MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: After-Action Report – Colorado Interagency Environmental Network Meeting (4 August 1999)

1. The Air Force Academy hosted a meeting of DoD representatives in Colorado, the Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Pollution Prevention Program, to continue discussions and cooperative activities regarding environmental issues of common interest. The U.S. Army Environmental Center’s (USAEC) Western Regional Environmental Office (WREO) facilitated the meeting. Eighteen participants attended the meeting, from the agencies, six installations, one major command, the Colorado National Guard, and the WREO. The group met at the Air Force Academy’s 10th Air Base Wing Commander’s Headquarters on 4 August 1999. The attendee sign-in sheet is included as enclosure 1 (not available on Web Site). The meeting agenda is included as enclosure 2.

2. Meeting attendees reviewed activities to address action items identified during the 3 June Network meeting. Discussions follow.
a. Action Item: Documentation of recommendations implemented, with associated cost savings, during the March and April 1998 Vehicle Maintenance and Recycling installation staff assistance visits that were facilitated by the Network. Resolution: Participants indicated little progress regarding this issue.
b. Action Item: Updating pollution prevention success stories for the Pollution Prevention Success Story Compendium. Resolution: The Air Force Academy is updating their pollution prevention plan, and they will address success stories at that time. Ms. Diana Dean has an electronic computer file that includes the template used to document pollution prevention success stories. She will send it out to Network members via email so they can document their successes for distribution to Network members.
c. Action Item: Documentation of lessons learned and recommendations from the Army’s Western Regional Environmental Office’s (WREO) participation in the 1999 Colorado Regular Legislative Session. Resolution: Ms. Diane Connolly (WREO) provided recommendations for installations regarding this issue. For more information contact the WREO attorney.
d. Action Item: Determination if there are any DoD programs that could potentially provide funding support for CDPHE’s pollution prevention program. Resolution: No alternatives identified for this issue to date.
e. Action Item: Air Force Academy requested volunteers to participate in their 26-30 July 1999, hazardous waste "mini Environmental Compliance Assessment Management Program" (ECAMP). Resolution: Several representatives from Colorado installations and the WREO supported this effort. According to AFA representatives, the results exceeded their expectations. Great cooperative effort!
f. Action Item: Providing construction demolition debris recycling information. Resolution: Mr. Tim Blume advised that he had discussed the issue with Mr. Joe Mann (City of Denver Department of Public Works) who is in charge of demolition of the former Stapleton International Airport and associated recycling. Mr. Mann’s telephone number is (303) 640-3532. Mr. Mann is very willing to discuss his experiences and recommendations. Mr. Blume provided a handout that shows how to access the U.S. West Dex Internet Web site to find information regarding recycling. The Web site address is http://www.dexonline.com/.

3. Mr. Dick Brown (Executive Director of "Colorado Recycles") presented information regarding his organization and its mission. Colorado Recycles is a nonprofit "501c.3." educational organization that serves as a catalyst for education about recycling. He advised that he would be focusing in the future on the demand side of recycling to try to enhance markets of recyclable materials. Colorado Recycles publishes a "Recycling Guide" intended to help facilitate getting recyclable material to markets for reuse. Colorado Recycles has information on an Internet Web site that is   http://www.colorado-recycles.org. The "Recycling Guide" and other information are on the Web site, which the agency plans to update. In addition to assisting with recycling issues, Mr. Brown offered to conduct a workshop for Network members and other military representatives regarding government affairs and public outreach that may provide valuable recommendations for installation personnel.

4. Mr. Gilbert Bailey (EPA Region VIII Environmental Specialist) provided a presentation regarding Executive Order 13101 (Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition). His presentation included a discussion of the Order’s provisions and requirements. Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires government agencies to promote recycling by increasing their purchases of products containing recovered materials. EPA has designated 36 recycled content items in its comprehensive procurement guidelines that government procuring agencies must consider purchasing. Under RCRA, the requirement to purchase an EPA-designated product containing recovered materials applies to procuring agencies that spend more than $10,000 a year on the item. Federal Register notices are available on the Internet through the EPA Public Access Server at  http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. Copies of fact sheets, product manufacturers list, and additional supporting information is available at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure.htm. EPA’s Federal Facility Enforcement Office is preparing guidance on conducting federal facility inspections for compliance with section 6002 of RCRA. The final guidance document will be available on the Envirosense Web site at http://es.epa.gov/. According to information provided in the EPA’s FedFacs publication number 7, EPA inspection during the first year of implementation will emphasize awareness and compliance assistance, focusing on federal facilities responsibilities under RCRA 6002. In future years, EPA will review its response to non-compliance with section 6002 to ensure federal facility compliance. EPA may issue notices of violation for violation of RCRA section 6002 and enter into compliance agreements at federal facilities that are discovered through inspections mandated by Executive Order 13101. In addition, citizens may act pursuant to RCRA section 7002, the citizen suit provision. Mr. Bailey advised that he is available to assist installations to implement the requirements of the Executive Order.

5. Mr. Blume informed attendees regarding activities during the 22 July 1999, installation restoration information exchange workgroup meeting. Mr. Dean Dunn (Air Force 21st Space Wing Environmental Flight Chief) coordinates activities of Colorado military representatives and lead discussions during the meeting. Participants from five installations and the National Guard attended. They identified several restoration issues, which are of common interest, that they can begin to address in the future. They discussed the Region IV EPA/State/DoD Tiered Restoration Partnership that is very effective in improving understandings and working relationships among agencies and DoD organizations. Attendees agreed to sponsor a workshop in the Denver area at which participants in the Region IV partnership would provide information regarding the partnership, as well as their perspectives about its benefits.

The workgroup participants will also invite representatives of EPA Region VIII, CDPHE and Colorado military to attend and learn about the Region IV partnership. Colorado representatives can use what they learn from this meeting to determine if a restoration partnership like the one in Region IV might potentially be proposed in Colorado to facilitate similar benefits. Dianne Thiel (EPA Region VIII) volunteered to serve as the EPA sponsor agreeing to hold the meeting at the EPA Region VIII’s conference facilities.

ACTION ITEM: Mr. Dunn will take the lead to coordinate setting a meeting date and arrange for the meeting. It appears that there are representatives from the Region IV partnership who are ready and willing to participate in the meeting. Ms. Diana Dean has made some of the contacts, and Mr. Blume will attempt to enlist support for Region IV participants.

6. Mr. Dan Rodriguez (Headquarters Air Force Space Command) advised attendees that Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) Pollution Prevention Program personnel agreed to support the Network’s plans to conduct aircraft operation pollution prevention staff assistance visits at Colorado installations. The AFCEE P2 personnel are available after 1 October 1999. Mr. Blume advised that he has identified an Army representative at the Corpus Christi Army Depot who has participated in these installation visits in the past, and is interested in assisting in the Colorado project. However, we must get approval from the chain of command. Mr. Blume indicated the WREO sent a letter to the installation commander requesting his approval. Organizers will schedule a conference call upon finalizing team members to discuss details of the schedule and scope of the effort. Network members still would like CDPHE pollution prevention program staff to help by identifying a small private airport where the assessment team can visit. Visits will occur after 1 October 1999, based on personnel availability.

7. Mr. Blume provided information regarding four Colorado regulatory developments.
a. Waste Fluorescent Light Tube Management – EPA promulgated final regulations, 6 July 1999, which allow hazardous waste lamps to be managed as universal waste. Except for states that have not been delegated authority to implement RCRA, states are not required to adopt this new regulation. It becomes effective at the federal level, 6 January 2000. According to Mr. Fred Dowsett (CDPHE Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Compliance Coordinator), CDPHE will likely adopt EPA’s regulation without change, probably near year-end 1999. Waste generators may choose to either manage their hazardous waste lamps as universal waste, or they must characterize them and manage them appropriately like most other hazardous wastes.
b. Smoke Management Requirements – Ms. Colleen Campbell (CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division) advised that the Colorado Air Quality Control Division will convene stakeholder work group meetings, beginning during the week of 30 August 1999, to begin to discuss implementing requirements of Colorado SB 99-145, as well as to develop enhanced regulations to reduce potential impacts from open burning. Organizers will send workshop announcements out very soon. Although DoD is exempted from the requirements of Colorado SB 99-145, DoD organizations should monitor developments carefully. Regarding development of more stringent smoke management requirements, Ms. Campbell explained that this is motivated internally within her agency, rather than by a new law. The existing memorandum of understanding among the CDPHE and land management agencies (including the Air Force Academy) will expire in December 1999 and at the minimum requires renewal. She explained that CDPHE staff identified several issues that need to be addressed in the effort to enhance the existing smoke management program:
(1) add a fee structure.
(2) develop a formal compliance and inspection program.
(3) formulate requirements for smoke management that are "tiered". For example, requirements for fires on very small acreages would be less stringent than for fires on progressively larger acreages.
c. Draft Recycling/Composting Regulations – WREO staff forwarded draft CDPHE proposed regulations for recycling and for composting to Colorado installation representatives for review and comment.



d. Colorado 303(d) List Update Preparation – Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters that do not or are not expected to meet applicable water quality standards with technology-based controls alone. This identification of waters is presented in a document called the 303(d) List, updated biennially. Fort Carson and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal have waters included on Colorado’s list. Additional water bodies identified in Colorado’s Monitoring and Evaluation List include some that may be added to the 303(d) list that are on or near military installations. Once listed, the State is required to prioritize these waters, analyze the causes of the water quality problem and allocate the responsibility for controlling the pollution. This analysis and allocation is called the TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) Process, and results in the determination of: (1) the amount of a specific pollutant that a water body or stream segment can receive without violating water quality standards, and (2) the apportionment to the different contributing sources of the pollutant loading. An important part of the TMDL Process is involving local stakeholders, not only to identify sources of loading, but also in allocating that loading and implementing solutions.

CDPHE will sponsor the first meeting to discuss preparation of the year 2000 303(d) list on 17 August 1999, at the CDPHE offices in Denver. The meeting is in Building A (5 story building), in the Carson meeting room, beginning at 1330 hours. This is an important process for the military to participate in so installation personnel can provide their input and recommendations regarding any potential proposals involving their installations.

8. Meeting attendees shared experiences regarding various regulatory agency compliance inspections at their respective installations. EPA Region VIII personnel often accompany CDPHE inspectors conducting RCRA compliance inspections. EPA Region VIII inspectors visited the Air Force Academy to conduct a water quality inspection. EPA has a new compliance checklist. EPA Region VIII has conducted underground storage tank inspections at various Colorado installations. CDPHE and the EPA Region VIII inspectors completed each of the inspection in a very professional and thorough manner.

9. Participants offered information about training opportunities as follows:
a. National Recycling Coalition Annual Congress and Exhibition – 26-29 September 1999, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
b. Headquarters Air Force Space Command Hazardous Materials Management Workshop – Peterson Air Force Base.
c. Solvent Substitution Workshop – 13-16 September 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona.
d. 4th Annual Joint Services Pollution Prevention/Hazardous Waste Management Conference and Exhibition – 6-9 December 1999, in San Antonio, Texas.

10. The next Colorado Interagency Environmental Network meeting is 6 October 1999, in the Denver metropolitan area. The WREO will provide a meeting announcement in the near future with more details. Thanks to Ms. Dean for hosting the meeting.

GERALD F. OWENS, Department of Defense Regional Environmental Coordinator, Region VIII

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: After-Action Report – Colorado Interagency Environmental Network Meeting (3 June 1999)

1. Fort Carson hosted a meeting of DoD representatives in Colorado, the Environmental Protection Agency Region VIII (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Pollution Prevention Program, to continue discussions and cooperative activities regarding environmental issues of common interest. The U.S. Army Environmental Center’s (USAEC) Western Regional Environmental Office (WREO) facilitated the meeting. Fifteen participants attended the meeting, from the agencies, six installations, one major command, the Colorado National Guard, and the WREO. The group met at Fort Carson’s Christopher’s Club on 3 June 1999.

2. Meeting participants reviewed the status of making plans and arrangements to conduct pollution prevention opportunity assessments for aircraft operations at military installations. The goal is also to identify a small private airport to participate in the assessments to help exchange information and expertise between military and private sector organizations. Representatives of the Air Force Center For Environmental Excellence Headquarters have agreed to participate on the review team. They have indicated that they will probably be available during the late summer or early fall time period. Contacts at the Army Environmental Center are working with Network members to identify someone to participate on the review team.

3. Network members discussed if there was enough value that resulted from conducting installation environmental assessments such as the recycling and vehicle maintenance pollution prevention opportunity assessments that the network conducted in 1998. Participants agreed that recommendations from the past assessments have been implemented in many cases, but they had not been documented.

ACTION ITEM: Participants agreed to document which recommendations have been implemented from the March 1998 vehicle maintenance pollution prevention opportunity assessments and the April 1998 recycling opportunity assessments, including the cost savings that resulted. They agreed that documenting cost/time savings that result from Network activities is one good way to demonstrate that participation in Network activities is worthwhile.

ACTION ITEM: Participants also agreed to update success stories for the Pollution Prevention Success Story Compendium. The computer software used to document the success stories will be distributed to Network members to facilitate updates.

4. As requested by Mr. Dean Dunn (Air Force 21st Space Wing Environmental Flight Chief), Mr. Tim Blume (Army Regional Environmental Coordinator [REC] Region VIII) advised attendees that Mr. Dunn is working with interested persons from Colorado military organizations to make plans to hold a one-day workshop to facilitate information exchange regarding installation restoration issues in the state. Mr. Dunn has asked for workshop participants to let him know what day(s) they are available during the last two weeks of July 1999. The next scheduled workshop is at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mr. Dunn will work with interested persons to develop the meeting agenda. More details will follow.



5. Ms. Diane Connolly (WREO Regional Attorney) briefed attendees regarding activities to monitor developments during Colorado’s 1999 legislative session, and to work with legislators to reduce or negate negative impacts of bills as appropriate. In particular, Colorado SB 99-145 (regarding requiring federal land management agencies to comply with state air quality requirements on public lands) and HB 99-1351 (regarding requiring federal and state land management agencies to submit air emission inventories if their emissions impact Federal Class I areas) were discussed. SB 99-145 requirements are very onerous and would have required military agencies to minimize air emissions using all available, practicable methods that are technologically feasible and economically reasonable. Colorado Governor Owens signed the bill with an exclusion for Colorado military facilities, property, activities, and installations. This was a very big success for the military in Colorado. Unfortunately, the WREO was unable to achieve the same level of success in mitigating the negative impacts of HB 99-1351 on the military. However, it appears that it will only impact those military installations and activities whose air emissions impact Federal Class I areas. Participants agreed that attorneys who support Colorado military activities could really benefit from exchanging information such as pertains to state regulatory and legislative developments. Perhaps attorneys could participate in future Network meetings, or hold separate meetings. Mr. Blume distributed a summary of Colorado environmental legislation addressed during the legislative session, with an indication regarding whether they became law. Mr. Blume again advised attendees that CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division staff plan to convene a stakeholder workgroup to develop a proposed regulatory program to further reduce impacts from smoke from prescribed fires and other open burning activities. The workgroup will reportedly begin its work during late summer or fall 1999.

6. Ms. Connolly encouraged participant military installations and organizations to meet with their respective elected officials to raise their awareness regarding environmental programs and accomplishments. Elected representatives are not very knowledgeable regarding the military’s environmental programs and they could be much more effective in representing the military if they were more aware. Ms. Connolly encouraged military representatives to advise their respective elected representatives regarding negative impacts of proposed legislation, as well as legislation that could help them. Perhaps discussions of environmental issues could be included with other topics during installation visits that have already been planned. Ms. Anju Chugh (EPA Air Program), also encouraged attendees to participate in the state legislative and regulatory process to express opinions and concerns.

ACTION ITEM: Mr. Phil Marne (Headquarters, Air Force Space Command) requested that WREO personnel provide information concerning lessons learned, and recommendations resulting from the WREO’s interactions with state legislative representatives. Mr. Marne advised that this would assist him in relaying concepts to his legal support office regarding state legislative and regulatory interactions. Ms. Connolly advised that she is willing to serve as a resource for Colorado military installation personnel concerning legal environmental issues as well as legislative issues.

7. Ms. Connolly provided updated information to attendees regarding the WREO’s efforts, in behalf of military organizations in Colorado, regarding CDPHE’s direction that certain installations submit fees to the agency resulting for reporting emissions as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). Federal agencies are encouraged, through Presidential Executive Order 12856, to comply with the substantive requirements of EPCRA, however, they are not allowed to pay fees assessed by states. The WREO sent a 1 June 1999, coordinated letter to CDPHE, explaining that the federal government is precluded from paying EPCRA fees, and providing justification for this position. The letter requested that the fees be deleted and that the fees not be assessed against Department of Defense organizations in the future. Mr. Neil Kolwey (CDPHE) asked if the military could help provide funding for pollution prevention personnel at his agency, since funding is scarce.

ACTION ITEM: Attendees asked Ms. Connolly to advise if there are any DoD programs that could potentially provide funding support for CDPHE pollution prevention programs.

8. Mr. Blume distributed a 6 April 1999, letter to attendees from EPA to CDPHE, that expressed concerns regarding the low funding and staffing for CDPHE’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulatory program. EPA is concerned that the funding and staffing are so low that they could potentially adversely impact public health and the environment if they are not corrected. EPA’s letter indicated that EPA would directly implement the RCRA compliance, enforcement, and corrective action programs at certain high priority corrective action sites in order to help improve the situation in the short term. According to EPA, the action they are taking in Colorado is part of an EPA headquarters nationwide effort to improve the rate of cleanups at high priority corrective action sites. EPA says that Colorado has the majority of all high priority corrective action sites in Region VIII, and more continue to be identified. There are four high priority DoD corrective action sites in the state: Fort Carson, Pueblo Chemical Depot, Rocky Mountain Arsenal, and Air Force Plant PJKS. The EPA did not identify at what sites they would directly implement RCRA, however, indications are that increased regulatory oversight by EPA and CDPHE is likely.

9. Mr. Blume updated information regarding efforts to seek relief from CDPHE’s waste management requirements for mercury-containing bulbs, including fluorescent light tubes. CDPHE inspectors are enforcing requirements on military organizations to characterize waste fluorescent light tubes and manage them appropriately. They require that a high proportion be sampled and analyzed since they believe the characteristics to be variable. CDPHE does not regulate this waste stream as a Universal waste. Since most military installations are comparable to small cities, management of this waste stream is very time-consuming and expensive, and discourages recycling. Mr. Blume advised attendees that he will attend a 24 June 1999, Colorado Environmental Consortium meeting. This group is comprised of environmental managers from most large businesses in the state. Mr. Fred Dowsett (CDPHE Compliance Coordinator) also attends. Attendees of this organization will discuss opportunities for waste management alternatives at the 24 June 1999 meeting.

10. Ms. Connolly briefed meeting attendees regarding a recent District of Columbia Court of Appeals decision that struck down new more strict EPA regulations regarding PM 2.5 and ozone air emissions standards. This is a really big decision from a legal perspective because the court basically said that EPA’s regulations amounted to unconstitutional application of legislative authority. This legal challenge concept could be used to challenge other regulatory programs. Particulate emission regulations will revert back to existing PM 10 and ozone standards.

11. Attendees discussed the following opportunities to work together.

a. The Air Force Academy will conduct a “mini-ECAMP” (environmental compliance assessment management program) audit that will address hazardous waste management compliance, scheduled for 26-30 July 1999. The AFA requests volunteers to participate for one day each who have real hazardous waste experience to help with the effort. Ms. Diana Dean specifically requested that Ms. Connolly provide her opinion regarding Air Force Academy questions concerning the waste management program.
   
b. The Colorado Air National Guard is planning to hold an internal ECAMP in October. Ms. Beth Finney requests assistance to review the status of air program compliance to prepare for the ECAMP. Mr. Larry Reisinger (Air Force Academy) agreed to assist with the review.

    c. Ms. Kelly O’Neill (Fort Carson) reported that Fort Carson is trying hard to implement affirmative procurement. She really encouraged all participants to do likewise and felt that it is a great potential cooperative opportunity. Ms. Dianne Thiel (EPA) advised that Mr. Gil Bailey (EPA) is involved in affirmative procurement at the agency. Perhaps he would be willing to work with military installations to assist in implementation. Perhaps a DoD team could be formed to work on it cooperatively. Representatives of the Colorado Air National Guard, Air Force Academy, Fort Carson and others expressed interest in the effort. Ms. Thiel offered to bring a speaker to installations to discuss it.

    d. The various installations are working on the DoD Measure of Merit (MOM) for diversion of construction demolition debris. This could be a good cooperative opportunity.

ACTION ITEM: Ms. Dean asked Mr. Blume to bring information to the next meeting regarding recycling construction demolition debris.
   
     e. Ms. Dean offered other recommendations for cooperative projects including:
          (1) Reducing grease from the influent of wastewater treatment plants.
       
          (2) Working out apparent toxicity problems that are being experienced with aircraft and roadway deicing. Fort Carson, Colorado Air National Guard, and the Air Force Academy all expressed interest in this project.
       
          (3) Pest management pollution prevention.
       
          (4) Ms. Dean expressed interest in information regarding trail standards for a management plan. Ms. O’Neill will see if she can find information from Fort Carson.

12. Attendees identified the following training opportunities:

a. 10 June 1999 - EPA Region VIII Oil Pollution Act Workshop for Federal Facilities, 0800-1630 hours at EPA Region VIII Conference Center, Denver, Colorado.
   
b. 16 June 1999 - General Services Administration Environmental Trade Fair and Training Program, 0900 – 1300 hours, Denver Federal Center Building 41 (6th Avenue and Kipling Street).

13. Mr. Blume provided information to meeting participants regarding the Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Information Center. In 1997, the U.S. EPA funded the creation of a center for networking and exchange of pollution prevention information in EPA Region VIII. The Montana State University Extension Service facilitates this center. The Internet Web site address for the center is HYPERLINK http://www.montana.edu/wwwpeaks/. Mr. Blume advised that he is working with representatives of the information center to post information on their web site from the Colorado Interagency Environmental Network, as well as from the Region VIII Pollution Prevention Partnership to facilitate information exchange.

14. The Air Force Academy will host the next Colorado Interagency Environmental Network meeting 4 August 1999. A meeting announcement will be provided in the near future that will provide more detail. Thanks to Ms. O’Neill for hosting the meeting.

GERALD F. OWENS
Department of Defense
Regional Environmental Coordinator, Region VIII

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: After-Action Report -- Colorado Interagency Environmental Network Meeting (12 April 1999)

1. Fort Carson hosted a meeting of DoD representatives in Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Pollution Prevention Program, to continue discussions and cooperative activities regarding environmental issues of common interest. The U.S. Army Environmental Center's (USAEC) Western Regional Environmental Office (WREO) facilitated the meeting. Thirteen DoD participants attended the meeting, from six installations, one major command, the Colorado National Guard, and the WREO. The group met at Fort Carson's Christopher's Club on 12 April 1999. The attendee sign-in sheet is included as enclosure 1. (Not available on web site.)

2. The group discussed adopting a draft charter to expand the Network's scope to include all environmental issues (including natural and cultural resources). The charter adopted by the group is included as enclosure 2. Due to the change in scope, the group also decided to change the name of the organization to the Colorado Interagency Environmental Network. This reflects the evolutionary nature of this highly productive cooperative group. Attendees noted that the Charter is a "living" document that may change at any time to reflect the changing needs of the Network. Members also noted that pollution prevention will continue to be a very important aspect of the Network's activities, as reflected in the prominent position that it holds in the Mission Statement of the Charter.

3. Following the above-mentioned discussions, Mr. Neil Kolwey (CDPHE Pollution Prevention Program) advised the group of his leave of absence. Mr. Kolwey is pursuing a Master's degree at a university in Scandinavia under a Fulbright Award. Mr. Kirk Mills will serve as the CDPHE Pollution Prevention Program's new representative. Congratulations to Neil -- welcome to Mr. Mills.

4. Network members continued by discussing recommendations for future cooperative projects, which the group may participate in to continue the accomplishments and benefits achieved thus far.

a. Attendees agreed that conducting installation aircraft operations pollution prevention opportunity assessments is another good cooperative project that will provide value to installations. They agreed that including a relatively small private airport in the reviews would be a good way for DoD to benefit the private sector. Mr. Kolwey will work to identify an airport that would be interested in participating in the reviews. An interagency review team will be formed to conduct the reviews and provide feedback to installations regarding recommendations. The Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) has agreed to support the review team. Mr. Tim Blume (WREO) is coordinating with the USAEC personnel to identify an Army participant for the team. Hopefully a CDPHE representative can also participate on the team as well. Attendees agreed to follow up by determining if it is acceptable for military review team members to visit a private airport.

b. Network members recommended that an information exchange meeting be held to discuss restoration issues and developments as a way to crossfeed information. Mr. Dean Dunn (Peterson Air Force Base) agreed to take the lead for setting this up.

c. Ms. Kelly O'Neill (Fort Carson) briefed attendees regarding a potential cooperative project in which various installations might want to participate. Fort Carson is evaluating two systems for recycling air filters from relatively large vehicles including tactical vehicles, that could potentially result in significant cost avoidance. Ms. O'Neill offered to provide information to others who are interested in it so they, too can consider using the systems at their installations or facilities. Ms. O'Neill estimated that Fort Carson would save about $85 thousand annually by recycling air filters. She agreed to advise those who are interested when the testing occurs so they may visit the site.
d. Ms. O'Neill asked if attendees knew of an alternative to abrasive sand blasting for paint removal. Mr. Walter Roberts (Peterson Air Force Base) advised that his installation uses a plastic paint blast media that can be recycled. He agreed to provide the information to Ms. O'Neill.

e. Network meeting participants agreed that the respective installations could use representatives from each other's installations to participate on the respective Army Environmental Compliance Assessment System (ECAS) and Air Force Environmental Compliance and Management Plan (ECAMP) teams. Mr. Larry Reisinger (Air Force Academy) acknowledged that Mr. Blume (Army) participated on the Academy's external ECAMP team in past years.

5. Mr. Dan Rodriguez (Air Force Space Command) attended the 7 April 1999, National Pollution Prevention Roundtable and the pollution prevention partnership crossfeed meeting. He briefed Network meeting attendees regarding developments and activities from the crossfeed meeting. Dr. Thom Rennie (AFCEE Central Regional Office) facilitated discussions. Meeting participants discussed how they preferred to post information from the various partnerships nationwide on an Internet Web site so they can share information. They agreed that each partnership would establish their own Web site that would be linked through the DENIX or Navy's existing sites. Colorado Network meeting members agreed that Network would be posted on the existing site managed by the Montana State University's Region VIII Pollution Prevention Information Center, under contract by EPA Region VIII. Mr. Rodriquez advised that the next national crossfeed meeting for pollution prevention partnerships is during the Tri-service Pollution Prevention Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, 8 December 1999.

6. The Colorado Governor's Pollution Prevention Challenge Week activities begin 20 September 1999. Mr. Kolwey advised that the CDPHE Pollution Prevention Program would like to receive information on numeric reductions of pollutant discharges, or other reductions including water, energy, waste, etc. that can be included in the achievements that are advertised during this period. Mr. Kolwey indicated that those who are interested in providing information on reductions should use 1996 as the baseline year from which reductions should be compared.

7. The scheduled dates for the National and Colorado Sustainability activities are 3-7 May 1999.

8. Fort Carson will host the next Colorado Interagency Environmental Network meeting at the Christopher's Club on 3 June 1999, from 0900 hours until 1200 noon. Thanks to Ms. O'Neill for hosting the meeting.

GERALD F. OWENS
Department of Defense
Regional Environmental Coordinator, Region VIII

Colorado Interagency Environmental Network
Charter
April 1999

Vision
To enhance mission readiness, leverage resources and promote environmental stewardship by forming a results-driven, trust-based partnership among the regulatory community and Colorado military activities.

Mission
Create a voluntary alliance within the State of Colorado that promotes pollution prevention as the first choice for protecting Colorado’s public health and environment, and meeting environmental stewardship obligations.

Goals

• Serve as a forum for open dialogue of environmental regulatory issues in a mutually supportive atmosphere
• Share information and resources to provide cost-effective solutions and promote networking relationships
• Work together to institutionalize the pollution prevention ethic into all aspects of the mission and into decision making processes
• Promote sound stewardship of Colorado’s natural and cultural resources
• Join together in common initiatives to save resources and achieve common goals while eliminating duplication of efforts. Common initiatives we will pursue include training opportunities, staff assistance visits, consolidated contracting, and sharing of equipment, materials and expertise.
• Learn from proven partnering concepts and successes
• Be a good neighbor by communicating results and lessons learned to other agencies, industry, and the community

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: After-Action Report -- Region VIII DoD/Interagency Pollution Prevention Meeting (12 February 1999)

1. The Western Regional Environmental Office (WREO) and the Air Force Central Regional Environmental Office co-hosted a meeting of DoD representatives in Region VIII (including military installations, major commands, state National Guard, and Reserve), state environmental regulatory agencies, and EPA Region VIII. The group met at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Denver, CO on 9 February 1999. The purpose of the all-day meeting was to propose and discuss a Region VIII - Pollution Prevention Partnership. The partnership would include members from each interested agency, organization, military installation and other interested parties from all six Region VIII states. Twenty-seven participants attended the meeting, from as far away as Virginia -- of the six Region VIII state agencies, only South Dakota could not attend. The attendee sign-in sheets (the 3 hosts signed in as well equally 30 participants) are enclosed. (Not available on web site.)

2. The group began with attendee introductions, which include providing information regarding what organization they represent, as well as describing their expectations for the meeting. Then, there was a presentation and discussion regarding DoD and State Partnerships nationwide to give attendees a feeling for the significant P2 partnership activity nationwide. Then the group heard about some of the successful initiatives of the Colorado P2 Network as a specific example of what can be done cooperatively in an existing DoD/Interagency P2 partnership in the Region VIII area.

3. Following the above-mentioned briefings, the group heard presentations from the EPA, States, and military, within the Region, regarding their pollution prevention programs.

4. The day concluded with an open discussion regarding comments and recommendations the future partnership. The questions addressed included:

a. Does a need exist, in your opinion, for a Region VIII DoD/Interagency Pollution Prevention Partnership?

b. Do you think a Regional P2 Program could be beneficial to you (your organization)?

c. How would you anticipate participating in such an effort?

d. How might future interaction occur?

e. What cooperative measures may we possibly address?

f. What might our future goals include?

5. As the hosts went around the room and requested each participant to respond to these questions, we received a unanimous positive response to the first two questions. The hosts went around the room a second time and received many ideas for interaction and future actions for the group to undertake. Attendees decided that a Region-wide Pollution Prevention partnership is a viable option. The WREO is committed to supporting such an effort, within the limits of time and funding availability. WREO staff are committed to this effort because of the importance of pollution prevention to the DoD environmental stewardship responsibility.

6. The Colorado Pollution Prevention Network is a very useful vehicle for facilitating information exchange and cooperative projects on Pollution Prevention, energy conservation, and recycling at the various DoD installations in Colorado. It has also helped to initiate a healthy dialogue between representatives of EPA Region VIII, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the military organizations within the state. The WREO hopes the Region VIII - DoD/Interagency Pollution Prevention Partnership will have similar success.

7. The WREO received twenty critique sheets back from the twenty-seven participants and three hosts. All comments were very favorable.

8. The group agreed to work to develop a charter and agreed to select five initiatives to begin working this year. The meeting host distributed the Colorado Pollution Prevention Network Charter to meeting attendees with a handout. Dr. Thom Rennie (Air Force Central Regional Environmental Office) agreed to provide examples of charters from DoD/Interagency pollution prevention partnerships from other states as examples that can be used to develop a charter for the Region VIII partnership.

9. Joint initiatives that participants identified as those they could potentially begin to work on follow:

a. Air Force Installations and Air Force/Army Reserve Component representatives in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming will investigate working with the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) to establish a periodic hazardous waste pickup service ("milk run") for military facilities in these states.

b. Dr. Mike Vogel (Region VIII Pollution Prevention Information Center Program Director) will investigate using the Center's existing Internet web site as a way to exchange information among Region VIII DoD/Interservice P2 Partnership members, as well as with others outside the partnership. After some investigation, Dr. Vogel reported that he and his staff are very interested in using their existing Internet web site for posting of information from the partnership. If interested, he encourages partnership members to provide electronic files that include information such as names and contact information for installation contacts in the region, pollution prevention success story case studies, and other information. Dr. Vogel indicated that the information may be added to the web site within a few days less than a week) at no cost to the Partnership. Dr. Vogel indicated that Ms. Laura Estes is the person on his staff who manages the web site and who would work with Partnership members to include Partnership information to it. Dr. Vogel also indicated that his office can provide $5 Thousand Mini Grants for activities that are beyond the scope of his office's existing activities. Partnership activities that could potentially be supported by these grants include hosting Partnership meetings, including "virtual tours" of military installations or of pollution prevention projects.

c. Look for opportunities in each state for state agencies, EPA, and military installations to conduct environmental staff assistance visits at the installations to identify opportunities to enhance pollution prevention and recycling program effectiveness. EPA Region VIII indicated that they are interested in facilitating these visits.

d. Look for ways to exchange information regarding parts washer equipment and the optimum application for each technology. Perhaps the Partnership could sponsor a meeting dedicated to discussion of this information.

e. Share example language from example recycling contracts (that are viewed to be well-written) among installations so that installations can improve recycling contracts.

f. Look for opportunities to implement region-wide contracts.  

10. Recommendations for Crossfeed -- Ways to share information.

a. Use EMAIL, DENIX, Internet Web Sites, Video Teleconferences, Conference Calls, and newsletters as vehicles for information exchange

b. Schedule Partnership meetings coincident with National P2 Roundtable and Joint Service P2 Conference

c. Exchange information including project lists, success stories, lessons learned, meeting schedules and minutes

d. Interact with other state and regional forums

e. Exchange information with the Colorado P2 Network

11. Regarding future meetings, attendees enthusiastically supported future interaction. However, there were mixed opinions regarding how to meet (either face-to-face meetings, or conference calls or video teleconferences). However, we all recognized that we must balance our activities with available time and funding. Many attendees recommended holding future meetings either annually or semi-annually. Some advocated holding them in conjunction with other meetings such as the national Pollution Prevention Roundtable meetings or the annual Tri-Service Pollution Prevention meetings, in order to maximize the value of trips. Some attendees discouraged holding our Region VIII Partnership meetings as a breakout session of a national meeting since it could water down the value of the national meeting.

12. The meeting adjourned with attendees expressing a high level of satisfaction in achieving their goals by participating in the meeting.