The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) (Washington, DC, USA) recently announced the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards winners for 2022, which are designed to recognize installations, teams, and individuals for their accomplishments in innovative and cost-effective environmental management strategies.
“The DoD Components’ shared commitment to environmental stewardship helps create a safer, more resilient, and more secure future,” says Paul D. Cramer, who performs the duties of assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment.
Each year since 1962, these awards have honored DoD service members and civilians. According to the agency, the nominees’ achievements include significant strides to conserve natural and cultural U.S. resources; protect human health; prevent or eliminate pollution at the source; clean up hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants, and munitions on DoD sites; and incorporate environmental requirements into weapon systems acquisition.
A diverse panel of 53 judges from federal and state agencies, academia, and the private sector evaluated nominations to help determine the winners. This year, one of the winners was the C-130 program office and support team at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, USA. They won the individual/team award for Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition for their work in evaluating corrosion-inhibiting sealants.
“The C-130 Team’s six-year project to evaluate non-chromate corrosion inhibiting sealants resulted in the implementation of three alternatives,” DoD writes in its press release. “This significantly reduces worker exposure to a harmful carcinogen, eliminates 13,500 lbs [6123.5 kg] of chromate waste annually, and saves $253,024 per year for the C-130 production line alone.”
For more information on the project, visit www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2022secdef.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense News, www.defense.gov/News/Search/corrosion.