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Share FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program Promotes a Cleaner Future |
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WASHINGTON D.C., June 30, 2010 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Through its Environmental Restoration Program, the U.S. Navy is working hard to clean up releases of contaminants to the environment, most of which occurred in decades past. Clean up efforts of three Navy installations are raising awareness of the overall successes of this program. Former Naval Air Facility Adak, Alaska; former Naval Air Station Alameda, California; and Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine have executed innovative and cost-effective approaches to environmental restoration, including the use of green technologies, sustainable engineering practices, and waste stream reduction. As a result of their efforts, on June 1, 2010 each installation received a Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Restoration Award for Fiscal Year 2009. More information about these installations and their accomplishments can be found at http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=54363. As part of the Navy’s ongoing effort to be a good environmental steward, the Environmental Restoration Program began in the early 1980s in response to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as Superfund. The program’s initial phase, called the Installation Restoration Program, addresses sites that were contaminated with chemicals and hazardous substances in the years before safe handling and waste management practices were in place. Beginning in 2001, the Navy initiated a second phase of the Environmental Restoration Program to address sites with munitions and explosives-related contaminants (excluding operational ranges). This program, called the Munitions Response Program, has completed initial surveys to identify sites and is performing more detailed site investigations to support decisions for cleanup.
Through public input and its partnerships with regulatory agencies, the Navy is committed to meeting or exceeding these goals. As of the end of fiscal year 2009, the Navy has 3,732 installation restoration sites, 278 munitions response sites, and 47 compliance cleanup sites at Navy and Marine Corps facilities. The installation restoration sites are on track to have remedies in place (RIP) or response complete (RC) by 2014. The munitions response sites are expected to have RIP or RC in place by the end of 2020. Looking Ahead The Navy will continue working toward the goal of a clean, healthy environment that supports the fleet mission, without repeating past practices. The Navy seeks continual improvements to the Installation Restoration Program and the Munitions Response Program, fostering innovative investigation and cleanup decisions through technical workgroups, educational opportunities, and annual conferences that bring restoration staff together to share lessons learned. In addition, working through community-supported RABs, the Navy continues to share information with stakeholders about these programs while promoting understanding of total Navy readiness issues. For more information on the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program, visit http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=54363. For more information on Navy environmental stewardship, visit http://www.navy.mil/oceans. Contact: Chris Dettmar christopher.dettmar.ctr@navy.mil 703-418-3017 |
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