An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Feb. 6, 2014

Environmental issues are high priority at Wyoming's Camp Guernsey

By Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy McGuire Wyoming Military Department

CAMP GUERNSEY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Wyo. - Soldiers, Airmen and Marines have a lot of training to do before entering the field of battle, and that training can sometimes make a mess or damage property.

At Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center, where tens of thousands of service members conduct such training every year, keeping the camp in the condition it was found is taken very seriously.

Not only are fuel spills, trash or water usage addressed, but so are historic and cultural sites on the busy military training area.

"Everyone coming here to train is briefed on environmental issues," said Pamela McClure, Camp Guernsey's environmental specialist. "And, everyone has to check in with me before leaving.

"I'm available 24-7 and will check out units day or night," she added. "We'll do a walk through and pick up even a salt packet. We must keep this area sustainable."

Dear to McClure's heart is the "tribal" population that she reports has used the grounds for 10,000 years. She said there are more than 1000 cultural sites on the camp, which include stone circles, and sites where hide scraping and chert gathering was conducted.

"There are places where only foot traffic is allowed, and some very sacred sites, where natives pray before entering." Gen. Steven Mount, when he was garrison commander, made those a no-go area, she added. "We have constraint maps, outlining how an area can be used." McClure takes part in annual meetings, where representatives of more than 20 tribes with an interest in the camp discuss issues.

According to Col. Richard Knowlton, garrison commander, McClure and her assistant Cassie Wells are in the field almost every day. "They are always studying what happened 10,000 years ago and what it will be like next year. They are very conscientious and enthusiastic about what they're doing."

Preserving the history also entails keeping the historic district looking pristine. If someone proposes a plan to build a structure, it is scrutinized and won't be allowed if it impedes a view, even at a great distance.

McClure said, "We won't build anything that upsets the visual element. We have to keep the flavor."

Besides historical preservation and cultural issues, the environmental department also deals with water issues and hazardous materials. Camp Guernsey is the only National Guard training facility that has its own water system and with that, comes close involvement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Also, water purification units need to get special permits to use water from the Guernsey Reservoir, as it can't be put back in. "We use any leftover water for dust suppression," McClure said.

High standards are also applied in the care and handling of hazardous materials, McClure said.

"It used to be someone might have left some oil or paint, but now we have lots of rules regarding storage of materials. Material safety data sheets (MSDS) are well organized in case of a problem."

The camp exceeds federal spill standards, as well. If a quart or more of oil or any hazardous liquid is spilled, it must be reported to the environmental office, however, that is not so the offender will be punished.

"I provide tools to help clean it up," McClure explained. "We understand, you're training and spills happen. We don't want anyone to get in trouble; we just want to get it cleaned up. If people are worried about getting in trouble, they might not report a problem. I look at it as a customer service."

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Shane Mills, readiness non-commissioned officer for the 246th Transportation Battalion, Michigan National Guard, discusses U.S. Army fleet management documentation processes with vehicle drivers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), April 17, 2025, at the RSLAF Joint Logistics Unit in the Murray Town district of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Michigan-Sierra Leone Partnership Moves Ahead with Multidisciplinary Engagements
By Capt. Andrew Layton, | May 2, 2025
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) took another step forward April 11-18 with three separate engagements conducted at various...

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle from the 159th Fighter Wing flies alongside a B-52H Stratofortress  during air-to-air integration training, April 29, 2025. The training enhanced interoperability between active-duty and Air National Guard aircrews, reinforcing their ability to operate as a cohesive force in complex airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Matthew Dougherty)
Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training
By Senior Airman Seth Watson, | May 2, 2025
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - The 2nd Bomb Wing, assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command under Eighth Air Force, and the Louisiana National Guard's 159th Fighter Wing demonstrated enhanced interoperability and...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, visits the 49th Missile Defense Battalion, Alaska National Guard, on Fort Greely, Alaska, April 28, 2025. Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion operate and secure the ground-based midcourse defense system and are an integral piece of the homeland defense mission to protect the U.S. from intercontinental ballistic missiles using ground-based interceptors.
In Alaska, Nordhaus Sees National Guardsmen Defending the Homeland, Enabling Global Power Projection
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely | May 1, 2025
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – From within Alaska’s vast Interior, Alaska National Guardsmen defend the homeland from long-range missile attacks and enable global power projection.Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, the chief of...