Hickam environmental review mixed
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
An April report on Hickam Air Force Base's environmental, safety and occupational health compliance found no "significant" findings requiring immediate action, but "major" findings for non-compliance with federal, state or local law were up compared with the last evaluation in 1999.
Meanwhile, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group for environmental whistle-blowers said despite concerns about cultural resources management, Hickam is outsourcing jobs previously done by a three-person staff.
The Pacific Air Forces preliminary report noted that environmental "major" findings at Hickam increased 16 percent, and safety and occupational health findings were up 42 percent. This means future action is necessary to avoid threats to health, safety or the environment.
A 22-member team spent five days assessing 26 areas at Hickam, Bellows Air Force Station, and Koke'e Air Force Station.
"Overall, the team felt that a lack of program oversight at the squadron, flight and shop level was a key reason for (the) deficiencies," the report states.
But it also said that as concerns and problems were uncovered, the inspection team "was impressed by the speed and diligence by which Hickam personnel reacted."
The assessments are intended to help base commanders comply with environmental requirements.
The critical environmental areas that warrant the most base attention are the air pollution, hazardous material, hazardous waste, National Environmental Policy Act, and cultural resources program, the report indicated.
For example, major deficiencies included: disposing potential hazardous waste as general solid waste, improperly managing spent aerosol spray cans, finding open containers of waste, and improper labeling and storage of PCB light ballasts.
Hickam officials on Friday said by e-mail that "we are very critical of ourselves as we use due diligence to look at everything we do in the environmental business."
The report also cites Hickam's 15th Airlift Wing for not having a complete archaeological inventory and not having an adequate curation facility.
But "positive" findings included the wing's historic properties recognition project, and the creation of a Native Hawaiian remains repatriation vault.
However, the Washington D.C.-based group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility said Hickam was eliminating and outsourcing to the Mainland the jobs of a three-member cultural resources staff.
"It's more appropriate to have people with knowledge specific to the resources in the area that you are in, working on those resources," said PEER General Counsel Dan Meyer.
Hickam said manning is being reduced in many areas, including the cultural resources staff, as part of an overall Air Force program to bring manpower to within authorized limits.
"The Environmental Flight will continue to provide excellent coverage for all environmental issues," the base said. "If it becomes necessary to contract the services of an expert, we would certainly not seek the services of anyone who has no knowledge in the specific area."
Hickam officials said the base has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for developing a "Greening the Government" plan, and in purchasing and using environmentally preferred products base-wide.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
