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Awareness & Training
 This
general environmental awareness overview is being provided as part
of the Marine Corps' Comprehensive Environmental Training and
Education Program (CETEP). This information is intended to
familiarize you with some of the ways in which we support the
military mission of the 2nd Marine Air Wing, while protecting the
quality of the natural resources that surround us. Marine Corps Air
Station New River is located in Onslow County on the southeastern
coastal plain of North Carolina in an area rich in ecology and
natural resources.
The Air Station covers roughly 2,600 acres and
adjoins the largely wooded Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune on the New
River estuary. MCAS New River is host to approximately 8,500
Marines, dependents, and civilian employees. In addition to the
airfield itself, the installation consists of military barracks,
on-site family housing, administrative and logistical offices,
aircraft hangers, and various maintenance and support facilities.
Currently New River regularly provides aviation
support elements to the 22nd, 24th, and 26th Marine Expeditionary
Units (Special Operations Capable). The mission of the Air Station,
as an operational base, is to maintain and operate facilities to
support flight operations and to maintain assigned aircraft, provide
services and material support to the operations of 2nd Marine
Aircraft Wing and/or units thereof, and other activities and units
as designated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, in coordination
with the chief of Naval Operations.
Archeological Resources New River in partnership
with Camp Lejeune organize archeological explorations and relic
protection measures as part of the Marine Corps commitment to the
preservation of important cultural and historic resources, and to
ensure that training operations, construction, and other activities
do not have a negative impact on these irreplaceable resources.
 The
New River area has a history of human occupation dating back nearly
12,000 years. The first Native Americans to migrate to the region
are thought to have been nomadic hunters and gatherers who arrived
here ten to twelve thousand years ago. Historical records made by
European explorers in the 1600s indicate that the natives living in
the area spoke an Algonquian language.
The oldest artifacts discovered on the station
thus far are 10,000-year-old spear points.
Waste Reduction
 New
River is committed to reducing the amount of waste generated on
site. Any reductions in waste generated mean savings in disposal
costs, and in the long run, reduction in the burdens placed on the
environment. In order to achieve these goals, the installation has
an active recycling program in place aimed at keeping all recyclable
materials such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, and plastics
out of the waste stream. Your help in recycling at New River is
greatly appreciated.
 One of the
most common items of waste generated during aircraft maintenance
activities is the generation of oily rags.
In the past these rags were simply rung out by
hand prior to being disposed of or recycled.
The ringing out process was only partially
successful in removing all of the liquids from the fabric. New River
has replaced this process with highly efficient centrifuges designed
to pull liquids out of soiled rags. The centrifuge machines are far
more effective than hand ringing or pressing and allows a far
greater percentage of the rags to be recycled.
It has become common knowledge that the use of
fluorescent bulbs saves energy compared to incandescent bulbs, but
disposing of spent fluorescent bulbs can be a problem.
Many fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of
Mercury, a toxic heavy metal. The Air Station has solved that
problem by the use of a machine that pulverizes spent fluorescent
bulbs and filters out the harmful substances. The machine also
compresses the remaining material for easy disposal or recycling.
Coastal Zones/Water Quality
Marine Corps Air Station New River is located on
the New River estuary on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in an area
rich in wildlife.
 Comprehensive
protection measures have been put in place to ensure that accidental
spills do not pollute our national waters. Examples of protective
measures in place at New River include secondary storage placed
around all storage tanks containing petroleum, oil, and other
liquids designed so as to contain any possible leaks or spills
should these tanks ever be damaged.
Floating booms and strategically placed slide
gates located in ditches and creeks that drain stormwater from the
airfield. The booms and gates are in place to capture any accidental
spills that could potentially occur on the airfield.
Other measures include limiting the washing of
aircraft and equipment to designated washrack locations, where the
wash water can be channeled through a special drain system
separating out potentially harmful substances such as small amounts
of oil or spilled fuel.
In some areas, shoreline erosion has been a
problem at New River, threatening homes and residential areas.
Efforts have been taken to mitigate shoreline erosion in areas where
it has been a problem.
Air Quality
Environmental Affairs has implemented a number of
policies designed to eliminate the release of hazardous substances
into the atmosphere.
Like all airfields, the Air Station at New River is required by
federal law to conduct occasional emergency fire control exercises
at a designated burn pit. Historically, these exercises were
conducted using leftover fuel and waste POL products. New River has
switched to the use of clean burning propane for these exercises in
a successful effort to reduce air pollution.
Other measures at New River used to preserve Air Quality include the
use of specially designed "Paint Booths" used for painting equipment
and aircraft. These painting facilities use large air filters so as
to prevent pollution from escaping into the atmosphere.
Hazardous Materials/Hazardous Waste
MCAS New River makes use of a Consolidated Hazardous
materials Reutilization and Inventory Management Program or CHRIMP.
Aircraft and equipment maintenance activities carried out on the Air
Station require the use of potentially hazardous materials such as
petroleum products, cleaning solvents, and various paints and
coatings. The management of these materials, and their proper use
and disposal is of primary concern to all of those involved in
Environmental Affairs.
The CHRIMP center oversees the use, supply, and collection of all
hazardous materials used by the various squadrons and maintenance
organizations. The use of the CHRIMP center model allows for precise
tracking and management of Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Wastes
such that waste is kept to a minimum and compliance with all safety
and legal requirements is strictly maintained.
Community & Youth Programs
New River is committed to ensuring the good health of
our Marines and the surrounding community.
As part of our effort to maintain good relations with the community,
the Marine Corps and the New River Air Station have several ongoing
community outreach programs including air shows, various educational
programs, and fitness events.
From the environmental perspective, one of the more successful of
these programs was a special Earth Day event, when the Lejeune High
School Ecology Club, along with several Young Marine organizations
participated in an effort to prevent erosion along Southwest Creek
by reintroducing native vegetation. The project was funded by a
grant for $5,000 from the Department of Defense.
Other environmentally related community outreach programs include
Hazardous Materials Hazardous Waste collection days conducted by
Camp Lejeune, when local civilians may bring in their excess paint,
batteries, and other household chemical wastes for proper disposal.
Environmental Awareness
Environmental Awareness applications, such as the one
you are currently exploring, are an important tool used by the
Marine Corps to communicate the need to protect our environment.
All Marine Corps personnel and those who are affiliated with the
Marine Corps must do their part. Your active involvement will enable
the Marine Corps to achieve its goals of compliance and protection
of our natural, cultural, and historical resources.
The Marine Corps makes use of Environmental Awareness brochures,
videos, multimedia applications, and special events to educate both
civilians and enlisted personnel as to our commitment to the
environmental preservation and protection. Additionally,
Environmental Affairs continually provides National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) training to New River staff.
For copies of the Commander's Guide to Environmental Compliance and
Protection, the USMC Environmental Awareness Guide, the Marines One
with the Environment Video, or to find out what Environmental
Affairs classes are available to you, please contact the
Environmental Affairs Division.
For more information
The Environmental Affairs Division is responsible
for maintaining base-wide compliance with federal and local
environmental regulations, providing training to those involved with
activities that have an impact on our environment, planning for the
future, and ensuring the good health of all of those stationed at
Marine Corps Air Station New River.
For more information on environmental issues related to activities
at the Air Station, to learn what you can do to help protect our
shared environment, or to report a potentially dangerous or
environmentally harmful situation, please contact the Environmental
Affairs Division at:
PSC Box 21001
MCAS New River
Jacksonville NC 28545-1001
Tel. 910-499-5442 / 6143
Fax 910-449-6488
DSN 752-5442-6143
Thank you for your concern.
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