Newspaper Article - Environmental Division works for greener Army

Thursday, 18 February 2010
By Lindsey Dunstedter
Special to GUIDON

Fort Leonard Wood has been living green before green was even cool. The Environmental Division in the Directorate of Public Works has been working to create a clean, self-sustaining environment for the Soldiers, civilians and families at the fort since the early 1980s. It is imperative to the success of the mission that Soldiers in the U.S. Army are able to have access to clean resources and a realistic training environment.

The post’s Environmental Division houses three branches: energy, natural/cultural resources, and environmental. Although these three branches exist independently, the branches all work toward the same goal of improving the environment and the quality of life for those who call Fort Leonard Wood home.

The Environmental Division had humble beginnings.

Emily Brown, chief of the Environmental Branch, was the very first full-time environmental specialist in 1983.

“For a time I was the Environmental Branch,” Brown said.

Now, the division employs professionals from various fields, including physical scientists, environmental engineers, geographers, agronomists, biologists and environmental specialists.

The branches review projects for possible environmental impact and compliance with laws and regulations. The employees in the division are able to educate others about what is legal.

Angela Rinck, physical scientist, said “These laws are in place at state and federal levels. They apply to the Army just like any federal agency, so we protect the environment and we protect the Soldier so they can get their mission and projects completed legally.”

The Environmental Division is dedicated to making the fort as efficient and sustainable as possible because the Army can greatly benefit by reducing costs and minimizing impacts. The division has gone to great lengths to keep money in Fort Leonard Wood that otherwise might have been lost. Along with new energy and conservation and recycling policies, one initiative is to incorporate more energy efficiency into building projects.

The fort is constructing these green buildings, Brown said, so the fort can “take advantage of the site itself, of the sunlight to reduce energy costs, of the existing trees and vegetation to offset cooling and minimize erosion. More recycled products are even being used in building materials.”

A new executive order changed construction and demolition so now everything has to be 50 percent recycled by weight. If a building is demolished, everything that can be recycled must be recycled and then the fort receives a credit. In addition to green construction, the fort is doing green demolition. Materials from demolished buildings be reused, recycled, and not landfilled which is costly.

The money received from the Recycling Program is returned to the fort with the majority being provided to MWR. MWR’s mini-golf facility was constructed from recycled funds and the funds also helped support general improvements in recreational equipment.

Craig French, Solid Waste and Recycling program manager, feels that recycling is a personal matter.

“A great deal of personal satisfaction comes from the fact that recycling money provided to MWR supports our Soldiers and their families,” French said.

The Environmental Division at Fort Leonard Wood is dedicated to creating and maintaining a sustainable and realistic environment for Soldiers in both a professional and recreational capacity.

“Hunting and fishing activities are excellent in the Ozarks. The fort is a place for people to relax in the outdoors with their family. When the Soldier is deployed, the programs help the kids get out and get more involved,” said Thomas Glueck, Natural Resources branch chief.

“All branches in the division contribute to the overall well-being of the Soldiers by providing clean air, clean water, and a sustained environment,” said Carl Stenger, physical scientist.

For additional information about Fort Leonard Wood’s Environmental Division, visit www.wood.army.mil /wood_cms/3116.shtml.

(Editor’s note: Dunstedter is a Missouri S&T intern writing for the MSCoE Commander’s Initiative Group.)