NAVFAC MIDLANT Environmental recognized as part of 2023 EPA Federal Facilities Excellence in Partnering Team of the Year award

FromNavalFacilitiesEngineering SystemsCommandMid-Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina Partnering Team was recently announced asrecipientsofthe2023EPANationalNotable Achievement Award: Federal Facilities Excellence in Partnering Team of the Year for their exemplary partnership and for effectivelyimplementinginnovative,timely, and sustainable remedial actions onboard the 156,000-acre military base Teams from all 10 EPA Regions submitted packages and competedforthisyear’shonors

The MCB Camp Lejeune Partnering Team included: Dave Cleland and Lindsey Mills from Naval Facilities Engineering SystemsCommandMid-Atlantic(NAVFAC MIDLANT)Environmental;JenniferTufts, from EPA Region 4; Thomas Richard and Laura Spung, from MCB Camp Lejeune; RandyMcElveen,BethHartzell,andAngela Moore,fromNorthCarolinaDepartmentof Environmental Quality; Matt Louth, Kim Henderson and Monica Fulkerson, from Jacobs; and Dylan Elks and Shaun Whitworth fromMeadowsCMPG Inc

“I’m extremely proud of this team but also proud of their ability to assess tough environmental issues by incorporating innovative thinking and reasoning, positive communication, and efficient manage-

Unaccompanied Housing

partforustobesuccessful.”

Working hard for their customers is also somethingthatTroyWager,theInstallation Program Director for the UH at Northwest Annex,prideshimselfandhisstaffon.

“It is very satisfying to know that we are doing our job the right way and doing the best we can for our Single Sailors and Marines,”hesaid.

The criteria for the award is a customer servicescoreof91.4%orgreaterandhaveat least 20% of the residents participate in the survey. Both UHs received an outstanding servicescorefromtheresidents. “Theseawardshavebecomethestandard forhousingexcellence,”saidBurke.

Both the Portsmouth and Northwest AnnexUHsreceivedthisawardin2021and 2022,makingthisthethirdconsecutiveyear fortherecognition

At the Portsmouth UH facility, there are seven civilians and four military members mentpractices,”saidKellyKnight,NAVFAC MIDLANTEnvironmentalDirector.“Their efforts also helped to support beneficial goalsoftheDepartmentofDefenseandour partneringagencies.”

Workperformedwasmanagedunderthe Navy’sEnvironmentalRestorationProgram (ERP),whichutilizesapartneringconceptto facilitatecleanupactionsrequiredunderthe Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation,andLiabilityAct.

Theteamwaswidelyrecognizedfortheir functionality and for the performance of their duties During the submission period, the team’s combined efforts included: the treatment of more than 6 million gallons of groundwater, injection of more than 3,000 gallonsofemulsifiedvegetableoilsubstrate as part of a bio barrier replenishment and recirculationsystem,andtheoperationofair sparge systems for more than 9,000 hours Additionally, the team saved more than $40,000byreusingremediationequipment from a decommissioned site, and increased efficiency through the installation of a new solarpoweredtreatmentsystemthatreused 70cubicyardsofsoil,recycled7,530pounds of metal, reduced remediation-derived wasteandpaperwaste,andsavedmorethan 52metrictonsofcarbondioxideemissions amongotherbenefits.

Their dynamic structure allowed them to establish and maintain effective working whoworkhardeachdaytoprovidesupport totheresidents

“I can honestly say I have never met barracks staff who cared so much. They go out of their way to ensure the Sailors living intheirbuildinghaveallconcernsaddressed andkeepthefacilitiesingoodconditionand working order,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rdClassMaryJackson.“Theirattentionto safetyandcomfortareparamountandtheir effortstomaintainlivingconditionsdoesnot gounnoticed.”

Jackson specifically recognized two UH staff members who have been there for her during her time at UH Robert Langlais andDeniseBurke.

“Theybothassistedme,actingwayabove and beyond their expected roles, taking the place of mentors and friends They supportedmethroughoneofthemostdifficult personal trials I have ever faced, she said.“Throughthattime,theytookpersonal time to ensure all of my needs were met, helping me to feel comfortable, cared for, and supported. They are genuine people whocareabouttheirfacilityandtheSailors who live there. They make it feel like more relationships with external organizational units, including the Restoration Advisory Board, a stakeholder organization that provides input on MCB Camp Lejeune’s cleanup program. The team’s partnership involved frequent engagement and collaboration with stakeholders to execute the Navy’s ERP in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner It also focused on strengtheningrelationships improvingopen communication and meeting stakeholder objectivessositescanberemediatedquickly andreturnedformissionusage

“Congratulations to each of the team recipients, and the entire MIDLANT Environmental Restoration Team, on this great achievement,” said Capt. Matt Riethmiller, NAVFAC MIDLANT Commanding Officer “This a testament to the hard work and tremendous effort done by the Navy and Marine Corps team to not only protect, but alsorestoretheenvironment Italsodemonstratestheimpactenvironmentalrestoration hasonthemission,andwherewelive,work andtrain.”

NAVFAC’s Environmental Program provides high quality, timely, cost-effective,andefficientenvironmentalsupportto the Navy Marine Corps and other clients Environmental management is the means of conserving, protecting and restoring the environment, and natural and cultural resources, for future generations NAVFAC than just a temporary place to live. Their embodiment of kindness and values make itfeellikeahome.

In addition to the helpful and engaged staff, the facility also has various amenities andfeaturestoaccommodatetheirresidents andhelpthemfeelascomfortableaspossible to include snack, beverage and cold sandwich machines, two gazebos and barbecue areas with lounge chairs that can be used aroundthegroundsofthebuildingoronthe waterfront.

This place is a hidden gem for our residentstoenjoythegreatviewsandtherelaxingenvironmentthatthepropertyhas,”said Burke.

Soon, residents and staff will have a new facility to experience as the renovations on the additional UH at Portsmouth Annex is scheduledtobecompleteinthenextcouple ofmonths

“Weareexcitedtobeabletosupportthat populationaswereopenanewlyrevamped andmodernizedfacilitythatwillhouseSailorsacrossourinstallation,aswellasNorfolk NavalShipyard,”saidFrauenzimmer

About45minutesawayattheNorthwest offers sound environmental management and technical support necessary for Navy andMarineCorpscompliancewithfederal, state, local and host nation regulations We strive to continually improve our relationships with our clients, regulators and other stakeholders through focus on common operational goals, sharing of information regarding our products and services and availability of a highly skilled environmentalworkforce.

NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering,publicworksandenvironmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, and as far west as Michigan, anddowntoIndiana.Asanintegralmember of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organizationtoensuretheregion’sfacilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently andeffectively

Visit NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic online at www.navfac.navy.mil/navfac_worldwide/ atlantic/fecs/mid-atlantic.html.Also“like,” ‘follow” and share and visit the official NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/navfacmidatlantic.

Annex,thereisastaffoffivepersonnelwho operate the UH which has 78 rooms, three freelaundryrooms,aloungewithtwotelevisions,apooltable,andapavilionwithcharcoalgrills

Although Northwest Annex is a smaller installation situated away from the hustle and bustle of the neighboring installations in the Hampton Roads area, it has many programsandservicesformilitarymembers andfamilies.

“WealwaystrytoworkcloselywithMWR toinformtheresidentsofeventshappening on base that they may want to participate in,”saidWagers.

All of the military housing locations that were surveyed are eligible to participate in the CEL National Award Program for Service Excellence which recognizes those UH buildings and/or installations that provide an excellent level of service to tenants.

“Ideeplyappreciateeverymemberofmy entire staff for their relentless hard work,” saidBurke.“Itgivesmegreatpridetobethe leaderofthisteam.Theirhardworkcontinuestoinspireme.” onlyforward-deployed carrier USS Ronald Regan (CVN 76),carrierstrike group (CSG) in Da Nang

VietnamJune 25,2023.This marks Ronald Reagan’s firstvisit to the countrysince diplomatic relationswere re-established.Ronald Reagan CSG is forward-deployed to the 7th Fleet area ofoperation in support ofa free and open IndoPacific.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYMASSCOMMUNICATIONSPECIALIST2NDCLASSASKIACOLLINS)