With alternative fuels, innovative recycling technology and several other environmental projects underway, Pendleton rallies the Corps in safeguarding the environment.

“We are supporting today’s fight and preparing for tomorrow’s future,” stated Col. James B. Seaton III, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, in his environmental policy. “Conserving natural resources sustains tomorrow’s use of our training resources.”

The base’s recycling program resulted in reuse materials totaling 11,000 pounds last year alone, said Charles P. Bradshaw, recycling project manager, Quality Recycling Program, MCB. The program is experiencing unprecedented success producing one- third of the entire Corps’ recycling profit and saving tens of thousands of landfill space annually.

“Our new state-of-the-art recycle center is truly the benchmark for future Department of Defense recycle centers,” said Bradshaw. “The design makes it the most efficient and productive facility to date throughout DoD.”

After paying for the recycling center’s operating costs, generated profits fund projects encouraging pollution prevention, energy conservation, occupational safety and morale- and welfare-related projects.

Additional projects include the opening of a hydrogen station scheduled for June 2009, said Cristina M. Ferrari, branch head, Air Quality Branch, Assistant Chief of Staff Environmental Security, MCB. The project’s purpose is to demonstrate and validate a hydrogen fuel station for DoD environmental security initiatives.

Design information from this project will contribute toward a universal template for implementation of future projects at other DoD installations, she added.

“We are setting the tone for all military installations by being as proactive as we are,” said Ferrari. “The hope is that our alternative-fuel effort will have a domino effect on other installations.”

The base has also successfully utilized compressed natural gas in 30 percent of its fleet vehicles and is also experimenting with ethanol and biodiesel. Future plans include converting the 22 Area fleet-vehicle diesel pumps into ethanol pumps this fall.

Another environmental endeavor includes the Corps’ first online Environmental Learning Management System, said Daniel L. Felkins, manager, Training Branch, AC/S Environmental Security, MCB. The online campus allows Marines needing proper environmental instruction the chance to find necessary certification online.

“This campus has made training available to any Marine anywhere in the world,” said Felkins. "Our primary goal is to bring effective, mission-relevant environmental training to the Marine, sailor or civilian Marine wherever they are, whether at the unit, in the field or deployed."

Continuing efforts also include Pendleton’s recently commissioned water treatment plant. The $50-million plant eliminated five of the nine older plants built in the 1940s, and increases wastewater treatment levels, triples water reuse and significantly reduces odor.

“We have made centuries worth of progress in the last 10 years,” said Luis R. Ledesma, branch head, Wastewater Branch, AC/S Environmental Security, MCB. “Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to improve wastewater treatment and infrastructure.”

Every military base is subject to federal regulatory inspections for the Environmental Protection Agency to assure compliance. The base underwent 341 inspections last fiscal year without a single major violation, said Al Augusto, branch head, Inspections Branch, AC/S Environmental Security, MCB. These preemptive measures and proactive approaches by Marines are responsible for this success, Augusto added.

The base is also home to 18 threatened and endangered species whose habitats are being protected and regulated, said James L. Asmus, wildlife biologist, Game Warden’s Office, MCB.

Pendleton’s environmental accomplishments were most recently recognized by the EPA’s Clean-up Clean-air Award in January 2008. In the past 10 years, the base has been recognized with 16 awards from both state and federal agencies.

“The base’s attitude is tremendous when it comes to the environment,” said Ledesma. “We are anticipating growth and exceeding expectations and are no longer satisfied with compliance, but settle only for excellence.”