Enviromental Compliance and Assesment Management Program holds inspection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lou Burton
  • 911th Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. --  Tension mounts as an Airman nervously yanks at the normally cooperative filing cabinet to access records maintained by a superior. While reaching for the intended target, previous training overrides all uncertainty of personal knowledge. What might one ask that has inflicted a sensation of doubtful nervousness?
One word: inspection.
During October's UTA many shops were visited by a team of Environmental Compliance and Assessment Management Program assistants that asked questions pertaining to the safety of their perspective unit. This year's group of military personnel was lead by Chemical Engineers.
The ECAMP was established in the late 1980's mandating that an internal inspection be conducted annually and an external inspection conducted every three years, said Paul Lorenz, Chemical Engineer for the URS engineering firm.
Having the inspections annually ensures that the base remains up to date for the external inspections, said Francine Vollmer, Chief of Environmental Flight.
The inspected areas of interest included: air emissions management, hazardous materials management, hazardous waste management, other environmental issues, POL management, solid waste management, storage tank management, toxic substances management, wastewater management and water quality management.
The program incorporates military personnel volunteers "to help get the word out to people in shops that may not consider the various aspects of their workplace that keep help keep them safe," said Ms. Vollmer.
The ECAMP participants were split into three groups that investigated specific aforementioned criteria then filed reports based on the discrepancies found. The group also received hands on training and guidance from team leaders that participated in previous inspections.
The reports filed were based on major or minor infractions and will be sent to the specific sections in violation along with deadlines for correcting the infractions found, said Ms.Vollmer.
Even with the major infractions found they only require minor adjustments to rectify the problem, said Mr. Lorenz.
"The base did well overall. Everyone took pride in their work, were knowledgeable in their fields and those units inspected made sure their personnel stopped what they were doing so we could complete the inspection," concluded Mr. Lorenz.