Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia (SUBASE) has been actively utilizing pollution prevention into its everyday operations in accordance with Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 5090.1B, Executive Order, and federal, state and base policies, goals and directives.

SUBASE covers 9,791 acres managed under the SUBASE Natural Resources Personnel; 6,950 acres available for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation activities; 3,000 acres of saltwater march and tidal streams; many acres of forest; and 21 archaeological sites that have been identified as eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The DoD host organization is the Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine Base Georgia. Tenant commands include Trident Training Facility, Trident Refit Facility (TRF), and Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic, with a Base Operation Services Contractor for non-military maintenance operations. The Submarine Base provides support to the submarine launched ballistic missile system. SUBASE maintains and operates facilities for administration and personnel support for operations of the submarine force; within capabilities, to provide logistic support to other activities of the Navy in the area; and to perform such other functions as may be directed by competent authority. SUBASE employs over 9,700 people (5,500 military and 4,200 civilian).

Specific P2 Initiatives

Hazardous Waste Goal

Reduce generation by 50% of CY92 baseline by CY99. SUBASE has implemented: battery recycling; used oil recycling; replacement of solvent degreasing methods with jet washers; aerosol can puncturing/ recycling; oil filter crushing/ recycling; use of HVLP paint guns; eliminated the use of xylene-based varnish by substitution of a solvent-free varnish; elimination of chromate-containing grease with chromate-free substitutes; elimination of chlorinated solvent-based fluids with Cool Tool II, a non-chlorinated based solvent-based fluid; use of Ultralow Volume (ULV) Pesticide Spraying at the SUBASE golf course to reduce amount of applied pesticides applied; the beginning of the elimination of high VOC-, chromate-, and lead-containing paints by substituting low-VOC, and lead- and chromate-free paints; elimination of Freon-113 with the substitute Navy oxygen cleaner (NOC) which is used nearly 97 percent of the time at TRF; and conversion of the Central Thermal Plant from using coal and fuel oil to use of naturalgas to fire the boilers, which significantly reduces air pollution. SUBASE workload has significantly increased 43% from 1994 to 1997. Waste generation reductions since 1992 through 1997 are due in large part to the significant reduction in unused off-spec hazmats being disposed as hazardous waste.

Divert 50% of non-hazardous solid waste to recycling or beneficial use. Using lime sludge (a by-product from the base potable water treatment plant) as a soil conditioner in 1997 through the first three quarters of 1998, 52% of all non-hazardous waste was diverted to recycling and beneficial use. SUBASE established a Recycling Center in 1990. The center has a 24-hour drop off and accepts newspaper, magazines, phone books, white office paper, computer paper, colored paper, green, brown and clear glass bottles and jars, flattened corrugated cardboard, cereal, or beverage boxes, brown paper bags, aluminum cans, steel food cans, bagged packing paper, and plastics #1 & #2. Clean wood is chipped and converted to mulch at the Camden County Compost Facility.

Ozone Depleting Compounds

SUBASE reduced Halon 1211 use by 2,163 pounds during 1996 by changing the Halon 1211 fire extinguishers to carbon dioxide type. Halon 130L was reduced by 1,020 pounds and 819 pounds of Halon 1301 is under removal. In addition, approximately 17,580 pounds of Class I ozone depleting substances are scheduled for removal from heating/air conditioning/ refrigeration systems by Dec 2000.

Section 312 of EPCRA

Energy Goal

Reduce energy consumption by 20% BTUs/sqft by 2000 and by 30% by 2005 (1985 baseline).

Pesticides Goal

Reduce chemicals by 50% of CY93 by FY00. Baseline CY93 was 8,321 lbs. of active ingredient (AI). By CY97 AI levels dropped to 3,523 lbs. CY98 Al levels are projected to go lower than CY97. The goal was surpassed using Integrated Pest Management and physical means.

Pollution Prevention Program

Hazardous Materials Control and Management Committee

Made up of representatives from all SUBASE host and tenants command safety and environmental divisions. The HMC&M committee controls and tracks the use of hazardous materials at the facility by all base personnel and contractors. The HMC&M committee is responsible for: reviewing all hazardous materials currently in use and for approving first-time acquisition of hazardous materials: for making recommendations regarding hazmat elimination, substitution, disposal, and consolidation; for inspecting shops and contractor work sites to ensure compliance; and for assisting base personnel in all aspects of hazardous material management.