36th CES environmental flight stewards to Mother Nature Published Jan. 26, 2010 By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The 36th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental flight built on its 2008 Pacific Air Forces Outstanding Environmental Flight Runner-Up performance by aggressively working toward a cleaner, greener Guam in 2009. The flight is divided in four sections - compliance, pollution prevention, cultural and natural resources, and installation restoration. Each section practices its due diligence to promote positive impacts on the environment. "Our mission is to ensure the base is in compliance with all environmental rules, regulations and law [as well as] to be good environmental stewards," said Russell Grossley, 36th CES chief of pollution prevention. "We're here to do whatever is necessary to protect all the endangered species and minimize waste so we can have a successful mission." According to Mr. Grossley, the flight performed well in all areas in 2009 citing the successes at Urunao as one of the top projects. During the World War II era, there were two off-base sites at Urunao used for over-the-cliff disposal of miscellaneous military equipment, creating an unburied time capsule of history and heritage - but also a mess the flight has been working to clean up since 2006. "We had several successful clean-up activities within the restoration program," Mr. Grossley said. "The Urunao clean-up has been a success story in itself. The stuff they've done out there so far has been tremendous effort." Mr. Grossley also took pride in one of his own programs - the 36th Wing's recycling program. "We are the model for recycling on Guam," he said. The conservation section has also been busy throughout 2009, providing protection for threatened and endangered species. "We've been working hand-in-hand with the Department of Aquatics and Wildlife and U.S. Fishing and Wildlife for monitoring the green sea turtles, Marianas crow, fruit bats and the Guam rail," Mr. Grossley said. With a great year in the books, the environmental flight is looking toward what it can do in 2010. Upcoming projects for the flight in 2010. Include: - Constructing a barrier fence by May to protect endangered species from predators. - Purchasing new recycling containers geared toward food service to improve the recycling program. - Installing a food waste reduction processor in the dining facility. The recycled material produced can be used as fertilizer or feed for animals - helping reduce waste going into the landfill. - Distributing rechargeable flashlights to security forces personnel and other units requiring use of a flashlight for their day-to-day mission.