Environment

Guarding Our Coast and Our Environment

By A/SLt Jordan Holder, MARPAC Public Affairs

Credit:  DND Photo Tourism Victoria presented Maritime Forces Pacific with its Environmental Organization award in recognition of Marpac’s continued commitment and success at meeting their environmental responsibilities despite the unique challenges of their location.

Picture thousands of acres of beautiful land on Canada’s west coast that combine sensitive environmental ecosystems with one of the largest industrial complexes on the coast. Now try to imagine how you would go about protecting those ecosystems and preserve the endangered species found within while continuing to operate the industrial complex. At its Annual General Meeting on March 30^th, Tourism Victoria presented Maritime Forces Pacific with its Environmental Organization award for rising to exactly this challenge. “This award was presented in recognition of our continued commitment and success at meeting our environmental responsibilities despite the unique challenges of our location. I was honoured to accept this award on behalf of Rear Admiral Jean-Yves Forcier, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, and the entire Formation,” said Barry Saladana, Formation Risk Management Officer.

Tourism Victoria has been awarding individuals, businesses, and organizations with Environmental Awards since 1994. Recipients in the past have included the University of Victoria, the Land Conservancy of British Columbia, and the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society. When they became aware of the work that the Formation puts into protecting the environment they decided to award that effort. In fact, they were rather taken aback.

“I am amazed at the magnitude and scope of efforts put forth, once again, by our military forces! You must be proud - as we are!” wrote Beverly Booth, from Tourism Victoria, in a note to Capt.(N) David Kyle, Commander of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.  

As landlord for thousands of acres of federal land, which combine pristine environmental ecosystems with one of the largest industrial complexes on the west coast north of San Francisco, Capt.(N) Kyle has his work cut out for him. “The entire Formation can take credit for receiving this award, but much of what we do is only possible because of the leadership of the Base Commander,” commented Saladana.

MARPAC’s annual State of the Environment report lists several threatened ecosystems, such as old-growth coastal Douglas-fir forests for which CFB Esquimalt is responsible. It also lists 13 different endangered species that use habitat on the Base, including the Oregon spotted frog, which calls Aldergrove home. The report details the strategies that have been put into place to coordinate conservation efforts and recovery plans to ensure that these ecosystems and species are protected.

According to Saladana however, this award is not only an acknowledgement of the policies and measures that are currently in place to protect the environment, but also of a change in mindset that has occurred over the last 10 to 15 years. As someone who was involved at the beginning of the environmental effort on the Base, he should know. As Base Technical Services Officer in the early 1990s, Saladana’s department housed the first environmental and hazardous materials staff.  “Back then we didn’t view our environmental responsibilities the same way, in fact recycling was the key issue of the time. We didn’t even have positions in the establishment for environmental staff.

The thing that he finds most striking is how deeply entrenched the change in mindset has become – from how the Admiral and Senior Management think and plan operations, right down to the daily practices of the average worker and Ordinary Seaman on the jetty.

“On a daily basis we put into practice the things that demonstrate this new mindset. Following direction set out in our Environment Management System (EMS), based on ISO 14000 principles, we regularly practice how to respond to spills and releases. Though it is hoped that CFB Esquimalt will never have a major incident, it is recognized that training and being prepared is our best form or “Due Diligence”. New efforts are being put into “greening” our procurement process to ensure that the products we use are not only effective, but are also environmentally friendly. However, if even a single litre of motor oil is spilled, not only is it cleaned up right away but a report is also filed detailing how the spill occurred and what was done to mitigate its effects upon the environment. By tracking accidents of this sort we can modify our practices to ensure that these incidents are kept to a minimum.”

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