Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence

"Servicing Global Remediation and Construction Needs"

What's the most effective way for the United States Air Force to clean-up contaminants such as low-level radioactivity, metals, solvents, pesticides, jet fuels and PCBs at its military bases worldwide?

Since 1994, that has been MWH’s goal for the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE). Initially working under site-specific contracts at two California bases, we have expanded our services to AFCEE into comprehensive full-service remediation programs at 57 installations throughout Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Applying strict standards to project management and cost control, MWH has delivered 96 percent of this work under budget. Currently, MWH has Full Service Remedial Action (FSRA) contracts for two California bases; one global FSRA contract; and two "3P" contracts for worldwide environmental assessment through remedial design. MWH has successfully executed about US $ 200 million of services on these FSRA and "3P" contracts. These have a combined ceiling of US $ 340 million.

Safe, Effective Remediation

Working closely with the US government, MWH has executed several complex remediation and construction projects for the Air Force. Integrating the work of other contractors, laboratories, regulatory agencies, base personnel and community groups, MWH has performed the following types of services:

• Preliminary assessments and site investigations
• Remedial design and engineering
• Project and program management
• Interim remedial actions
• Remedial construction
• Long-term operations and maintenance

We've also updated water treatment plants; constructed camps and roads in remote locations; developed solid waste management plans; conducted air emissions surveys; negotiated cleanup standards with regulatory agencies; investigated and cleaned-up airplane crashes; and supported community relations efforts, to name just a few. Our safety record on these projects has been superior — with no major OSHA reportable incidents.

High Profile Projects

Over the years, MWH has supported a wide range of AFCEE international projects. A few highlights:

• At 14 remote Alaska locations, MWH performed pre-demolition environmental surveys to identify and quantify asbestos, lead and various wastes. Only two installations were accessible by road. The remaining 12 required special arrangements. To reach these sites in Alaska, the team relied on charter passenger and cargo aircraft, helicopters, local fishing boats and ATV. At seven unmanned installations, the field team procured accommodations and board from the nearby Alaskan Native community. A local hunter was posted at four installations to monitor polar bear and grizzly bear movements and protect MWH employees. Other considerations included extreme cold temperatures, short daylight duration and a lack of regular or cellular phone service.

• At Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, MWH conducted an environmental assessment and tree inventory report. This project is helping the base with a five-year tree cutting management plan — as well as identifying data for use in land acquisition and easement outside the base boundaries. As the effort is very politically sensitive, MWH has worked closely with the German Staatsbauamt (regulators) and the forestry service on issues relating to GIS, forestry, land acquisition and regulatory issues. To ensure the data withstands intense public scrutiny, MWH developed an innovative light detection and ranging survey (LIDAR). This survey and a physical tree inventory identified tree types and species. It also predicted average tree growth rates and future tree heights. This comprehensive data is being used to help alleviate community and regulatory concerns.