Cleaned up

This is the way the area near the Woods Reservoir dam on Arnold Air Force Base appears after base contract personnel recently removed trash, including discarded furniture, broken glass and plastic bottles that had been illegally left there. Base officials urge people to not litter or illegally dump items on base or risk facing arrest and potential legal action. Also, officials encourage people to report illegal activity to base police at (931) 454-5662. (Photo by David Housch)

Cleaned up

This is the way the area near the Woods Reservoir dam on Arnold Air Force Base appears after base personnel recently removed trash, including discarded furniture, broken glass and plastic bottles that had been illegally left there. Base officials urge people to not litter or illegally dump items on base or risk facing arrest and potential legal action. Also, officials encourage people to report illegal activity to base police at (931) 454-5662. (Photo by David Housch)

Inspections

The Air Force Materiel Command Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program (ESOHCAMP) inspection was conducted this week. The external team of auditors judged base compliance with environmental, occupational health and safety protocols. Here, Jerry Farris watches as Ron Kolpa, an EOSHCAMP auditor examines components at the DECADE facility. A total of 24 specialists inspected the base for environmental, safety and occupational health non-compliances. (Photo by David Housch)

Recycling reaps multiple rewards

At an awards ceremony last week in Franklin, Tenn., the Tennessee Recycling Coalition presented members of the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) Environmental group with the government recycler of the year award. The award was in recognition of significant waste diversions achieved from October 2006 through September 2007. According to Frank Duncan, Air Force Environmental Quality program manager, 47.1 percent of all non-hazardous solid waste was diverted to recycling activities. This included 2,149 tons of construction and demolition materials, 2,039 tons of scrap metal, 244 tons of paper and cardboard and 147 tons of other materials. (Photo provided)

And they think we can't read

This buck was caught staring at the ‘Safety Zone – No Hunting’ sign by an infrared triggered motion camera used by Arnold Engineering Development Center Conservation to assist in compiling its annual deer census. According to Mike Black, Aerospace Testing Alliance restoration ecologist, there are approximately 20 cameras installed at various locations in the wooded areas of the base which assist in estimating deer density, buck-to-doe ratios and fawn recruitment rates. This information, along with the data recorded by hunters, is used to set harvest guidelines to regulate the deer herd.

Alive and growing

Managing the comeback and delisting of the Eggert's sunflower is one of the reasons why Arnold AFB won the 2006 Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Award for Natural Resources Conservation.