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Show flMES April 22,2010 D-aint stripping easier on environment Team contributes to green S efforts BY BARBARA FISHER 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ometimes the best way to start a story is with the old stand-by, "Once upon a time ..." It's also a good way to start a Hill Air Force Base environmental story today — the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Hill's environmental story has heroes (base workers), villains (smogcausing chemicals), aircraft paint and even buttons. The story begins in the 1940s with Hill AFB becoming an active military base and maintenance depot. Over the years, thousands of aircraft have flown into the base from around the globe for repair and overhaul. As part of the overhaul process, Hill workers were required to strip the paint from the aircraft and its parts. "In the old days," this meant using gallons of a paint stripper containing methylene chloride, a manmade, colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor. This chemical was often used by the military and industry as a solvent in paint strippers. To strip paint from aircraft like the F-4, F-105 and other aircraft, Hill's paint technicians would don huge rubber suits and protective masks and gloves. They would swab an aircraft down with the methylene chloride paint stripper and then use putty knives and scrapers to remove the paint from the planes. The environmentally unfriendly BY CATHERINE MCNALLY Hilltop Times staff T he 22nd day of April marks "Earth Day" each year. While this day is important in reminding us of our responsibility to keep our Earth clean and healthy, it is important to remember that our actions impact the Earth on every other day of the year, too. This constant impact is why Hill Air Force Base seeks out projects and partnerships with the local community to ensure that the home of our Airmen and their families and workplace for many civilian workers supports renewable energy sources, energy independence and cleanliness. Hill's solar panels catch some sun Hill Air Force Base is home to the largest ground-based solar panel array in the state of Utah. This renewable source of power resides just off of Wardleigh Road and was commissioned on June 25, 2009. The solar panels provide 220 kilowatts of power, which is enough to power 25 base homes for a year. .-, . Currently there are 22 arrays in the solar panel farm, with each array consisting of 48 panels. The system is capable of future expansion of up to one megawatt of power production. The solar panel array is "part of Hill's partnership with Courtesy photo An F-16 Fighting Falcon is prepared for re-painting after undergoing depot maintenance. Aircraft today are stripped of their paint using a bead blast procedure that's more environmentally friendly than the older procedure which used chemical paint strippers, scrapers and putty knives to remove paint. part of the story comes next. The stripping process left behind thousands of gallons of used paint stripper and paint waste. "We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to dispose of this waste," said Steve Rasmussen, Hill AFB's air quality program manager. "Then there was the air pollution being produced." REDUCING VOCS Use of an enclosed paint gun washing system like the one shown here has helped reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) air emissions at Hill AFB • Hill has reduced photochemicaJly reactive emissions from VOCs by 174 tons annually. • VOCs react with sunlight to create smog. • Many VOCs are considered by the EPA to be hazardous air pollutants. See PAINT I page 10 Air Force observes Earth Day 2010 Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, will officiate and make brief remarks ASHINGTON — Air Force representatives at the ceremony. This is one of 40 similar native-species tree will plant a Valley Forge American Elm tree April plantings planned by Air Force Real Property Agency officials 22 in the Pentagon courtyarto take place at current and dlas part of the Air Force's observances of Earth Day. former Air Force bases across Debra Tune, principal deputy assistant secretary of the See DAY I page 11 Air Force Print News W See GREEN I page 10 Earth Day U.S. AIR FORCE Action Today for a Greener Tomorrow Environmental Restoration Division gets DoD-level award ESOHCAMP audit April 26-May 6 BY BARBARA FISHER BY MARY LOU GORNY 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Hilltop Times editor W ith checklists in hand, a team of more than 60 Hill Air Force Base employees will divide up and spread across the base and even into Utah's west desert April 26- May 6 for the base's annual ESOHCAMP. But it's not the kind of "camp" that calls for tents, sleeping bags and camp stoves. ESOHCAMP is an acronym for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program. It involves everything from visiting and running through checklists with % workers to going so far as to look into ; trash cans, or "dumpster diving," to see if fluorescent light tubes or aerosol cans See ESOHCAMP I page 11 Volunteers ; 'heart of O fleam T Members of the Restoration Branch, 75th Civil Engineering Group Environmental Management Division, were recognized recently with the Department of Defense Environmental Award. Pictured here, back row (left to right): Rob Wallace, Erik Dettenmaier, Lance Kovel, Kyle Gorder, Mark Roginske and Jarrod Case. Front row (left to right): Mark Loucks (branch chief), Lisa Aschbrenner, Shannon Smith and Oscar Torres. Others not available for the photo: Britt Grunewald, Barbara Hall and Dennis Weder. service: Hilltop Times staff Edna Berg, Ogden Air Logistics Center, for her work at n the morning of April the tax center; William Dew19 Team Hill members ey, 75th Force Support Squadand leaders gathered ron, for his work with the at Club Hill to recognize the Outdoor Adventure Program; efforts and dedication of Diane Jaeger, 500th Combat Hill's volunteers at the Volun- Sustainment Squadron, for teer Recognition Breakfast. her Quilts of Valor project; Five nominees were recCarol Mooney, Hill Aeroognized for their outstanding space Museum volunteer, for BY CATHERINE MCNALLY he 75th Civil Engineer Group's Environmental Management Division at Hill Air Force Base has been recognized by the Department of Defense for the third year in a row by winning the Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for Environmental Restoration - Installation category. The DOD award recognizes the division's outstanding management of environmental restoration activities at Hill AFB, Utah Test and Training Range and other off installation managed sites. C The branch is one of three in the divi- sion that also include the Program Support Branch and Compliance Branch. her work there, and Joshua Wehner, 509th ICBM Systems Squadron, for his work with the Woods Cross High School and Layton City Youth Corp. After the nominees had received their certificates, the winner of the Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award was announced. With a look of surprise and excitement on her face, Mooney headed up to See TEAM I page 12 the stage to accept the award from Col. Patrick Higby, 75th ABW commander. "Carol has donated over 6,800 hours of time over the course of nearly 23 years of service — 253 hours in 2009 alone. She has put on a smile and welcomed over 200,000 visitors to the Hill Aerospace See VOLUNTEER I page 12 |