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Naval Support Facility Indian Head Guide

Environmental Programs

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

The Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP) Environmental Program Division provides shore installation management functions to Naval Support Facility Indian Head (NSFIH). The main focus of theEnvironmental Program Division is to ensure that NSASP is in compliance with federal, state, local, and Navy environmental regulations and guidelines. The two main organizations that provide regulations and guidelines that NSASP must follow are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). The Environmental Program Office covers a wide range of program areas including:

Clean Air Act (CAA) – The CAA program is based on andfollows the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from area, stationary, and mobile sources. This law authorizes the EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment. For additional information pleasecontact (301) 744-2257.

Clean Water Act (CWA) – The CWA program is based on and follows the statute that employs a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory tools to reduce direct pollutant discharges into waterways, finance municipal wastewater treatment facilities, and manage polluted runoff. These tools are employed to achieve the broader goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters so that they can support the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, wildlife and recreation in and on the water.

Drinking Water (Potable) – This program is tasked with aiding the utilities department in providing safe and reliable drinking water to itscustomers at NSFIH. The manager of the program provides guidance and technical support to the NSASP water systems assuring compliance with applicable environmental policies, instructions, and regulations. For additional information please contact (301) 744-2258.

Stormwater – This programminimizes erosion and prevents runoff from carrying sediment and other pollutants into the environment and to ensure that all the requirements specified in the stormwater National Pollutants Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit are met. For additional information please contact (301) 744-2275.

Industrial Wastewater – Thisprogram identifies and regulatescontaminants that are released from industrial processes to minimizepollutants from entering the environment and ensure that NSASP meets all discharge limits specified in the industrial NPDES permit. Foradditional information please contact (301) 744-2254.

Sanitary Sewer Water – Thisprogram ensures that all domestic wastewater and industrial wastewater are collected and treated at thecentralized sewage treatment plant and meets all discharge requirements specified in the sanitary NPDESpermit. For additional information please contact (301) 744-2267.

Recycling – The recyclingprogram is designed to recover used materials and make them available for new use. It helps minimize the use of virgin materials and the need to deplete natural resources. Thisprogram also promotes the use of materials with recycled content. Some of the following materials arecollected at our facility for recycling: paper products, cardboard, glass,aluminum, plastic, scrap metal, used oil products and antifreeze. Foradditional information please contact (301) 744-2272.

Hazardous Waste (HW) Management – The HW management program is regulated by RCRA. This program ensures all facility personnel comply with RCRA requirements concerning the storing, labeling, record keeping, disposal and onsite treatment of hazardous wastes. As a large quantity HW generator, as defined by RCRA, this facilityoperates under a permit issued by the MDE. For additional information please contact (301) 744-2272.

Spill Prevention, Control, & Countermeasures (SPCC) – SPCC identifies emergency control measures, points of contact, the chain of command, and individual responsibilities for oil control and spill prevention. This program covers response to spills and releases, with the goal of assuring that any spilled or released materials can be contained and cleaned up before they impact human health or the environment. For additional information please contact (301) 744-2259.

Comprehensive Work Approval Process (CWAP) – CWAP provides a centralized process to assure the comprehensive review of all planned projects and activities related to the facility. It assures that all aspects and impacts of a project are considered, thus facilitating appropriate planning and timely implementation without negatively impacting other projects or activities. For additional information please contact (301) 744-2158.

Natural Resources – NSFIH is a 3,500-acre base located in Charles County, Maryland and is divided into the Mainside, stump Neck Annex, Bullit’s Neck, Marsh Island andThoroughfare Island. The 16.5 miles of shoreline at NSFIH are surrounded by the Potomac River, Mattawoman Creek and Chicamuxen Creek. The natural environment at NSFIH is very diverse and includes pine forests, hardwood forests, mixed forests, old fields and tidal and non-tidalwetlands. The topography ranges from rolling hills marked with drainage swells and streams towetlands or steep slopes along the surrounding surface waters.

The diverse habitats at NSFIHsupport an abundance of wildlife which include white-tailed deer, turkey, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, groundhog, skunk, raccoon, opossum, river otter, osprey, great-blue heron, red and gray fox and bald eagle. Numerous other waterfowl, non-game birds, small mammals,reptiles, amphibians and fish also coexist at NSFIH.

Due to the extensive and diverse natural habitat, NSFIH Natural Resources Office is able to offer numerous outdoor recreational opportunities. This includes kayaking and canoeing, fishing and hunting. Kayak and canoe access can be found at Dashiell Marina and the two piers at Stump Neck Annex, and rentals are available from the NSFIH MWR cashier at building 620. Fishing is offered at Mainside, Stump Neck Annex and along the shorelines of Bullit’s Neck, Marsh Island and Thoroughfare Island. Hunting is conducted at Mainside and Stump Neck Annex and includes deer, turkey and waterfowl seasons. Small game and trapping are also included in the hunting program. All NSFIH fishing and hunting seasons and bag limits comply with the state of Maryland seasons and bag limits. Fishing and hunting base permits can be purchased from the NSFIH MWR cashier at building 620. Firewood can also be collected at NSFIH after purchasing a collection permit from the Natural Resources Office. For additional information, please contact (301) 744-2273.

The NSASP Environmental Division is located at NSFIH in building 289. The staff is comprised of sixteencivilian employees and four contractors for a total of twenty employees. For more information, contact (301) 744-4705.