JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -The Army announced last Wednesday the results of the annual Secretary of the Army Environmental Awards.  Joint Base Lewis-McChord was selected as the Army winner in the Sustainability, Non-industrial Installation category.

A total of five installations, one organization, two teams, and one individual will receive Army awards for their environmental and sustainability program achievements during fiscal 2010.  The Secretary of the Army's Environmental Awards represent the highest honor in the field of environmental science and sustainability conferred by the Army. These award winners will go on to compete for the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards later this year.

A full list of this year's Army winners is available at http://www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2011/01/26/50872-army-announces-environmental-award-winners/ .

Additionally, JBLM has won the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 Champions of Environmental Leadership and Green Government Award in the category of waste management.

"We need to focus on managing the resources we have at our disposal," said Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, Energy and Environment. "These winning nominations translate into Army best practices. We are managing cultural and natural resources appropriately; reducing, reusing, repurposing and recycling; and doing what it takes to make our Army sustainable."

Six sustainability teams are responsible for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Installation Sustainability Program (ISP) goals in these focused areas:  Air Quality, Water Resources, Energy, Products & Materials Management, Sustainable Community, and Sustainable Training Lands. These teams facilitate and implement projects and initiatives that move JBLM toward its installation sustainability goals.

Recent JBLM accomplishments illustrate the depth and breadth of how sustainability touches the lives of JBLM personnel and supports the military training mission:

• Green Procurement and Green Procurement Team
• Environmental Management System and Environmental Operating Permits
• Waste Diversion, Recycling, Composting, Concrete/Asphalt crushing and Reuse
• Sustainable Master Plan's holistic design approach and Town Center project
• Sustainability Outreach and Partnerships
• Alternate Fuels and Transportation, and Commute Trip Reduction
• Energy Conservation via $14M energy efficiency projects
• Habitat Restoration (forests and native prairies)
• Stormwater Filtration System facility including a wetlands education center, increased habitat for wildlife species, and a training area for Soldiers

"The goals already achieved and the goals yet to be reached promise a more sustainable, livable, and mission capable installation in the coming years," said Paul Steucke, Chief, Environmental Division at JBLM.  "Because of the strength of leaders, the dedication of the Installation Sustainability Program Teams, and the support of our neighbors and community members, we anticipate continued innovation and progress in the sustainable development of Joint Base Lewis-McChord," he added.