JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –Earth Day is a global celebration of environmental issues that occurs every April. But, every day, a diverse group of Air Force professionals protect the environment and ensure mission success.
The Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s environmental and Base Realignment and Closure teams are helping preserve the Air Force’s natural infrastructure across nine million acres of land, including forest, prairies, deserts, and coastal habitat through its headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and installation support sections across the U.S.
“Earth Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on what we are doing to care for the planet. Conserving our natural resources is vital to meeting todays missions – and preserving our environment for tomorrows mission operations,” said Judy Lopez, AFCEC Environmental Management Director. “For 75 years the Air Force has been constantly adapting innovative solutions to meet everchanging environmental needs.”
Air Force environmental stewardship is extensive. It includes restoring the environment that has been harmed by Air Force missions, protecting endangered species, and ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. AFCEC is the Air Force’s execution agents. They are responsible for virtually all aspects of environmental management. This includes leading restoration efforts in active and closed installations and complying with regulatory requirements. AFCEC has, for example, awarded approximately $1.3 billion in performance-based contracts since 2010 to address restoration needs at various active facilities.
Environmental restoration doesn’t stop when a base closes. Since 1988, the BRAC team has overseen restoration and cleanup of 40 installations that have been closed under federal legislation. Sometimes, transferring property back into the community means addressing environmental problems so that the property can be used for community needs. BRAC has already transferred more than 87,000 acres or 100% of the property at 35 locations, with approximately 1,900 acres still to go. The BRAC team was awarded the 2021 Department of Defense National Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse award at Former Griffiss AFB in NY for their hard work.
“We are here for the long run doing whatever it takes to protect human health and the environment,” said Dr. Stephen TerMaath, AFCEC BRAC Program chief. “Our restoration mission doesn’t stop when the installation closes, we continue our environmental responsibilities even after the property is transferred.”
With AFCEC’s support, Air Force installation natural resources teams sustain bio-diverse habitats for 123 threatened and endangered species at 54 bases. Eglin AFB in Fla. was awarded the 2021 DoD Environmental Award, Natural Resources Conservation at Large Installations for their four-pronged approach to gopher tortoise conservation.
“Eglin’s natural resources team moved to the installation more than 2,300 gopher tortoises displaced across Florida due to alternative energy production. The goal is to receive 6,000 tortoises by 2023,” said Karla Meyer, Air Force natural resources subject matter expert at AFCEC.
The National Environmental Policy Act division conducts Environmental Impact Statements whenever Air Force construction or mission activities are encroaching on these habitats. Environmental Assessments are often performed in difficult terrain and without causing any disruption to the natural environment.
AFCEC is pursuing the AFIMSC enterprise goal to accelerate change through innovation. AFCEC is currently testing small unmanned aerial systems for land surveys, floodplain mapping and vegetation classification. This technology could help the Air Force save millions of dollars and save countless hours of labor, which will allow them to free up funds and resources to support other projects.
“AFCEC funds environmental projects to cultivate population growth for threatened and endangered species,” Meyer said. “If we’re not in compliance with the Endangered Species Act we can’t execute our missions.”
Every day, including Earth Day, the AFCEC team encourages and grows partnerships that will ensure environmental health and Air Force mission success over many years.
“We have great events happening all across the country due to our environmental partnership efforts, but there is still a lot to do,” said Kenny Johnson of AFCEC Restoration and Clean Up Division chief. “We will continue rekindling and creating new partnerships so that together, we can preserve and sustain natural resources.”