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Show Page July 6, 1973 HILL TOP TIMES 20 ill a 5 xl Willi rf It has been almost a year since my PCS move to Hill AFB, Utah; and my visions of bearded Mormons, clad in Pilgrim fashion, vanished almost instantly as I drove into the Salt Lake City area in the early spring of 1972. A few days later, after having become somewhat accustomed to my new surroundings, I was still looking for the bearded people. I found it difficult to believe that Utah was just like any other state in the U.S. All my preconceived notions were utterly destroyed by the numerous smokestacks, refineries, and copper smelters. I did not like the industry that had spotted the area surrounding the Great Salt Lake. I wanted to see families working diligently on the farms, irrigating the land, growing crops, and raising cattle. Industrial revolution The Industrial Revolution had not stopped at the gates of the early West. Ever since Eli Whitney's cotton ginand Watts' improvement of the steam engine, the early railroads had pushed their long stretches of tracks through the plains and mountains of the West. Journalists who traveled in the territories, thrilled the people in the East with stories of savage Indians attacking the wagon trains, and the U.S. Cavalry trying to rescue the pioneers from their fate. In the state of New York, the Mormons were constantly persecuted by their neighbors and had to leave for Illinois. The living conditions were not ideal there either, for the persecution seemed to follow them everywhere. They pulled up their stakes for the last time and arrived in the virtually uninhabited area of the Great Salt Lake. They built their homes, raised their livestock, tilled the land, and with great fortitude and patience, lived peacefully until the Industrial Revolution charged and trampled into their hardy lives. It could not be helped. The continual migration pioneers who were struck by gold fever, land ownership, adventure, and freedom from the law. They rushed to the new land by the thousands, and brought with them wagon loads of the "inventrics of civilization." Some of them settled in the Utah territory in pursuit of finding their dreams come true. The Mormon people were definitely not content with the influx of these settlers, but had to comply. The Industrial Revolution influenced their lives also; and soon through the years, Utah was tagged onto the Union. The State prospered. Copper smelters were constructed, and the outpour of smoke was later complemented with the construction of oil refineries. In those early years, the people of Utah were not concerned with the pollution problem we face today. But at the turn of the century, legislation began to take a close look at the eminent problem of land, water, and air poisoning. The "Refuse Act of 1899' was passed and prohibited industries discharging their w astes into neighboring canals or streams. Air Depot Ogden the world was the During the late 1930' s anticipating possibility of a World War. The German Reich had already marched into Poland in 1939, and Japan was escalating its war machinery. On July 1, 1939, Congress appropriated $8 million for the establishment and construction of the Ogden Air Depot. Then, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. War Department began to activate an increase in materiels. Hill Field, named in honor of the late Maj. Ployer P. Hill, became one of the busiest depots in the Continental United States. The combined efforts of the Corps of Engineers, WPA. and contractors, were to begin the preparations for eminent war. Runways, aprons, taxiways, sewer systems, and the construction of living quarters andutility buildings were implemented. Ray Harvey, one of the old time base civil engineers, said that, "They had worked night and day building Contribution Just as any other large organization. Hill AFB unavoidably contributed to air, water, and noise pollution. generated by base housing, aircraft wash racks, photo were a and labs, only few of the many pollutants created by routine air base dispensaries and housekeeping activities. The people in the surrounding communities, especially farmers, began to complain. They did not want their water contaminated with the dumping of wastesintothe storm sewers. They wanted it stopped immediately. Hill AFB started an effective program in pollution control which had its beginnings over 20 years ago. Protecting the local environment is of paramount importance to the officials at Hill AFB.and the initiation of the Environmental Protection Committee which meets regularly under the chairmanship of the Ogden AMA vice commander, proved to be a "good neighbor" to surrounding communities. ts by AlC John Benink, Successful utilization of water is maintained, In addition to conserving water, the most successful utilization of control erosion. Except for the ingiving uniform water distribution for maximum dustrial shops, all new facilities receive landscaping. tranAbout 1 400 trees were planted last year along the roads that facilitate easy to these trees see a is pleasure sportation' from one side of the base to the other. It certainly roads. these on while the to breeze driving bending Air pollutions is not a major problem at Hill. All power plants utilize natural gas with fuel oil standby Only a minute quantity of air pollutants are released from these plants. Also, acid mists emitted from plating operations will be better controlled by the consolidation of scrubbers. The new facilities plating operations and the use of high efficiency acid mist should be operational soon. Eliminate smoke not tolerate. Hill AFB However, there was one problem that the community people did which could be seen for began performing helicopter fire training exercises. The smoke, to the had Hill to then curtailed. be perform prototype "Smoke opportunity miles, had miles west of Ogden at the several were conducted tests These tests. Abatement System" water Site. new The Little Mountain Auxiliary spray injection system installed at the site is the smoke burning fuel. The w ater spray eliminates produced by designed to eliminate the per cent of the smoke generated. Also, in order to reuse the 2,000 gallons of water required for each burning exercise, the the water through a filter and holding reservoir. The prototype system system is now being used by the 1550th. Air Training and Test Wing at the Little Mountain Auxiliary Site in their training program. The construction was managed by the Hill AFB Civil Engineering Division. Air Force use Because of the apparent success of the system in eliminating smoke, consideration is being given to incorporating similar systems throughout the Air Force. The system will have various vital uses in the improvement of the environment. Each month at Hill AFB, Civil Engineering updates its "Environmental Pollution Briefing." Completed early in the fall of 1972, a 40 view graph package, encompassing the variety of uses for which it was created is continually being improved. The package is unique in the fact that it can be altered for specific as well as general presentations. Included in the presentation are view graphs which depict the chronological efforts which have and will be taken to insure the Presidential Executive Orders on environmental quality. The efforts are being strictly adhered to by an active Environmental Protection Committee. Also new members of the EPC as well as key personnel at Hill are briefed on all aspects of the pollution program. With this knowledge they are more capable of performing their duties as members of the committee. Although key personnel at Hill AFB are being educated on the pollution problem, Civil Engineering is also educating Ogden AMA personnel on the "abe's" of environmental pollution, its sources, and control. Local and state officials are also kept abreast of the status of Ogden AMA's pollution program which includes the monitoring and environmental planning. Education To make the program more sophisticated in driving home the concept of pollution control, a movie is inthemaking which blends colorful photography, music, and interviews. Since Hill AFB had its early beginnings, it has shown vast improvements in the locality. Although we cannot go back in time to watch the early Mormons working in the fields, Hill AFB is certainly doing its utmost to counteract the Industrial Revolution which has almost taken its toll in Utah. The abatement of noise, air, water, and land pollution allows the people of Utah to enjoy their mountain and valleys as if nothing had changed since the first Mormons settled in the Great Salt Lake area. Good neighbor Benefits of such committees which were made 1.V20 years ago are now being reaped. The three sewer systems thatwere planned in the 1940s and 1950 s and installed for removing waste water from the base, have been improved with grease traps to catch pollutants. Also, the sanitary sewer systems now carry all sewage from Hill AFB to the North Davis County Sewer District for treatment. In 1972 instructions were sent down to each directorate on base emphasizing the importance of complying with the preservation of a good relationship with the adjacent communities. Each Hill AFB employee was reminded to take positive action to insure that absolutely no solvents, oils, detergents, or other industrial wastes are dumped into the storm systems. And to boost the emphasis, Civil Engineering had an emergency project to connect the wash rack effluent to the sanitary sewer in the 12uo Zone. The project was completed in January 1972. mil Improvomonts Vast improvements have been made in the field of noise abatement during aircraft ground run up periods. Hush houses and demountable sound supressors are utilized to almost a complete abatement of noise from jet engine run ups. It is now enjoyable to appreciate Hill AFU's 18 bole golf course which has a reputation of being one of the most challenging courses in Utah. One can feel a wonder fulness of driving the ball over the well maintained grounds without the shattering, screeching noise in the background. Also equally enjoyable, is the aesthetic scenery and the babble of children in the picnic ground? on the north side of the base A s rrtie c slrnns surrounds the wooded area. Hill AFB, being located in a semiarid climate, has a problem of wind erosion Potential acres per year areas are inspected each year and reseeded for further growth About to off stave erosion. an in effort are seeded or reseeded 25-3- 0 Jr. on. revetments." When World War II had ended. Hill Field was already becoming the largest employer in Utah. h to The Civil Engineer has modified many of the manual lawn sprinkler systems a the buildings, automatic ones. If one is not careful while strolling on the lawns between are automatically turned sudden spray of water may wet him a little when the sprinklers 95 Continual migration towards the West attracted the urn ft rr imm , tT JT fmmmmms ( I |