ESOHCAMP Inspections

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Patrick R. Hyde
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Last week, as many as 30 inspectors visited various places on base confirming environmental compliance for the Environmental Safety Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program.

ESOHCAMP is a self-evaluation and program management system for achieving and maintaining and monitoring compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

Volunteers were called upon to participate in a two-day training class, which prepared them for their week-long appointment and interview schedule. Other preparations included: how to evaluate data collected from field inspections, general principles of writing an ESOHCAMP finding, how to collect data from inspections and understand how the findings are applied at United States Air Forces in Europe installations.

There are 13 protocols that encompass the ESOHCAMP evaluations. The protocols assessed were: air emissions, cultural resources, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, natural resources, pesticides, petroleum (oils and lubricants), solid waste management, storage tanks, drinking water quality, wastewater, toxic substances: lead based paint, asbestos and radon and other environmental issues.

"We had an overwhelming response by base volunteers who wanted to take part in this evaluation," said Brian Panther 39th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Compliance director.

The ESOHCAMP evaluation is all about identifying potential problem areas so the wing can fix them. The other purpose is to identify pre-existing problems so funding can be allocated to correct them.

Thirteen teams went out all over Incirlik searching for deficiencies, although the teams also noted positive practices. An example of a positive practice the team found is that several buildings on base were using waste oil in a re-burner to heat the buildings in the winter. This cuts down on accumulating waste oil in a barrel and sending it off for disposal.

"In February 2008, we will have the External ESOHCAMP evaluation and due to the thorough look this year by all of our volunteers we should do very well on our overall evaluation," said Mr. Panther.

There was an ESOHCAMP out-brief in the wing conference room August 31 at 9 a.m. All squadron commanders and all ESOHCAMP evaluators were invited to attend.