By Jeffrey C. Doepp, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Supervisory Environmental Scientist Mark Schultz of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic, Environmental Business Line, Great Lakes Detachment, provided remarks during the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) National Excellence in Site Reuse Award ceremony, May 29, to the Village of Glenview, Illinois.
The award recognizes the hard work, innovative thinking, and cooperation among federal agencies, the Illinois EPA (IEPA), local partners, and developers who supported the transformation of the former Naval Air Station Glenview, which closed in 1995, into a successful mixed-use community asset.
Only four other communities in the country, including Glenview, were named winners of this first site reuse award.
“It was a great pleasure of mine to lead Navy environmental efforts alongside our partners with the USEPA and IEPA, the community and the Village of Glenview, and surrounding municipalities,” said Schultz, who previously served as the regional environmental director for Commander Navy Region Midwest and as the local champion for the NAS Glenview closure. “In my 34-plus years of managing environmental programs for the Navy, the cleanup and reuse of Naval Air Station Glenview stands out as one of the most successful projects.”
The setting for the ceremony, according to Shultz, was fitting, held outside in Navy Park on Patriot Drive, alongside statues of the Lone Sailor and of Navy Aviators and Airmen, in front of the old Hanger 1 Façade and control tower.
“The Village of Glenview has always been a tremendous neighbor to the Navy and a great supporter of our military members stationed at NAS Glenview,” he said. “I think the event was well attended and well received.”
Schultz added that several other guest speakers commented on the excellent teamwork and cooperation from the Navy and NAVFAC professionals involved throughout the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Schultz echoed those praises in his own remarks.
“We succeeded through the hard work of Navy, EPA and IEPA environmental professionals, including the strong leadership of Gary Schaefer, NAVFAC Southern Division project management; Ralph Watkins, BRAC Environmental coordinator; the consultant team of Claire and Mike at Ensafe; Commander Navy Region Midwest and our NAVFAC Environmental team; IEPA Manager Clarence Smith and Project Manager Charlene Falco, supported along with a cast of professionals including Paul lake and Brian Conrath,” he said.
“They truly had the toughest job, reviewing all the data that we threw at them and working through many individuals in IEPA to make the final concurrence decisions,” he added.
Also in attendance for the awards ceremony was James Anderson, former NAVFAC BRAC Project Management Office Southeast director, who accepted the recognition certificate on behalf of NAVFAC.
NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides facilities engineering, public works, and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from Georgia to Maine and as far west as Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region's facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.