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