P²AD and the Department of Defense Establish a Pollution Prevention Partnership in Georgia

The Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P²AD) has entered into a formal partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD) installations within Georgia. The name of the partnership is the Georgia Department of Defense Pollution Prevention Partnership. The impetus for the collaboration was Ms. Sherri Goodman's, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security, proclamation for advancing pollution prevention (P2) as the main tool to achieve environmental compliance.

The military installations participating in the partnership include: Moody, Dobbins, and Robins Air Force Bases; the Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany; Army Forts Benning, McPherson, Gillem, Gordon, and Stewart; and the Naval Supply School, Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base, and the Naval Air Station. Lockheed-Martin Aeronautical Systems/Plant #6 and the National Guard and Reserves are also participating in the Partnership.

The DoD bases within Georgia represent one of the state's largest "industrial" sectors and also one of its largest economic resources. In this time of military downsizing, the benefits of P2 can help the military improve efficiency, enhance military readiness, and minimize impacts on the state's natural resources. Those bases that strive towards environmental sustainability are at a unique economic advantage as we move into the 21^st century.

The objective of the DoD Partnership is to create a working relationship with the military services, the Georgia National Guard, and P²AD that recognizes and promotes P2 as the standard way of doing business. It will work to develop and implement model initiatives, improve communications, refine business practices, and track performance.

The Goals of the DoD Partnership are:

C Recognize and promote P2 as the preferred environmental alternative.

C Institutionalize the P2 ethic into everyday activities.

C Promote the use of inter-service P2 teams.

C Benchmark current P2 activities and establish reduction goals.

C Identify the true cost of waste to prioritize P2 options and to document savings.

C Promote inter-service technology transfer.

C Develop proactive community outreach programs to promote good relations between the military bases and the surrounding communities.

P2 professionals from the state's military bases have met on several occasions, and have developed a charter, mission statement, and a vision statement. A list of P2 issues has also been developed and prioritized by the Partnership. Inter-service work teams will be convened shortly to begin seeking solutions to these P2 impediments. Solutions will be transferred to all bases which have similar problems. P2 solutions developed through P²AD's university and private sector partnerships will also be shared with Georgia's military installations, while information on innovative DoD P2 technologies will be disseminated to Georgia's business community.