the Environmental Quality Division, This watershed spans six states from New armed services, who often tackle policy and works primarily with the Environmental York to Virginia and encompasses over 64,000 regulations that impact the Department of Performance Assessment System program. square miles. Defense. This program evaluates environmental Under the Clean Water Act, the While she does not draft policy, she offers risk and compliance points at installations, Chesapeake Bay was designated as impaired, guidance, conducts briefings and reviews new providing an external assessment of how showing more than the total maximum daily regulations so DOD can formally comment on environmental programs meet requirements of load allowable for nitrogen, phosphorus and topics related to water management. regulatory agencies. total suspended solids. Ortiz also leads a community of practice “Our team goes in and reviews National In 2010, states were required to develop consisting of water managers at Army Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Watershed Implementation Plans and installations. permits and associated plans to determine were given a deadline of 2025 to bring the “I act as a conduit between the military if they are the right size and scope for the watershed to a non-impaired status. services, regulatory agencies and installations, installation,” said Rohrs. “We make sure they That meant anyone discharging into the which allows me to effectively communicate are in compliance with applicable regulations bay had to mitigate their pollutants and come issues up and down the chain,” she said. and determine if their compliance footprint into compliance. This includes nine Army USAEC’s mission is to deliver cost- can be downsized. installations. effective environmental services globally to “This centralized approach helps Elisa Ortiz, the Northeast Division enable Army readiness. Its team of experts installations avoid compliance violations, subject matter expert on water, supports continues to provide solutions that focus on which can be costly and time consuming to the installations under the Chesapeake Bay being proactive. manage,” she said. “Violations can reduce Program and assists with Environmental “One of our greatest challenges is educating readiness by requiring an installation to use Performance Assessment System (EPAS) garrison leadership that BMPs are assets and resources to respond to compliance issues that assessments. must be maintained,” Ortiz said. “By looking should have gone toward mission readiness.” For Ortiz, this means thinking outside the at it in a different light to see what can be An NPDES permit allows municipalities box and using innovative ways to minimize done versus what has to be done, we could or facilities to discharge a specified amount sediment and reduce pollutants accumulated reduce costs over time.” of pollutants into a receiving body of water as during runoff. Rohrs echoed that sentiment. long as they meet the permit conditions. “Each site is unique, and a best “By shifting from a culture of ‘this is the (Photo by Quentin Johnson) The permits fall into two primary management practice (BMP) that works in way we’ve always done it,’ to investing time Elementary school students learn how animal waste and garbage, if not properly managed, can be harmful to local water sources, including categories: general and individual. Maryland is not necessarily going to work in and resources on the front end, the program groundwater, stormwater and drinking water during an Earth Day Fair at Corpus Christi Army Depot in 2019. The students also learned about the A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Virginia,” she said. “We had to evaluate each will become easier to manage and more cost importance of preserving the environment, watersheds and the effects on sea life. is an example of a general permit, whereas an site and come up with projects that would effective in the long run,” she said. 40 The Corps Environment 41 ERDC evaluates engineering benefits of Florida’s mangrove forests By Carol C. Coleman mangroves growing throughout their area Bryant explained. “Because of the size, Engineer Research & Development Center of responsibility, the Jacksonville District some physics, some property, some physical reached out to the researchers at ERDC process is not being accurately represented. to help them better understand how to In this case, we’re talking about turbulence. We felt like going as large-scale as long the Florida coastline, we could, would help alleviate that forests of trees with a concern. denseA tangle of prop roots appear to “Oregon State University actually be standing on stilts above the water. built a 1:1 model,” he added. “Their These trees, or mangroves, are focus is a little bit different than not only magnificent to see, but ours, but we have been able to are a key element in protecting share data and see how similar or coastlines and communities during how different our results are. We’ve coastal storms. learned a lot about the basic science Researchers at the U.S. and about our experiments. They’re Army Engineer Research and doing some work, and we’re doing Development Center have partnered some work — so to get the most and with the U.S. Army Corps of learn the most, it really helps us to Engineers, Jacksonville District and share and let each other know what the U.S. Naval Academy to explore (USACE courtesy photo) we’re doing, how it’s going and what the engineering value of Florida’s Mary Bryant, a research hydraulic engineer with we’re learning.” mangrove forests. ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, overlooks As phase one testing on For more than a decade, the the 1:2 scale model of mangrove forest like those located on the model began to wrap up in USACE Engineering With Nature the Florida coastline. December, Bryant and the team set Program has pursued the intentional their sights on the next phase. alignment of natural and engineering successfully use the trees in their project “Now that we’ve completed testing processes to efficiently and sustainably planning processes as well as quantifying on waves and transport, we’re actually deliver economic, environmental and social their added value. going to switch gears a little bit. We’re benefits. To answer those questions, Bryant and planning experiments that will include One opportunity is the application his team collaborated with professors at sediment,” he said. “That’s a big deal for of natural and nature-based features, or the Naval Academy to build a scale model USACE, especially considering dredging landscapes, such as mangrove trees, that of coastal mangroves. and where sediments are going and are used to provide engineering functions For their project, which began in sediment retention. We want to do some relevant to flood risk management. early 2020, they focused on two specific experiments this summer to capture “Natural and nature-based features have components. some of the physics and the processes been identified as a pathway to increase “First, we felt it necessary to narrow that happen within the mangroves from a coastal resiliency and reduce coastal storm our consideration to the properties of sediment retention standpoint.” impacts for quite a while,” said Dr. Duncan mangroves in Florida,” he said. “Some Looking toward the future, Bryant Bryant, a research hydraulic engineer other experiments have been conducted says, “I imagine a lot of this will move into with ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics focusing on the same species in Asia, design and a numerical modeling type of Laboratory. but they seem to have some different approach for planning,” he said. “Once you He said that the districts are really regional growth habits. Those different have a physical-based description of the starting to ask how to implement them, growth habits can influence the engineer processes and what happens inside of these and how to value and include them in performance, so we really wanted to forests, you can now move up to larger future designs; and across the board, that concentrate on what they look like specific implementation. We can start using that to need to understand how these features can to Florida.” make designs — to make plans — to say, serve effectively. With field reconnaissance provided by ‘Okay, how does this compare to that?’ and “This research on mangroves is the academy team, and using documents make educated decisions for USACE.” incredibly important,” said Dr. Jeff King, and dissertations from similar studies that “ERDC is working to describe, measure USACE’s EWN program manager. gave an overview of the Florida area, the and provide predictive capabilities for the “Duncan and this collaborative team are ERDC team was able to build a 1:2 scale use of natural and nature-based features advancing practice through their ongoing model. in the districts for the districts,” he said. investigations. The results of this effort will “That was the other aspect we felt “We heard the districts, and we’re trying help inform our future approach for the was necessary. Previous studies have to execute that. And at the same time, I use of mangrove forest to reduce flood and been done on a smaller scale, but when would say through the efforts of the EWN storm risk.” working with smaller scaled models, you Program, it’s really moved USACE into a With the substantial number of could unintentionally skew your results,” leadership position across the world.” 42 The Corps Environment USACE’s enduring mission addresses environmental impacts on tribal lands By Anisha Downs to-government consultation. This will provide enduring authority USACE, Headquarters Past DOD operational and training for the program to continue to activities may have had adverse effects mitigate environmental damage The Native American Lands on tribal lands. to tribal lands from past DOD Environmental Mitigation Program Impacts NALEMP helps address operations. (NALEMP) was created by the include hazardous materials, Through fiscal 2020, the program Department of Defense to address munitions debris, unsafe buildings has executed 341 cooperative environmental impacts on tribal lands or structures, lead-based paint or agreements, totaling more than $157 from former DOD activities. asbestos and abandoned equipment. million. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Since 1993, Congress has USACE is committed to working executes this program for DOD provided funds annually to mitigate with DOD and tribes to support through the applicable USACE environmental impacts to tribal lands. programmatic updates, award and geographic districts and the NALEMP In the Fiscal Year 2021 National manage cooperative agreements, and program manager located at USACE Defense Authorization Act, NALEMP ensure the program is successful in Headquarters with maximum tribal received authorization legislation and mitigating environmental damage to participation, through government- codification. Native American lands.

(USACE Alaska District) NALEMP addresses environmental impacts on tribal lands from former Defense Department activities. Recent activities include the removal of World War II debris in Unalaska Valley, Alaska, in July 2020.

43 The Corps Environment (U.S. Army courtesy photo) Through the Army's Base Realignment and Closure environmental mission, Fort Monmouth housing units were cleaned up, restored and transferred to the Affordable Housing Alliance to provide shelter to homeless individuals. Fort Monmouth property cleanup provides benefits to community By James T. Moore part of a residential unit project. Army’s BRAC environmental mission to USACE, Headquarters FMERA used its Homeless Trust transfer property and address environmental Fund to pay for the units and immediately liabilities at Fort Monmouth. transferred those units to the Affordable To date, environmental cleanup Housing Alliance. For each acre of activities on the site includes the n support of the U.S. Army’s Base developable land sold by FMERA, completion of remedial investigations Realignment and Closure (BRAC) approximately $20,000/acre is put into the and feasibility studies at 18 Installation Ienvironmental mission, the U.S. Homeless Trust Fund to fund these efforts. Restoration Program sites, 12 time-critical Army Corps of Engineers provides As development continues to move removal actions to address polychlorinated environmental cleanup support to the forward on Fort Monmouth, FMERA biphenyls (PCBs); volatile organic Army when closing active Army and Army will construct an additional 20 permanent compounds (VOCs); petroleum, oil and Reserve Centers. supportive housing units. lubricant (POL) contamination; and five The purpose of the BRAC program is USACE will continue to support the records of decision. to transfer excess/surplus property to the appropriate recipient (such as a local reuse Fort Monmouth History authority) in accordance with mutually accepted reuse standards. Established in June 1917 as Camp developed here, including radar which USACE provides environmental Little Silver, Fort Monmouth changed had emerged from the defensive need to restoration and cleanup support to the its name in 1925 when it assumed its counter the possibility of massive aerial Army’s BRAC program through such new mission in signal corps training bombardment. activities as performing studies, developing and electronics research. After the war, the post remained a designs and conducting remedial actions In 1929, the first radio-equipped vital part of research and development in accordance with the Comprehensive weather balloon was launched here, for technologies used by the military Environmental Response, Compensation, marking the first major development during the Cold War and Vietnam and Liability Act. in the application of electronics to Conflict. As a result of completed cleanup the study of weather and atmospheric From 1981 until it closed Sept. 15, and property transfers under the BRAC conditions. 2011, the post served as headquarters program at the former Fort Monmouth in Also during this time, the post for the U.S. Army Communications- Monmouth County, New York, housing housed the Pigeon Breeding and Electronics Command. units are now being constructed through a Training Center, which bred and After its closure, Fort Monmouth local reuse authority to provide shelter to trained birds to fly in darkness to continued to be used for a variety of homeless individuals. exchange communications. purposes, including as temporary The Fort Monmouth Economic Much of the communications housing for 2,000 New Jersey Revitalization Authority (FMERA) equipment used by the armed forces residents (and their pets) impacted by purchased 20 permanent supportive during World War II was designed and Superstorm Sandy. housing units that were being developed as

44 The Corps Environment Advanced geophysical classification supports data quality at munitions response sites By John Jackson deploying these systems. planted as quality tests to simulate a buried analyst to correctly identify 100% of detected The second issue was more difficult to expertise and experience required to process Environmental & Munitions Center of Expertise Development of this program has been a munition. anomalies as a target of interest and 75% of control. It was identified as the differences AGC data. resounding success of collaboration within The process allows a field team to select the time as non-targets of interest. among field team personnel responsible the munitions response community. Besides targets of interest for isolated removal and has The ESTCP based its conclusion on for instrument use or performing data DAGCAP was born an emphasis on quality, DAGCAP has the added safety benefits of anticipating the data from over 30 demonstrations at over analysis. This inconsistency necessitated the On April 11, 2016, DAGCAP was dvanced Geophysical Classification promoted fair and open competition among nature of the item to be removed, reducing 20 munitions response sites. The ESTCP development of quality conditions to ensure a established by the Office of the Deputy (AGC) was developed by the commercial entities offering AGC services and the digging of unharmful metal debris, and also noted that the use of current AGC trained, experienced geophysicist is producing, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Environment DepartmentA of Defense, through the Strategic interoperability among DOD components. reducing exclusion zone evacuations. technologies had limitations; therefore, was analyzing and classifying the data. DOD and Energy Resilience), requiring DOD Environmental Research and Development DAGCAP and the EMCX maintain the not appropriate for use at some munitions determined that an accreditation program components to begin using DAGCAP Program (SERDP) and Environmental Geophysical Classification DOD AGC library that contains over 200 response sites. could be used to address both issues. accredited organizations for AGC. All Security Technology Certification Program Geophysical classification is a broad term of the most common polarizability curves These limitations included munitions By developing standardized quality control contracts dated Jan. 1, 2017, or later fell under (ESTCP), as a geophysical data classification that has historically been used in various representing munitions on munitions response response sites with 20-millimeter munitions requirements for the various steps and on the the DAGCAP requirements. Two third-party process to improve the efficiency of munitions ways; however, “Advanced” Geophysical sites. The library is used to “match” detected and smaller munitions of concern, and areas increased number of data, an auditable trail accreditation bodies, A2LA and ANAB, response actions (cleanup) at property known Classification refers to a specific subset anomalies to the characteristics of items with anomaly densities that were too high. is generated to verify the performance of the provide a unified program for organizations or suspected to contain military munitions. of multi-axis, multi-coil electromagnetic within the inventory. In addition to a long list of technical technology and the operator as a united and to demonstrate competency and document The classification process allows induction sensors and methodologies that are capabilities and lessons learned, the ESTCP unique quality system. conformance to requirements. remediation to focus resources on identifying used in a way to isolate specific characteristics Lessons Learned Live Site Demonstration Program highlighted Accreditation allows standardization of The requirements are based on the specific geophysical targets that are of detected anomalies which can then be used In 2010, ESTCP developed a Live Site two critical points. quality parameters that must be met, and international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017, characterized to present potential explosive to classify each item as targets of interest, e.g., Demonstration Program to test and validate First, an auditable trail of quality control places ownership on the company to develop supplemented by the DOD Quality Systems safety hazards at a munitions response site. possible munitions or non-target of interests, classification capabilities of available and checks is critical to ensuring data quality. a quality system and standard procedures to Requirements for Organizations Performing As technology continues to be developed e.g., metal debris. emerging technologies on real sites under If the environmental data is to be defensible, ensure appropriate training for its employees, Advanced Geophysical Classification. and deployed on multiple platforms, The process begins with initial geophysical operational conditions. then a strong quality control program is quality testing procedures in accordance with See DAGCAP, page 47 the concurrent development of quality detection and measures the intrinsic properties This program provides transparent and required to verify each step and validate results. minimum criteria, and thus ensuring the measurements and quality control criteria has of the detected anomaly sources (buried documented demonstrations of current The advanced sensors provide a larger number been tracked and monitored by the DOD metallic objects) to generate principal-axis classification technologies and their of data streams with increased opportunity for Environmental Data Quality Workgroup in polarizability decay curves. The polarizability capabilities; validates the potential cost quality control reviews. This allows USACE coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of curves reflect an estimated size, symmetry, offsets; and determines the potential use of and its regulators to understand not only what Engineers Environmental and Munitions material composition and wall thickness of the these technologies to accelerate cleanup at is being detected and classified but, more Center of Expertise (EMCX) to ensure buried metallic objects. munitions response sites. importantly, what is being left behind. contractors have been validated by the The definition of targets of interest includes The ESTCP concluded it is possible for an DOD Advanced Geophysical Classification unexploded ordnance, discarded military Accreditation Program (DAGCAP) when munitions, intact munitions debris, and seeds

(USACE courtesy photo) The UltraTEM Classifier was the first dynamic classification hardware to be tested at Aberdeen Proving Ground under DAGCAP.

45 The Corps Environment 46 DAGCAP continued from page 46 The scope of accreditation is as follows: businesses, providing a healthy competition format. ISO 17025:2017, General Requirements of small and unrestricted business The standardized data format is the for the Competence of Testing and opportunities. next big initiative under DAGCAP and is Calibration laboratories, accreditation for In addition to their accreditation, expected to be established mid-fiscal 2021. Technology (Electro Magnetic Induction), DAGCAP addresses software and Test (Subsurface Munitions), and Method hardware validation, development of the Ongoing Emphasis on Quality (Advanced Geophysical Accreditation). Aberdeen Proving Ground test site, moving Under DAGCAP, industry has produced The Environmental Data Quality towards AGC file format standardization, higher quality data and government has Workgroup provides management and maintenance of the DOD AGC library, seen cost savings on proposals using oversight of the DAGCAP. and root cause analysis/corrective action AGC when compared to traditional Accreditation under DAGCAP is procedures and approval. At this time, there methodologies attempting similar quality. achieved through a two-step process: are three different software suites validated Overall, the program has been assessing the successful with organization’s 15 accredited quality system companies, three and successfully validated software demonstrating suites, and capabilities four additional performed at the validated proving ground hardware systems. DAGCAP test The program site. has identified Generally, the multiple areas for assessment of the growth including quality system is equipment performed on-site availability, by a quality and data file format technical assessor. consistency, As part of the software self- quality system, the validation standard operating capabilities, procedures and and ensuring training records consistent are audited, and. (File photo) quality across when needed, The DOD AGC library is used to “match” detected anomalies to the characteristics of items within all geophysical revisions are the inventory. This figure shows a common DOD AGC library matching plot with data from an data collection brought to the instrument verification strip. instruments. DAGCAP DAGCAP committee for review and acceptance. to process AGC data. and the requirements of the Munitions The second step is the on-site Hardware validation is similar to the Response Quality Assurance Project demonstration of capability at Aberdeen capability demonstration in that the Planning documents provide a recipe for Proving Ground in Maryland. instrument manufacturer must demonstrate documenting data quality and quality The Aberdeen Test Center Trench their equipment and pass a similar test with control. These data streams roll up into a Warfare UXO Test Site has been 100% correct classification of targets of Data Usability Assessment at the end of a developed to support the test. A random interest and rejection of clutter. project. 0.5 acre across a total of 5 acres is selected At this time, hardware is considered The Data Usability Assessment allows for the Geophysical Classification “approved” if it was successfully utilized project teams to evaluate data and its Organization to perform the full process in the ESTCP Live Site Demonstration use, make informed decisions, document of AGC — from dynamic mapping, to Program or successfully demonstrated at lessons learned, and apply that information cueing, to processing, to a final dig list Aberdeen. to future phases of the project or even submittal. The test is pass/fail and 100% There have been five new pieces of other projects. correct classification of all targets of equipment validated at Aberdeen under As DAGCAP continues to grow, interest with 60% reduction in clutter is DAGCAP, the MetalMapper 2x2, greater improvements in data quality required to pass. UltraTEM Classifier and UltraTEM should help establish munitions cleanup After inception of DAGCAP, 15 Screener, APEX and TEMSENSE. processes to make the MMRP successful. government contractors working as These instruments are considered Additional information on DAGCAP geophysical classification organizations approved for use on Military Munitions can be found on the DENIX website have been accredited and 12 of the 15 Response Program (MMRP) sites and at: https://www.denix.osd.mil/mmrp/ have already undergone reaccreditation. will be considered fully validated once they advanced-geophysical-classification- Six of these organizations qualify as small produce raw data files in a standardized accreditation-and-other-tools/. 47 The Corps Environment Water in the desert Water catchments help sustain diverse wildlife at Yuma Proving Ground Story & photo by Mark Schauer to foul water apparatus’ moving surfaces. USAG, Yuma Proving Ground The PVC is also hardier than the vinyl liner inside an adjacent above-ground rain tank constructed decades ago, which tends to degrade when not continuously filled with water. This older tank has a persistent leak now, but wildlife officials have no ith more than 1,200 square miles of land area, plans to remove it. Yuma Proving Ground is the fourth-largest Army “Even though this tank has a leak in it and isn’t what we want Winstallation in the Department of Defense in terms of land area. to depend on, it has water in it, and we won’t ever let water go to Testers see the proving ground as a natural laboratory, and waste,” said Steward. “We can pump the water out of this rain thus have a vested interest in good environmental stewardship. tank and put it in our better system, because we haven’t had very Home to a wide variety of animals, including the Sonoran much rain this year.” pronghorn and one of the largest and most genetically diverse An important innovation for the drinkers in recent years was populations of bighorn sheep in Arizona, YPG helps sustain the addition of solar-powered sensors to continuously monitor the creatures with 25 wildlife water drinkers situated across its water levels. mountains and desert range. “We were already using the existing sensors on our wash “These waters are some of the most phenomenal things we monitor systems, which range control uses to see the depths have for wildlife,” said Daniel Steward, wildlife biologist. “It of the various washes across the range when they start allows animals to spread across the range and get full use of the running,” said Ryan Ingham, electronic technician with YPG’s habitat.” meteorology team. “The pressure transducer gives a pressure The drinkers are a stabilizing presence in one of the nation’s reading that we convert to inches of water.” driest desert regions, with mechanical apparatus to keep a Topographical features surrounding many of these drinkers steady supply of water available for wildlife. Mule deer, bobcats, obstruct radio signal that sends the data out, requiring some coyotes, multiple bird species, even bees benefit from their clever workarounds. presence. “Most of the drinkers sit inside a terrain bowl or at the “We have dry years and not so dry years,” Steward added. bottom of a canyon,” said Ingham. “We had to create relays to “One of the values of having adequate water storage out here bounce the signals to our existing system.” is having a buffer in dry years — they give resiliency to our The sensors spare personnel from having to regularly travel ecosystem.” to extremely remote and rugged parts of the range to monitor The drinkers run the gamut in age, with some concrete ones water levels, and allow for a rapid response if there is a sudden dating back to the 1950s. and catastrophic loss of water in one of the drinkers. The “A lot of these drinkers are like granddad’s axe: it might be on instrumentation accurately measures the daily water loss rate, its second head and fifth handle,” Steward said. “Some of these which changes with the seasons and soaring desert temperatures. drinkers have had different troughs and tanks over the years. “That allows us to continuously update forecast models of the We’re always swapping components when something breaks.” consumption rate of the animals, particularly deer and bighorn Wildlife officials are meticulous about keeping the drinkers a sheep,” said John Hervert, terrestrial wildlife program manager viable and perennial presence on the range. with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “It really helps us “It’s important to keep them in the same location because fine-tune our estimates.” wildlife get used to them and they’re an important feature of the “Our meteorologists can take historic weather data and come habitat,” he explained. “We want to keep them up and going for up with a trend,” added Ingham. “The longer these monitoring the long term.” systems are in place, the more data we’ll have and the better More recent underground storage tanks for the drinkers such picture of what the actual burn rate is.” as one that was recently inspected on YPG’s Cibola Range are Though the proving ground is the nation’s largest artillery made of PVC and filled by water runoff from the desert’s rare tester, it also encompasses the best preserved and protected rain events. Sonoran desert landscape in the American Southwest. A steady rain event can fill the 10,000-gallon tank, and they The healthy proliferation of a diversity of desert creatures are situated with care near washes that will run, but not large under careful stewardship is, undoubtedly, one of the positive ones that will run so violently that the tank fills with sediment results of this. instead of water. “The partnership that Arizona Game and Fish enjoys with Yuma Proving Ground helps sustain natural wildlife, such as these Sonoran pronghorn, with a steady source of life-sustaining water collected from water runoff Experience has shown that rain water has a lower saline level Yuma Proving Ground is very helpful to our agency,” said following the desert’s rare rain events. than water from local wells, which means less sediment buildup Hervert. 48 The Corps Environment 49 50