Secretary Sole Addresses Waste Management Officials at Federal Symposium

JACKSONVILLE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole, today spoke at the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) Federal Facilities Managers Symposium in Jacksonville addressing DEP’s partnership with the military and recent accomplishments of the division’s waste management program.

“Our partnerships with the EPA, Navy and Air Force, and more recently the Army Corps of Engineers, have been remarkably successful and have been used as a model for other states and EPA Regions,” Sole said. “Together, we can reduce our dependency on non-renewable resources, protect the security of our country, and ensure a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.”

The gathering was intended to provide a forum on chief issues associated with federal facilities cleanup programs, address procedural and policy areas demonstrated to be challenges, highlight innovations and success stories, and train state and territorial regulatory staff on new policies and developments that affect state programs.

DEP works with the Department of Defense (DoD) to investigate and clean up any contamination that occurs on a military base in the state. Secretary Sole applauded several DoD partnerships currently undergoing redevelopment, including the achievement of ‘construction complete’ at the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and continued collaborative efforts with the Naval Training Center Orlando.

“DEP has been at the forefront of very successful partnerships with us which have enabled successful relationships with other states,” said Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast Commanding Officer Capt. Doug Morton. “We are all working together to promote sustainable practices that consider economic and natural resources, ecology, human health and safety, and quality of life.”

DoD leads by example in sustainability, green technology and recycling through driving solar-electric, low-speed vehicles, offering environmental interpretive centers for school groups and scouts, and opening one of the Navy’s first ‘green’ aircraft hangars, Hangar 511.

“We are continuously looking for new technology and ways to improve energy efficiencies to meet the President’s goal of energy independence,” said Morton. “We hold Quarterly Energy Partnership Meetings to learn about the latest in eco-friendly and energy saving technology and set a corporate goal back in 2009 of having all military construction (MILCON) projects meet LEED [Leader in Energy and Environmental Design] requirements.”

Florida’s defense economy is a vital asset and Gov. Charlie Crist remains committed to the mission with his recommendation of $10.5 million for his 2010-2011 budget for Defense Infrastructure Grants.

To learn more about DoD’s green initiatives, visit www.defense.gov/home/features/2009/0809_green/. To learn more about DEP, visit www.dep.state.fl.us.