Base gears up for evaluation Published Aug. 17, 2006 POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Pope is revving up for the 2006 Internal Environmental and Occupational Heath Compliance Assessment Management Program evaluation taking place Monday through Aug. 25. Originally called ECAMP, the EOHCAMP assessment has expanded to include two new categories: occupational health and the Environmental Management System. The addition of occupational health and the EMS in the evaluation will allow the base a more integrated method of evaluating our environment and our environmental policies and management practices. Occupational health will be a far-reaching protocol that will evaluate everything from chemical and noise hazards, to radiation and thermal stresses. The EMS portion of the assessment will look at how the base is managing its environmental management framework. One of the most important criteria on base for the EMS evaluation is that everyone understands the base's EMS policy. Team Pope members will be asked and should know the answers to the following questions: What is the base's significant EMS aspect? Prevention of pollution in the base stormwater system. What does an EMS policy statement do? The policy establishes an EMS for Pope. What are the elements of Pope's EMS policy statement? Compliance with all environmental laws and regulations, pollution prevention and continual improvement. The Air Force EOHCAMP is a tool used to monitor compliance with federal, state and local laws, as well as Department of Defense regulations. It is a mechanism that helps identify and correct potential problems before regulators find them or before there is damage to the environment and injury to Team Pope. Every Air Force base is required to have an EOHCAMP assessment annually. In Air Mobility Command, an external EOHCAMP is conducted once every three years and the base conducts an internal EOHCAMP in the off years. A group of evaluators assigned by Pope groups and squadrons will perform the assessment, providing a close, objective look at the base environmental and occupational health programs. This review is an opportunity to find and learn from both positive management practices and areas that need to be improved. It is in the interest of the Air Force, citizens and future generations that we manage our environment thoughtfully and carefully. Additionally, environmental compliance and employee safety is part of the base mission. Failure to comply could not only lead to notices of violation, fines and civil penalties but also long-lasting environmental damage which could affect mission capability. Ultimately, neglecting our environment could impair our ability to perform our jobs by causing serious or fatal human illness or injury. The EOHCAMP team's work center will be the 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron conference room for the assessment. The EOHCAMP assessment will focus on the following areas or protocols: air emissions, petroleum, oil, lubricants, cultural resources, solid waste, hazardous materials, storage tanks, hazardous waste, toxic substances, natural resources, wastewater, erosion control, environmental planning, the base recycling program, water quality management, pesticides, occupational health and the environmental management system. For more information call 1st Lt. Erin Powell at 394-1638 or Omega Weeks at 394-1639. (Courtesy of the 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron)