Summer 2009
This is an archived article. Facts and links are current as of publication date.

Julie DeJong, Minnesota DNR

A radio telemetry collar monitors a wolf at Camp Ripley, Minn.

Vice President Joe Biden praised winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards June 3 for leading the way in environmental stewardship as they help to ensure the nation's defense.

Three Army organizations were among the honorees as Biden joined Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III in the Pentagon auditorium to recognize installations and teams:

• Camp Ripley Maneuver and Training Center, a Minnesota Army National Guard facility, was the winner in the Large Installation Natural Resources Conservation category.
• Fort Drum Cultural Resources Team, Fort Drum, N.Y., won in the Team/Individual Cultural Resources Management category.
• U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg, Germany, won in the Overseas Installation Environmental Quality category.

Biden said the winners show DoD excelling in an area most people in the public would never expect. "This is an outfit that does it all," he said. "When I look at the accomplishments of the teams we honor today, I am genuinely impressed by how our nation's armed forces, while fighting two wars overseas and many other contingencies across the globe, can still lead the fight for effective environmental stewardship."

"The Defense Department, as the United States' largest employer, landowner and energy consumer, is making a gigantic impact in committing to environmental protection," Biden said.

The winners stand above the rest in protecting wetlands, promoting recycling programs and preserving archeological sites through "innovation, improvising as well as simple, plain hard work," he said. "But they don't stand alone," he said, pointing to the extensive environmental focus throughout the department.

"You have also demonstrated that in our military, you don't need to wear a green beret to be proud of being green," he said.

The $4.3 billion proposed for the department's environmental programs in fiscal 2010 will continue this effort, Biden said. "It's a big deal what you are doing, and we have a shot at doing so much more," he said.

Lynn lauded the commitment this year's awardees have demonstrated to environmental preservation. "They developed and implemented innovative techniques to eliminate waste production, use green alternatives in weapons systems development, reduce pollution and the consumption of energy and natural resources," he said.

"Since the Department of Defense is the single-largest consumer of energy in United States, it is important that we also be a leader in efficiency and in using renewable fuels," he said.

Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, opened the ceremony noting the lasting impact the awardees' "extraordinary contributions" will have.

"The men and women we honor today are committed to maintaining and restoring our natural resources, not only to address the complex security challenges of today, but to ensure that generations to come will benefit from our nation's unquantifiable richness," he said.

Camp Ripley was recognized for its role in protecting the river and its delicate ecosystem along more than 19 miles of Mississippi River frontage.

The Fort Drum team was honored for its role in protecting more than 240 prehistoric and 700 historic archeological sites, as well as six districts on the National Register of Historic Places.

U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg was honored for its environmental management system that promotes pollution prevention, recycling, public health and conservation.

Respond to this article
	Issue Contents