Kadena completes weeklong local ESOHCAMP inspection

  • Published
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Officials from Kadena finished a weeklong Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program inspection during an out-brief at the Schilling Community Center Ballroom Feb. 4.

Mr. Fil Jimenez, 18th Mission Support Group deputy director and the team chief for the ESOHCAMP, delivered the out-brief to base leadership and management.
"We owe it to our folks, and we owe it to our local community to be good stewards of our environment," Mr. Jimenez told the crowd.

The ESOHCAMP inspection team, along with support from Environmental Assist at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, reviewed Kadena's Environmental Management System to determine how the base is complying with Japanese regulations and permits, as well as Air Force instructions. The protocols evaluated included air emissions, cultural resources, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, water quality, solid waste, wastewater, natural resources, pesticides, petroleum, oil and lubricants, storage tanks, toxic substances, blood borne pathogens, confined space entry, ionizing radiation, hazardous communication, laboratory practices and other issues involving radon, polychlorinated biphenyls and asbestos.

Thirty-eight volunteer inspectors from Kadena visited more than 120 sites all over the base.

While there were some places where Kadena can improve, there were five areas singled out as having best practices within the inspection areas:

· Mr. Bob Baker from the 18th Force Support Squadron was recognized for his program Heroes of Planet Earth or H.O.P.E. This organization solicits volunteers from the Kadena community to remove debris from jungle and beach areas both on the installation and off. Since its inception in 2009, more than 1,100 volunteers have removed more than 2.71 tons of debris in 13 different clean-up events.

· Mr. Wayland Carthel, also from the 18th FSS has prevented illegal dumping at his place of work in Bldg. 24. He manufactured locks in order to keep the refuse containers free of inappropriate debris.

· Mr. George Komine from the 718th Civil Engineer Squadron launched an "Adopt a Monument" program here. This program gets squadrons to volunteer to clean up the various monuments on Kadena - this is especially important following storms and typhoons.

· The men and women of the 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron were recognized for their monthly spill response/prevention classes which they hold more often than required by Air Force and DOD instructions.

· Lastly, the 18th FSS was again recognized for its operations at the Okuma Recreation area. The staff at Okuma mark and barricade nesting areas on the beach in an effort to protect the sea turtles there. They then coordinate with off base Japanese organizations to further protect the turtles.

While the Pacific Air Forces ESOHCAMP isn't slated until 2012, Col. Brian Duffy, 18th Civil Engineer Group commander, pointed out that the Air Force has come a long way in improving its stewardship of the environment.

"Hard looks at our business practices such as these not only prepare us for the PACAF look next year," he said, "but provide us results that show how well we're integrating environmental stewardship into our daily operations."