Luke gets 'green' ESOHCAMP thumbs-up

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The goal of any team focusing on the environment is to "go green," but Luke Air Force Base took it a step further when preparing the base for the recent wing-wide environmental inspection.

Air Education and Training Command inspectors conducted the Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program inspection May 3 through 7. Luke received a green score both overall and in each of the four programs inspected that make up the ESOHCAMP. The inspection is graded on a green, yellow and red scale with green serving as the best possible score.

"This is a 100-percent improvement from the last inspection in 2007 and it's a really good feeling that we've improved this much in three years," said Jeff Rothrock, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resource management chief. "It's taken probably 1,000 hours of environmental time getting ready for the inspection and prepping our programs. A couple thousand hours have also been spent wing-wide with everybody working their areas and polishing their issues. It's just an incredible basewide effort."

According to 1st Lt. Brian Reese, 56th Fighter Wing ESOHCAMP action officer, Luke received a yellow overall in 2004 and the same grade overall and in each of the four programs during the 2007 ESOHCAMP. The 2010 inspection marked the first time Luke has received a green in each of the four programs in more than 10 years.

Luke nearly doubled the number of positive findingsfrom seven to 13 since the last inspection. The number of negative findings also dropped 46 percent from the 115 reported three years ago, Lieutenant Reese said.

Teddy James, Headquarters AETC ESOHCAMP Environmental Management System Program manager, was part of the 2007 and 2010 inspection teams at Luke and said he noticed significant changes in the three years between the visits.

"The installation now has an effective environmental management system in place, and that's not a program, it's a system," he said. "That system is a thought process, just like safety, throughout the wing on how to reduce the ESOH footprint on this installation. That did not exist in 2007. It does exist today and that is the main reason why there is a decrease of findings at Luke."

Those thought processes had the greatest impact on his view of Luke, he added.

"The thing that impressed me the most was the forward thinking from senior leadership down through shop personnel," he said. "There was a real genuine interest in finding ways to improve processes. The projects and designs of improving this base for the people here for a more green and occupational health and safety environment is pretty incredible."

Mr. James' team named a combination of four individuals and teams as outstanding performers during the inspection. These include Senior Airman James Clay, A.J. Muhs, Teresa Wesley and the 18-person environmental management system cross-functional team.

Mr. Rothrock said receiving the green score from inspectors is an honor, but knows the test of maintaining this level of performance will always be there.

"Compliance is important and this wing gets it; everybody understands," Mr. Rothrock said. "We're looking forward to the challenge of keeping the momentum."