AN OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM AT THE NAVY'S LARGEST LAND-BASED INSTALLATION THE NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION, CHINA LAKE, CALIFORNIA

The Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake (NAWS, China Lake - formerly known as the Naval Weapons Center) has had an environmental program for many years; however, in putting the Department of Defense's policy for responsible environmental management into practice, the Navy's environmental program at China Lake has been greatly expanded in the past four years.

As background, the NAWS, China Lake is located about 150 miles north of Los Angeles in the upper Mojave Desert. The Station covers 1.1 million acres (one-third of the Navy's total land holdings). This land area varies in terrain from flat, dry lake beds (at 2100' elevation) to mountain ranges (at 8900' elevation). The majority of this 1 million-plus acres is undeveloped and provides habitat for approximately 80 species of mammals, 235 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 650 plant species.

As the environmental program began to expand in 1990, it broadened to include activities to get in (and stay in) compliance with federal state and local environmental regulations; and to continue the natural and cultural resource projects that had begun years earlier. With direct support and involvement of the Commander, the environmental staff grew from 17 people in 1990 to the current staff of 33 people. The staff includes biologists, archaeologist, geologist, land-use planners, and chemical, civil, and environmental engineers.

The environmental projects being worked on throughout the Station are:

Air Quality - includes Air Pollution Control, which determines Station operations that emit air pollutants and brings those emissions into compliance with regulations; and Air Visibility, a joint program with Edwards Air Force Base and regional agencies to minimize air pollutants that impede air visibility.

Water Quality. Includes Groundwater Evaluation studies to determine the quality and quantity of groundwater resources, which is the entire source of water for the Indian Wells Valley; and Water Conservation as we monitor our water usage and emphasize a water conservation program for employees and residents.

Environmental Planning and Documentation - Includes reviewing and assessing activities that are proposed to take place on Station lands to determine environmental effects and impacts. This follows guidance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Recycling - includes operating an on-Station Recycling Center and promoting broad-scale reducing, reusing and recycling of solid waste, including weekly household curbside pickup on-Station.

Precious Metals Recovery - includes extracting and recovering precious metals, such as silver from photographic processing, for reuse.

Pollution Prevention - Includes redesigning industrial wastewater systems with alternative treatment systems that recycle and reuse water and remove or reduce wastes at the source. This also includes Hazardous Materials Control and Management and Hazardous Waste Minimization, a Navy-wide program that is aimed at reducing the amount of hazardous wastes generated. We substitute non-toxic materials for toxic ones when possible and reduce the quantities of hazardous materials purchased in the first place.

Hazardous Waste Management - includes properly collecting, storing (at our EPA-permitted facility) and disposing of those hazardous wastes that are produced on-Station. This also includes PCB (polychlorinated biphenols) Management - inventorying potential PCB sources and removing them; and, Asbestos Abatement inventorying, removing and controlling asbestos.
 
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