DoD award shows wing’s balance of space mission and environment

  • Published
  • By Eric Brian
  • 45th Space Wing Public Affairs
The Department of Defense has recognized the 45th Space Wing's Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with a world-wide award.
The 45th Civil Engineer Squadron's Environmental Restoration Team was formally recognized as the top Environmental Restoration, Installation, during the 2011 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Ceremony June 8 at the Pentagon.

Representatives of the 45 CES Environmental Restoration Team: Ms. Regina Butler, Mr. Ron Bond, and Ms. Lindsay Morgan, their supervisor, Mr. Pat Giniewski, and Col. Loretta Kelemen, 45th Mission Support Group commander, traveled to Washington to receive
the DoD award. "In addition, reps from AFCEE, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the AFSPC A4/7, Mr. Jeffery Allen, attended to support our winning team receiving the much deserved trophy and flag for environmental restoration at CCAFS," said Col Kelemen. "No doubt, we have a world class team in 45 CES along with our supporting contractors that ensure we are preserving our environment for years to come."

The Cape Canaveral AFS team received a trophy and a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol on Earth Day and the Pentagon on Memorial Day.

The ceremony honored eight bases, agencies and organizations with diverse environmental awards. Of nine total awards, with two going to Eglin AFB, three went to Air Force bases in Florida.

The 45 SW ERP personnel set and met restoration goals to support the mission, worker
protection and aggressive natural and cultural resource preservation. The wing identified and restored 127 sites across nearly 2,500 acres. The ERP helped return 74 percent
of the sites for unrestricted mission use and cleared 24 percent for safe industrial use with controls.

These successes demonstrate CCAFS' award-winning commitment to restoring the balance etween the space mission and environmental stewardship. Team members said the success of partnerships helped meet restoration and preservation goals.

"The teamwork and spirit of cooperation amongst all our stakeholders - including AF personnel, regulatory personnel, contractors, service agency representatives, and members of the public - is really the foundation of our success," said Ms.Butler. "Everyone works together to achieve the common goals of environmental restoration, protecting human health, and supporting the Wing  mission."

More than 90% of the budget for Cape cleanup projects totaling $23 million was performance based, greatly exceeding the 50% Air Force performance-based contract goal.

At the Pentagon ceremony, the presiding official was Dr. Dorothy Robyn, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment. The keynote speaker was Mr. Bob Perciasepe, EPA Deputy administrator, and additional remarks were provided by Mr. Bob
Barnes of the Nature Conservancy.