The Army is on a
course to transform itself into a more agile, efficient, and
deployable force. To realize the goals of this transformation,
The Army depends upon realistic training on our lands. For this
reason, an important part of The Army's transformation is our
continued emphasis on caring for the training lands that sustain
and enable Army readiness.
On April 22, The Army will celebrate Earth Day. Our annual observance of Earth Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the environment on our mission. It is a chance to dedicate ourselves to the responsible stewardship of our environment, and to show others how The Army sustains the resources entrusted to its care.
"Transforming The Army ... Sustaining the Environment" is The Army's Earth Day theme for 2001. It highlights our goals for the future and our continued success and dedication to environmental stewardship on our installations. Our Nation has entrusted us with a national heritage of over 14 million acres of land. The importance that we place on caring for these critically important lands is embodied in our many environmental programs.
The Army is one of America's foremost environmentally sensitive stewards of land. Our programs protect endangered species and cultural resources; they ensure compliance with appropriate environmental standards. We lead the way in the employment of state-of-the-art technologies to clean up our lands, and pollution prevention has become a noticeable part of our industrial operations.
Earth Day provides a perfect opportunity to work with our local communities to protect and enhance our environment — to share our successes with others and to increase the well being of soldiers, civilians, and family members. I encourage you to be a part of Earth Day activities at your installation.
Earth Day to be celebrated
here April 18
Earth Day is an international event demonstrating concern and mobilizing support for the environment. As a worldwide event, Earth Day represents the commitment of the United States and other countries to environmental security. The more than 736,000 active-duty military and civilian personnel of the United States Army, as well as our families and local communities, contribute significantly to the impact of this monumental event. Earth Day is usually observed April 22. However, many Earth Day events are planned for the weekend closest to April 22, or events may last the entire week of April 22 or longer.
Picatinny will celebrate Earth Day April 18 with several displays and exhibits at Bldg. 34.
• Penny Jones, Recycling Education Specialist from the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, will discuss, “Tour of Trash and Treasure,” at 11:15 a.m. in the Lindner Conference Center, Bldg. 1
• Door prizes, such as Earth Day T-shirts, tote bags made from recycled plastic and an Earth Machine (compost bin) will be raffled after the presentation
• All those attending the presentation will receive a coupon for a free, 16-ounce soda redeemable that day at “Choices.”
• After the presentation, adjourn to “Choices” for exhibits and an “earthy theme” lunch menu
• Exhibits include a Children's Poster Contest, Picatinny's Natural Resources and a Tree Plaque ID Walk
“Tour of Trash and Treasure”
The Command Conference Center, Bldg. 1, will be the setting for Earth Day's presentation of “Tour of Trash and Treasure” by Penny Jones from the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority.
“Tour of Trash and Treasure” takes you on a journey with your household trash from the time the sanitation crew picks it up from your curb to its final destination and is hosted by “Glinda Garbahj.” There is Glinda the Good Witch of the South in the Wizard of Oz and then there is Glinda Garbahj of the MCMUA. What do they have in common? Plan on attending this presentation on April 18 and you will find out!
Jones is a Recycling Education Specialist since February 1985 with the MCMUA located in Mendham, N.J. She has created this presentation as a creative media to educate the public about the importance of recycling. She believes that she has the “best job in the entire world."
In this position she has portrayed “Glinda Garbahj” numerous times for fourth graders (Glinda's family is challenged by the large amount of garbage which it generates), and she has coordinated thirteen annual Morris County recycling awards dinners whose guests have ranged in age from four months to 80 years. One highlight of her recycling career occurred in 1999 when, with assistance from the reference department at the Morris County Library, she tracked down Gary Anderson, creator of the recycling symbol. She had been searching for him for several years.
Jones is a dynamic speaker and she and “Glinda” will keep your interest throughout the entire presentation of “Tour of Trash and Treasure.” Keep in mind too that Earth Day T-shirts, tote bags made from recycled plastic and an Earth Machine (compost bin) will be raffled after the presentation. The Earth Day Committee and Penny Jones look forward to seeing you all there.
The first Earth Day was celebrated thirty-one years ago. It was a time when the first high tide of environmental concern and activism swept the country. Millions of Americans voiced their environmental hopes and concerns...and the government responded.
On the first day of that year, President Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act, which created the Council on Environmental Policy and incorporated environmental awareness into the planning process of the Federal Government. During that year, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration were established. On the last day of that year, the President signed the Clean Air Act.
These actions reflected a long-standing American tradition of natural resource conservation and protection. Recognition of environmental protection as an integral part of economic development has made us an example for the rest of the world to follow. Many countries have turned to the United States for guidance in reversing decades of environmental neglect.
Earth Day celebrates our ties to our planet and symbolizes our dedication to enhance its health. Our everyday actions reflect this commitment. Picking up litter, recycling cans, paper etc., choosing to walk instead of drive may seem like small actions of themselves, but they do make a difference.
We have made significant strides in "greening" our actions and attitudes. Celebrate the day!
Periodically it is important for us to remind each other to commit ourselves to the Installation Recycling Program. Source separation begins with each employee, so it's important to understand which types of paper are included in Picatinny Arsenal's recycling program. Materials included in the Arsenal's office waste paper recycling program are as follows:
• white and colored paper
• computer print out paper
• copy paper
• fax paper
• carbonless forms
• envelopes with/without windows
• manila, white and pastel colored file folders
• laser printed paper
• white ledger paper
• newspaper
Just as important, everyone needs to learn what materials CANNOT be included with his or her recyclable paper. Unacceptable materials contaminate the load resulting in materials not be accepted for processing. This affects the success of Picatinny's paper recycling program.
For the recycling program to be effective, employees should NEVER add waste to the blue paper containers such as:
• Coffee grounds
• metal
• styrofoam
• wood
• acetate sheets
• photographs
• food
• plastic
• carbon paper
• glass
Recently, shotgun and rifle ammunition, thought to be someone's personal property, was discovered in our recycled waste. Additionally, such items as bagged leaves, a washing machine, a hot water heater and car parts have been found in dumpsters. Unlawful disposal of refuse here may result in prosecution and/or administrative action against offenders. Depending on the circumstances, prosecution could result in penalties up to a $10,000 fine and/or imprisonment. Security personnel will be closely monitoring to apprehend violators.
In addition to being a mandatory requirement here, recycling programs are a wise investment in our future. We are saving important natural resources, energy to produce materials and dollars each time we recycle. Our recycling program costs are less than our cost for collecting and landfilling trash. It is important that everyone take time to properly dispose of recyclable materials.
I ask for everyone's cooperation in making the recycling and solid waste program a success.
On April 18 we will once again be celebrating our national earth day here. Part of the events planned will be an exhibit table located in the new CHOICES Food Court that will allow anyone who would be interested in identifying certain ornamental trees and shrubs located in the downtown area (areas surrounding the golf course) to do so.
We will have on display a limited amount of tree ID maps and sample labels. As you walk from the Food Court, down First Street (past Building 1) to Ramsey Ave. and further on down past the Halfway House snack bar, you will be able to see and ID key trees and shrubs that are located along the way.
We are currently creating a site that can be accessed from the MWR web site to download ID maps. We are also trying to generate enough interest to start a tree ID sponsorship program (where anyone could purchase an ID label for a tree, with his or her name on it).
Picatinny golf course superintendent, Chris Kunkel, is committed to preserving the natural environment through his involvement with the Audubon Society Golf Course Sanctuary program (which the golf course formally joined last year). Part of the requirement to becoming fully certified (of which there are currently only a small number, but growing), is to create a habitat that will allow both man and nature to co-exist together.
“We are strongly committed to preserving our natural resources by initiating a number of programs,” Kunkel said. “One of which is our two for one tree replacement program.
“For every tree that is removed due to either storm damage or being a safety hazard, each will be replaced by two more. In the last five years we have planted over 200 trees."
There are also plans to set up a display area near the cannon gates gazebo. If you would be interested in helping with the design, planting, care (and sponsorship) of this area, contact Kunkel via e-mail at ckunkel@pica.army.mil
When asked, many people do not know when Arbor Day is observed and others respond that it is part of Earth Day. Arbor Day and Earth Day are two separate events, but can be celebrated together.
J. Sterling Morton is the founder of Arbor Day. Morton moved from Detroit, Michigan to the territory of Nebraska in 1854. Upon arriving there, he was dismayed over the lack of trees. He advocated tree planting by individuals and encouraged civic organizations and groups to do the same.
Morton was a journalist and became editor of Nebraska's first newspaper and also became secretary of the Nebraska Territory using these forums to promote tree planting. He proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture in 1872.
The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 in the territory of Nebraska. Arbor Day focuses on trees – their planting, beauty and care. On that first Arbor Day, it was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska.
At one point it was suggested that Arbor Day be held on April 22 - today's Earth Day observance – J. Sterling Morton's birthday. Could this then be the confusion over the dates Arbor Day and Earth Day are celebrated?
Since that first Arbor Day on April 10, a National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April. However many states celebrate Arbor Day on different dates according to their best tree-planting times. New Jersey's Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. Arbor Day is also observed in many countries around the world.
Picatinny's celebration of Arbor Day will take place during Earth Day activities on April 18. Please take the opportunity to visit the exhibit “Tree Plaque ID Walk” at “Choices.”
Barry Commoner was a published environmental author when the original Earth Day was inaugurated. He coined the so-called Four Rules of Ecology: "Everything is connected to everything else;" "Everything has a home;"" Everything goes somewhere;" "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Another allusion that is also worth noting in all seasons is: "Nature bats last."
Here at Picatinny everything is connected to everything else naturally in the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan. Quoting the executive summary, this document "examines key natural resources on the installation, identifies standards and guidelines to protect those natural resources and provides guidance to ensure conservation measures are integrated with Army mission activities. Integrated management will sustain land for mission use while protecting natural and cultural resources and providing recreation opportunities consistent with the military mission."
This planning document is revised every five years and updated as necessary. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review it, N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife, as well as AMC headquarters. Through the Environmental Assessment process the general public also has an opportunity to comment. Full implementation requires approval of the installation commander, as well as representatives of the federal and state wildlife managing agencies. Picatinny's INRMP is expected to be approved shortly after Earth Day 2001. Reference copies will be available at Bldg. 302S as well as other organizational offices once finalized and approved.
Endangered Species Management Plans are required if a federally listed (threatened/endangered) plant or animal uses or depends upon habitat present on the installation. Plan preparation, review and approval follows the same process as INRMPs, and are incorporated into the INRMP (as well as Master Plan).
Plans are being prepared for the Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) and Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis). The turtle is at home year round in a wetland on post. The bat occupies a winter home in a local abandoned mine, but claims ownership of one or more franchises of Days Inns (a.k.a. roost trees) where it can visit and hang out on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Some of these "limited or express" accommodations in the chain are smaller in size and away from major flyways, but offer the same basic amenities such as warm or cool dry, dark, quiet sleeping quarters, as well as reasonable security. Roost trees are usually dead or dying with ample loose bark still adhering to the bole, situated well within standing forests or in woodland edges. Verily, even an old veteran (would be roost) tree on its last (and only) leg has a "crack at the bat," before going down at home base.
Whether struck out, struck down, or brushed back, some wood on post will remain in the lineup as fuel wood. Somewhere it can go is to your home (as would be firewood this time); however the Permits available from Bldg. 302S are not free, yet only the nominal cost of a good lunch at "Choices." The firewood permit fee goes somewhere else though, namely Defense Accounting Office, emphasizing yet again that there is no such thing as a free lunch, even for Picatinny's nature steward.
Although I don't collect baseball cards, I am interested in recording the numbers and statistics of some of these giant veteran standouts still on deck (big trees) in this "house that Kilmer's architect built." Scouting reports are welcome.
