Wing excels during environmental inspection

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jim Lambertsen
  • 33d Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (ACCNS) --  The 33rd Fighter Wing was part of a base-wide Environmental and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program inspection July 9-13.

After completing the week-long inspection, the 33rd FW earned no infractions, zero findings and three positive remarks.

"I have been here for 17 years and never has the wing finished with zero findings," said Roy Penman, 33rd FW Environmental manager. "During any inspection, you expect them to find at least one or two minor infractions; I was pleasantly surprised with our success."

The inspection team consisted of 38 inspectors, both civilian contractors and military personnel from Headquarters Air Force Material Command. The inspection is comprised of 13 protocols to include areas such as hazardous waste management, water quality, hazardous materials management and the recycling program.

One of the positive remarks from the inspectors was on the checklist developed by Master Sgt. Michael Gooch, the 33rd MXS Fabrication Flight NCOIC. The checklist contains step-by-step instructions for gathering samples of breathing air to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines, as well as the USAF guidelines. This checklist produced a perfect record for sample collection over the past two years.

"We would really like to thank all of the 33rd FW personnel for doing an outstanding job during the inspection, they really made our job easy," said Senior Master Sgt. Bernerd Argabrite, from 33rd FW Environmental Shop.

The wing prepared for this inspection by conducting various internal inspections and holding an Amnesty Day.

Amnesty Day was a day that all members of the 33rd FW could bring in any hazardous or expired materials to the environmental office and turn them in to be properly disposed of with no questions asked.

"I attribute this accomplishment to all the hard work and preparation from the wing prior to the inspection along with the level of cooperation between all the workers and shops," Mr. Penman said.

The wing will next have a Logistics Standardization Evaluation Team inspection in August. The LSET inspection won't be as in depth as the EOHCAMP inspection was on environmental protocols, but the EOHCAMP inspection contributed to LSET preparation.