Environment: Park Ranger Leads Charge To Conserve Lake's Natural Resources

The Corps Volume 21, Issue 4
Environment
November 2020
Park ranger
leads charge to
24
conserve lake’s
natural resources
Environmental Operating Principle #1
Foster sustainability as a way of life throughout the organization.
The Corps
Contents 28 Innovative thinking saves bighorn sheep from water
shortage
Environment 4 EnviroPoints - Sustainability: Ensuring

mission success in the present, future 17 Defense Center announces 2021
technology projects 30 USACE’s efforts bolster burrowing owl
population
Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon
Commanding General
5 18 31
Publisher Environmental Operating Principles Luckey FUSRAP site meets 5,000th Resource efficiency managers support
W. Curry Graham truckload milestone modernization of defense industrial base
Director of Public Affairs
Lara Beasley
Executive Editor
Jenn Miller
6 USACE issues Guide to Civil Works
Sustainable Infrastructure Requirements 19 Workforce development team improves
training through distance learning 32 Innovative pilot project nabs USACE-wide
team award for sustainability
Managing Editor
7 20 34
David San Miguel New England District, partners sign Buffalo District completes remedial action Project aims to improve floodplain forest
Editor
Memorandum of Understanding at FUSRAP vicinity property processes, restoration and management
The Corps Environment is an online
quarterly news magazine published
8 21 35
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
under the provisions of AR 360-1 to
Team uses geospatial technology to support Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation Center USACE’s drill crews adapt to ‘new normal’
provide information about USACE and informed land-management decisions earns LEED Silver certification
U.S. Army environmental initiatives,
policies and technologies.
Opinions expressed herein are not
9 Army Environmental Command

22 Team to sample excess Reserve
37 Scientists study soil to generate ideas
necessarily those of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Army or
the Department of Defense. welcomes new commander centers for lead dust contamination for improving restoration projects
Inquiries can be addressed to U.S.
Army Engineering and Support Center,
10 23 38
ATTN: CEHNC-PA, 5021 Bradford Drive
East, Huntsville, AL 35816. Louisville District adopts virtual Edward MacDowell Lake Dam Collective expertise, enduring partnership advance
Tele: (256) 895-1150. technology to conduct FUDS mission celebrates 70th anniversary FUSRAP
The Corps Environment’s editorial
staff welcomes submissions with an
environmental, sustainability or energy
focus from USACE and Army units
worldwide.
Send articles, photos, events, letters
11 Army rehabilitates military training
lands to ensure Soldier readiness 24 Park ranger leads charge to conserve
lake’s natural resources 41 USACE launches Engineering With
Nature podcast series
or questions to the editor, at Corps-
Environment-Magazine@usace.
15 USACE marks 22nd year of cleanup on

27 $20 million dredging project enhances
42 Wildfire threatens dam, traps power
army.mil.
Submission deadlines are indicated
in red: southern Alaskan Island fish, wildlife habitats plant operator inside
December 15 February
March 15 May
June 15 August
September 15 November
https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental.aspx
2 The Corps Environment 3

ENVIRONMENT
E NVIROPOINTS
Sustainability: Ensuring mission

success in the present, future
By Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Milhorn and restoration of natural
Deputy Commanding General for Military and resources.
International Operations The first guiding principle,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which is also the theme of
A
this edition of The Corps
Environment, is to foster
sustainability across the full
t the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we lifecycle of our programs and
always keep an eye toward the future to projects.
ensure the actions we take today will be sustainable In addition to statutory
in the future. requirements, sustainability
Taking into consideration long-term effects when remains a priority due to
developing near-term solutions serves as a mission associated long-term benefits
enabler. It enables continuity of operations, while that enable our world-class
setting conditions for the future. program delivery.
As USACE’s Deputy Commanding General for We have a diverse mission
Military and International Operations, I oversee set at USACE that includes
our more than $24 billion design, construction, military missions, civil works,
and environmental programs that are executed for contingency operations, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey L. Milhorn
Department of Defense (DOD) and non-DOD research and development Deputy Commanding General
agencies as well as foreign countries on an annual and more. Key to providing for Military and International Operations
basis. enduring support to all of our U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Our skill sets are as diverse as the needs of our mission areas is being able to
stakeholders. Whether it is providing technical adapt and evolve to meet the
support on environmental reviews or constructing ever-changing needs of our stakeholders and our
multi-million-dollar facilities, quality is paramount. nation.
In order to remain a world-class organization, This year, COVID-19 put our adaptability to the
we will continue to set the professional standard test and our entire enterprise rose to the challenge
through our responsiveness and through our quality — balancing our critical mission requirements
of work. under pandemic conditions while all along
When it comes to delivering quality solutions, exceeding national response requirements.
it is not just about delivering something that will In coordination with the Federal Emergency
address current needs, it also needs to be adaptive Management Agency and the Department of
to future conditions as well. This capability is Health and Human Services, our Army engineers
enabled through discipline, innovation and a strong created four standard plans for converting existing
adherence to our USACE Environmental Operating facilities into temporary hospitals, known as
Principles (EOPs). Alternate Care Facilities (ACFs). These standard
Environmental considerations serve an intrinsic plans were shared with state and regional partners
role due to the ubiquitous nature of USACE to expand much needed care capacity in a rapid
operations, actions and activities. fashion. Nested into these plans was also the
The seven guiding principles outlined in our capability to adjust designs to support states’/
EOPs serve as the backbone for all that we do across territories’/tribal nations’ needs for specific site
all mission areas. They reinforce our role in, and locations.
responsibility for, sustainable use, stewardship, See ENVIROPOINTS, page 5
4 The Corps Environment

E NVIROPOINTS
This was sustainability in action — not readiness and agile response daily. plant in a safe status for 30 hours while
only supporting the immediate response We are cleaning up sites, enabling a wilderness wildfire engulfed the area,
activities, but also creating plans that revitalization and development of took additional action to protect the
stand ready to address future needs as well. infrastructure. We are providing water supply for Salem, Oregon.
In addition to USACE being the ecological and economic benefits through This edition also highlights the
federal government’s lead public works protection of our ecosystems. We are innovative efforts of our drill crews
and engineering support agency during maximizing collaboration and innovation to sustain critical operations during
emergencies, we also have one of the to deliver solutions faster and we are COVID-19 on page 35, the publication
largest environment restoration and leveraging natural approaches to address of sustainability resource guides on
environmental compliance roles in the present and future needs. page 6, and award-winning solutions for
federal government. What do all these activities have in beneficial use of dredged material on page
Our more than 4,000 multi-disciplined, common? Sustainability. 32.
highly specialized environmental This edition of The Corps Environment The collective actions highlighted
professionals support the execution of our highlights sustainability initiatives across in this issue showcases how fostering
programs across the enterprise. the Army environmental community. sustainability as a way of life not only
Under our environmental programs, This includes the heroic efforts of ensures mission success in the present,
we are ensuring that our Soldiers, Sailors, Mike Pomeroy on page 42, the Detroit but in the years to come as well.
Airmen and Marines have the air, water Dam power plant operator who in Extraordinary Results from
and land needed to train — improving addition to single-handedly keeping the Extraordinary People!
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.
4 Continue to meet our corporate responsibility and accountability under the law for
activities undertaken by USACE, which may impact human and natural environments.
5 Consider the environment in employing a risk management and systems approach

throughout the life cycles of projects and programs.
6 Leverage scientific, economic and social knowledge to understand the environmental

context and effects of USACE actions in a collaborative manner.
7 Employ an open, transparent process that respects views of individuals and groups
interested in USACE activities.
Learn more about the EOPs at:

www.usace.army.mil/Environmental-Operating-Principles

USACE issues Guide to Civil Works
Sustainable Infrastructure Requirements
By Kathleen White
and Christian Manalo
USACE Headquarters
The U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers (USACE) published
the Civil Works Guide to
Sustainable Infrastructure
Requirements (Engineer
Pamphlet (EP) 1100-2-3) in June
2020. The Requirements Guide
is for use by USACE Civil Works
staff during the planning, design
and construction of horizontal
infrastructure projects to help
ensure activities are performed in a
sustainable manner.
The guide identifies key
sustainability requirements within
specific USACE documents,
including engineer regulations, policy
alerts, operations orders and policy
memoranda. A checklist form is also
provided for use by project delivery
teams during project execution and to
facilitate reviews.
USACE publications referenced in
the requirements guide are organized
by civil works business lines, including:
navigation; flood and coastal storm risk
management; ecosystem restoration;
environmental stewardship;
hydropower; recreation; and water
supply.
Although intended for civil works,
the guide contains some useful
information applicable to military
programs. USACE military projects,
however, primarily follow sustainability
requirements specified in Unified
Facilities Criteria 120002 High
Performance and Sustainable Building
Requirements, Change 4, published (EP 1100-2-2), December 2019. practitioners responsible for project
October 2019. The combination of the three execution.
The Civil Works Guide to recent USACE publications is key to For more information on
Sustainable Infrastructure understanding infrastructure infrastructure sustainability at USACE,
Requirements follows two other recent sustainability within the organization. please visit USACE’s civil works
publications, including the USACE Sustainability is often viewed as an sustainability website at https://www.
Sustainability: Definition and abstract concept that is difficult to see usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/
Concepts Guide (EP 1100-1-3), July and feel. The new guidance provides Engineering-and-Construction/
2018, and the Civil Works Sustainable greater clarity and tangibility to Sustainability/.
Infrastructure Practices Guidebook

New England District, partners sign Memorandum
of Understanding for Cape Cod Bridges
By Ann Marie R. Harvie today between MassDOT and the Army so many different projects and you are a
USACE, New England District Corps is formalizing this partnership and ‘can do’ guy,” he said. “You are a problem
will not only provide access to one of the solver. You are someone that always
As one of his last acts as commander commonwealth’s most beautiful areas, tries to figure out a way to get to ‘yes.’ I
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but will also support the over $1 billion in want to thank you for your service to our
New England District, Col. William annual tourism.” country and thank you for what you are
Conde joined federal and state Gov. Baker thanked all the players that doing for Massachusetts today with this
partners in signing a Memorandum made the MOU signing possible. Memorandum of Understanding.”
of Understanding between USACE “I think the path that we have Unable to attend the ceremony, Rep.
and the Massachusetts Department of developed is a terrific bridge to the Keating sent his videotaped remarks.
Transportation (MassDOT) regarding future,” he said. “The MOU will serve as a He said that the benefit of the MOU
the future of the Bourne and Sagamore living document and that should reassure will result in better efficiency, less
bridges, July 7. The signing took place residents, the businesses, community and duplication, less waste and should result
during a virtual ceremony. visitors that the current bridges will be in a shorter time frame from completion.
The MOU states that the maintained while we look toward their “These are more than bridges,” he said.
commonwealth of Massachusetts will successors.” “These are lifelines that result in public
lead the design and construction of two Sen. Warren expressed her delight at safety needs, the need to evacuate. They
replacement bridges. At the same time, the partnership between MassDOT and are lifelines for our economic vitality. They
USACE will operate and maintain the the district. are lifelines for our basic quality of life.”
current Bourne and Sagamore Bridges “Everyone understands that these Pollack signed the MOU and wished
until the new bridges are in place and bridges are vital lifelines in supporting Conde well on his upcoming retirement.
open to the public. the regional economy and ensuring “We’ve been working closely with the
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed public safety,” she said. “They’re the only Army Corps to lay out the framework for
Markey, Rep. William Keating, bridges that are there to serve as the moving from where we are now, to two
Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karen designated evacuation route for these beautiful new bridges that will serve the
Polito, Massachusetts Transportation communities, and we all know that these commonwealth well and the Cape for
Secretary Stephanie Pollack, MassDOT 80-year-old bridges badly need to be decades to come,” she said.
Undersecretary Scott Bosworth, and replaced.” Conde signed the MOU and looked
Scott Acone, deputy district engineer Sen. Markey agreed that signing the toward a continued partnership, moving
for programs and project management, MOU is an important step towards to the next several steps and eventually a
participated on the call. getting new bridges. really good solution for our 84-year old
Jonathan Gulliver, highway “I’m very excited about what this bridges.
administrator, MassDOT, hosted agreement means in terms of the progress Under Secretary Bosworth rounded
the event. He discussed the positive that it represents and how much the out the speakers by expressing his
partnership that the commonwealth has citizens of Cape Cod and Massachusetts gratitude for a productive partnership.
had with the New England District. are going to benefit from this incredible “Extraordinary work has gone into this,
“MassDOT has enjoyed a very project,” he said. not just getting to the MOU, but getting
productive relationship with the Army The Massachusetts senator thanked to this point,” he said. “We are embarking
Corps of Engineers over the last couple Conde for all his great work throughout now on a journey that’s going to be
of years and we have been working hard his career and wished him the best on his extraordinarily difficult, but we can get it
towards getting to this point,” he said. pending retirement. done and together we will build bridges
“The MOU that is going to be signed “I have met with you so many times on that will last another 80 years.”

Team uses geospatial technology to support
informed land-management decisions
By Lauren Schatz environmental programs to more This authoritative spatial information
U.S. Army Environmental Command effectively meet organizational goals ensures “everybody’s on the same sheet
and objectives in promoting the use of of music,” Davis said. “It provides
The U.S. Army Environmental environmental intelligence to improve better transparency for funding and
Command’s (USAEC) Geospatial installation management decisions at accountability.”
Information & Services team uses the headquarters, region and installation GIS technology encompasses multiple
geographic information systems and level,” said Tony Davis, the USAEC data-producing technologies: sensors,
technology to support Army installation geospatial information manager. GI&S mapping software, analysis tools, satellite
operations worldwide, helping units and also works behind the scenes, helping the imagery and more - all focused on
Soldiers stay trained and ready. command carry out its mission to deliver physical properties.
By providing support across the cost-effective environmental services The technology aids in pinpointing the
command’s four main environmental globally. precise spatial relationship between the
pillars of compliance, conservation, GI&S consolidates and focuses Army installation and its natural characteristics.
restoration and pollution prevention, the efforts in using geospatial technology. Usage of GIS technology is widespread
team efficiently captures, stores, updates, In other words, GI&S integrates GIS across the Army and is heavily relied upon
manipulates, analyzes and displays data to to produce analytical geospatial products, in environmental management.
support informed decision-making and thus increasing information accessibility, As a form of environmental intelligence,
land management. improving accountability and heightening GIS sheds light on the various attributes of
The GI&S office is located within the level of credibility of GIS technology. geographic areas and helps in solving many
the Environmental Solutions Division, This integration makes these already useful complex and interrelated issues faced by
Acquisition & Technology Branch of the tools even more effective for environmental the Army.
U.S. Army Environmental Command. management decisions. One example is its involvement in
This office supports the command and According to Davis, this capability is working with various entities in the
installation staff with environmental also helpful to assist installations with GIS development of a map service tool.
intelligence and spatial information to support for their quarterly data calls and This tool enhances the tracking of
assist in providing educated management data layer upkeep as required by the Army wildfires and prescribed burns and aids in
decisions on environmental issues. Deputy Chief of Staff G-9 Installation management decisions concerning assets
The GI&S mission is to “enable Geospatial Information & Services integral to government agencies.
the USAEC and stakeholders of (IGI&S) office for installations. See GIS TECHNOLOGY, page 9
(Illustration courtesy of the U.S. Army Environmental Command)

Geospatial technology provides leaders with the environmental and spatial information they need to make educated management decisions
on environmental issues.

Army Environmental Command welcomes new commander
By Troy Darr
U.S. Army Environmental Command
The U.S. Army Environmental

Command welcomed its new commander
during a change of command ceremony
July 10 at the Fort Sam Houston Theatre
in San Antonio, Texas.
After commanding the USAEC since
2018, Col. Isaac C. Manigault relinquished
command to Col. Alicia M. Masson.
Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Gabram,
commanding general, Installation
Management Command, presided over
the time-honored tradition and the official
passing of the colors.
According to Gabram, Manigault’s
efforts as USAEC commander helped
ensure training lands remained available
for Army use, helped installation
commanders around the world reduce the
environmental impact of Army operations, (Photo courtesy of Patty Ryan)
and ensured their staffs complied with the Col. Alicia M. Masson, incoming commander, receives the command’s colors from Lt. Gen.
countless state and federal environmental Douglas M. Gabram, commanding general, Installation Management Command, during a
laws and regulations. change of command ceremony held at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
“At each installation in the world,
USAEC’s team of professionals is Masson last served as a branch chief commander of Army Environmental
making a difference every day. Helping with the Human Resources Command. Command.”
commanders and staff with everything “Col. Allie Masson … brings with Masson becomes the 22nd in a long
from clean drinking water to pest her a wealth of experience from multiple line of leaders stretching back to 1972
management,” Gabram said. “Ike’s team of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and when the unit originally stood up as the
scientists affected almost every aspect of the challenging assignment as commander program manager for demilitarization of
installation life and Army operations.” of Radford Army Ammunition Plant,” chemical materiel to destroy the nation’s
Manigault goes on to serve in the Gabram said. “Without a doubt, her stockpile of toxic chemical agents and
Army’s Office of the Inspector General. perspective will serve her well as the munitions.
GIS TECHNOLOGY continued from page 8

Through this effort, GI&S also Janice Sterling, geographer, said that The GI&S team plans to further expand
exemplifies its dedication to the the Army has decreased its use of land, and raise awareness of its efforts.
environment by protecting ecosystems, and therefore, management must weigh Two of GI&S’s current goals are to
focusing on air quality and threatened decisions carefully. provide direct support to the installations
and endangered species, such as the red- “The Army has tried to minimize its and create a unified GIS committee
cockaded woodpecker. footprint, so it’s trying to use less land, within the USAEC, which would further
An example of how GI&S strongly and because of that… every time we want streamline efforts, Davis explained.
supports business systems is through the to construct something, every time a new The Installation Management
Installation Status Report, or ISR. piece of equipment comes to an installation, Command G4 offered a class for
According to the GI&S support every time a new species is identified as installation IGI&S managers in February
document, an ISR “assesses the an endangered species, the land has to be in part to generate awareness of geospatial
condition of installation support services, managed much more carefully than it was efforts within the command.
infrastructure and environmental programs when the Army had an almost unlimited The IGI&S managers were surprised
using established Armywide standards.” supply of land,” Sterling said. to find out the availability of GI&S
GI&S aids this assessment by providing The management of GIS has also to support their needs for data layer
visual reviews of the land and locations of changed. management. Since then, GI&S has
real property assets. “Back when I started about 17 years increased its focus on education to the
GI&S support of business systems ago, you could go on an installation and installations and within USAEC.
helps the Army determine more accurate you could find three or four different sets To learn more about GI&S’s current
funding needs and navigate financial of geospatial data, and not one of them efforts and benefits, visit https://aec.army.
decisions. matched the other,” Davis said. mil/index.php?cID=335.

Louisville District adopts virtual
technology to conduct FUDS mission
By Shatara Riis ground, for the contractor, it wasn’t out meeting, which they did not already
USACE, Louisville District of the ordinary. have.”
“Jacobs has successfully hosted Amley agreed with Hayes on the
For environmental cleanup projects, multiple virtual meetings for other limitations the platforms USACE
public involvement is required at clients, and those experiences would allows for the meetings, along
specific stages of response actions by easily translate for a FUDS virtual with long-lead advertisement, and
the Comprehensive Environmental meeting,” said Kim Amley, Jacobs limitations on confirming public
Response, Compensation and Liability project manager. attendance.
Act, or CERCLA, provisions. Yet, it wasn’t jump in feet first. Even with the challenges, the team
Traditionally, this stipulation is Appropriate coordination and worked to come to a successful end.
met by holding in-person public collaboration had to be done. Conducting internal dry runs to
meetings, where the U.S. Army Corps “Timing was everything,” Hayes establish the narrative for each meeting,
of Engineers’ project managers and explained. The team had to first cancel determine procedures for introducing
subject matter experts, along with the the original public notice, and then project team members, and establish
contractor, make a presentation and determine what platform/ technology protocol for technology failures are
allow stakeholders the opportunity to could be used that met government what made the virtual public meeting
ask questions and provide comments. security requirements and contractor for Kincheloe Air Force Base a success,
With restrictions on travel capabilities. We had to revise the Amley said.
and public gatherings due to the specific language for the new public So, while there are no handshakes
COVID-19 pandemic, the project notice, which we wanted to give 45- to establish rapport, and nonverbal
delivery team (PDT) for the Kincheloe days advance notice and determine body language is nonexistent to aid in
Air Force Base Formerly Used Defense the logistics of how we would present communication, the content - words
Site had to come up with an alternate the same information in a virtual - play a huge part for a virtual public
solution to meet this requirement to environment. meeting.
present the proposed plan. “We had to revise the slide According to the Environmental
According to Clayton Hayes, presentation and hold several practice Protection Agency, holding public
Louisville District project manager, runs, in advance of the scheduled hearings and meetings virtually aid
initially, there was some resistance meeting, to make sure everything in continuing to provide meaningful
and uncertainty, but following many worked, since we would have to rely public participation and engagement
discussions and guidance from USACE 100% on technology,” Hayes said. during the current circumstances.
Headquarters, the project delivery The team faced many challenges So, for now, the virtual public
team came to a resolution and began to bring the virtual public meeting meeting setting has become the new
coordinating a virtual public meeting in together. “norm,” replacing in-person meetings
lieu of meeting in person. “Anytime you cut new ground, it’s for projects in the Louisville District
“Having a virtual public meeting a challenge with many unknowns. FUDS program.
seemed to be the only way we could Everyone had different ideas on
meet this requirement, and for the what we should do. The PDT had
project to remain somewhat on to sort out what was important and
schedule,” Hayes said. “Being this was organize the presentation to fit a
the first virtual public meeting in our virtual environment,” he said. “Also,
Formerly Used Defense Sites program not to mention, our contractor was
for the Louisville District, it was very patient and cooperative. Jacobs
difficult at first.” had to adapt to using an acceptable
While the district was treading new government platform for the virtual

Army rehabilitates military training
lands to ensure Soldier readiness
By Jacquee Minor
T
U.S. Army Environmental Command
he Army’s mission is to deploy, fight and win our

nation’s wars. To ensure mission success, it must
conduct tough, realistic and dynamic training on designated Fort Bragg has a long history of training on state game lands, which also benefit from
the North Carolina post’s ACUB land protection efforts. (Fort Bragg courtesy photo)
lands.
Most Army installations were established mitigate encroachment on its installations conservation of the natural landscape, services to cover approximately 45% of total and other conservation entities. These environment before I worked for one.
in sparsely populated areas in the 19th and from forces inside and outside their and protect habitats and preservation of program costs. partners establish conservation easements “As an installation archaeologist with the
early 20th centuries. Decades of commercial boundaries. Military installations by working lands. Under ACUB, installations “The most dynamic thing about this or acquire land in their name, then manage National Training Center at Fort Irwin,
development and urbanization have their nature create lots of noise, dust, work with partners to encumber off-post program is not just that it preserves the and maintain it in perpetuity to ensure it (California) I saw firsthand how invested
encroached on training land boundaries, smoke and other irritants that can disturb lands to establish buffer zones that benefit natural landscape,” Eginton said. “It offers remains an effective buffer. The Army funds and interwoven these programs are on
putting constraints on the training neighboring communities while, on the all parties involved. landowners the flexibility to sell their land the partner to accomplish the common the ground. My respect for the Army’s
requirements of some installations. other hand, the lights and noises of mass Overall, the Army’s 40 ACUB programs or to continue to use their land for their goal of preserving open spaces, habitat and environmental stewardship has only grown
In what can sometimes be conflicting and development can interfere with military have protected 390,903 acres to date. purposes under a conservation easement. working lands, but doesn’t hold title to any since entering into the ACUB world,”
competing interests, the Army nevertheless training and testing. ACUB transactions total more than a It’s not just a benefit to the Army or the of the properties. Eginton said. “Military installations manage
finds ways to be a good neighbor Coral Eginton, ACUB team lead, U.S. billion dollars, including the cost of the habitat, it’s a benefit to the landowner as “There are passionate environmentalists some of the most well-preserved habitats in
while meeting its training and testing Army Environmental Command (USAEC), land or conservation easements and a host well. Everybody walks away happy.” in the Department of Defense, working the country, and they engage those habitats
requirements. said the goal of the program is to keep of other costs associated with managing USAEC oversees up to 25 active ACUB towards Army readiness,” said Eginton. to train Soldiers effectively. It’s a beautiful
The Army Compatible Use Buffer, the surrounding community at a safe the land. There are 50 ACUB partners, cooperative agreements that allow the Army “I had very little understanding of what partnering of conservation and use.”
or ACUB, Program was established to distance, enable Army readiness through which combined have contributed funds or to develop partnerships with land trusts the military services did to steward the See FORESTS, page 13

FORESTS continued from page 12
Take, for example, several installations help prevent catastrophic wildfires, and in negatively impact our neighbors.” Most of
that have mastered the ACUB program. the event of a wildfire, reduces its intensity the eastern edge of the post is metropolitan
so that it’s easier to control. Fayetteville.
Habitat preservation The program protects five endangered
Fort Benning sits on 182,000 acres species.
of pristine Georgia land between the When the endangered red-cockaded
Piedmont Mountains and coastal plains. woodpecker came under the protection
Brent Widener, technical cooperative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
agreement manager for the Benning 1990, the post was forced to shut down its
ACUB program and wildlife biologist, said operations to preserve the woodpeckers’
their highest priority is buffering a one to habitat. All that’s been resolved through
three-mile zone on the eastern edge of the the ACUB program.
installation that hosts a suite of threatened “By 2006, we reached our recovery
and endangered species. population, and by 2009, we had relieved
In 2005, the base realignment and a majority of the restrictions on the
closure, or BRAC, initiative moved the installation related to the woodpecker,” Hull
U.S. Army Armor School from Fort Knox, said. “We’ll always have some restrictions
Kentucky, to Fort Benning, triggering to be compatible with our neighbors’
a huge impact on the red-cockaded endangered species and their habitats.”
woodpecker, an endangered species. When A retired military officer, Hull knows
it became apparent the installation’s firsthand how a conservation program can
mission would not provide a safe enhance not just the environment, but the
environment for the species, ACUB sought Soldiers’ experience.
to reach a balance. As a young Soldier training at Fort
“As the mission expands and grows, Old restricted training signage is all but Bragg in the 1980s, Hull said that he was
the intent is to secure off-post properties gone from the Fort Bragg landscape due often under siege by ticks. The insects were
through our partners that can broaden the to rehabilitation of the RCW population. so bad, tick inspection stations were set up
landscape upon which all those species (Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy) around the camp.
depend,” Widener said. “So instead of “One of the great things we’ve learned
having land that can support those species, Fort Benning’s partners include the here,” Hull observed, “is that 90% of
the intent is to help establish those same Georgia Nature Conservancy, Georgia what’s good for the habitat is good for
habitats outside the boundaries that can Department of Natural Resources, the Soldiers.” He said managing the land
support the species that are in many cases Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Fish with the science of prescribed burns has
only on Fort Benning.” and Wildlife Service and the Natural not only improved endangered species
To date, the post has protected more Resources Conservation Service. populations, it’s meant fewer tick bites for
than 35,000 ACUB acres. Partners the Soldiers.
maintain the land that supports Grandfather ACUB Program The North Carolina Sandhills
endangered species like the gopher tortoise The ACUB program at Fort Bragg, Conservation Partnership facilitates
and red-cockaded woodpecker, building North Carolina, “the grandfather ACUB,” collaboration between various federal,
habitats the species depend on outside and started in 1999 with the acquisition of 550 state, and non-profit conservation
inside the installation boundaries. acres. Since that time, the installation, in groups, consisting of the U.S. Fish
Widener points to significant progress conjunction with its partners, has acquired and Wildlife Service; Fort Bragg; U.S.
made in which they’ve reached 75% of close to 25,000 acres of buffer, mostly to Army Environmental Command;
the goal to protect the gopher tortoise. the south and southwest of its borders. North Carolina Office of Conservation,
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are dependent The sprawling installation sits on about Planning and Community Affairs; North
on mature pine trees. The conservation 170,000 acres of the North Carolina Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission;
partners are working to grow more pine sandhills, a once-vanishing longleaf pine North Carolina Division of Parks and
trees outside the installation that can ecosystem, now flourishing and recovering Recreation; North Carolina Forest Service;
support the woodpecker population over under the faithful stewardship of the The Nature Conservancy; Sandhills
the long term. North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Ecological Institute; and the Three Rivers
The wildlife biologist expects a new Partnership group. The post is host to Land Trust.
cluster of woodpeckers to come online over a population of approximately 55,000
the next several years. military personnel and another 8,000 Great Community Involvement
According to Widener, the longleaf pine civilians working on the installation. Facing massive expansion of
ecosystem at the installation needs to burn. “We’ve done a good job so far on the national capital region (NCR)
“It needs to be set on fire with the southern boundary pushing out to commuting area, Terry Banks, chief of
prescribed controlled burns that are about a mile to a mile-and-a-half in most the Environmental Division at Fort A.P.
managed and maintained to make sure areas,” said Barry Hull, Fort Bragg ACUB Hill, Virginia, saw the opportunity for an
it doesn’t adversely affect the habitat,” he coordinator. “It gives us enough of a buffer ACUB program during the early 2000s.
explained. Prescribed fires every few years, that we can do what we need to do and not See COMMUNITY, page 14

COMMUNITY continued from page 13
Over its now 14-year existence, the a rich assortment of natural and cultural “Our military mission has afforded us
ACUB program there has protected more resources that can support land protection the opportunity to have these wonderful
than 14,000 acres of private lands, mostly efforts. natural resources we need to protect,” she
through conservation easements. Jason Applegate, another ACUB said. “ACUB allows us to protect those
Fort A.P. Hill sits on about 76,000 acres program coordinator there, said it’s resources and the military mission. It’s
near the Rappahannock River, a significant important to manage the needs of both the really a great combination.”
natural and cultural feature that also hosts mission and environment. The Fort A.P. Hill ACUB program
part of a National Park Service scenic trail. “We end up doing multiple levels of has earned a number of state and federal
The installation harbors federally protected good, making sure we’re mission ready,” recognitions.
plants, the swamp pink, the small whorled Applegate said. “It’s a very rich environment for us,”
pogonia, and two federally protected bats, “ACUB allows us to maintain that said Applegate.
the Indiana bat and the Northern long- capability with less impacts to the Fort A.P. Hill is a member of
eared bat. community,” he said. “It is still relatively the Rappahannock Land Protection
Situated near Fredericksburg, Virginia, rural around Fort A.P. Hill. The ACUB Partnership, which also includes the
the post has seen significant population program is vital to ensure we can maintain Virginia Outdoors Foundation, The
growth and light pollution from that rural environmental and military Conservation Fund, The Trust for Public
expanding urbanization and development. mission. Land, The Nature Conservancy, U.S.
Focusing ACUB efforts on the north and “We are between the northern Virginia/ Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake
northeastern borders, the post has reached D.C. metro and Richmond areas, so we’re Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, and
about a third of its ultimate goal, with an really feeling the squeeze,” Applegate said, Northern Neck Land Conservancy.
abundance of willing landowners around hoping to eventually amass a 35,000-acre This partnership coordinates their
them. buffer from incompatible development. efforts among members and leverages
As a regional training facility for all Banks, who has a biology background, resources where possible to meet their
branches of the military, the installation’s appreciates the good fortune they enjoy at objectives.
ACUB program is mission driven, but has Fort A.P Hill.
(Photo ourtesy of The Conservation Fund)

The Fort A.P. Hill ACUB partners, The Trust for Public Land, The Conservation Fund, and Virginia Outdoors Foundation, all work
collaboratively to protect working agricultural lands and the beautiful natural landscape of the Rappahannock River.

USACE marks 22nd year of cleanup on southern Alaskan Island
By Rachel Napolitan This year also was a continuation of the
USACE, Alaska District removal of a fuel pipeline system. With around
six miles of pipeline on the island, the removal is
Nestled 20 miles south of Ketchikan, Alaska, done in sections as the pipeline weaves through a
the Metlakatla Indian Community resides on variety of terrains and areas of the island.
Annette Island. The Tribe opted out of the Alaska Under the current cooperative agreement with
Native Claims Settlement Act when Congress the Tribe, the goal is to remove 1,200 feet and
“The program passed the settlement agreement in 1971.
Today, the Annette Islands Reserve is the only
then stack the metal in a holding area until it can
be removed from the island.
allows us to Indian reservation in the state and the Tribe lives
among the remnants of past military and federal
“Little by little we are cleaning up their island,”
said Robert Glascott, USACE Alaska District
infuse money use of the land.
Through the Native American Lands
program manager for NALEMP. “The program
allows us to infuse money into rural communities
into rural Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP), with limited job opportunities while the Tribe
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska cleans up Department of Defense impacts.”
communities District and the Metlakatla Indian community The Tribe relocated to Annette Island from
with limited job are working together to continue environmental
cleanup efforts for their 22nd year.
British Columbia in 1887 after receiving the land
from the U.S. government following a doctrinal
opportunities Reachable only by a 15-minute floatplane or
45-minute ferry ride from Ketchikan, the Annette
dispute with church authorities in Metlakatla,
British Columbia.
while the Island Landing Field Formerly Used Defense Site
(FUDS) property covers approximately 12,783
Military interest and operations on Annette
Island began in 1940 when the Metlakatla Indian
Tribe cleans up acres on the southwest peninsula of Annette Island. Community entered into agreement with the
Since October 2019, work by the Tribe under federal government to allow for the construction
Department NALEMP has focused on three sites — an old and operation of the Annette Island Landing
of Defense fuel pipeline, an air warning center garrison and
abandoned utility officer buildings.
Field. Since then, facilities and uses of the island
have changed numerous times to various federal
impacts.” “Based on funding, the Tribe concentrates on
a few projects each year,” said Craig Scola, project
agencies, with 90 sites and around 300 subsites
identified for cleanup since investigations began
manager, USACE Alaska District. “Under this in 1990.
- Robert Glascott
year’s cooperative agreement, there is a half a The Office of the Secretary of Defense
million dollars of cleanup work happening.” (OSD) considers human health and other
Each of the sites has a history starting with factors, including impacts to traditional practices,
the military and subsequent use by other federal subsistence activities and economic viability, to
agencies interested in the island for various prioritize funding under the Native American
purposes. Lands Environmental Mitigation Program.
Built in 1942, the air warning center garrison, Tribal communities work with the Defense (USACE courtesy photo)
consisting of Quonset huts structures, helped Department on a government-to-government An individual peers into an abandoned military structure on Annette Island. Starting in 1940, military and other federal agencies used the island for various
detect the sound of incoming airplanes. In basis to determine the best ways to mitigate purposes, leaving long since abandoned structures and debris on the tribal lands. USACE Alaska District administers the contract under which the Metlakatla
1949, the huts’ metal roofs and wood floors were the environmental impacts and are involved Indian community performs cleanup efforts for the Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program.
stripped for use at other locations while the from project design to cleanup efforts through
remaining structural elements were left in place. cooperative agreements with OSD. “A unique part of working with the Metlakatla “Instead, we used status reports and photographs and this continuation of the program will help
Over time, trees and vegetation have overtaken “The Metlakatla Indian community can work Indian community is that they are the only to document progress and find virtual means to with the ongoing efforts needed to restore the
the abandoned and weathered infrastructure. almost 300-days-a-year, whereas up north, tribes tribe in Alaska on a reservation,” Scola said. work through the challenge.” land.
Work at the air warning center garrison in are often limited by weather to maybe 90 days,” “We perform environmental cleanup to their The restrictions didn’t stop work on the “I get to see the good this program does in
2020 focuses on the removal of existing structures Glascott said. “This provides employment almost Environmental Protection Agency’s identified program, but it did slow it down. communities,” Glascott said. “It is a crossroads
and remaining debris with similar work underway all year; builds capacity, technical remediation regulatory levels and work with them on right of Before coming to the island, contractors of environmental cleanup and helping people
at the nearby abandoned utility officer buildings. skills and resilience; and puts dollars into rural access for contractors to the island.” needed to isolate for two weeks. But, since most in rural communities continue their traditional
“When you go to these sites, you begin to see communities that may not have many job This relationship was especially important of the work is in the field with limited contact subsistence way of life in Alaska.”
how the abandoned infrastructure is impacting opportunities.” this summer as COVID-19 spread across the and there has yet to be an instance of COVID-19 During 2020, the Alaska District will
native people,” Scola said. “For communities that Since 1998, the program has funded cleanup nation. The Tribe implemented restrictions and on the island, the Tribe was able to successfully administer $7 million in funding through 20
focus on subsistence lifestyles, an old building can on Annette Island with the Alaska District quarantines for people entering and exiting to continue cleanup under the program and cooperative agreements for the Native American
inhibit their ability to pick berries, harvest game, administering cooperating agreements for OSD. prevent the virus from spreading. accomplish many of the goals under the current Lands Environmental Mitigation Program, the
cultivate the land and impact their traditional way To date, funding has totaled around $10 million “We could not perform our annual visit to the cooperative agreement. most in the country.
of life.” through 16 separate cooperative agreements. sites due to travel restrictions,” Scola said. Next year, work will pivot to several new sites

The Autonomous and Robotic
Remote Refueling Point (AR3P)
ruggedized system delivers fuel
as a ground-based autonomous
unmanned robotic arm refueling
capability system that is rail
mounted and deployed from a
standardized shipping container.
(U.S. Army Photo)
Defense Center announces 2021 technology projects

By Jennifer Rawlings Funded projects typically range from lead agent. The U.S. Army Environmental
U.S. Army Environment Command one-to-two years with an average annual Command provides NDCEE program
cost of $100,000 to $400,000. A support management. Transitioned projects will
The National Defense Center for agreement is signed by the DOD agency ensure the NDCEE program remains
Energy and Environment (NDCEE) willing to demonstrate the technology, an enabler in accomplishing the DOD
announced six technology projects selected and a DOD transition partner is required mission with an emphasis on “achieving
to receive grants for demonstration and to ensure the successful project is dominant capabilities through innovation
validation beginning in 2021. implemented DOD-wide. and technical excellence.”
They include: Proven technologies that are beyond the The NDCEE serves as a national
• Greywater Reuse Pretreatment research stage are considered strong project resource for advancing technologies
Module for the Lightweight Water candidates. Projects must meet the basic and processes that address high-priority
Purifier. eligibility requirements and clearly address environmental, safety, occupational health,
• Direct Current Power Distribution to four scoring criteria: mission/readiness, and energy (ESOHE) challenges. Created
improve efficiency of distributing small technical quality, transition potential and by congressional mandate in 1991, the
unit power. modernization/innovation. NDCEE works to integrate ESOHE
• Honey Badger 50 Fuel Cell System - Innovative technologies are innovative technologies decisions into the
50 W Reformed Methanol Wearable demonstrated and validated at active life-cycle planning of DOD activities.
Fuel Cell Power System. installations for military application. Proven The National Defense Center for
• Immediate Response Force Soldier technologies are transitioned to the services, Energy and Environment (NDCEE) is a
Offload to reduce paratrooper injuries. other federal agencies and to the public. Department of Defense program whose
• Autonomous Robotic Remote Implementing technologies to enable mission is to demonstrate and transition
Refueling Point System Objective the Army to fight and win our nation’s technology solutions in support of the
Field Prototype. wars is in accord with the Assistant DOD as it strives to enhance readiness,
• Improved Riveting Hammer to Secretary of the Army for Installations, meet sustainability goals, and support
maximize worker performance and Energy and Environment (ASA IE&E), warfighters at home and abroad.
health. the Honorable Alex Beehler, directive that The fiscal 2022 call for NDCEE project
NDCEE provides a direct funding “the Army needs to build a ‘technology- proposals is from March 1 through April
process for Department of Defense enabled’ force by 2028.” 1, 2021. For additional information on
agencies seeking to demonstrate, validate The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the NDCEE projects or how to submit a
and transition commercially available off- the Army (Environment, Safety, and nomination package, please visit
the-shelf as well as hot off-the-lab bench Occupational Health) is designated by https://www.denix.osd.mil/ndcee/index.
innovations for military application. the ASA IE&E as the NDCEE DOD html.

(Photo by Blanca Krouse, North Wind Portage)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, and contract employees pose in front of 5,000th truckload of FUSRAP-related material to
leave the Luckey Site for disposal in Belleville, Michigan.
Luckey FUSRAP site meets 5,000th truckload milestone

By Arleen Kreusch appropriate protective equipment, the Ohio area office; and Marc Graham,
USACE, Buffalo District temperature screening of individuals before health physicist, environmental health
entry into the site,” he said. team) for overseeing the contractor and
On July 31, the 5,000th truck left From 1949 to 1958, the site, which is managing this with the utmost attention
the Luckey Formerly Utilized Sites located near the village of Luckey, Ohio, to detail.”
Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) was operated as a beryllium production During March 2017, USACE released
site loaded with material contaminated facility under a contract with the Atomic an Explanation of Significant Differences
with beryllium, radium-226, thorium-230, Energy Commission, resulting in beryllium, for the Record of Decision for the Soils
uranium-234, uranium-238, and lead. radionuclide, and lead contamination of site Operable Unit that adjusted the cost
According to Steven Vriesen, Luckey soils and groundwater. estimate for the soils remedy to $244
site project manager, this marks 725,000 Beryllium is a brittle, light- million, which was a significant change
truck miles traveled, safely transporting weight metal used in a wide variety of over the initial estimated cost of $59.4
83,839 tons of contaminated material off- applications in the aerospace, nuclear and million in the 2006 Record of Decision for
site for disposal in Belleville, Michigan. manufacturing industries; and is a highly Soils Operable Unit.
“This is a prime example of the Corps toxic carcinogen that can result in acute Since the current contract for the
of Engineers ‘moving dirt’ safely and and chronic lung damage. cleanup is close to reaching its $100
effectively, while overcoming the adversities The Buffalo District remediation million capacity, the contracting office
of COVID-19,” he said. “Despite all contractor began shipping FUSRAP- advertised a request for proposals in June
the challenges that each of us has faced related material from the Luckey Site in 2020 for the next contract to complete
since the beginning of this pandemic, June 2018. With truckloads averaging remediation of the site. A separate cost
the project delivery team is as resilient as approximately 16.5 tons, typically 70 reimbursable contract is in the process of
ever, and continues to deliver the program truckloads of material are shipped from the being awarded to deconstruct the former
uninterrupted.” site each week. beryllium production building on the site.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team’s safe Since the cleanup contract was awarded “We are looking forward to removal
execution of the FUSRAP mission at this in 2015, the contractor has worked over of the production building, which will
major milestone in the Luckey project,” 370,000 hours without a lost time accident. be another great accomplishment for the
said Lt. Col. Eli S. Adams, commander, Cleanup of the site began in the Phase 1 community!” D’Andrea added.
USACE Buffalo District. “Our top priority excavation area on April 16, 2018, and the During the cleanup, groundwater at
during the cleanup continues to be the remediation contractor began excavation in the site is sampled every six months. Once
protection of human health and safety for the Phase 2 area on July 23, 2020. the contaminated soil is removed from all
the community and the workforce as well “Moving tons of contaminated soil six phase areas, concentrations of these
as protecting the environment.” from the Luckey site is an accomplishment contaminants in groundwater will decrease
Adams added that the district actively for USACE and a success story for the naturally in the subsurface. Groundwater
monitors the evolving COVID-19 situation community, but to me, having moved this wells will then be sampled annually for
to safeguard employee health and welfare much contaminated soil by truck with no beryllium, lead and uranium until sampling
while working during the pandemic. incident is truly an amazing feat,” said results show a progressive trend that
“We communicate regularly with our Frank D’Andrea, FUSRAP contracting indicates safe drinking water standards
personnel and contractors to emphasize officer. “Thanks goes out to the USACE have been met.
the importance of taking appropriate field team ( John Thierry, Tychsen Yager
actions, such as social distancing, wearing and Luis Rivera Diaz, civil engineers from

Workforce development team improves
training through distance learning
By Cathy Kropp “At the end of the day, distance scheduled distance learning and 41 onsite
U.S. Army Environmental Command learning allows us to reach a much bigger courses this year.
percentage of our population,” said Dave With COVID-19 travel restrictions,
The U.S. Army Environmental Giffin, G-4 environmental division chief, distance learning classes became the only
Command offers courses to ensure Installation Management Command. available source of training; and since
environmental professionals worldwide “We began switching to distance March 17, USAEC has scheduled and
remain trained and mission-certified learning where possible more than a year conducted 40 distance learning courses.
during COVID-19. ago to reduce travel costs associated with “COVID-19 became a forcing function
Environmental work to ramp up our distance
on Army installations learning portfolio,”
must continue to avoid said Janet Kim,
noncompliance, violations USAEC’s deputy to the
and penalties associated commander. “While
with more than 100 distance learning is a
environmental laws, great alternative for now,
statutes and executive there are cases where
orders. in-person instruction is
Keeping up-to- most effective.
date on certifications “Once personnel
and environmental are allowed to travel,
requirements is a constant we plan to balance the
challenge made even training catalog between
more difficult after health distance learning and in-
protection measures were person classes to provide
put in place as a result of the most effective
the pandemic. learning environment for
USAEC’s workforce development, training so the Army could better fund our workforce,” she said.
or WFD, team routinely looks for ways its modernization efforts,” Giffin said. IMCOM centrally funds and
to improve the environmental training “That early transition really set us up for USAEC manages the training program
program to ensure it meets the needs of success and allowed us to continue to train for environmental staff at 67 Army
environmental professionals throughout our environmental staffs across the globe installations in the U.S. and overseas.
the Army. during COVID-19.” This training consists of both internal
Surveys of garrison environmental “Our distance learning efforts have been employee professional development and
professionals showed there was a consistent tested by recent events and far surpassed external environmental training, primarily
percentage of staff that just could not travel goals for this year with more to come,” for IMCOM environmental professionals,
for training. Kraus added. “The online platform allows but offered to all military environmental
Typically, the demands of the job were us to offer live, and with recording features, professionals when space is available.
cited as the reason. All this, plus budget on-demand training that learners can Now that IMCOM has become a
cuts and travel budget caps, had the WFD access from any internet-enabled device subordinate of Army Materiel Command,
team looking for solutions to minimize wherever they are in the world from home the WFD team includes the much
environmental training travel and costs. or the workplace.” broader AMC industrial base workforce
The USAEC WFD team purchased USAEC is the Army’s program into the environmental training program.
licenses for Adobe Connect online hosting manager for the environmental restoration The distance learning option also helps
service and began transitioning USAEC- program known as cleanup. integrate the AMC environmental
provided training to distance learning in Since some training courses were professionals with the IMCOM team.
2019. developed by the USAEC staff, the Environmental staff at industrial
“What we set out to do was modernize cleanup program management training, base locations are typically limited to
and expand our reach through distance environmental and disposal liabilities one individual at the plant, arsenal or
learning,” said Amanda Kraus, USAEC’s course, and Army Environmental System organization, so travel is often constrained.
WFD team lead and Adobe Connect training for reporting cleanup status and “As we continue to refine our courses
coordinator. costs to complete were the first courses to and adapt to student needs, an employee
Distance learning enabled courses to transition to the new platform. in Korea, who’s unable to participate in
be broken down into smaller, and often Since then the WFD team has worked the training live, could easily receive a
more focused, pieces, she added. Those with other contracted training providers URL from us and watch a pre-recorded,
who could not break away from work to to plan and prepare more environmental two-hour distance learning session on an
attend a five-day course, find multiple training for the distance learning platform. emerging technology solution and still
smaller distance learning alternatives more From one distance learning class receive the relevant professional instruction
appealing. in 2018, that number has grown to 19 offered in person,” said Giffin.

Shawn Andrews, health
physicist, USACE Buffalo
District, logs in the time of
placement for a radon flux
canister at the Tonawanda
Landfill Vicinity Property.
(Photo by Lisa Berta)
Buffalo District completes remedial

action at FUSRAP vicinity property
By Arleen Kreusch disposal facility in Belleville, Michigan.” in the record of decision targeted shallow
USACE, Buffalo District The vicinity property is located in the removal and off-site disposal to address
town of Tonawanda, New York, and backs FUSRAP-related material.
On July 7, members of the U.S. Army up to a line of houses within the city. “The cleanup goals for the Landfill
Corps of Engineers Buffalo District “The team was successful in keeping Operable Unit were set so that a
team performed radon flux sampling local partners engaged throughout the recreational user would have unrestricted
at the Tonawanda Landfill Formerly project including community leaders, use of the site with respect to the
Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program residential property owners whose homes FUSRAP‐related contamination,” said
(FUSRAP) Vicinity Property to verify that were located just yards from the site and Stephen Buechi, chief, environmental
the record of decision cleanup goals were an elementary school nearby,” Kowalewski project management section.
met. said. The New York State Department The Tonawanda Landfill Vicinity
Validated data gathered from the 108 of Environmental Conservation and Property was designated into FUSRAP in
radon flux canisters that were placed over local elected officials were kept informed 1992 when early Department of Energy
the excavation areas of the vicinity property regarding upcoming work and progress investigations around the Linde Site
indicate that the cleanup goals were indeed being made. detected elevated levels of FUSRAP-
met. “The Corps’ highest priority was to related radionuclides in the landfill. The
“It was very rewarding to be able to be protective of human health and the vicinity property consists of two operable
complete the cleanup fieldwork for this environment, and ensure that work was units, or OUs: the 55-acre Landfill OU
property in less than a year,” said Mark conducted in a safe and efficient manner,” and the 115-acre Mudflats OU. The
Legeza, health physicist, Environmental said Jeff Rowley, the site’s project manager. Buffalo District completed work at the
Health Section. Final grading and seeding of the Mudflats OU in 2008 with a no-action
Implementation of the selected remedy vicinity property was completed in May. record of decision.
for the vicinity property was performed During the radon flux sampling and the USACE will prepare a site closeout
from June through December 2019. final grading and seeding of the vicinity report for the vicinity property to
“During the targeted shallow removal, property, actions were taken to protect the document completion of the site cleanup.
4,345 cubic yards of radioactive- workforce and mitigate potential impacts of Once the site closeout report is complete,
contaminated soils were removed to a COVID-19. Regular communication was it will begin the process of transferring
depth of 5 feet using precision excavation maintained with site workers to emphasize the Tonawanda Landfill Vicinity Property
techniques guided by rigorous field the importance of taking appropriate to the Department of Energy Office
scanning and laboratory analysis,” said Bill precautions, such as social distancing, of Legacy Management for long-term
Kowalewski, chief, Special Projects Branch. wearing appropriate protective equipment stewardship.
“Additional coordination was required and personal hygiene measures to safeguard For more information on the vicinity
because a separate contractor was used their health and welfare. property visit https://www.lrb.usace.
to transport and dispose of the excavated During 2017, a record of decision was army.mil/Missions/HTRW/FUSRAP/
FUSRAP-related materials, exceeding signed for the Landfill Operable Unit of Tonawanda-Landfill/.
cleanup goals at a permitted out-of-state the vicinity property. The selected remedy

The Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation Center received a LEED Silver
certification by the Landesbetrieb Bau und Immobilien Hessen at
Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, Aug. 11. (Photo by Alfredo Barraza)
Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation Center earns LEED Silver certification

By Alfredo Barraza wall radiators in the lobby and warehouse biking, camping, canoeing and kayaking,
USACE, Europe District also allowed for space efficiencies. and summer and winter sports activities.
Anna Morelock Completed in 2020, the USACE, The center also has an air-conditioned
U.S. Army Garrison-Wiesbaden, Germany Europe District oversaw construction training classroom for meetings, plus a
of the $8.5 million, 12,510-square-foot state-of-the-art maintenance shop for
About a dozen attendees witnessed the recreation center. This facility consolidated bicycles, skis, snowboards and other
awarding of a Leadership in Energy and activities and storage areas from more recreational equipment.
Environmental Design (LEED) Silver than four different locations throughout USACE, Europe District, together with
award during a ceremony held Aug. 11 at the Wiesbaden community, and will save the contractor and the Landesbetrieb Bau
Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden, Germany. 42% on energy costs relative to code und Immobilien Hessen, constructed the
U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden’s newly requirements. award-winning building by incorporating
opened Family and Morale, Welfare and “The Corps is always exploring the following energy efficient systems and
Recreation Outdoor Recreation Center techniques in the construction of sound green building practices:
was certified LEED Silver by the U.S buildings to promote energy efficiency and • Construction activities diverted 93%
Green Building Council. sustainability, and this project is another of non-hazardous construction waste
LEED is a worldwide certification example of building cost-effective and from landfills.
program that provides third-party efficient facilities,” said Col. Patrick Dagon, • Water conservation features
verification of green buildings. Standards district commander. incorporated into this project will
help guide building owners and operators Besides the energy savings under consume 30% less water than code
to be environmentally responsible and to LEED, simply being consolidated in requirements.
use energy efficiently. one building also created efficiencies for • 50% of the project site’s native and
According to Ron Locklar, chief of outdoor recreation staff and community adapted vegetation was protected and
the FMWR’s Community Recreation members, Locklar said. kept intact.
Division, these standards guided the design The staff previously would have to • 13% of building material content was
process regarding efficiencies, but in some drive to retrieve items stored at different manufactured from recycled materials.
areas the design team went above and locations or would have community • 20% of building materials were
beyond to ensure the new space would members meet them to pick up rental manufactured and extracted from
meet the needs of the staff and community. items at other locations. within 500 miles of the project site.
For instance, Locklar said, more used “Having everything in one site, having • Low volatile organic compounds
lobby and warehouse areas have different it designed to be everything we need, were specified and installed, including
types of heating to provide constant, low where we need it, and how we need it paints and flooring systems, to
heat, while the lesser used classroom areas — that’s what’s great about this facility,” improve indoor air quality.
have wall radiators that can be turned on Locklar said. The new outdoor recreation center,
and off as needed. The Outdoor Recreation Center located on Clay North, is now open for
The team didn’t just want to meet features many amenities, including a wide business and offers details on upcoming
the LEED standard, he said, but instead variety of rentals such as barbecue grills trips, educational classes, hunting and
wanted to ensure efficiency. Not having and inflatables, as well as equipment for fishing opportunities and other programs.

Team to sample excess Reserve
centers for lead dust contamination
By Shatara Riis
USACE, Louisville District
Indoor firing ranges may pose a setback in the disposal process

of multiple Army Reserve properties nationwide. Some 50 such
properties are slated for lead dust sampling.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District
Environmental Branch team recently collected samples at the
former Trembley-White Army Reserve Center in Kansas City,
Kansas, which has been vacant since 2017 and was previously used
for administrative and training purposes.
“These excess properties are no longer needed by the Army
Reserve, so they need to be disposed of,” said Rhiannon Ryan,
environmental scientist with the Environmental Branch. “We have
an obligation under CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act) to let the new owner
know the environmental condition of the property and possible
contamination.”
While the team completed sampling at Trembley-White, the
results are pending.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lead is a
naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s
crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans
and animals.
Daniel Allgeier, project manager, Environmental Support
Section, explained that lead was emitted into the air and settled
from the repetitive use of firing weapons in those centers with
indoor firing ranges even though they featured dedicated air
handling systems designed to remove lead dust from the interior
of the building.
“There may be some residual lead dust that doesn’t get picked
up by the air handling unit, which is why we are currently
investigating the buildings with the sampling effort,” said Evan
Willett, environmental engineer, Environmental Branch. “Lead (Photo courtesy of USACE, Louisville District)
is dense and does settle onto floors, walls and other horizontal Evan Willett, Louisville District environmental engineer, collects a
surfaces.” lead dust sample from the storage room floor.
Traces of lead can remain in dust on floors and windowsills
despite activities to clean areas to make them safe for children. the job they do in characterizing these facilities for lead dust
The EPA announced June 17, 2020, a proposal to lower the is complete, taking it to the next step if abatement is required
amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors and windowsills – we continue with that oversight,” said Cynthia Esterle,
after lead removal activities, from 40 micrograms per square foot to Environmental Branch geologist.
10 micrograms per square foot for floors, and from micrograms per New processes to remove potentially harmful lead means
square foot to 100 micrograms per square foot for windowsills. making these structures safer for future use, experts said.
“We need to know if we have lead dust present at the decreased “We are helping by performing lead dust samplings at multiple
lead dust hazard standards,” Willett said. “This is why we are going facilities across the country in order to fully characterize the extent
into numerous facilities nationwide to sample some new locations of lead dust contamination throughout the facilities,” Willett said.
and resample some other locations that were previously assessed “If there are concentrations that exceed the action limits, we will
based on the higher standards.” pursue lead dust abatement at those sites (on behalf of our Army
According to the EPA, the proposed, tighter standards increase Reserve customer).”
the effectiveness of lead-based paint removal in pre-1978 homes Rendering Reserve centers safe gets them back to work as
and childcare facilities, known as abatement, and lower the risk repurposed facilities for their communities.
of lead exposure by ensuring that lead-based paint hazards are The Louisville District is the Center of Expertise for Army
effectively and permanently eliminated following completion of Reserve center construction. It is the nationwide program
the work. manager for construction of new Army Reserve centers in the U.S.
“We support our customer, the Army Reserve. We provide and its territories.
review and oversight of work done by contractors, making sure

Edward MacDowell Lake Dam
celebrates 70th anniversary
By Sally M. Rigione Contoocook River. More than 146,000 visitors annually
USACE, New England District Edward MacDowell Lake consists enjoy the picnic areas, swimming areas,
of an earth-fill dam with stone slope hiking trails, boating, fishing, hunting
July 31 marked the 70th anniversary of protection 1,100 feet long and 67 feet and snowmobiling available at Edward
the completion of the U.S. Army Corps high with a capacity of more than 4 MacDowell Lake.
of Engineers’ Edward MacDowell Lake billion gallons of water and has prevented Due to COVID-19 there was no on-
Dam. The project was completed in 1950 damages of about $20.8 million to date. site celebration. A video to commemorate
at the cost of $2,014,000. There is a conservation pool at the lake the occasion was produced by the
Named after the late composer, that covers 165 acres, and a maximum Edward MacDowell Dam team as they
Edward MacDowell, the dam, located depth of about 7 feet. celebrated 70 years in the Peterborough
on Nubanusit Brook in Peterborough, The flood storage area of the project community: https://www.facebook.com/
New Hampshire, east of Keene, still totals 840 acres and covers parts of EdwardMacDowellLake/. Historic
provides flood protection primarily Hancock, Dublin and Harrisville. The information on the Edward MacDowell
to Peterborough, but also to the lake and all associated project lands cover Lake can be viewed at: https://www.
downstream communities of Hancock, 1,469 acres. This is equivalent to 5.4 nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-
Bennington, Antrim, Deering, Hillsboro inches of water covering its drainage area Works/Flood-Risk-Management/New-
and Henniker, all located on the of 44 square miles. Hampshire/Edward-Mac/.

(Photo by Rob Jordan)
Joshua Houghtaling, Lewisville Lake
park ranger, plants aquatic vegetation
inside a wire cage enclosure as part of the
fisheries restoration project.
Park ranger
leads charge
to conserve
lake’s
natural
resources
By Trevor Welsh
USACE, Fort Worth District

Passion drives efforts to restore wildlife habitats
W
High School Bass Club. To reduce erosion and stabilize shorelines, native lives by enriching the world around us,” she said. water depths most conducive for use under the
The driving force behind the Lewisville Lake seed mixtures of appropriate moist soil grasses, sedges “Not only are we working to overcome challenges direction of USACE staff and input by project
hen you think of the U.S. Army Corps project is Josh Houghtaling. He came to work with and forbs were broadcasted in restoration areas to that impair water quality and aquatic habitats, we partners.
of Engineers, Fort Worth District, what the Fort Worth District as a park ranger in late spring supplement containerized plantings. are working to achieve sustainable ecosystems that Additionally, a kiosk and hiking trail are currently
comes to mind? of 2018. “Containerized plants were grown in deep root protect our natural resources.” being constructed by two different Eagle Scout
While USACE has several missions, including Describing himself as being “very passionate containers that promoted strong below ground Within the next month, the project team will be projects. The kiosk will be placed at the Hickory
civil works, military construction, water sustainment, about the outdoors and bettering wildlife habitat,” biomass that can withstand the fluctuating hydrology building and deploying, in suitable areas of the lake, Creek campground and the hiking trail will be at Doe
emergency management and energy sustainment, just Houghtaling almost immediately used this passion to of Lewisville Lake during the establishment phase,” artificial habitats using polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, Branch Park.
to name a few, the one mission that probably draws work relentlessly on a grant submission to make this Houghtaling said. and large flex tubing. These structures will primarily “Ultimately, I would like to bridge an educational
the most public attention is recreation. restoration project possible. As a project partner, ERDC-LAERF has been benefit the bass and crappie species highly sought gap between humans and their understanding of
USACE, Fort Worth District manages 25 lakes “The grant that I applied for is titled ‘Lewisville working with the district to provide planting and after by fishermen. They will be placed at sites and wildlife and habitat,” Houghtaling said.
across Texas, and while its main mission is flood risk Lake Fisheries Restoration Project,’ and is funded seeding specifications, and is providing stock for
management, recreation is what it’s primarily known through the national Reservoir Fisheries Habitat plantings that were grown from regionally collected
for, i.e. parks, campgrounds, boating, fishing, hiking, Partnership, Friends of Reservoirs Program,” he propagules within the Trinity River Watershed in
hunting, etc., and also the uniformed personnel who said. “This program was established to improve North Texas. It also worked directly with project
are the face of these opportunities, park rangers. public understanding and knowledge of fish habitat partners in field campaigns to implement planting
Park rangers, also known as natural resources conservation through collaborative partnerships in plants at re-vegetation sites on the lake and
specialists, are stewards of these public lands, charged reservoirs of the United States and supports reservoir protecting them from herbivory.
with conservation and management of natural conservation activities.” Lynde Dodd, research biologist with the Aquatic
resources. Through his efforts, the Lewisville Lake Fisheries Ecology and Invasive Species Branch of ERDC,
The natural resources management philosophy Restoration Project received a $30,000 grant, placing serves as an expert in restoration and invasion ecology
is to manage, conserve and improve these natural second in the nation when ranked against other of freshwater macrophytes. Her role was to assist the
resources and the environment while providing submissions. district with recommendations on re-vegetation of
quality public outdoor recreation experiences to serve The grant’s four objectives include: promoting native aquatic, wetland, and riparian plants suitable
the needs of present and future generations. shoreline stabilization through the use of soft for providing improvements to fisheries habitat while
In all aspects of natural and cultural resources and hard armoring at areas of concern at four also working to reduce shoreline erosion on the lake.
management, USACE managers promote awareness sites of priority concern by USACE in Lewisville “This work directly supports the district in their
of environmental values and adhere to sound Lake; addressing sedimentation and water quality efforts toward protection of our natural resources
environmental stewardship, protection, compliance impairments by developing and establishing native at Lewisville Lake,” Dodd explained. “Submersed
and restoration practices. emergent vegetation and using a flood-tolerant aquatic vegetation means improved fisheries habitat
This is not always done singlehandedly. seed mixture that works with the lake’s hydrology; - immediate cover and food in the short term -
USACE manages long-term public access to and supporting recreational activities through fisheries and as aquatic plants establish in the long term,
use of natural resources in cooperation with other habitat conservation and creation within the lake’s additional benefits will include: improved water
federal, state and local agencies, as well as the private littoral zone through temporary brush structure quality by reducing turbidity, removal of excess
sector. and artificial structures; and promoting education nutrients from the water column via uptake from the
The Lewisville Lake, just north of Dallas in of healthy aquatic ecosystems through restoration plants themselves, and reduced erosion by physically
Lewisville, Texas, is one such example. activities on the lake with the construction and holding lake sediment in place with the production of
As part of an ongoing effort, park rangers there procurement of interpretive kiosks, hiking trails and below ground biomass (roots).”
lead the Lewisville Lake Fisheries Restoration signs. Additionally, wetland and riparian vegetation
Project with assistance from the U.S Army Engineer “The goal of this project is to provide the public planted at the shoreline will serve to reduce erosion as
Research and Development Center, or ERDC; the with a sustainable water resource that can continue they establish, providing a buffer and increasing cover
Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility, or to adapt to urbanization and provide habitat for a for wildlife at the shoreline.
LAERF; the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department variety of fish and wildlife species,” Houghtaling said. Dodd describes her career as her “passion.”
Inland Fisheries Division; the Boy Scouts of To enhance fisheries habitat and promote shoreline “I’m lucky that I get to engage with equally
America; the Department of Energy Oak Ridge stabilization, native riparian, wetland and aquatic passionate partners where we work together to
Institute for Science and Education; and, the Marcus species were planted at four sites on Lewisville Lake. improve habitat for wildlife and better our everyday
Joshua Houghtaling, Lewisville Lake park ranger, places wire cage enclosures for
planting of aquatic vegetation as part of the fisheries restoration project.
(Photo by Rob Jordan)

$20 million dredging project
enhances fish, wildlife habitats
Story & photo by Nayelli Guerrero action,” said Zach Kimmel, project the Dredge Wade and Motor Vessels
USACE, St. Paul District manager. Lyon, Wells and McNamara, the crew
The dredged material wasn’t always dredged the Mississippi River main
Recreational boaters may have noticed intended for McGregor Lake. channel near McMillan Island and
recent dredging activity in the McMillan When the district navigation branch transported the dredged material to the
Island area, just north of Guttenberg, experienced a shortage of dredged McGregor Lake HREP site. There, the
Iowa. The McGregor Lake Habitat material placement site capacity, the crew transferred the sand from material
Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project, district combined its Upper Mississippi barges, which transited as far as 14 miles
or HREP, located in Pool 10 of the Upper River Restoration, or UMRR, and 9-foot from the project site, to the upper end of
Mississippi River, recently completed its navigation channel authorities to place McGregor Lake.
dredging phase. dredged material at McGregor Lake. This St. Paul District awarded the contract
The 580-acre McGregor Lake project cost-saving solution not only provided to begin constructing the HREP on Sept.
includes the mid-river McGregor Lake critical placement site capacity for dredged 28. Project construction is scheduled to be
and adjacent island and slough habitat material, it also elevated approximately completed within five years.
between the main and east channels, and 12 acres of floodplain forest and saved the The $20 million HREP program
will enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration program almost $1 million is funded through USACE’s UMMR
using 70,000 cubic yards of dredged dollars. program. It was planned and designed
material. The district’s maintenance and repair cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and
“This project will improve habitat section from Fountain City, Wisconsin, Wildlife Service, the Iowa and Wisconsin
diversity by reducing shoreline erosion, began dredging March 26 and finished departments of natural resources and local
sedimentation and wind-driven wave July 2. Using district vessels, including interests.
Scott Rolbiecki, master tender operator, USACE, St. Paul District, removes sand from the tracks of an excavator before dredged material
placement at McGregor Lake near Guttenberg, Iowa, May 21.

Innovative thinking
saves bighorn sheep
from water shortage
By Ana Henderson Additionally, in those weeks between Ingraham began monitoring the pressure
U.S. Army Garrison, Yuma Proving Ground the flights there was no way to know if a data in the tanks and converted the pressure
T
tank had an issue. Those water stations are into depth in inches. He provides this data to
instrumental in sustaining wildlife. AZDGF weekly.
“That’s a part of how we are able to sustain In early July, Ingham noticed a 2-inch
he U.S. Army Garrison, Yuma those high numbers that we are to be able drop in one tank.
Proving Ground (YPG) has to support sheep re-location by AZGFD He notified AZDGF and they hiked out
an extremely intelligent and dedicated to support bighorn populations statewide,” to the Chocolate Mountains that weekend
workforce who are also passionate about the explained Steward. where they found a broken pipe, probably
ecosystem around the range. Williams had an idea and made the call to caused by two sheep playing around. This, in
“I get calls a couple times a week from the meteorological team. turn, drained the tank.
folks down range who make an observation,” “I talked to the met (meteorology) guys The team was also surprised to find 16
explains Daniel Steward, YPG’s wildlife and asked ‘do those pressure transducers bighorn sheep milling around, presumably in
biologist. work on the tanks?’,” Williams said. “They search of water.
This dedication leads to employees going said yes.” The alert of the drop in water saved their
above and beyond to solve a problem. So The pressure sensors work much like the lives, said Steward. “This time-of-year, they
was the case when range operations lead, sensors used to measure the water in washes really depend on that water,” he added. “If
Darrell Williams, reached out to YPG’s around the range. Because YPG has a very you let them go dry, you are going to lose
meteorological team to ask if they could help large range with remote locations that need animals.”
the Arizona Department of Game and Fish to be monitored, there are sensors to alert Steward proudly shared this story to
(AZDGF) with remotely monitoring wildlife when washes are running during a storm. illustrate just how dedicated individuals can
water station tank levels. Ryan Ingham and Cory Olsen, electronics make an impact.
Williams works closely with the YPG technicians with the Meteorology Division “Our workforce is passionate about the
Environmental Sciences Division and the at YPG, took that pressure sensor and outdoors, and these innovations bring these
Meteorology Division, and they all work installed it in four of the AZDGF wildlife types of tools to bear,” he said.
with AZDGF. water tanks.
Every few weeks the department flies over Ingham admits that the installation was
YPG’s ranges to check on wildlife and the not difficult … it was accessing the tanks that Cory Olsen, electronics technician with the
water stations. AZDGF monitors more than was the challenge. Meteorology Division at Yuma Proving
25 wildlife waters on YPG alone. For some, we had to go in by helicopter Ground, makes his way to inspect four pressure
Williams noticed that because of the to bring in the equipment, he said. Some we sensors installed on the Arizona Department of
post’s busy firing schedule, sometimes it was had to hike to. Others are a few miles round Game and Fish wildlife water tanks.
difficult for AZDGF to make their scheduled trip. “So, we had to carry all the equipment (Photo by Ryan Ingham)
flights. up the mountain range.”

USACE’s efforts bolster burrowing owl population
By Hannah Mitchell because they’re the ecosystem engineer The district had installed 16 burrows
USACE, Walla Walla District for a lot of habitats in this area,” said Jim about three years ago. So far, no burrowing
Castle, wildlife biologist with the Walla owls have taken up residence.
For most bird species, the concept of Walla District. “This area is still inhabited by burrowing
living underground would be considered Once constructed, the artificial burrows owls, in different parts of the Tri-Cities,
strange. For the burrowing owl, living are buried in the ground. The nesting in pockets,” Castle said. “We’re hoping to
anywhere else would be unthinkable. chamber is topped by a “lid” made from a improve some of the habitat by installing
Burrowing owls are native to the weighted bucket. This bucket can be lifted these artificial systems so that if there’s an
Washington state region now known as the off the burrow to allow researchers to look opportunity for them to re-establish in this
Tri-Cities. However, human development down into the nest and check on the owls. area, they’ll have a place to go to. It’s sort of
in the area has fragmented their habitat Burrowing owls are known to readily like building them an apartment complex.”
and made it harder for them to survive. adopt artificial burrow systems, which is According to the Cornell Lab of
To combat this, the U.S. Army Corps no surprise since they commonly take over Ornithology, these owls are small, between
of Engineers, Walla Walla District has burrow systems created by ground squirrels. 7- and 10-inches long with long legs. They
constructed artificial burrow systems for These owls are not ambitious diggers, can be found in regions of the western
the owls in the Habitat Management Units especially in firmly packed soil. More United States, through Mexico and down
(HMUs) surrounding Ice Harbor Dam. often they will find an existing structure, to the southern tip of South America.
These burrows consist of 10-foot be it a ground squirrel tunnel, an irrigation This effort is part of the district’s goal
tunnels, made from PVC pipe about 6-8 channel or a pile of rocks, and improve it to increase biodiversity by creating habitat
inches in diameter, and a burrow chamber to suit their living needs. appropriate for all species from mammals
made from plastic fruit barrels that have Male burrowing owls often find a raised and reptiles, to amphibians and insects;
been cut in half. A wire mesh floor is place to perch and guard their territory from the birds that live in trees, to those
put on the burrow chamber to allow for against predators and other burrowing that choose to make their homes under the
water drainage and to keep predators from owls. To accommodate this, USACE places ground.
digging into where the owls are nesting. a t-stake near burrow entrances to provide Watch a video about these efforts:
“The burrowing owl is important a place for a male burrowing owl to perch. https://youtu.be/lA6_N1lxpBg.
(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Perkins)

Threatened by human development, wildlife biologists with the USACE Walla Walla District constructed an artificial burrow system to help
the burrowing owl survive.

Resource efficiency managers support
modernization of defense industrial base
By Dr. Robert L. Straitt embed advanced artificial intelligence Army installations with clean and
U.S. Army Materiel Command and machine learning technologies resilient energy generation while
for tracking and reporting energy eliminating scrap hazard materials in
Due to the ever-changing demands usage, project initiation, security and environmentally friendly ways.
of the information age, access to emergency management response As investigators from organizations
secure and reliable energy has become information into a single, easy-to- such as Army Futures Command
one of the most critical factors in use interface that is both adaptive look into an ever-widening range
ensuring our nation’s ability to protect and secure. The interface can process of developing energy-resilient
and provide for its citizens. mountains of data, identify trends technologies for Army installations
In response to our expanded energy and alert decision makers of possible of the future, they turn to REMs
needs - from powering the advanced threats in a matter of seconds. In our for assistance, due to their proven
weapons systems used to defend our energy-dependent world, this is truly experience in data compilation,
nation to powering the neonatal units a life-saving tool. energy-resiliency assessment, and
used to care for premature infants In addition to improving our means lifecycle cost analysis of some of the
- the Army’s energy program has of analyzing existing energy systems, most advanced energy concepts being
rapidly evolved into a complex system REMs are exploring new, emerging explored by the commercial, academic
of systems designed to ensure not technologies to generate resilient, and government sectors.
only the simple ability to buy and sell sustainable energy for Army missions REMs provide installation and
energy resources but also to provide around the world. command energy managers and
secure and reliable energy to meet our They are currently providing energy program senior leaders the
needs across the globe. their technical insight in support knowledge base to make informed
At the forefront of this mission of the DOD’s Pele Program, which stategic decisions on Army energy
is the U.S. Army Engineering involves the development of a safe resilience and productivity initiatives.
and Support Center, Huntsville’s and mobile nuclear microreactor to To learn more about the Huntsville
Resource Efficiency Manager, or generate power for remote operating Center’s REM program, visit
REM, program, which brings the bases. These microreactors could help https://www.hnc.usace.army.mil/
best minds in the free world together keep Army weapons systems armed Media/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-
to introduce new technologies and and ready, while also providing the Article-View/Article/490651/
processes that extract every possible nation’s warfighters with the energy energy-division-resource-efficiency-
unit of energy from the most fuel- they need to maintain sustainable and managers/.
efficient and resilient energy-system acceptable living conditions in the
technologies available. most demanding environments. Dr. Robert Straitt has 30-plus years
REMs, often called the “energy The latest renewable technologies of experience in the field of energy
boots on the ground,” provide vital such as wind, hydro and solar offer reliabililty and security and currently
expertise to develop site energy plans another promising solution to serves as a resource efficiency manager
encompassing projects that achieve meeting our extensive energy needs, with Sain Engineering Associates at
sustainable, renewable, and secure and this is another area in which the U.S. Army Materiel Command. His
energy management. REMs have proven to be an asset. most recent projects include gasification
Ensuring energy access at REMs, such as those assigned and plasma-ionization technologies
Department of Defense installations to AMC, have extensive hands-on power generation, Army metering and
worldwide is a complex task, requiring experience with these technologies control systems modernization, Army
REMs to conduct ongoing analysis of and have worked in these industries mobile nuclear power systems, cyber
data from multiple sources to detect to design, build, install and maintain and CEMA security planning and
potential energy issues and outages utility-scale wind turbines around the implementation, and developing energy,
before they happen. globe. water, and control system strategy for
To improve this process, REMs REMs are also exploring Army installations in multi-domain
are currently working with U.S. gasification and plasma-ionization operations.
Army Materiel Command (AMC) to technologies that will one day provide

“While we still have some monitoring to complete in the marsh over the next year or so, having the project
receive the 2020 USACE ‘Green Dream Team Award’ speaks volumes for the collaborative effort of the team.”
- Jonathan Broadie
comprises much of Georgia’s portion of the 10 times the amount of material by working environmentally sound, cost-effective method
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW). around the clock and with a more dense that also bolsters the coast against the negative
dredge spoils. effects of sea level rise and climate change.
A two-pronged attack Contractors also placed porous coconut coir
Situated just south of the Port of logs along the border of the designated five- A promising start
Brunswick, Georgia, where “roll-on, roll-off ” acre portion of the marsh to retain the dredged Although the project is still in progress,
container ships deliver cars from around the material and allow marsh grasses to adapt to it’s already turning a lot of heads. In August
world, contractors dredged a channel near the new level, which was anywhere from 2 2020, the project team received the USACE
Jekyll Creek to a depth of 10 feet using two inches to a foot higher in elevation. 2020 Sustainability Awards Program’s “Green
innovative beneficial use strategies: thin layer Scientists and researchers with Georgia Dream Team Award” and commendation
placement and open water dispersal. Southern University and the University of from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
The thin layer placement portion sent 5,000 South Carolina have been monitoring the Association.
cubic yards of pluff mud to enhance a nearby marsh and its wildlife periodically and will According to Lara Beasley, USACE
marsh, while open water dispersal was used for continue to collect data over the next few years Headquarters Environmental Division Chief,
another 220,000 cubic yards, which was placed to ensure the health of the marsh and the the Sustainability Awards Program recognizes
into a naturally scouring “deep hole” in St. associated ecosystem. significant contributions in the fields of energy
Simons Sound. The larger, open water dispersal portion efficiency, sustainable solutions, reduced
Together, the two techniques provide a of the pilot project posed a different set of impacts to the natural environment, and
cutting-edge approach to challenges as shifty challenges. preserving and enhancing the nation’s natural
as the silt itself. According to Moore, contractors had to resources.
“The closest disposal options are about run a 40,000-foot sub-line to deliver the In addition to Broadie and Moore,
seven miles offshore and that’s very costly,” material within 5-10 feet from the bottom of USACE, Savannah District awardees
said Jonathan Broadie, project manager for the the deep hole in St. Simons Sound. The hole is include: Jason O’Kane, Roger Lafond,
pilot project and acting chief of navigation, approximately 60-70 feet deep, compared to the Ronnie Westbury, Glenn Bacon, Chris
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah surrounding depths which average 30-40 feet. Wheeler, Nathan Dayan and April Patterson.
District. “So not only are we finding a place to Researchers with LG2 Environmental Other agency partners in the project
put the material, but we’re also finding ways to Solutions, Inc., along with Savannah District include: USACE, South Atlantic Division,
help protect the marsh.” survey team experts used tracers-two USACE, Jacksonville District, Jekyll Island
By comparison, material dredged from the environmentally inert fluorescent sediment Authority, The Nature Conservancy, the
Savannah River can be conveniently piped manufactured to mimic pluff mud-to ensure Georgia Department of Natural Resources,
(Photo by Jeremy S. Buddemeier) into several dredge material containment areas the dredged material actually made it to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Daniel Miller, a leverman with Cottrell Contracting, operates the Rockbridge right along the north edge of the river. the bottom and to study how the material Environmental Protection Agency and the
dredge near Jekyll Creek, April 16, 2019. Back at Jekyll Creek, the contractors naturally dispersed in the surrounding areas. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
quickly discovered this wasn’t a typical “Preliminary observations suggest it could Administration.
dredging gig and had to adjust tactics be a placement strategy for numerous projects “While we still have some monitoring to
Innovative pilot project

throughout the project. along the Georgia and Carolina coasts that complete in the marsh over the next year or so,
By Jeremy S. Buddemeier “Pluff mud is different because it is keeps sediment in the coastal system and having the project receive the 2020 USACE
USACE, Savannah District maintenance material that is extremely soft doesn’t require capacity in upland or offshore ‘Green Dream Team Award’ speaks volumes
C
and silty, and high liquid,” said Burt Moore, disposal site,” said Clay McCoy, Ph.D., for the collaborative effort of the team,”
nabs USACE-wide team

chief of dredging for Savannah District. “It acting director, USACE Regional Sediment Broadie said.
doesn’t like to stay in place, it likes to move.” Management Regional Center of Expertise. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication
onventional wisdom warns against Moore, who has more than 25 years McCoy said this portion of the project was from experts within the USACE South
building on shaky ground, but the of experience working with the dredging modeled after a similar technique that resulted Atlantic Division, Georgia DNR and other
award for sustainability

future of Georgia’s coastline could very well industry, described the difficulties contractors in no documented impacts near Hilton Head agency partners to come together and make
rest on five acres of “pluff mud.” faced. Island, South Carolina, about 100 miles north this project a success,” he added. “We hope
Last year, workers with Cottrell Not only did they have to position the of Brunswick, Georgia. to continue this collaboration on future
Contracting of Chesapeake, Virginia, wrapped dredge safely in the narrow waterway, but The open water dispersal method, projects along the AIWW in Georgia using
up a three-month-long dredging pilot they also had to wait for favorable low tides to combined with the thin layer placement, these innovative dredging techniques that are
project, which seeks to find cost-effective, dredge. In addition, they had to contend with which has been used in Maryland, New Jersey beneficial to the environment.”
environmentally friendly disposal methods for the wind, which could easily undo a day’s work. and Louisiana, could be used throughout Video link: https://www.youtube.com/
this especially silty, watery material that A typical dredging project would move Georgia’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway as an watch?v=QvluZZ8-bZ0.

Project aims to improve floodplain forest
processes, restoration and management
By Nayelli Guerrero understand the factors limiting viable Over the next few years, the district will
USACE, St. Paul District floodplain forest regeneration and develop monitor seedling mortality and growth
target tree seedling guidelines to improve rates across four tree species: swamp white
In late June, the La Crescent, our effectiveness in restoring forests,” said oak, silver maple, American sycamore and
Minnesota, environmental section Andy Meier, forester, USACE, St. Paul common hackberry. Staff will measure
measured the growth of tree seedlings District. “Forests can be degraded by a and record each seedling’s height and root
at Kain’s Switch South near New Albin, range of health threats, including invasive collar diameter while checking for leaf
Iowa. species, emerald ash borer and Dutch elm dieback and deer browse.
Approximately 600 seedlings were disease.” If the seedlings survive, they should
planted in late May, part of a research The project consists of nine separate establish quickly. The intermediate light
project conducted by the University planting blocks, with 64 seedlings conditions in the planting locations inhibit
of Minnesota through a Cooperative to a block totaling 576 trees, under the growth of reed canary grass and
Ecosystems Studies Unit agreement with intermediate canopy density. other vegetation, which should allow the
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul The nine blocks are split across three seedlings to grow above the height of the
District’s recreation and natural resource flooding gradients: an area of high competition more effectively.
branch, environmental section. inundation with 30-40 days flooded during The initial phase of the project will be
The project aims to improve the growing season; an area of intermediate completed by 2021. If the trees survive, the
understanding of floodplain forest inundation with 10-30 flooding days; plantings will continue to be monitored for
processes, restoration and management. and, an area of low inundation with 1-10 many decades to come, Meier said.
“Through this study, we hope to better flooding days.
(Photo by Nayelli Guerrero)

USACE, St. Paul District pathways forestry interns Marshal Johnson and Mackinzie Shaffer-Smiley measure and record seedling growth
near New Albin, Iowa, June 17.

USACE’s drill crews adapt to ‘new normal’
By Loree Baldi & Dr. Faisal Ahmed
USACE, Fort Worth District
and Marty Goff
USACE Headquarters
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(USACE) has drilling and subsurface
exploration crews located in nine districts
across the United States and South
Korea. They provide essential support
to all USACE missions and can deploy
throughout the world in support of those
missions.
These drill crews work in all types of
conditions, from highly urbanized areas to
remote locations where they have to build
their own access roads.
The onset of COVID-19 resulted
in unique and difficult challenges for
USACE’s drill crews; however, they were
able to address those challenges with the
same level of dedication, innovation and
professionalism they have always used to
complete their tasks.
The COVID-19 pandemic has required
USACE to adapt to a “new normal” for
meeting its mission-critical activities.
Changing the entire way an organization
does business can be a daunting task;
however, USACE’s drill crews are
resilient and adaptable. They’re familiar
with difficult working conditions and
face unique challenges, such as finding
lodging and necessities in remote areas. So,
when the COVID-19 pandemic struck,
USACE’s drill crews were already prepared
for the “new normal.”
Initially, all of these drill crews were
shut down until a travel exemption process
for mission-critical investigations was
activated by USACE Headquarters. Once
the exemption process was established
the crews were ready to get back to work!
With few exceptions, all drillers returned
to work. Several drillers with health issues
decided not to travel and remained at their
duty stations working on related activities
to support the in-field crews.
The drill crews have effectively dealt
with delays in obtaining permits, acquiring
rights of entry, and securing supplies
through patience, diligence, and adhering
to consistent schedules and protocols.
An example of their dedication and
inventiveness is the Fort Worth District’s
core drill unit. Since implementation of
the travel exemption process, they have
(Photo courtesy of USACE) been actively executing mission-critical
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has drilling and subsurface exploration crews located in investigations.
nine districts across the United States and South Korea. See DRILL CREWS, page 36

DRILL CREWS continued from page 35
At the beginning of the pandemic, two-quart buckets with lids and used them relationships has been one of the hardest
the district’s drill unit struggled to find at gas pumps, their hotel rooms, and other challenges to overcome. The drillers,
solutions to properly follow the Centers for common public areas, when needed. however, have been finding healthy ways to
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) In order to minimize the risk of deal with the added stress of the pandemic
guidance/General Services Administration COVID-19 when returning from through exercise and their religious faith.
(GSA) vehicle cleaning recommendations temporary duty, unit members took USACE drill crews have also worked
because cleaning and sanitation supplies additional measures to protect their out various methods to maintain a positive
were scarce. families. One member even washed attitude throughout the pandemic.
They improvised by making their own his clothes the day before returning Because of their willingness to work with
disinfectants and cleaning supplies. The home, stored his luggage outside in the this “new normal,” the drill crews have
lead driller had experience with public/ garage, and showered immediately prior successfully and effectively completed the
city water well decontamination and used to interacting with any of his family investigations needed to ensure USACE’s
the same safe mixture to decontaminate members. missions are fully executed.
equipment and tooling. The team was able Finding ways to create and encourage Without their due diligence and
to find and use pet disinfectant cleaner a work environment that allows for safe, dedication, many mission-critical activities
to clean the cabs of vehicles. They placed positive communication to continue in would have been significantly delayed or
disposable rags and disinfectant mix in order to support drill crew working- not completed.
(Photo courtesy of USACE)

Teammates from USACE Fort Worth District’s core drill unit: (from left) Dallas Spencer, lead driller; Joel Webster, field geologist; and Chris
Bean, drill rig operator, conduct drilling operations at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Scientists study soil to generate ideas
for improving restoration projects
By Melanie Peterson The islands are meant to serve multiple
USACE, St. Paul District purposes, such as breaking up wind on
large expanses of water, providing sheltered
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul areas for vegetation to grow and creating
“By taking a closer District environmental scientists Aaron fish and wildlife habitat, McFarlane said.
look at the differences McFarlane and Eric Hanson, recently Over the course of two weeks, the team,
between the natural surveyed natural islands in Pool 5, near
Fountain City, Wisconsin; Pool 10, near
including environmental section interns,
looked at 45 plots, each 1/100th of an acre.
islands and the Guttenberg, Iowa; and man-made islands The surveys included identifying each tree
constructed islands, in Pool 8, near La Crosse, Wisconsin; and, and documenting ground cover plants and
Pool 9, near Eastman, Wisconsin, along their density.
we hope to generate the Upper Mississippi River. Soil sampling consisted of an on-site
ideas for improving The man-made islands in pools 8 and 9 field description of what the soils looked
our already successful were created by the district from dredged
material.
like. Soil samples were taken and sent to
the Engineer Research and Development
restoration projects.” The St. Paul District has several Center (ERDC) Wetlands and Coastal
programs for environmental restoration Ecology lab in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to
- Aaron McFarlane
that partner with other federal, state and determine physical characteristics and soil
local partners. One example is the Upper chemistry. Small cores were also sent to the
Mississippi River Restoration program, ERDC Environmental Microbiology lab
to be analyzed for DNA and analyzed to
find out what the microbiome of the soil
looks like.
“We take all that soil data, plus the
data of trees and plants, and we see if we
can correlate how that works together
and what direction we would want to go
to change the characteristics to make the
constructed islands closer to naturally
occurring islands,” McFarlane said.
Restoration projects are often trying to
replace lost, eroded land, he added.
“The soils in those lost lands took
thousands of years to develop. Plants,
animals, microbial communities and
hydrologic processes all had a part in
making the soils that we now see as high-
quality floodplain habitat,” he said. “We’re
trying to rebuild these places in just a few
years.
“By taking a closer look at the
differences between the natural islands
and the constructed islands, we hope to
generate ideas for improving our already
successful restoration projects,” McFarlane
added. “I’m hopeful this study and follow-
up studies can show us ways to make our
new construction projects act more like
Eric Hanson, ecologist, USACE, St. Paul District, takes a soil sample at a constructed island these older lands and support high-value
in Pool 8, near La Crosse, Wisconsin, July 22. (Photo by Melanie Peterson) ecological communities like floodplain
forests.”
which has constructed restoration projects
and conducted long-term monitoring from
St. Paul, Minnesota, to St. Louis, Missouri,
since 1986.

Collective expertise, enduring partnership advance FUSRAP
By Jenn Miller contamination resulting from the nation’s one of three branches located within environmental technical support to agencies the Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center
USACE Headquarters early atomic energy program. USACE Headquarters Environmental across the globe,” Busse said. “The primary in Missouri. For this project, the team is
T
Through this long-standing partnership, Division. Busse will oversee the execution objective of the program is to provide providing services for project management,
USACE and DOE-LM continue to make of approximately $1 billion annually in stakeholders with a quality product, on time engineering, design, exhibit design
progress in their collective efforts to environmental service work for Department and within the established budget, leveraging and installation, construction contract
he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remediate sites that can then be restored for of Defense and non-DOD partners. expertise across our USACE enterprise.” procurement and management, quality
(USACE) and the Department beneficial reuse within local communities In addition to the work his team performs The program provides a multitude of assurance and safety inspections.
of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management across the country. under FUSRAP, he also oversees the professional services and technical products “Under the IIS-E program, our assistance
(DOE-LM) have been working together “Our goal is to safely and efficiently clean decommissioning of Army deactivated to non-DOD federal agencies, state and is customized to meet the needs of our
for more than two decades to advance the up FUSRAP sites to ensure protection nuclear power plants, and environmental local governments, tribal nations, private federal partners,” Busse explained. “Our
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action of human health and the environment,” work for the Air Force, Army, National U.S. firms, international organizations and support can vary from only providing
Program (FUSRAP), cleaning up sites with said John Busse, USACE Headquarters Guard Bureau and Reserves. foreign governments. highly specific technical advice to complete
Environmental Division. “Once our cleanup His team also assists the Environmental It is under the IIS-E program that program management. We are able to
efforts are complete, we then transfer the Protection Agency in cleaning up some of USACE further supports DOE initiatives. leverage our technical and contracting
sites back to DOE-LM for long-term the nation’s most contaminated sites under This includes the dismantlement of competencies across the entire USACE
management and stewardship.” EPA’s Superfund Program and supports a previously decommissioned nuclear reactors enterprise for our federal partners’ initiatives
In June, Busse was promoted to chief of wide array of non-DOD agencies under the on behalf of DOE, such as ongoing work and quickly pull together multi-disciplinary
the Environmental Support Branch, Interagency and at the Lawrence Livermore National teams with a wide variety of capabilities.”
International Services – Laboratory in California, to dismantle A good example of this is USACE’s
Environmental (IIS-E) and dispose of a decommissioned three- execution of FUSRAP.
program. megawatt research reactor. For this project, “One of the things that I like about
“Under the IIS-E USACE is providing project management, FUSRAP is that it draws together and
program, we provide construction management, technical support maximizes the strengths of two federal
and contracting to DOE-Environmental agencies,” said Gwen Hooten, DOE-LM
Management. Environmental Team 2 supervisor. “There’s a
Additionally, USACE is providing real synergy between us. USACE brings their
ongoing technical support to DOE-LM for expertise in remediation and LM brings our
expertise in long-term stewardship. Together
we make a great team.”
See FUSRAP, page 40
(Photo by Susan Blair)

The 5,000th shipment of FUSRAP-related material prepares to leave
the Luckey Site in Luckey, Ohio, on July 31. Each truckload averages
approximately 16.5 tons of material. Read more about these efforts on page 18.

FUSRAP continued from page 39
USACE consists of a headquarters, private consultant,” Busse said. “Increasing Environmental Division. “Using
geographic divisions with subordinate the efficiency and timeliness of recent site interagency work groups to tackle difficult
district offices, as well as centers, labs and closeouts, like the Colonie Site in New issues enables constructive dialogue
an Army engineer battalion. In total, six York, is a direct result of strengthening the between us, which improves the site
districts from three divisions are working on existing partnership we have with DOE- transfer process.”
21 active FUSRAP sites across eight states. LM. Together, our collective expertise will Fatherly has been providing
Districts currently supporting continue to streamline the site closeout national-level programmatic leadership
FUSRAP projects are the Buffalo and and transfer process.” for FUSRAP for nine years. In her
Pittsburgh districts from the Great “Historically, LM and USACE have position, she champions this program
Lakes and Ohio River Division; St. always worked well together,” said Cliff at the USACE Headquarters level. She
Louis District from the Mississippi Carpenter, DOE-LM FUSRAP program develops and defends national program
Valley Division; and Baltimore, New manager. “Because of John Busse’s first- budget development and oversees
York and Philadelphia districts from hand knowledge of FUSRAP, we will program execution performance metrics
the North Atlantic Division. USACE’s be able to successfully tackle the more in close coordination with USACE
Environmental and Munitions Center of challenging and complicated issues at our divisions and districts. She is also the
Expertise and the Kansas City District remaining sites.” primary point of contact for DOE-LM
also provide technical assistance. Ensuring a common operating picture Headquarters staff.
Busse is very familiar with working is critical in executing FUSRAP. This is “As we are completing cleanup efforts
on FUSRAP at the district level. Prior accomplished through interagency work on FUSRAP sites and transferring
to working at USACE Headquarters, he groups for each of the 21 active FUSRAP them back to DOE-LM, there is also
served in several roles including project sites. ongoing, concurrent coordination to assist
engineer and manager, and program “Regular communication and meeting DOE-LM in identifying and facilitating
manager at USACE Buffalo District for together annually helps ensure that we beneficial reuse for these properties where
more than eight years. have everyone in the room when we are possible,” said Fatherly. “So, while we
“It is so rewarding to be able to witness discussing these projects,” said Nicki continue to make progress, there is also
first-hand 20-plus years of progress within Fatherly, FUSRAP national program more work to be done and together, we will
FUSRAP, going back to my days as a manager with USACE Headquarters continue to accomplish the mission.”
(Photos by JoAnne Castagna)

USACE completed cleanup efforts at the Colonie
FUSRAP site in Colonie, New York, and transferred the site
to the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management
for long-term management in 2019.
Pictured here: active construction in 2005 (left) and
completed site in 2019 (below).

USACE launches Engineering With Nature podcast series
By Holly Kuzmitski that exemplify the power and promise of informative examples of EWN activities
U.S. Army Engineer Research and the EWN approach. and projects, have generated a lot of
Development Center “Listeners will hear from people across interest and enthusiasm among our
the U.S. and around the world who are listeners,” he said.
A new podcast series tells the stories transforming the approach to navigation, King described how after each podcast,
of a growing international community of flood-risk reduction and other types listeners are invited to submit their own
scientists, engineers and researchers who of infrastructure projects by applying thoughts and questions about the topics
are applying Engineering With Nature Engineering With Nature principles and being discussed.
principles and practices to solve problems practices,” Thorne said. “The results are “At the end of every podcast, questions
and diversify infrastructure value. amazing. are posed to the listeners,”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers King said. “These questions
developed the podcast are presented in an effort to
to mark the EWN gain additional perspective
initiative’s 10th about the topics.
anniversary. “There has been a lot
In each podcast, of excitement generated
experts who are by having this level
advancing the state of of engagement with
the EWN practice will the guests,” he said.
discuss lessons learned. “A ‘contact us’ link is
The interviews will also embedded on each EWN
highlight what specifically podcast preview webpage.
has been achieved, share After listening to the
knowledge developed podcast, people can
through collaborations, simply click the link and
and focus attention on send us an email with
activities in the U.S. their questions.”
and around the world Bridges feels it is
where EWN principles important to share
and practices have been these stories about
successfully applied. developing and
In 2010, Dr. Todd implementing nature-
Bridges, senior scientist with based solutions
the U.S. Army Engineer for water and
Research and Development infrastructure projects,
Center and EWN national and collaborating
lead, collaborated with with a growing
USACE colleagues to launch national and international community
the initiative. We hope our listeners will to innovate, solve problems and create
The EWN vision is to advance be inspired and encouraged by the sustainable solutions.
infrastructure practices by aligning natural tremendous potential of EWN.” “There are so many EWN projects and
and engineering processes to efficiently and The EWN podcast series made its strategies occurring around the world that
sustainably deliver economic, environmental debut Aug. 26. can help inform the practice,” Bridges
and social benefits through collaboration. The first season includes 10 episodes said. “Podcasts offer another information-
“The EWN podcast series focuses on that are available on the EWN website sharing platform for people to learn about
the innovation and collaboration that’s at www.engineeringwithnature.org, nature-based, innovative techniques that
achieved when we seek to combine natural the Apple podcast website or the Apple are being applied to overcome a variety of
and engineering processes,” said Bridges, podcast app. complex challenges.”
who introduces listeners to EWN during “Season 1 features a knowledgeable Season 1 podcasts are already available
the first episode of the podcast series. group of people who are advancing EWN on the EWN website, and there are plans
“The outcomes are triple-win results for practices,” said Dr. Jeff King, EWN for a Season 2 in spring 2021.
infrastructure, the environment and the deputy national lead. “Our guests address “Interest in the podcast has been
communities we serve.” subjects like increasing communities’ and overwhelming,” King said. “We now
EWN podcast host, Sarah Thorne of military installations’ resilience, innovative regularly have people contacting us
Decision Partners, has been involved with application of natural and nature-based wanting to share stories about their work
the EWN initiative since its inception. features, and private sector and academia and projects through an EWN podcast. It
Through dialogue with Sarah, podcast efforts to advance the use of natural is exciting to see this level of enthusiasm
guests describe the challenges, unique infrastructure. among our listeners.”
collaborations and the compelling projects “These topics, coupled with

Employee Spotlight
Wildfire threatens dam, traps

power plant operator inside
“I was doing as much as I By Kerry Solan
USACE, Portland District
Throughout the night, the fire surged south as Pomeroy
went about his work, driving between Detroit Dam and Big
Pomeroy shut down the generators and opened regulating
outlets to continue the flow of water out the dam.
B
Cliff Dam three miles to the northwest. Dam operators Detroit Dam is considered a remote location, which meant
could to keep the power plant, manage both dams while on shift.
Around midnight, the “main line” blew at Big Cliff, and he
that radios and cell service were intermittent.
He spent the next few hours preparing to evacuate as the
the equipment and myself efore leaving for work, Mike Pomeroy said goodbye
to his wife, Ronda, the way he always did: with a
drove to the dam to reset it.
“I knew conditions were deteriorating” he said. “While
wildfire approached the dam from the north, swallowing
thousands of acres of land.
promise.
safe. I kept brainstorming to
traveling to Big Cliff, the wind had kicked up to 50 or 60 The next morning, he finally received the notice to
“I’ll see you in 14.” miles an hour.” evacuate. He finished readying the dam and called his wife.
The powerplant operator then made the hour drive to At the time, county emergency managers issued “I’m evacuating,” he said.
keep myself busy: ‘what else the Detroit Dam that Labor Day evening under “red flag”
conditions as the Beachie Fire consumed swaths of land to
evacuations alerts as the fire rapidly migrated into lands in
the North Santiam River Canyon. Pomeroy discovered this
Back home, Ronda was watching the fires.
“I knew that if the fire came, he’d be cut off on both sides,”
the northeast. only after a state trooper he came across informed him about she said.
could I do?’” Detroit Dam is isolated in a canyon in the Cascade
Mountains, 45 miles east of Salem, Oregon. The 500-foot
the Level 3 evacuation notice.
He immediately returned to Detroit Dam and began to
Pomeroy headed onto Highway 22 toward Big Cliff Dam
but was only able to make it a few miles before he had to turn
dam creates Detroit Lake behind it, and under the masterful prepare the plant to be in an “unmanned” state. back. The fires raged too strong. Embers, smoke, deadfall,
- Mike Pomeroy plant operators, releases just the right amount of water into
the river below.
“I knew time was critical,” he said. “It was a race to get
things in the best state possible before I left.”
rocks and flames littered the road.
See POWER PLANT, page 44

Employee Spotlight
POWER PLANT continued from page 43

“I drove through the fire line, hoping to “It was a hundred little details that to stock survival supplies and prepare the
get past it, but the farther I got, I knew I kept me moving, kept me preparing for dam, powerhouse and facilities, and taking
was really in it,” he said. “And I knew if I whatever would come next,” he said. short 15-minute naps throughout the day.
got stuck, there was no way out of it.” During intermittent radio contact, he “There was an exhaustion factor, but I
Tuesday morning, Tim Ernster, bounced ideas off his coworkers. didn’t like the idea of sleep,” he said. “It
Pomeroy’s supervisor, was felt like putting chance in
still planning on his shift charge.”
exchange, even though he Near the end of the day,
knew Pomeroy would not the air seemed to clear.
leave his post. “I didn’t see the fire. The
“I wanted to make sure air was better,” he said. “I
Mike had an escort out of was hopeful that the worst
there, and the incoming was behind me.”
operator had an escort in,” he Miles away in Eugene,
said. “We thought we still had Ernster was monitoring the
access to get to Mike.” fire and knew it was heading
After a futile attempt and straight toward Detroit.
about 45 minutes after telling “When Mike went on
his wife he was heading shift, it went from a 5%
home, he called her again. chance that the fire would
“Driving through the reach him to the fire being
smoke, my visibility was, at on top of him so quickly,”
best, a few feet,” he said. “I Ernster said. “To watch the
knew if I hit a boulder or (Photo by Amber Tilton) condition change so quickly
downed tree, I may not make Mike Pomeroy (second from right, holding bag) stands with the team that was definitely scary.”
it back to the dam.” made it to his location after he was trapped by wildfires at the Detroit Around 7:40 p.m.,
“I thought he was calling Dam for nearly 30 hours. Pomeroy called Ronda.
to tell me he was out of the “He told me he was
canyon and was safe,” she going to finish up what he
said. “But he told me he couldn’t make it “It was comforting,” he said. was doing and then rest,” she said. “I took
out.” Pomeroy also communicated with his comfort in knowing that he’s smart, and he
Dustin Bengston is the deputy chief of wife when he could. was going to do all he could do.”
operations in the Willamette Valley, and “He didn’t tell me exactly what he was It was their last communication.
oversees conditions of the projects in the going through — I think he didn’t want “I didn’t realize that’s when the fire was
valley. Among his many duties, he runs to worry me,” Ronda said. “He said he moving toward him,” she said.
scenarios to plan for disasters — events was going to take care of the dam and was Pomeroy continued to monitor
that would affect the dams throughout the getting ready to shelter in place.” the fire through the security cameras,
valley. Ann Gardner was Ronda’s contact and by Tuesday evening he saw it fast
“We are tuned into fire hazards when she couldn’t reach Pomeroy approaching.
this time of year,” he said. “I’d had a “She was very calm,” Gardner said. “She “I didn’t know how much time I had,”
conversation with Mike before his shift focused on his pride in the work, and that he said. “It was a pretty good size, and it
about the wind forecast — we knew the he was concerned for project safety and looked like it was moving fast.”
risk was high.” taking care of the plant.” Using his radio to communicate with
But what was forecast and what True to her expectations, when other dam operators, Pomeroy discussed
unfolded was unprecedented. Pomeroy wasn’t preparing the facility, his and their final preparations.
Unable to leave, Pomeroy continued to he began to stock the dam — his last “By the time I was done doing all that
secure the dam. ditch was going to be to shelter inside I could possibly do, I’d completely lost
“I was doing as much as I could to keep the concrete walls of the dam. He staged communication,” he said.
the powerplant, the equipment and myself water, food and self-contained breathing Pomeroy then made his way to the dam
safe,” he said. “I kept brainstorming to keep apparatus. He soaked cloth air masks in and powerhouse, and recognizing that the
myself busy: ‘what else could I do?’” water to prepare for smoke. He brought in fire may destroy the plant, he went into the
Pomeroy brought vehicles into the a cot, spare clothing, a sleeping bag from concrete dam.
powerhouse main bay. He opened the gate his locker and anything else he could think It was around 11:30 p.m. His only
and unlocked the penthouse for anyone of. refugee was a chipmunk that ran inside.
seeking refuge. Pomeroy climbed the stairs repeatedly See POMEROY, page 45

Employee Spotlight
POMEROY continued from page 44

Near the door of the dam, he staged a but ran over to hug Pomeroy nonetheless. would have turned out very different.
life preserver in the event he had to vacate Pomeroy had been alone for 30 hours All the things that were done behind
the shelter and jump into the river below. when he saw his supervisor and coworkers the scenes, the diligence and care that
With communications cut off, arrive. “It was exhilarating to see them,” he was given to the whole operation and the
Ernster no longer had the distraction of said. “There was a lot of hugging. dedication of all involved has made me
communicating with Pomeroy. “We still had a job to do,” he said. appreciate our Corps family even more.
“I kept thinking, ‘I’m powerless to do Pomeroy and the team began to bring We are beyond grateful for the support
anything, and this could get really bad,’” he the plant back up, and get the generators and positive attitude needed during a
said. running. stressful time for all. The phone calls,
Detroit Dam is a large concrete As of Sept. 18, the Beachie Fire had messages, and concern for me and our
structure with cold, dimly lit tunnels that claimed the lives of four people and burned family are something that will never be
run through it. Pomeroy would shelter in more than 190,000 acres. forgotten.
the lower level, believing it to be the best Returning to them was “everything” Many lives are forever changed due
and most secure place. Pomeroy said. “It’s hard to talk about. to this devastating event. Everyone that
Knowing he’d done all he could, he It was very important to get back to my contributed to the rescue of my husband
closed his eyes, laid down on his cot family — it was the number one thing.” are now forever family.
and pulled his sleeping bag around him. At 5 p.m, Ronda finally heard from With sincere thanks and appreciation,
Despite the fire erupting around the dam, Pomeroy. He was heading home. Ronda Pomeroy
it was so cold. He could see his breath. Within an hour, Pomeroy, escorted by A week after he took shelter in the dam,
Pomeroy’s wife could not bring herself Ernster, was standing in his front yard. Pomeroy spoke about the team that
to sleep that night. “When he showed up at the house — supported him from afar through the
“I finally laid down around 2 a.m., but there are no words,” Ronda said. “My son disaster.
I couldn’t sleep,” she said. “I didn’t want to was with me, and it was a huge hug-fest. “I’d like to thank them all — their
miss a call from him.” Having him standing there in the yard was efforts to get to me, their constant
When Wednesday morning came, pretty good.” communication with my family,” he said. “I
she tried calling his cell phone. Ronda, Days later, Ronda wrote a letter to the can’t thank them enough.”
Pomeroy’s wife of nearly 38 years, said she team: The experience didn’t prevent him from
began to cry. Words cannot express how thankful returning to the line of work.
“I thought I’d lost him,” she said. l am to have Mike here with us. I know On Sept. 18, Pomeroy returned again to
At 7 a.m., Bengsten called Ronda. that without the coordinated efforts of Detroit Dam for his shift.
“They’d lost communication with Mike, countless people across the Corps, things
but were trying to get to him,” she said.
Eight hours after entering the dam,
Pomeroy poked his head out the door.
“I didn’t hear or see fire,” he said. “I saw
daylight.”
He tried his radio. Lookout Point, more
than 100 miles away, answered him.
“That was a happy moment,” he said.
Pomeroy’s coworkers and supervisor
were in a briefing when they received the
news that he was okay.
“There was a pause in the briefing,”
Bengston said. “I knew each one of us was
relieved to hear he was okay.”
Around 11 a.m., Ernster and Pomeroy’s
coworkers, escorted by law enforcement
and fire officials through the still-
dangerous evacuation area, left to reach the
stranded powerhouse operator.
It would take an hour of navigating
through roadways littered with debris
before they could reach the powerhouse (Photo courtesy of Mike Pomeroy)
operator. Mike Pomeroy staged a cot and sleeping bag inside the dam to escape the threatening flames
Ernster said he “isn’t a sentimental guy,” closing in on him.

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The Corps Volume 21, Issue 4

Environment 4 EnviroPoints - Sustainability: Ensuring

9 Army Environmental Command

15 USACE marks 22nd year of cleanup on

2 The Corps Environment 3

Sustainability: Ensuring mission

4 The Corps Environment

Environmental Operating Principles

2 Proactively consider environmental consequences of all USACE activities and act

3 Create mutually supporting economic and environmentally sustainable solutions.

5 Consider the environment in employing a risk management and systems approach

6 Leverage scientific, economic and social knowledge to understand the environmental

Learn more about the EOPs at:

5 The Corps Environment

The U.S. Army Corps of

6 The Corps Environment

7 The Corps Environment

(Illustration courtesy of the U.S. Army Environmental Command)

8 The Corps Environment

The U.S. Army Environmental

GIS TECHNOLOGY continued from page 8

9 The Corps Environment

10 The Corps Environment

he Army’s mission is to deploy, fight and win our

11 The Corps Environment 12

13 The Corps Environment

(Photo ourtesy of The Conservation Fund)

14 The Corps Environment

15 The Corps Environment 16

Defense Center announces 2021 technology projects

17 The Corps Environment

Luckey FUSRAP site meets 5,000th truckload milestone

18 The Corps Environment

19 The Corps Environment

Buffalo District completes remedial

20 The Corps Environment

Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation Center earns LEED Silver certification

21 The Corps Environment

Indoor firing ranges may pose a setback in the disposal process

22 The Corps Environment

23 The Corps Environment

24 The Corps Environment

25 The Corps Environment 26

27 The Corps Environment

28 The Corps Environment 29

(Photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Perkins)

30 The Corps Environment

31 The Corps Environment

Innovative pilot project

nabs USACE-wide team

award for sustainability

32 The Corps Environment 33

(Photo by Nayelli Guerrero)

34 The Corps Environment

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

35 The Corps Environment

(Photo courtesy of USACE)

36 The Corps Environment