ECAMP internal assessment set for Aug. 24-28 Published Aug. 19, 2009 By Henry Klimkowski 87th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental engineer JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- During the week of Aug. 24-28, the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron's Natural Resources Office will lead an internal assessment under the Environmental Compliance Assessment and Management Program. ECAMP is a management tool designed to help Air Force installations assess their compliance with all federal, state and local environmental requirements and identify and track solutions to environmental problems. By conducting ECAMP assessments on an annual basis, the Air Force has improved environmental compliance and reduced the number of penalties, fines and enforcement actions brought by state and federal regulators. As part of this assessment, several teams will canvass the base and visit various shops seeking opportunities to improve compliance with all environmental requirements. While all of Team McGuire - including tenant organizations, contractors and the USAF Expeditionary Center - are subject to this assessment, the greatest concern is appropriately with the industrial shops, especially those that use hazardous materials and those that produce hazardous waste. Field assessments shall begin immediately after the inbrief, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 24 in the Combined Maintenance Operations Facility auditorium (Bldg. 2202). All Team McGuire members are welcome to attend this inbrief . It is important to note that the ECAMP assessments are process-improvement initiatives -- they are not inspections. The key goal is to proactively discover and correct any concerns prior to detection by an environmental regulator, such as the Environmental Protection Agency or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which can levy large fines and penalties against the base. The assessment also provides a forum for interactions between shop personnel and the assessors, leading to enhanced teamwork and familiarity with the requirements. As such, Team McGuire members are expected to be candid in representing their facilities and processes and should ask the assessors for clarification regarding any requirement. Team McGuire members are also encouraged to contact the Natural Resources Office regarding any actual or suspected environmental issue or concern. Last year's internal ECAMP assessment yielded 36 major findings, which identify non-compliance with a federal or state regulatory requirement, and 17 minor findings, which identify non-compliance with Department of Defense or Air Force guidance. The assessment also yielded seven positive observations and six management practice recommendations. For more information on the assessment, contact the McGuire AFB ECAMP Manager Henry Klimkowski at Henry.Klimkowski@McGuire.AF.mil or (609) 754-6165. ECAMP Protocols - Air - Cultural Resources - Environmental Management System (EMS) - Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) - Hazardous Waste - Natural Resources - Environmental Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) - Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) - Pollution Prevention (P2) - Pest Management - Petroleum, Oils & Lubricants (POL) - Solid Waste - Storage Tanks - Toxics (Asbestos-Containing Materials [ACM], Lead-Based Paint [LBP], Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], and Radon) - Wastewater (including Stormwater) - Water Quality (Drinking Water) Common Findings - Incomplete recordkeeping: o Inspection logs for Hazardous Waste Accumulation Sites o Inspection and maintenance logs for Storage Tanks - Improper handling/disposal of Universal Waste o Batteries, e.g. Lead-acid, NiCd & Lithium o Fluorescent tubes - Improper storage at Hazardous Waste Accumulation Points o Open Containers o Improper Labeling o Excessive Inventory - Overstocking of HAZMAT benchstock (more than seven day supply) - Purchasing of HAZMAT outside of HAZMART Pharmacy - Improper storage of HAZMAT - Missing and Expired Certifications o Refrigerant Technicians - Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) not satisfied - Improper Disposal of Oily Cans - Improper Disposal of Electronics - Improper Disposal of Recyclables - Improper Hazardous Waste Records - Storage Tank Deficiencies - Missing Anti-siphon Valves on Water Connections - Uncharacterized Industrial Wastewater