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Show HILLTOP TIMES 10 TIMES April 22, 2010 PAINT From page 9 Because methylene chloride is volatile, or evaporates easily, it is one of the chemicals that reacts with sunlight to create smog. It is considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to be a hazardous air pollutant as well, and over the years, laws were put in place to reduce the use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), like methylene chloride, in products. Then one day, the story continues, a Hill engineer was loaned out to work on a project in Europe. While there, he went to a buttonmaking factory. He noticed the small bits of plastic left after a buttonhole is made. The beginning pf an idea was born that day to do a more environmentally-friendly paint stripping — called bead blasting. "We found that if you get the right size and kind of plastic (plastic that's harder than the paint, but softer than the aircraft), and then shoot it out of a hose with an 'We found that if you get the right size and kind of plastic (plastic thafs harder than the paint but softer than the aircraft), and then shoot it out of a hose with an air stream, you have a great way to strip paint that doesn't hurt the surface of the aircraft. We could also scoop the plastic up and reuse it until it was almost pulverized into dust." Courtesy photo A Hill AFB worker uses bead blasting to remove paint from aircraft wheels during depot maintenance overhaul. There was practically no waste from the process." Bead blasting wasn't the only change made to make Hill mainteSTEVE RASMUSSEN, Hill AFB's nance processes safer for the environment. The painters began using air quality program manager low VOC paints, and spray guns were designed to be more efficient to prevent paint overspray. air stream, you have a great way to strip paint that doesn't hurt the "This reduced the amount of surface of the aircraft," Rasmuspaint used because there was less sen said. "We could also scoop the overspray and waste," Rasmussen plastic up and reuse it until it was said. "Reducing the VOC content almost pulverized into dust. Then of the paints and other technolall we had to recycle were some ogy breakthroughs also made them plastic media and paint chips. more durable and much less toxic into electricity. The project, which was the first landfill gas to energy project completed in Utah, is able to power around 1,400 homes on base. Col. Patrick Higby addresses the crowd assembled awaiting the powering up of the solar array on June rj to the environment." There is still some small use of chemicals to spot strip aircraft in hard-to-reach areas, Rasmussen said, "but the use of chemical ;. strippers has been dramatically reduced, along with health risks to.. our painters." The F-16 Fighting Falcon that the depot currently repairs is primarily stripped of its paint by beadblasting. Rasmussen said future generations of aircraft, like the F-35, will have newer coatings and \ may require even less paint for camouflage and to prevent corrosion. The depot is also already look- ' ing to a future where bead-blasting may even be replaced by laser paint stripping that heats the paint and burns it off the surface of the aircraft. "The paint is basically destroyed," Rasmussen said. "Air emissions are then to the point where they are non-existent, and the waste would also then be zero or next to nothing. This will be another big win for the environment." And an excellent story for another Earth Day. Turning trash into treasure 25,2009,3s ,. community and base representatives wait in the background. ; File photo and used to heat many of the buildings and offices on base. By using steam instead of fossil fuels, Hill is able to greatly reduce its output of From page 9 greenhouse gases. Ameresco, an independent energy Another plus is that the recovsolutions company, and a continuery facility where the steam is ing effort to pursue energy indepurchased is "one of the cleanest pendence and exceed the renewable sources of renewable energy and energy requirements stated by the has extremely low emissions of polEnergy Independence and Security lution, including dioxins, as detailed Act of 2007. by the Environmental Protection "We will continue to seek opportu- Agency," reports a news release featured on the Wasatch Intenities like this and partner with the grated Waste Management industry and make the right prudent District Web site. choices for Hill Air Force Base, not only from an environmental perThe recovery facility spective but also from an energy also reduces the volume security perspective," Col. Patrick of garbage going into Higby, 75th Air Base Wing comthe Davis Landmander, said during the 2009 comfill by 90 percent missioning of the solar panel array. and provides a way for metals to be recovered and Going green with steam recycled, the news release states. You may not think spending money on something as intangible Hill also has a as water vapor is a good idea, but partnership with the for Hill Air Force Base, it's a great Davis Landfill, which investment. is where the base Steam is purchased from the purchases methane gas Davis Energy Recovery Facility that is then converted GREEN Hill's Qualified Recycling Program has only been around for three and a half years, but it's already had a major impact in reducing the base's waste output. "During (three and a half years) we have reduced waste disposal by 9.5 million pounds," Paul C. Betts, the QRP manager, said. The QRP is able to recycle several base-specific items and generate funds which continue to support the nonfederaily funded program. Over the lifetime of the program, the QRP has raised around $1.72 million through generating funds via recycling and as well as saving money by recycling here on base as opposed to sending items off base. Items that the QRF recycles include: • Lead acid batteries (227,000 pounds over 3 xh years) • Plastic media blast (2.57 million pounds over 3 xh years) • Used oil (256,000 gallons over 3 Vi years) • Scrap metal (4.8 million pounds over 3 lh years) • Small arms brass shell casings (24,000 pounds in storage; awaiting permit to use deforming machine) Common recyclables, such as aluminum cans, cardboard and paper, are also recycled here on base through a contract . with an outside Municipal Recycling' Facility, or MRF. These items can be left at a drop off location west of Building 911 on Wardleigh Road. Currently the QRP's goal is to es- '. tablish an MRF here on base, which . would allow the program to take care of a wider range of recyclable materials. The money generated \ by a larger, more expanded facility would go back to the base to fund environmental and Morale, Welfare r and Recreation projects, Betts said. The QRP hopes to start building its new facility in July or August of this year. -, For more information on the QRP, '". please contact Paul Betts at (801) 777-8791. First graders grow .: green thumbs ; Hill Field Elementary's first grad- \ ers plan on spending their Earth Day getting dirty. The first-grade class will be prepping, edging and planting three different gardens near the school, including a hummingbird and butterfly garden, sunflower garden and a "sunflower steps" garden. " Led by Cindy McGurl and Tauga Schweitzer, two first-grade teachers at Hill Field, the first-graders will also be sponsoring a community service project where they will collect plastic bags and newspapers, which will then be taken to the recycling bins at the Davis County Landfill. The first-graders' community service project will run until April 30, and McGurl encourages anyone tcx participate by dropping off recyclables in the drop-off box outside of the school's front office. Hilltop Times correspondent Lee Anne Hensley provided background material for a portion of this article. • Hill AFB Job Openings Site Internal civilian announcements are posted on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site. Announcements for bargaining unit positions are posted on Fridays. All other announcements may be posted any day of the week. The Civilian Announcement Notification System is a subscription e-mail service available to jj assist employees in their job search. ? Self-nominations for posted announcements can be made on-line at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/resweb. or via the interactive voice response system at 1-800-997-2378 and TDD 1-800-382-0893. GOOD FOUNDATIONS ACADEMY New Charter School using Award-Winning Educational Model Coming to Riverdale in September Looking for the best education for your child in a program lhat also builds character? Consider Good Foundations Academy - a free charter school for grades K-6 that is based on the same model used by one of Colorado's most highly rated schools, Liberty Common Charter School. Attend lo learn more about this amazing opportunity for your child. Riverdale Community Center 4360 South Parker Dr. 23 April 7:00 Christ Community Church 375 South State Street 28 April 7:00 First Enrollment Wilt Close April 30 with a lottery taking place immediately after that date if necessary Good Foundations Academy: • Free tuilion and smaller classes • Academic excellence through Core Knowledge Sequence curriculum • Character Education founded on respect, cooperation, citizenship, integrity, perseverance, self control, and responsibility • Emphasis on quality literature • Partnership with Liberty Common Charter School - an Official Core Knowledge Visitation r, Site, a Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School, and a'Center for Education Reform's 2007 National Charter School of the Year We are now accepting applications for Good Foundations Academy at www.gfautah.org 801-525-8494 • For info on NSPS visit http://www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps. PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, P.C. Dale Hibbert, Pediatrics Jennifer Brown, Family Leland Pack, Orthodontist Live Music each Wed 6 Thur. DJeachjFri. Sat Night Accepts Military Insurance Latest technology in painless dentistry Fuee exam for children under 2 yrs Arcade games & more Sat, Night: Karaoke " Open Mon through sat 774-0770 2112 N. HILLFIELD RD. #1 • LAYTON |