• DOD P2 Recognition Nomination Form (pdf)

DOD P2 Recognition Award Recipients:

Staff Sergeant Thomas Hauff (2001)

Gary M. Voss (2002)

Mr. Martin Terry and Ms. Monica Kapso (2003)

Rick Agnetti (2003)

Steve Hoffman (2003)

Jill Tebbe (2005)

Staff Sergeant Thomas Hauff
Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center
Bio-Remediation Parts Cleaner

Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan Air National Guards “Gem of the North”.  Its primary mission is to provide a year-round realistic training environment for military units around the country.

Alpena CRTC’s commitment to environmentally friendly maintenance practices is reflected in the efforts of Staff Sergeant Thomas Hauff. SSgt Hauff is a mechanic at the base vehicle maintenance shop and is also the shop’s hazardous waste accumulation manager. In an effort to reduce waste, operational coast, health and environmental hazards, SSgt Hauff researched and found that a bio-remediation parts cleaner will help solve the problem.

Vehicle maintenance had been using a part cleaner that was doing the job but involved a hazardous solvent and was costly for removal of the waste byproduct. The parts cleaner uses a solvent that contains a flammable petroleum distillate which is hazardous to human health and the environment.

SSgt Hauff found a parts cleaner company that specializes in non-hazardous, bio-remediation cleaning systems. The parts cleaner reduces the release of VOC’s and eliminates liquid hazardous waste with the use of an aqueous degreasing solution called “Ozzy Juice”. Because of his efforts, SRA Hauff has cut the cost of cleaning parts and fostered pollution prevention in the process.

ChemFree’s SmartWasher (reg. Trademark) costs around $1362.00 and about $9.95 per month to operate. (replacement of filter mat) Ozzy Juice is added to the cleaning system as needed and costs about $65.00 per container.

Gary M. Voss “Mr. P2”
U.S. Army TACOM
Detroit Arsenal
Environmental Management Office

Mr. Gary Voss has been the driving force behind pollution prevention (P2) at the Detroit Arsenal for many years.  He knows how to put ideas into practice.  He searches for pollution prevention opportunities through source reduction, process efficiencies, product substitution and alternatives to disposal.

Two of Mr. Voss’ success stories are the HAZMART and the Yank-A-Tank program.  Mr. Voss instigated the Detroit Arsenal’s HAZMART, a pharmacy concept of life cycle control of hazardous materials.  Mr. Voss succeeded in implementing the central storage and issue point for hazardous materials in a short time frame.  Through Mr. Voss’ efforts, the installation attained a $215,000 disposal cost avoidance of approximately 33,000 gallons of fuel from the Yank-A-Tank program by re-use to various Michigan-based National Guard and Reserve units. 

During the 1st year of the HAZMART, Mr. Voss worked diligently to instill the centralized storage and delivery system into the minds of the users.  Amnesty turn-ins of stockpiled HM was initiated to help control unnecessary expiration and disposal of HM.  In lieu of disposal, Mr. Voss was successful in the re-use or donation of approximately 8,500 gallons of HM such as oils, solvents, paints, and adhesives.  Through Mr. Voss’ efforts the annual hazardous waste disposal was dropped from 83,500 lbs to 14,000 lbs within 2 years of operation. 

Not satisfied, Mr. Voss has worked diligently to improve the HAZMART with updated automated waste tracking.  He recently implemented the HSMS 2.3 Waste Modules and was the 1st Army installation to successfully complete the upgrade.  The HSMS 2.3 revises the system and more efficiently tracks wastes and controls the authorized shelf quantities of customers and return of empty containers.  An integral part of the upgrade is a bar code system.  All HM coming and going on the facility has a bar code.  The system provides reports such as waste billing report and quarterly disposal reports and can be queried for user data.  The system will identify the user if any items are misplaced or found abandoned.   

There a more examples of Mr. Voss’ commitment. Through the HAZMART,  Mr. Voss’ initiated a revenue-generating recycling program that includes toner cartridges, fluorescent tubes, lead-acid batteries, and aerosol can pick-up. 

The “Cartridges for Kids Program” in FY 2002 generated approximately $1,200 from recycled toner cartridges.  The recycling revenue was donated to a Detroit inner city school.  The specific school receiving the revenue will rotate each year.

Another “brain child” of Mr. Voss’, the recycling program for fluorescent lights is good management and good for the environment.  The program controls the handling of the tubes, ensures less breakage, and keeps them out of landfills.

A new program implemented by Mr. Voss is the aerosol can and battery pick-up program.  The potential exists for employees to place personal items such as alkaline batteries and aerosol cans of desk cleaners and plant sprays in the installation trashcans.  To avoid these items finding their way to Michigan landfills, Mr. Voss has enacted an amnesty collection program.  While the amnesty collection program will not save the installation money, it will help save the environment by ensuring proper recycling or disposal of these items.

Mr. Martin Terry and Ms. Monica Kapso  were instrumental in the development of TARDEC's Environmental Management System (EMS). TARDEC recently received ISO 14001 third party certification, being the first DoD laboratory to receive such distinction. Mr. Terry and Ms. Kapso provided the necessary support and logistics, with assistance from an outside contractor, to ensure the ISO 14001 certification process was a success.

Rick Agnetti, TARDEC engineering technician, contacted the Environmental Office to find potential users for 6,700 gallons of Jet-A fuel.  To dispose of this fuel as a hazardous waste the cost to the federal government would have been over $10,000.  Though our efforts we were able to donate the jet fuel to Selfridge Air National Guard Base.  The total cost was $350 thereby saving TARDEC over $9,700 in disposal cost.   Rick’s efforts in finding a suitable alternative to disposal is therefore recognized by the DoD P2 Alliance with this award.

Steve Hoffman, TARDEC electrical engineering technician, took the initiative to contact the Environmental Office to find an alternative to disposal of 400 pounds of Plastilina Clay.  The clay was successfully donated to Bryon Fitzpatrick,  Department Chair at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.  In the future any clay slated for disposal will now be recycled and   used as a training aid for students at the school.  This diversion has saved the clay from making its way to the land fill and has saved the government the cost of disposing the clay as a solid waste. The DoD P2 Alliance recognizes the efforts of Steve Hoffman and his initiative in finding an alternative to disposal of this clay.

TARDEC Associate Receives the USAG-M Commanders Coin and Pollution Prevention Award

By Florence M. Trevino, USAG-M Environmental Specialist

Jill Tebbe-TARDEC RDECOM Fules and Libricants Technology Team, was recently recognized for her contribution as a United States Army Garrison Michigan-Deetroit, Pollution Prevention Committee Member.  Jill has been an active P2 member since the commitee was established in June 2004.

Florence Trevino the committee chair recognizing the commitment and dedication to the committee nominated her for both awards.  Jill was instrumental in establishing a recycling program within Building 210.  Collection points are established for Cardboard, Cell Phones, Used Eyeglasses, Printer Cartridges, Coffee Cans, and Plastics.  Employees were notified via email in January of the recycling program and the locations to drop off the recyclable material.  Jill requested participants who drop off plastic to be sure the plastic is rinsed prior to placing it in the collection container to prevent pest problems.  When the container is full, Jill takes the plastic to a local recycling center and the coffee cans are taken to a local school.

Educating employees is one of the things that Jill has been instrumental is accomplishing which has help make her recycling program a success.  As a Pollution Prevention Committee member, she has made a success of the program and shown how one person can make a difference.