ARLINGTON, Va. - The Maine Air National Guard's 101st Air Refueling Wing received the 2006 Air Force Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Quality Award for the Reserves and Air National Guard in a ceremony June 8 at the Pentagon.
The award was presented to wing representatives by Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, Air Force civil engineer, and William C. Anderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics.
According to the Air Force Center for Civil Engineering and the Environment, the annual award recognizes the efforts of installations in environmental quality. Other awards recognize Air Force wings and individuals for efforts in environmental restoration, pollution prevention, recycling, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
The Air Guard refueling wing, which pilots, operates and maintains the KC-135 Stratotanker, was recognized for its "significant contributions to the Air Force's environmental program." This includes the installation of a control system that helped reduce its airfield's de-icing fluid runoff by more than 60,000 gallons.
The wing also reduced the ratio of hazardous waste generated from jet fuel delivery by more than 25 percent. It diverted 545,000 pounds of cardboard, office paper, alkaline batteries and other solid waste from landfills through enhanced recycling, and it reduced its aerosol propellant usage by 30 percent.
The wing is also a charter member of the Bangor Area Storm Water Group (BASWG), which joins the municipalities of Bangor, Brewer, Hampden, Milford, Old Town, Orono and Veazie as well as the University of Maine's Orono and Bangor campuses.
"The partnership of local, state, and federal entities sets the example of working together to comply with state and federal regulations while making best use of our public resources," said Lt. Col. D. Eric Johns, the wing's environmental coordinator.
Based at Bangor International Airport €“ formally Dow Air Force Base €“ the wing flies from the first major U.S. airport encountered by airliners approaching the United States. The wing manages the Northeast Tanker Task Force there and holds a key role in the Air Force's transatlantic air bridge that supplies millions of pounds of fuel annually to in-flight military aircraft.
The wing was praised by Maine Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe who met with wing representatives June 7 in Washington.
"I commend these servicemen and women for their tireless devotion to implementing projects that safeguard the environment while continuing to set standards in the support of their critical Air National Guard mission," said Snowe. "Their leadership in this effort is truly remarkable, and I congratulate them on this well-deserved achievement."