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Joint Base Lewis-McChord earns Secretary of Defense environmental award for sustainability

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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The Department of Defense announced Joint Base Lewis-McChord as one of the winners in the 2011 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards on April 19.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, home to Air Mobility Command's 62nd Airlift Wing, won the award for the "Sustainability -- Non-Industrial Installation" category. According to a DOD press release, a panel of judges representing federal and state agencies, academia, and the public selected the installations, teams and individuals in the awards competition.

"Each year since 1962, the Secretary of Defense has honored individuals, teams and installations for their outstanding achievements to conserve and sustain the natural and cultural resources entrusted to the Department of Defense," the press release states.

The narrative for Joint Base Lewis-McChord's award highlights the base's accomplishments, programs and efforts. The narrative also highlights a sustainability workshop that began in 2002.

"When Fort Lewis held its initial sustainability workshop in February 2002, leaders made a commitment to stakeholders to change the way we do business, ensuring a better tomorrow," the narrative states. "Today (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) remains true to that commitment despite the challenges of increased training needs, additional maneuver units and rapidly increasing development inside and outside of the installation fence line."

The narrative also highlights some of Joint Base Lewis-McChord's sustainability goals. They include reducing installation stationary source and non-tactical motor vehicle air emissions by 85 percent by 2025, reducing total energy consumption by 30 percent by 2015, and to "sustain all activities on post using renewable energy sources by 2025."

Among the joint base's accomplishments that helped them earn the award includes efforts in "green" procurement, environmental management, waste diversion, sustainability outreach, use of alternative fuels and transportation and energy conservation.

For example, with use of alternative fuels and transportation, the narrative shows the base has a pilot project that "will reform methane into hydrogen for use in hydrogen fuel-cells to power 19 forklifts and a 37-foot shuttle bus." Additionally, the narrative shows that nearly 60 percent of the base's GSA fleet "is alternative fuel capable -- 25 of these are neighborhood electric vehicles."

The seven page narrative highlights dozens more accomplishments and efforts at Joint Base Lewis-McChord but also states the commitment by those who live and work there to make it a more environmentally-friendly community for years to come.

"The goals already achieved and the goals yet to be reached promise a more sustainable, livable, and mission-capable installation in the coming years," the narrative states. "Because of the commitment of our leaders, the dedication of the Installation Sustainability Program Teams and the support of the community members, we anticipate continued innovation and progress in sustainable development at JBLM."

A ceremony honoring the 2011 winners "is planned for June 8, 2011, at the Pentagon," the DOD release states. The narrative for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord award can be found on-line at: http://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/upload/Army_JBLM_Sust-Narrative.pdf. 

(The Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., environmental team, and Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs, contributed to this report.)