fall 2017 navy mo advances nitoring tag science,...

Navy Advances

SCiENCE, DEVELOPMENT TRANSiTiON &

Technology Provides Foundationfor Sound Operation of Training & Testing Ranges

fall 2017

T H E N A V Y,S E N E R G Y & E N V I R O N M E N TA L M A G A Z I N E

MoNiToRiNG TAG- -

NavyENERGY ACTiON MONTHPoster Inside!

Navy Continues to Proactively Address Potential PFAS Drinking Water Exposures NAVFAC Marianas Increases Vigilance Against Invasive Species NAVFAC EXWC Develops Cross-connection Survey Expertise

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The U.S. Navy’s ongoing efforts to advance the state of monitoring tagtechnology is providing vital information to support its environmentalcompliance efforts and ensure its ability to utilize Navy ranges for training and testing activities at-sea.

Cordelia Shea

Navy Advances Monitoring Tag Science,Development & TransitionTechnology Provides Foundation for SoundOperation of Training & Testing Ranges

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cover

fall 2017

27 Trends of the Environment

35 Best Shot

42 Energy Warrior

20 NAVMAG Indian Island Turns to Clean,Reliable Electricity to Power VisitingSubmarine

Noisy Diesel Generators Being Replaced by Silent,Reliable Shore-based Power

22 Navy Conducts Wildlife Survey on NavalMagazine Indian Island

Survey Provides Vital Natural Resources PlanningInformation

30 Army Research Laboratory Develops Methodto Improve Efficiency of Multizone Air Handlers

Approach Reduces Energy Consumption Without HVAC Demolitionor Occupant Disturbance

36 Navy Continues to Proactively Address Potential PFASDrinking Water Exposures

Policy Includes Regulatory Status, Current Actions & the PathForward

44 NAVFAC Marianas Increases Vigilance Against InvasiveSpecies

New Rapid Response Capabilities Expand Targeted Species

48 NAVFAC EXWC Develops Cross-connection Survey Expertise Capability Helps Installations Mitigate Risks to Potable Water

Systems

52 SCA Program Attracts Interns to Pacific Northwest NavalInstallation

Projects Include Wetlands Restoration Monitoring and Surveys forTerrestrial & Marine Mammals, Bald Eagle & Fish Vegetation

36

22

features

departments20

Technology Provides Foundation for Sound Operation of Training & Testing Ranges

4 Currents fall 2017

Navy Advances

SCiENCE, DEVELOPMENT TRANSiTiON &

The U.S. Navy’s ongoing efforts to advance the state of

monitoring tag technology is providing vital information to

support its environmental compliance efforts and ensure its ability

to utilize Navy ranges for training and testing activities at-sea.

To keep its at-sea training ranges operating, the Navy requires

knowledge about and ongoing monitoring of the marine species

that are present on or travel through its ranges. Animal telemetry

devices, also called monitoring tags, are relatively small but

valuable tools in providing the data needed. These devices, in

their various forms, open a view below the ocean surface and

polar ice packs. They provide critical data on where animals

go, how they move within their world and how they react to

anthropogenic inputs.

MoNiToRiNG TAG- -

Photo by Cordelia SheaIllustration by Alex Shorter

fall 2017 Currents 5

HiSTORY

Scientists have long sought to better understand the move-ments of marine mammals. In early years, the questionscentered around where they go, how deep they dive, andhow long they can stay submerged. Additionally, scientistsrecognized that these animals could reach places difficult forhumans to study and, with specialized equipment, theymight be able to collect information from those deep anddistant places. As the list of questions has expanded overtime, technology has also changed.

In the early 1960s, Gerald Kooyman, then a graduatestudent at the University of Arizona, attached a rudimen-tary time-depth recording device to Weddell seals inAntarctica, producing the first seal dive profiles.Kooyman’s device depended on physical access to theseals to be able both to attach and retrieve the device.During those years, other researchers,including William Watkins and WilliamSchevill at the Woods Hole OceanographicInstitution (WHOI), were working todevelop radio telemetry devices (tags) andattachment methods to track right whaleswithout needing to capture the whales.Their early efforts succeeded at attaching atracking device to a whale by projecting thedevice from a helicopter to the whale, butdamage to the tag prevented them fromtracking the whale.

During the late 1960s, engineers at theOcean Applied Research Corporation alsowere designing and testing radio trackingdevices for marine mammals. Their presen-tation to the 1971 Engineering in the OceanEnvironment Conference discussed “thedesign of the radio transmitter and receiversystem, frequency, power, packaging andantenna requirements, and discusses dataon respiration rate, pattern and maximumdepth of dive collected from several instru-mented cetaceans.”

Other types of marine mammal tag deviceswere being developed specifically to collectoceanographic data. One device developedby the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)at the University of St Andrews collectedconductivity, temperature and depth (CTD)

data. This large device was attached to and retrieved fromelephant seals. Elephant seals often served as early testersof these devices because of their large size and becausetheir haul-out locations are generally known.

Another early 1970s effort sponsored by the NavalUndersea Research and Development Center in SanDiego, California successfully used “instrumented marinemammals to measure selected environmental parametersand to relay data on these parameters to tracking aircraft.”The researchers proposed that the next step would betransmitting data to satellites.

While work in the 1960s and 1970s generally employedradio telemetry, the focus in the 1980s and 1990s shiftedtoward satellite transmission and laying the groundworkfor including Global Positioning Systems (GPS) capabilities.Equipment developed by the SMRU team was among the

Tracking Marine Mammals by Satellite

When the Argos satellite-based data collection and locationsystem was added to National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) polar orbiting satellites in the late 1970s, it opened new opportunities for tracking many types of animals,including marine mammals. The Argos program began as a jointeffort of NOAA and the French Space Agency, in agreement with theU.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Otherinternational space agencies have joined the system over the years.

For marine mammal tracking, monitoring devices equipped withArgos-compliant platform transmitter terminals (PTT) are attached toan animal. When an animal surfaces and the transmitters are able toconnect to one of the Argos-equipped polar orbiting satellites, thetransmitter uploads a burst of environmental and location datacollected by the monitoring tag. As described by Argos:

“A platform transmits periodic messages characterized by thefollowing parameters:

Transmission Frequency (401.650 Megahertz (MHz) ± 30 kilo-hertz (kHz)), the repetition period, which is the interval of timebetween two consecutive message dispatches, varying between90 and 200 seconds according to the extent to which the plat-form is used, the platform identification number, and the volumeof data collected.

The transmission of each message takes less than one second.”

(Source: www.argos-system.org/argos/how-argos-works)

Data from the satellite are then transmitted to receiving stations forprocessing and transmission to the user for analysis.

first to successfully transmit temperature and salinity read-ings collected from an animal-borne tag to the Argos satel-lite-based system.

Significant technological advancements during thesubsequent decades accelerated what tags could doand how they could be used. Satellites and GPSconnections improved, electronic componentscontinued to shrink, and digital data collection, storageand transmission became more widely available.

Monitoring tags and other animal telemetry devices wereincreasingly providing researchers with new ways to seeand understand marine animal behavior and the environ-ment they inhabit. The devices offered views into previ-ously obscure ocean areas, motivating more and moreinnovation in the devices. Continued advancements openwhole new possibilities for understanding not only marinespecies and their environment, but also how human activ-ities might be affecting them.

The following sections provide an overview of some of thenew tag technologies, the Navy’s contributions to movingthose technologies forward and the important role moni-toring tags play in keeping Navy at-sea ranges available for


The Office of Naval Research’s Marine Mammals and Biology program has steadily worked to push biologging and biomonitoring technology forward.

Tag crew practicing the use of the tag pole before heading out to sea.

Rune Roland Hansen

training. Along with changing technology of the tags them-selves, the research community continues to explore otherkey components of using monitoring tags. These includeoptimal attachment methods, potential effects on theanimals, how to store and make available the substantialquantities of data collected, and guidelines for appropriateand ethical use of monitoring tags.

NAVY ROLE iN ADVANCiNG TAG TECHNOLOGY

The Navy has long needed to monitor the ocean and itsinhabitants. Naval Oceanography collects and analyzesdata on oceanic and atmospheric conditions to supportNavy operations throughout the world. Collecting environ-mental data, including CTD data, have helped to revealimportant hydrographic features and oceanographicprocesses that improved navigation safety. Animal-bornedevices offered new ways to collect these environmentaldata. In the time since the Navy first began listening forsubmarines it has needed to be able to distinguishbetween human-generated sounds and those fromanimals, including whales. And with whale strandings inthe early 2000s being attributed to sonar transmissions,the Navy has expanded its investments in research onpotential effects of sonar on cetaceans.

The Office of Naval Research’s Marine Mammals andBiology (ONR MMB) program has steadily worked to pushbiologging and biomonitoring technology forward. Begin-ning in the early 1990s, the ONR Physiology and MarineMammal Biology program (a predecessor to the ONRMMB program) funded researchers at various universitiesand institutions to add sensor capabilities to tags andincrease tag lifespan. Different sensors incorporated intomonitoring tags can record the pressure (depth), accelera-tion, direction, location and other movement of a marinemammal. These capabilities provide insights on animaldistribution, abundance and habitat use.

For decades, underwater acoustics have been a Navyinterest. Navy funding helped William Watkins andWilliam Schevill from WHOI develop what became anextensive collection of marine mammal sounds—a libraryof sound that the Navy has used to train sonar operators.Watkins developed the first tape recorder for recording


marine mammals at sea. Creating hisown hydrophones, he eventuallycrafted a portable underwaterrecorder. Over time, Watkins devel-oped a library of marine mammalsounds that the Navy has used totrain sonar operators. As Robert (Bob)Gisiner, then with ONR, shared at thetime of Dr. Watkins death, ‘’Bill wasthe one who opened our ears to whatwas going on under the ocean.”

Despite these advancements, incorpo-rating acoustic recording capabilitiesinto a compact, animal-borne datalogger faced technological hurdles.During the 1990s ONR and othersworked with researchers from institu-tions including the University of Cali-fornia Santa Cruz, WHOI and theMonterey Bay Aquarium ResearchInstitute to support initial experimentsinto acoustic recorders on elephantseals. Subsequent funding and workled to two primary acoustic recordingdevices—the digital acoustic recordingtag (DTAG) from WHOI and the Bioa-coustic Probe (later redesigned intowhat is now the Acousonde™) fromGreeneridge Sciences.

Watkins, Schevill and the U.S. Navy: Exhibition at the New Bedford Whaling Museum

in September 2017, the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM) in Massa-chusetts opened an exhibition, Whales Today, that presents two signifi-cant collections related to the cetacean acoustics research of WilliamWatkins and William Schevill along with a U.S. Navy interactive exhibit Stewards of the Sea: Defending Freedom, Protecting the Environment.

The NBWM is the repository of two significant collections—the William A.Watkins Collection of Marine Mammal Sound Recordings and Data and theWilliam A. Watkins and William E. Schevill Collection of Images and Instru-ments. The museum receivedthese collections in 2014 fromWHOI, where Watkins andSchevill spent decadesconducting their work. Signifi-cant portions of Watkins andSchevill’s work was possiblethrough U.S. Navy funding ofmarine acoustics research.

The Watkins collection includes20,000 sound files of marinemammal vocalizations, and theWatkins and Schevill collectionincludes photographs, whale radio tags and recording, playback and inter-pretive instruments related to the audio material.

For more on the NBWM and the Whales Today exhibition, visit www.whalingmuseum.org/explore/exhibitions/whales-today.

For smaller, faster species like the pilot whale, a hand-held pole is used to deploy the DTAGs.Tags need to be placed high on the back so that researchers can track the whale

using the VHF signals given off by the tag when at the surface. Rune Roland Hansen, Norwegian Animal Research Authority permit 2015/223222

The DTAG, funded by the StrategicEnvironmental Research and Devel-opment Program (SERDP) and theONR MMB program, incorporatedboth a hydrophone for recordingsounds and other sensors that couldrecord animal movements. In 1999,this first DTAG was used on northernright whales. The next version, DTAG-2, has been in use since 2002.Version 2 can include up to fourhydrophone channels and has 16gigabytes (GB) of memory—a signifi-cant improvement over the 400megabytes (MB) possible in the firstversion. Its sensor suite includes tri-axial accelerometer, magnetometer,pressure and temperature sensors, allof which provide detailed data onwhere and how an animal moves.

(Note: Many of these sensors arenow standard in modern smart-phones.) The latest DTAG upgrade,the DTAG-3, includes 32 to 64 GB ofmemory, a more powerful processorand can be fitted with varyingsensors as needed.

The Bioacoustic Probe development,funded by the ONR MMB program,focused on making bio-acoustictechnology more readily available asan off-the-shelf technology. Theprobes were used both as tags andin arrays. In 2006, ONR funded aredesign to expand the probe’srecording bandwidth and includeother features. The redesignedproduc—the Acousonde—includeshydrophones and sensors to recorddepth, attitude and orientation,

which can monitor the animal’sbehavior in response to sound.

While both the DTAG and theAcousonde record acoustic data, theyeach provide different sensor combi-nations, sound sensitivity and manu-facturing capacity. These tags reflectongoing efforts to add more featuresin smaller packages. Funding fromthe ONR MMB program has helped tosupport improved and consistentmanufacturing and field reliability ofthe devices.

The improvements and refinement ofthese acoustic tags also demonstratesthe Navy’s process of working frombasic research to demonstration andvalidation to monitoring implementa-tion. Following ONR’s support of early


The improvements and refinement of these acoustic tags also demonstrates the Navy’s process of working from basic research to demonstration and validation to monitoring implementation.

Tags are deployed using a cantilever operated carbon fiber pole extending from the bow of a small boat. The boat carefully approaches the whale and when enough of the whale’s back is visible, the tag team attaches the tag with suction cups. Rune Roland Hansen, Norwegian Animal Research Authority permit 2015/223222


acoustic tag development and refinement,the devices were used in field work fundedby the Navy’s Living Marine Resources(LMR) program. With researchers providingfield-tested feedback, tag developers havecontinued to make improvements. TheNavy’s Marine Species Monitoring programcurrently uses versions of the tags in theirmonitoring work.

In addition to furthering tag technology, theONR MMB program also works to coordi-nate efforts among tag developers andusers. ONR co-sponsored a 1992 workshop(Workshop on Tagging and Tracking Tech-nology (February 1992)) and another in

Responsibility and Coordination of the Navy’s Research & Monitoring Programs

Multiple Navy organizations are involved in developing and implementing the means to meet federal permittingrequirements for Navy at-sea training and testing activities. The Navy conducts research and monitoring efforts

to better understand and monitor the potentialimpacts on marine species. Those efforts, workingfrom basic research to demonstration and valida-tion to monitoring implementation, are coordi-nated among the following three programs:

1. The ONR MMB program

2. The LMR program

3. The U.S. Navy Marine Species Monitoring program

The ONR MMB program is the Navy’s basic (6.1)and early applied (6.2) research program onmarine mammals and biology. As a basic researchprogram, this program focuses on new cutting-edge research topics, exploratory and develop-mental technological solutions such as new tagtechnology. Outcomes from this program oftenare transitioned to the LMR program to continue todevelop, demonstrate and validate solutions.

Relative to the Navy’s other marine species programs, the LMR program focuses on late stage applied research(6.4) and seeks to develop, demonstrate, validate and assess data and technology solutions to study living marineresources. The LMR program is structured to be customer focused and to address the needs of the Navy’s at-seaenvironmental compliance community.

The U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring program conducts the monitoring and reporting for the Navy’s regulatorycompliance process associated with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act(ESA). The Marine Species Monitoring program typically uses tools that have already been developed under theONR MMB program and field tested/validated or developed by the LMR program.

The DTAG3x V1.0 assembly.Alex Shorter


As tag technology continues to advance, the data they capture help to refine the insights into marine animal behavior, moving away from generalized guesses to increasingly informed knowledge.

1998 to bring parties together to review the status of tagsand discuss needs. A third workshop, held in 2009,focused on:

1. Identifying needs related to further development oftag attachments.

2. Identifying research required to evaluate physical,physiological and behavioral effects of tags oncetaceans.

3. Determining if there was community interest todevelop and establish ‘Guidelines for CetaceanTagging Studies,’ including best practices forconducting cetacean tagging.

Recommendations from this third workshop resulted inseveral studies to improve tag attachment and to assessthe behavioral, physiological and demographic effects oftags on cetacean populations.

A subsequent workshop in September 2017, co-spon-sored by the ONR MMB program, the InternationalWhaling Commission Scientific Committee and NOAA’sMarine Mammal Health and Stranding ResponseProgram, was held to review results of the studiesfunded following the 2009 workshop.

A final summary of the 2009 workshop, Cetacean TagDesign Workshop, can be downloaded at www.onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/Departments/Code-32/All-Programs/Atmosphere-Research-322/Marine-Mammals-Biology/Marine-Mammal-Biology-Thrusts. (Look for thelink under the “Sensing and Tag Development” header.)

WHAT DO TAGS CAPTURE?

As tag technology continues to advance, the data theycapture help to refine the insights into marine animalbehavior, moving away from generalized guesses toincreasingly informed knowledge. Importantly, on-animal tags provide views that shipboard, seafloorarrays or anchored buoy receivers can’t. The tags gowhere the animal goes rather than relying on whereresearchers have been able to go. As tag technology hasadvanced, the information about marine mammals andtheir behavior has mushroomed. Early efforts revealedwhere an animal went, how deep it could dive, how longthe dives lasted and some oceanographic information.With new sensors and growing understanding of marinemammal sound, newer tags can offer on-animal insightsto how the animals use and respond to sound, how theyforage and how they interact with their habitats.

Attaching tag to a North Atlantic right whale. The tag is equipped with a new type of suction cup for longer attachment times.

Permit 14791


� Will data be stored, requiring thetag to be retrieved?

� Will data be transmitted via satellite?

� How frequently will data becollected (i.e., sampling frequency)?

� Over what time period will databe collected (e.g., a few hours, afew days)?

Answers to these types of questionsinfluence tag size, retrieval method,battery life and attachment types.

Tags come in various shapes andsizes with different types of sensorsdepending on their use. Dependingon the suite of sensors packaged in agiven tag, it might collect data on:

1. Animal location

2. Animal movement, direction andspeed and orientation in space

3. Dive depth and duration over time

4. Environmental conditions (e.g.,conductivity, temperature, depthand light)

Monitoring tags go by many names and serve manydifferent functions. Early tags were often called data

loggers or radio telemetry devices. Biologging is anotherway to refer to monitoring using tags. In their 2009meeting report, New Frontiers in Bio-logging Science,Christian Rutz and Graeme Hays defined biologging as“the use of miniaturized animal-attached tags for loggingand/or relaying data about an animal’s movements,behaviour, physiology and/or environment. Animaltelemetry is another term often used to refer to trackingand monitoring animals, both marine and terrestrial.

While there are several types of monitoring tags (or dataloggers, biologgers or animal telemetry devices) andthere is overlap in capabilities, tags generally fall intoone of three broad categories:

1. Archival Tags

Archival tags are, as the name suggests, a type that stores(archives) the data collected. Depending on the amountof built-in memory, these tags can collect and storelarger quantities of fine-scale data. The tags must beretrieved to collect the data, which influences how theyare used. Early tags required locating the tagged animal.This works well with animals such as seals, that oftenreturn to known locations. More recent models designedfor whales and other aquatic animals that cannot becaptured for retrieval include flotation and a beacon tohelp track and recover the tag. Some of the retrievableversions also are configured to allow researchers tosignal tag release. These tags typically are larger toaccommodate data storage, flotation and beacons.

2. Satellite Tags

These tags are configured to send collected data to theArgos system aboard NOAA polar orbiting satellites.They have the benefit of not requiring retrieval of thephysical tag and provide near real-time location dataanywhere in the world. Some tags can store limitedamounts of data prior to transmission. Limitations ofsatellite tags include that connection and transmissioncan only occur when the animal surfaces and the satel-lite is available; the types and amount of data that canbe transmitted through relatively minimal bandwidthduring the brief connection are necessarily restricted;and connection to polar orbiting satellites is less robustin ocean areas distant from the poles.

3. Acoustic Tags

There are two general types of acoustic tags—activetransmitters and passive recorders. Active transmit-ters allow an animal, such as a fish, to be trackedover long periods. The devices can be small enoughto be carried inside a salmon smolt. The second typeof tag—an acoustic recording tag—is attached to ananimal and captures sound made by the animal and/orsurrounding sounds. These acoustic recording tagstraditionally include only onboard data storage andrequire retrieval.

The amount of data that can be captured by a given tagdepends upon onboard storage capacity, samplingfrequency, battery power and life, as well as how longthe tag stays on the animal. Attachment mechanismsvary by tag.

Types of Monitoring Tags

5. Sound, both made by and receivedby the animal

This type of information helps theNavy monitor for marine mammalpresence, abundance and behavior,particularly on its at-sea ranges.

The tag selected and its combinationof sensors primarily depends on thegoal of the monitoring and thespecies being monitored. Otherquestions influencing tag types andsensor packages selections caninclude:

For example, studies focused on where an animal goesand how it moves might use smaller satellite tags, similarto the Wildlife Computers’ SPOT6 and SPLASH10 tags.The smaller SPOT6 (left in photo) is location only, usingan Argos satellite-based connection. The somewhat largerovoid SPLASH10 (right in photo) has sensors to collectdata on diving behavior. The additional types of data andtag size comes at a cost of shorter battery life, lessfrequent data transmission and a higher price tag.

Another tag developed for the purpose of studying divingbehavior is the Advanced Dive Behavior (ADB) tag. This taghas been used with success on large whales includingsperm, fin and blue whales. One of its developers, BruceMate, describes the tag as “a spatially explicit, high resolution(1-Hertz (Hz)) data logger for large whales capable of stayingattached for intermediate time periods (weeks to more thana month).” Funding for this tag came from InternationalAssociation of Oil and Gas Producers and ONR. The tag hasbeen used in work supported by the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleetunder the U.S. Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring program.

When studying sound (the sounds an animal makes, whatit hears and how it affects its movement), a DTAG orAcousounde tag might be employed. The ability to capturesound does come with costs. Acoustic tags are larger, moreexpensive, require more power to operate and, typically,do not stay on the animal as long as the smaller, non-acoustic tags.

HOW MONiTORiNG TAGS HAVE BEEN USED ON NAVY AT-SEA RANGES

For many years, the Navy has funded studies on its at-sea training ranges to improve knowledge about whatanimals are present, when they are present, how theyuse the areas and how they respond to sound, includingmid-frequency active sonar (MFAS). Some of theprojects are funded by the ONR MMB program to testnew technologies. Other projects funded by the LivingMarine Resources (LMR) program support validation ofequipment and monitoring methods. U.S. Navy MarineSpecies Monitoring program efforts focus on range


For many years, the Navy has funded studies on its at-sea training ranges to improve knowledge about what animals are present, when they are present, how they use the areas and how they respond to sound.

Two Low Impact Minimally Percutaneous Electronic Transmitter(LIMPET) tags that have been used in Navy-funded monitoring are the SPOT6 (left) and SPLASH10 (right) from Wildlife Computers.Cordelia Shea

Size comparison of tags: SPOT6 location tag (top), DTAG-3 acoustic and multi-sensor (middle) and SPLASH10 location and dive data tag (bottom).Cordelia Shea


permit compliance requirements that arise from a suiteof environmental laws and regulations that apply to themarine environment, including the Marine MammalProtection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In general, multiple approaches are employed to locate,identify, listen for and track cetaceans on the ranges. Tech-niques have included:

1. Visual surveys

Observers watch for animals from boats and planesand try to follow identified animals. These have beensupplemented by photographic surveys to helpresearchers track individual animals.

2. Acoustic surveys

Technicians monitor range hydrophone arrays, suchas those installed on multiple Navy at-sea ranges, toidentify signals of whale vocalizations. Particularsignals captured on the arrays can be used toprovide preliminary detection, classification andlocation of cetaceans on the range. (This approach isfollowed by the Marine Mammal Monitoring onRanges (M3R) program.)

3. Tagging

Researchers in boats attach tags to whales to collectdata on behavior, including dives, travel, sounds madeand sounds to which they are exposed.

Navy at-sea training ranges areequipped with sea-bottom

hydrophones (underwater micro-phones) to track sounds across therange. Marine mammal sounds canalso be detected by thehydrophones. As years of marinemammal research have revealed,different species vocalize at differentfrequencies and have distinguishingtypes of sounds (clicks, whistles,moans, and hums), of which someallow species identification fromsounds alone. These sounds aredetected on individual hydrophonesas an animal, or group of animals,vocalizes within the range. The M3Rprogram was initiated to determinehow equipment on Navy rangesmight be used to monitor for marinemammals. The goals of the M3Rprogram are to:

1. Develop automated passiveacoustic marine mammal detection,localization, classification and displaytools using existing Navy underseahydrophone arrays and integratevisual and satellite monitoringmethods to leverage the combina-tion of the methods to study marinemammals on Navy ranges.

2. Study and measure animalresponses to Navy activities,including MFAS, with a focus onbeaked whales.

3. Provide scientifically defensiblebehavioral response metrics forsensitive species like beakedwhales, which can be used toinform regulatory risk criteria andprovide insight into the cumula-tive effect of repeated sonarexposure.

4. Provide baseline populationdensity, abundance and habitatusage data for Navy risk analysesand permit applications coveringtraining and testing activities onthe ranges.

To verify the passive acoustics data,on-water sighting data were collectedto provide a direct observation ofspecies identification, physicalbehavior, group size and populationdemographics along with biopsysampling and prey mapping. Duringfocused field efforts during the year,satellite tags are also attached toselected (focal) animals to measureboth their dive behavior and theirmovement over the span of months

both on and off the range. Whenpossible, these data are evaluatedalong with precise ship tracks andsonar received level measurements,to investigate the effects of repeatedsonar exposure on cetaceans. Thereal-time passive acoustic monitoringcapability of the M3R program hasproved to be a significant aid to thetagging field team to find focalspecies.

The M3R program is currently beingintegrated at three Navy undersearanges equipped with arrays ofbroadly-spaced (1-4 miles), bottom-mounted hydrophones:

1. The Atlantic Undersea Test andEvaluation Center (AUTEC) in TheBahamas

2. The Southern California OffshoreRange (SCORE) at San ClementeIsland, California

3. The Pacific Missile Range Facility(PMRF) in Barking Sands, Hawaii

A fourth undersea range, theundersea warfare training range(USWTR) under development off ofJacksonville, Florida, had a prototypethree-node system installed in 2016.

Overview of Marine Mammal Monitoring on Ranges Program

The projects summarized here reflect a small sub-set of efforts underway, but offer a glimpse of the important role monitoring tags play in securing critical data for Navy regulatory compliance.

Survey methods include attaching satellite tracking tags toa variety of species, taking photographs taken for use inphoto identification and taking biopsies when possible.

Baleen Whale Tagging in Support of Marine MammalMonitoring Across Multiple Navy Training Areas

SOCAL Range Complex Researchers deployed Wildlife Computers’ SPOT5 andMk10-PATF (advanced dive behavior) tags to monitor blueand fin whale use of Navy training areas. Researchersevaluated whale movement across and residence timeswithin training areas in support of Navy compliance withregulatory requirements.

Analysis of Monk Seal Behavior Relative to Navy Activities in the Hawaii Range Complex

Hawaii Range ComplexIn the collaborative two-year study, SMRU GPS telemetrytags were deployed on several Hawaiian monk seals. Initialstudies monitored monk seal habitat use in the mainHawaiian Island areas, including their home range andforaging areas. Subsequent work investigated potentialimpacts of naval activities on seal behavior. Seal locationdata were compared to hull-mounted sonar ship locationsin order to estimate potential exposures and responses.No abnormal behavior was detected.


Fin whale.Jeff Foster, NMFS Permit 16111

Tagging team approaching a blue whale. For size comparison,

the tagging boat (a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB)) is 7.3 meters (24 feet).

Tom Greene, NMFS permits 16111 and 19116

The Navy has sponsored and/or participated in many long-term projects involving these and other techniques. Exam-ples include the following efforts.

Southern California Behavioral Response Study (SOCAL BRS)

SOCAL Range Complex Initiated in 2010, this project was designed to increaseunderstanding of marine mammal reactions to sound andprovide a more robust scientific basis for estimating theeffect of Navy MFAS on marine mammal behavior. Co-funded by the ONR MMB and LMR programs and SERDP,the project included annual on-water efforts to identifyspecies present, tag individual animals and collect data onanimal responses to sound. Researchers used high-resolu-tion, multi-sensor tags that provided direct measurementsof potential behavioral responses. During the study time-frame researchers were able to make use of new tech-nology as it became available. Acoustic tags with multiplesensors, including DTAG-2, DTAG-3 and Acousounde tags,collected on-animal data of sound both received andmade by the animal, dive depths and duration, accelera-tion, pitch and roll and water temperature.

Distribution and Demographics of Marine Mammals in theSouthern California (SOCAL) Range Complex

SOCAL Range Complex This series of surveys has been conducted within theSOCAL Range Complex to define marine mammal occurrence in relation to the M3R system detections.

Humpback whale.NOAA/NMFS


The goal is to attach tags to right whales of all ages andsexes to assess their movement patterns. This effort alsoincludes testing new micro-texture and biocompatibleglues for suction cup tag attachments.

Humpback Whale Tagging and Tracking in the Mid-Atlantic

Near-shore Mid-AtlanticThis project is collecting baseline occurrence and behaviordata for humpback whales in the Hampton Roads mid-Atlantic region. Collection efforts include visual surveyswith associated photo identification, biopsy sampling andtagging using SmartPosition and Temper-ature (SPOT-6) Argos-linked satellite tags inthe LIMPET configu-ration. The data willinform steps to miti-gate potentiallyharmful effects onthe species from U.S.Navy training andvessel transiting activ-ities off the coast ofVirginia. (Note: A video about this work can be found at www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/news/humpback-whale-tagging-and-tracking-mid-atlantic.)

Multi-species Odontocete Research off Lanai, Hawaii

Hawaii Range ComplexThe U.S. Pacific Fleet and National Marine FisheriesService’s Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center incorpo-rated multiple approaches to understand odontocete(toothed whale) distribution, habitat use and populationstructure in a four-island area off Lanai. Approachesincluded visual sightings, photo identification, geneticanalyses of biopsy samples and satellite tagging.

Tagging and Tracking of Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales in Florida Waters

Jacksonville Range ComplexNorth Atlantic right whales use the coastal waters offFlorida and Georgia during the winter months. Thesewinter calving grounds are adjacent to the U.S. Navy’splanned undersea warfare training range (USWTR) offthe coast of Jacksonville, Florida. A targeted taggingprogram is underway to collect such data as horizontalmovement, dive profile and vocal behavior from individualwhales. These data are needed to inform monitoring andmitigation techniques and reveal the potential for distur-bance to right whales as the USWTR construction andtraining operations commence. Devices employed formonitoring include suction cup tags (anticipated tag dura-tion from one to 36 hours) with Fastloc GPS technology,time depth recorders (TDR), three-dimentional move-ment measurement and acoustic recording capability.

Mold (left) used to produce micro texture (right) into the edge of tag suctions cups. A. Cannon

North Atlantic right whale.Georgia Department of Natural Resources, permit 15488

Hawaiian monk seal.Morgan W. Richie

Advances in monitoring tags have been central to ensuring the Navy’s ability to utilize its ranges for training and testing activities at-sea.


Bottom of a DTAG-3. Cordelia Shea

located and widely available could potentially lead to newviews into how aquatic animals move through andinteract with their environment, as well as ensuring thatdata are preserved.

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS),a national-regional partnership, initiated an AnimalTelemetry Network (ATN) to facilitate collaborationsamong all federal and non-federal entities conductinganimal telemetry research. The intent is to provide long-term archive of real-time data on animal movement andbehavior and to integrate this with multiple sources ofenvironmental data to better assess the drivers for animalbehavior and distribution. Such integrated bio-physicalobservations can provide critical scientific information tosupport the management of marine fisheries and endan-gered and protected species, assess the potential effects ofanthropogenic disturbances and improve ocean modelingand forecasting.

One key component is the Animal Telemetry NetworkData Assembly Center (ATN DAC). The ATN DAC was coor-dinated by the U.S. IOOS and the ONR MMB program incooperation with Stanford University, University of Cali-fornia Santa Cruz and NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries ScienceCenter Environmental Research Division. Several otheruniversities and public and private partners participate.The ATN DAC is a web portal and access point for dataand, in the future, data products. Currently, the DACprovides access to different species such as sharks, seaturtles, seals, whales, tuna and squid with deploymentdates ranging from 2000 to 2017. The goal of the data

Atlantic Behavioral Response Study

Cape Hatteras Study AreaThis project is generating BRS data in a new geographicarea and increasing the currently limited sample size ofthe behavioral response of key species to Navy tacticalsonar. The effort will expand the temporal and spatialscales of previous BRS efforts by combining satellite-linkedtime-depth recording tags (SLTDR) (e.g. SPLASH tags) andshort-term, high-resolution DTAGs in the same controlledexposure experiments.

The projects summarized here reflect a small sub-set ofefforts underway on or near Navy at-sea training ranges,but offer a glimpse of the important role monitoring tagsplay in securing critical data for Navy regulatory compli-ance. For more on these and other Navy monitoring efforts,visit the LMR website (at (http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/lmr)and the Navy Marine Species Monitoring program website(at www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us).

COORDiNATING THE DATA: THE ANiMAL TELEMETRY NETWORK

Monitoring tags, also called animal telemetry devices, areused by numerous researchers on a wide range of aquaticspecies, generating significant quantities of data that couldprovide detailed insights into the oceanic ecosystem. Untilfairly recently researchers have retained all the collecteddata, publishing scientific reports from their analyses. Notonly does this potentially limit broader analysis of data butalso risks loss of data over time. Having data centrally

center is to ensure that biological and physical monitoringdata are well maintained and widely available. Having acentral repository promotes consistent data organization,providing reliable and accurate data.

For an up-to-date inventory of ATN data sites and otherinformation, visit http://oceanview.pfeg.noaa.gov/ATN.

Navy programs that collect or fund collection of animaltelemetry data require that the data be added to theATN DAC.

THE ROLE OF MONiTORiNG TAGS iN KEEPING THE NAVY AT-SEA

Advances in monitoring tags have been central toproviding information to support the Navy’s environ-mental compliance efforts and ensuring the Navy’s abilityto utilize its ranges for training and testing activities at-sea.

As noted in a previous section, the U.S. Navy is requiredto comply with a suite of environmental laws and regula-tions that apply to the marine environment, including theMMPA and the ESA. Both statutes require agencies toquantify the effects of their actionson protected marine species. TheNavy utilizes acoustic modeling toquantify the potential effects of itstraining and testing activities onmarine species. Detailed informationabout marine species is required tosupport these modeling efforts. Just afew of the types of informationrequired include:

1. Spatial and temporal distributionand density of marine species

2. Movement, diving behavior andgroup size of marine species

3. Criteria and threshold forpredicting effects to marinespecies

Monitoring tags are integral insupplying these types of data.

Tagging efforts on a variety ofmarine species have illuminated theways these animals utilize theunderwater environment forfeeding, breeding, resting and other


important life history functions. Monitoring tags havehelped the Navy understand which marine speciesinhabit specific geographic areas, where and how longthey are present in those areas, how their activity levelsvary throughout the day/night and what their divingcapabilities are among others things. Many of theseparameters are used in acoustic modeling. The use ofthese parameters helps the Navy more accurately esti-mate the potential for marine species to be exposed tothe stressors associated with Navy activities based onthe location of the activity both geographically andwithin the water column and how that correlates to aspecies’ known preferences.

The DTAG provides an example of how vitally importanttag technology is to the Navy’s ability to understand thebehavioral responses of marine mammals to sound. Thefine scale information that DTAGs can record on theanimal’s location and movement, coupled with the tag’sability to record the sound level of noises that the taggedanimal experiences in its environment, has enabledresearchers to identify parameters that influence an

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

The U.S. IOOS, one of the coordinating organizations of the ATN, is anational-regional partnership working to provide new tools and forecasts

to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect our environment.The U.S. IOOS was authorized by the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Obser-vation System Act of 2009 with NOAA designated as the lead federalagency. It is a partnership of 18 Federal agencies, 11 regional associa-tions, the Alliance for Coastal Technologies and the U.S. IOOS Coastal andOcean Modeling Test bed. A national ATN through the U.S. IOOS willprovide integrated data onaquatic ecosystems fromspecies to environment. Thisnetwork will complementexisting ocean observingassets and will informecosystem-based manage-ment, fisheries and biodiver-sity, marine planning, oceanmodeling and forecastingand National Ocean Policypriority objectives.

For more on the U.S. IOOS,visit https://ioos.noaa.gov.

Navy investments in tag technology have helped the Navy, regulators and the public better understand how marine mammals utilize the undersea environment.

animal’s behavioral response tosound. For instance, comparisons ofDTAGs that have recorded exposuresto scaled sonar sources versus real-life tactical sonar have shown thatresponses are not directly correlatedto the received sound pressure levelan animal hears and may be influ-enced by other contextual factors.These other factors include thedistance from the sound source andthe behavior the animal is engagedin at the time of exposure (i.e.,feeding versus resting). DTAGs haveenabled the Navy to develop behav-ioral risk functions to help predictthose parameters that may result inthe animal behaviorally respondingto sonar or other sounds.

Other significant contributions frommonitoring tags include reducing thecost of data collection to the Navy andopening new avenues to collect previ-ously unobtainable data. Prior tomonitoring tags, studies examiningthe behavior of marine mammalscould only be obtained through tech-niques called “focal follows” in whichresearchers in boats or on aircraftfollowed the animals to observebehavior. The high cost of vessel andaircraft time limited the extent ofsuch studies. Additionally, the amountof information that could be gleanedwas limited to what observers couldvisually detect at the surface. Giventhat marine mammals can spend upto 90 percent of their time below the

water’s surface, it was only possible tocollect data on a small percentage oftheir complete behavioral repertoire.

Tagging has also enabled the Navy tocollect data in remote areas or at atime of the year in which conditionsmay not be suitable for other methodsor would be highly cost prohibitive.For instance, researchers are usinganimal-borne tags in the Arctic andAntarctic to collect data on the watercolumn and the acoustic propagationof under sea ice environments.Such data collection would not bepossible during certain times of yeardue to extreme weather conditions orwould require expensive equipmentcapable of withstanding harsh envi-ronmental conditions.


A sperm whale surfaces immediately after being tagged with a suction cup DTAG. The DTAG will capture detailed data on the whale’s movements, dives, and received sound levels. Rune Roland Hansen, Norwegian Animal Research Authority permit 2015/223222


CONCLUSiON

As improvements in tag technologyhave enabled the collection of moreaccurate, fine-scale information acrossa wider array of species, the Navycontinually refined the assessments ofthe potential effects that Navy trainingand testing activities may have onmarine species. This provides decisionmakers, both within the Navy and atregulatory agencies, with the informa-tion they require to make informeddecisions about those potentialeffects. Data from monitoring studiesusing tags also helps the Navy under-stand ways to monitor for or mitigatethose potential effects. Lastly, Navyinvestments in tag technology haveresulted in important contributions tothe overall state of knowledge andhave helped the Navy, regulators andthe public better understand howmarine mammals utilize the underseaenvironment. �Mike WeiseOffice of Naval [email protected]

Danielle KitchenChief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division703-695-5270DSN: [email protected]

these tags are prohibitive for satellitetransfer. Tag performance, attachmentand release mechanisms and utility formeasuring foraging behavior ofmarine species are being evaluated.

Motes

To address some of the challengesposed by satellite-linked tags—limitedopportunities to establish connections,limited bandwidth for data transmis-sion and limited coverage area awayfrom the polar regions—the ONRMMB program is working with WildlifeComputers to evaluate the effective-ness of land-based receiving stations(called “Motes”) that can receive, logand relay messages from devicestransmitting on the Argos frequency.Motes that can capture most of a tag’sdata burst could make it possible toget more information from a tag.

CubeSat Nanosatellites

CubeSats are a type of nanosatellite(small satellites that fall within theone to 10 kilogram size) that are of astandard size and format. With theirsmall size and lower cost than stan-dard satellites, it might becomepossible to deploy more of them.Although not currently within theNavy monitoring methods, thesedevices may offer opportunities toimprove transmission coverage andincrease throughput of tag data.

THE FUTURE OF MONiTORiNG TAGS

New questions about the ocean, itsinhabitants and the effects humanscan have in the ocean environmentwill continue to push for new ways toacquire data. It is anticipated that theNavy will continue to invest inimproving and expanding monitoringtechnology. Some projects alreadyunderway or of possible interest arenoted below.

Sound and Motion Recording andTelemetry (SMRT) Tag

The amount and type of informationfrom monitoring devices falls along awide spectrum. Tags like the DTAG andAcousonde can capture large amountsof many types of data, but trying totransmit so much data via satelliteposes limitations. Only a limited quan-tity of data can be transmitted withinthe brief time a link is established.Location-only tags can more quicklyconnect and transmit their data, butthe range of data types is limited. AnONR MMB program-funded project isworking to address these limitations.

Video Tags

Video is offering new views on howanimals use their habitat but tag sizeand battery life pose issues. Oneproject, jointly funded by the ONRMMB program and other organiza-tions, is supporting tests of archivaltags that combine a high-definitionvideo camera with motion and envi-ronmental sensors to expand data onanimal location, movements andforaging. Developed by CustomizedAnimal Tracking Solutions (CATS), thetags include tri-axial accelerometers,magnetometers and gyroscopes thatrecord motion as well as sensors thatmeasure depth, temperature and light.The large volumes of data collected by

The tags attach to the whale using minimally invasive suction cups, which stick to the whale for up to 24 hours. After tagging, the whale is tracked visually and acoustically, and using VHF signals given off by the tag itself when at the surface. Lucia Martin, Norwegian Animal Research Authority permit 2015/223222

NOISY DIESEL-POWERED gener-ators will soon give way to silent andreliable permanent shore-basedpower to the pier at Naval Magazine(NAVMAG) Indian Island.

A recently-awarded contract includesrunning a new 12.5-kilovolt mediumvoltage transmission system, a utilitycorridor for maintenance work, engi-neering costs, a new medium voltageswitchgear and safety devices along thedesignated route to the Indian Islandpier. The $4.8 million one-year project

was scheduled for completion in June2017. Seattle’s North Star constructioncompany is the prime contractor.

The generators are required to provideelectrical power for visitingsubmarines moored to the pier atIndian Island. “This upgrade not onlyhelps the environment, but it resultsin cost savings and sustained relia-bility,” CMDR Nick Vande Griend,NAVMAG Indian Island commandersaid. “The project helps us supportthe fleet when called upon to do so.”

“The change toshore-basedpower andremoving the twodiesel generatorsreduces the island’s carbon footprintand eliminates noise,” explainedGene King, NAVMAG Indian Islandfacilities manager.

“The power will come from JeffersonCounty Public Utilities District,” Kingsaid. “The return on investmentcoupled with the environmental gains,makes it a win-win for all.”

The swap to permanent power alsoeliminates a U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency permit for emis-sions from the generators. Since2005, NAVMAG Indian Island hasrelied upon diesel generators tosupply power to visiting submarines.

“The generators had to run as long asa submarine was at the pier, whichmeans 24/7,” King said.

This amounted to an average of18,000 gallons of diesel fuel used per submarine visit. While onegenerator ran power to the subma-rine, the other generator could serve


NAVMAG Indian Island Turns to Clean, ReliableElectricity to Power Visiting SubmarinesNoisy Diesel Generators Being Replaced by Silent, Reliable Shore-based Power

A submarine docks at NAVMAG Indian Island.


in a back-up role. Maintenance could then be conductedon the back-up generator. Bill Kalina, NAVMAG IndianIsland’s environmental site manager, estimates the genera-tors use about 100 gallons of diesel fuel per hour of use.

“That’s nearly $300 in fuel costs alone per hour. We willsave money over time with shore-based electrical power,”Kalina explained.

Kalina said that the diesel power generators producedmore pollution than anything else at NAVMAG IndianIsland and require an annual permit from the OlympicRegion Clean Air Agency (ORCAA). ORCAA is a localgovernment agency charged with regulatory andenforcement authority for air quality issues in Clallam,Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific and Thurstoncounties. The current permit allows NAVMAG IndianIsland to run generators until permanent shore-basedpower is complete. �Phil GuerreroNavy Region Northwest 360-396-4955DSN: [email protected]

For More Information

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Navy Region Northwest, call360-396-1630 or visit www.homeportnorthwest.wordpress.com,www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrnw.html and/or www.facebook.com/CNRNW.

Guided-missile submarine USS Ohio arrives at NAVMAG Indian Island. MC1 Amanda Gray

This upgrade not only helps the environment, but it results in cost savings and sustained reliability.

—CMDR Nick Vande Griend

NAVAL MAGAZINE (NAVMAG)Indian Island personnel recentlycompleted a survey to help thembalance the needs of residentwildlife with the demands ofcompleting the Navy’s vital missionon the installation.

Most of NAVMAG Indian Island’s2,700 acres is untouched, pristinehabitat. Because of the untrammelednature of the island, there is an abun-dance of wildlife. So Navy naturalresource managers wanted to conducta wildlife survey using motion detec-tion trail cameras to document theexistence of various species of

animals on the island. This survey willprovide those managers with thenecessary documentation and thenplan accordingly.

“The trail cameras provide scientificdata about wildlife on Indian Island,”Sara Street, NAVMAG natural resources

as some animals rely on others fortheir food.

“We are looking at the health of theanimals on the island,” Street said.“We are looking at where theycongregate. We also like to keep trackof the cougar’s travels in particular.”

There are two cougars that frequent theisland—a male and a female. Thecougars have been seen jumping overthe fence at NAVMAG or sometimesswimming across Kilisut Harbor toMarrowstone Island and back. There iseven a photo of a cougar walking casu-ally through the front gate.

The wildlife survey provides valuableinformation to support the installa-tion’s Integrated Natural ResourceManagement Plan (INRMP). TheINRMP guides policy makers as theyattempt to manage the island’snatural resources. Natural resourcemanagers also use the INRMP to


Navy Conducts Wildlife Survey on NavalMagazine Indian IslandSurvey Provides Vital Natural Resources Planning Information

manager said. “The cameras aren’tout on the trails just for fun.”

The cameras have photographedcougars, deer, coyotes, otters,raccoons and hummingbirds on theisland. Even a bear has been sightedon the north side of the islandalthough the cameras have yet tocapture a picture of the bear. Streetparticularly enjoys a close-up photoof a curious hummingbird recordedby one of the cameras. “Humming-birds are so fast and so small, Ididn’t expect the camera to captureone,” Street said. “I think thehummingbird was attracted to the

red lens cover on the infrared flash.”

The cameras provide evidence of thespecies present on the island. Thelarge animal survey uses thisevidence to determine the ratio ofvarious species on the island. Thecameras also show the “circle of life,”

The cameras provide evidence of the various species present on the island.


Before working in natural resources, Street served activeduty in the Navy from 2001–2005 as an Aviation Elec-tronics Technician at Naval Air Station (NAS) WhidbeyIsland. She worked on the P-3 Orion aircraft radar system.After her Navy service, she attended college and graduatedwith a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

Street thought she would go to work for a state fish andwildlife department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

advise leadership as building projects are proposed onIndian Island.

Most recently, a contract to build power lines for shore-based power to the pier at NAVMAG was completed. Thealignment of the power poles as part of that contract wasconsidered in the INRMP. As part of the consideration, thepower lines were moved around wetlands to protect a crit-ical natural area.

The INRMP also maintains habitat for animalsand directs planners to avoid the 10 knownbald eagle nesting sites on the island.

The cameras have shown a dramatic reduction inthe coyote population on Indian Island in the pastyear. The coyotes appear healthy in photos fromthe trail cameras, but there are reduced numbersof these animals. “We haven’t determined causa-tion yet,” Street said. “A year ago, people whowork here were saying that the coyotes werebecoming too bold.”

At the time, coyotes were reportedly peering intooffice windows, but with the population decline,those reports have become less frequent. “I usedto see groups of four coyotes in the cameras,”Street explained. “The ratio used to be about onecoyote for every four deerphotographed. Today, it’sabout 30 deer to onecoyote.”

An elk was also seen onthe island several yearsago. It stayed for about aweek and then left. Secu-rity and ordnance workershave also seen a bearwandering around theisland. The animalshaven’t acted aggressivelytowards people. They tendto scamper away if peopleget too close. “The cougarsare more curious thananything else,” Street said.“The female occasionallywatches people. I think shejust wants to see what isgoing on.”

NAVMAG Indian Island’s natural resourcemanagers are using motion detection trail

cameras to conduct a wildlife survey.

There are two cougars that currently frequent the island—a male and a female. The cougars have been seen jumping over the installation’s 12-foot-high fence or sometimes swimming across Kilisut Harbor to Marrowstone Island and back. There is even a photo of a cougar walking casually through the front gate of the base.


(USFWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS). She didn’t imagine that she would returnto work for the Navy but is glad she did.

Street was accepted in 2011 for the Navy’s Profes-sional Development Career internship. Her firstrotation was at Indian Island where she workedon inspection and compliance issues. One rotationtook her back to NAS Whidbey Island, andanother took her to Naval Base Kitsap–Bremerton.

NAVMAG’s environmental office is a two-personteam which includes Street and Bill Kalina, envi-ronmental site manager. They are responsible foreight environmental programs each and like torefer to themselves as a “one-person band.”

“We are never bored,” Street said. “Everybodyknows everyone else on the island so we helpeach other get things done.”

“I count on my natural resource managers to helpme make the right decisions,” said CMDR NickVande Griend, NAVMAG Indian Islandcommander. “This means the Navy can completeits mission and take care of the environment atthe same time.”

Sara Street sits behind a scale model of Indian Island where she is currently completing a wildlife survey using motion detection trail cameras to document various wildlife species present on the island and their respective ratios. MCS1 Jeffry Willadsen

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

The large animal survey helps to determine the ratio of species on NAVMAG Indian Island. The cameras also show the “circle of life”

as some animals rely on others for their dinner. Island cameras have photographed cougars, deer, coyotes, otters, raccoons and hummingbirds.


NAVMAG Indian Island is the U.S. Navy’sonly deep-water ammunition port and the

largest ordnance storage site on thewest coast. The command is

aligned under Commander,Navy Region Northwestlocated at Naval BaseKitsap-Bangor.NAVMAG’s mission is to

provide the full range ofconventional ordnance logis-

tics support to Pacific Fleetvessels and activities, U.S. Marine Corpsunits, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) shipsstationed in the Puget Sound, Army and AirForce activities in the Pacific Theater andallied partners. NAVMAG recently celebratedits 75th year of operation tracing its heritageback to May 10, 1941.

HistoryIndian Island was the ancestral home of theChemakum Tribe and was later occupied bymembers of the S’Klallam Tribe. In 1792, anexpedition led by English Captain GeorgeVancouver came ashore calling it “IndianIsland” after finding the remnants of theChemakum village site. European immi-grants settled the island beginning in the1860s conducting logging, farming andraising livestock. The Navy purchased theland from the homestead families in 1939and established NAVMAG Indian Island tocarry out multiple missions including muni-tions storage, mine assembly and anti-submarine net manufacturing.

At the height of World War II (WWII),manning reached 350 military and 200 civil-ians to support ordnance operations thatran seven days a week—at times loading twoships per day. As work levels dropped offfollowing the end of the Korean War, theisland was placed in a reduced operatingstatus in 1959. With construction of theTrident Submarine Base at Bangor, theconventional ammunition mission shiftedback to Indian Island with completion of anew ammunition wharf in 1978. After Oper-ation Desert Storm (in 1991), NAVMAG wasselected as one of two west coast ports to

be upgraded for the efficient transshipmentof containerized ammunition. One of theinfrastructure improvements included instal-lation of the DoD’s largest container craneat the Indian Island ammunition wharf in1999. Known by Indian Island personnel as“Big Blue,” this massive crane is used forthe island’s strategic mission in support ofPacific theater joint force operations.

StewardshipThe 2,716-acre island hosts a wealth ofcultural and natural resources, including14 documented Native-American archeo-logical sites, historic pioneer homesteads,over 2,100 acres of forest land and WWII-era buildings that are eligible for listing inthe National Register of Historic Places.The island is also home to a diversity ofwildlife species, including 10 active baldeagle nest territories, a resident herd ofover 300 black-tailed deer, coyotes, riverotters, harbor seals and occasional blackbears and cougars. In 2005, NAVMAGIndian Island became the third base (firston the west coast) in naval history to bedelisted from the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s National PrioritiesList. A full-time environmental staff worksclosely with the U.S. Geological Survey,USFWS, NMFS, Washington Departmentof Fish and Wildlife, North OlympicSalmon Coalition and Washington Depart-ment of Ecology to provide protection andconservation of the natural resources underthe Navy’s stewardship.

NAVMAG has established an aggressiveenergy reduction program lowering itsenergy use 61 percent since 2003. As aresult, NAVMAG received its fifth consecu-tive Platinum-level Secretary of the NavyEnergy and Water Management Award inOctober 2016. In 2017, NAVMAG completedthe transition to permanent shore-basedpower at the ammunition wharf eliminatingthe requirement for diesel powered genera-tors and reducing the Island’s carbon foot-print. (For more details, see our article“NAVMAG Indian Island Turns to Clean, Reliable Electricity to Power Visiting

Submarines” on page 20 of this issue ofCurrents.)

NAVMAG by the Numbers160: Number of personnel who work on

the island each day 18: Military personnel95: Civilians56: Contractors109: Reservists

NAVMAG Fun Facts1. Only deep-water ordnance facility on the

west coast with no access restrictions.

2. Averages 230 berth days/year by aircraftcarriers, ammunition ships, guidedmissile destroyers and submarines,USCG patrol boats, commercial bargesand container ships.

3. Pier is 1,650 feet long with 55 feet ofdraft available at mean-low tide.

4. “Big Blue” self-sustained diesel-electricrail crane can lift 89,000 pounds.

5. Largest throughput of any Navyweapons facility on the west coast.

6. Nobody lives on NAVMAG Indian Island.

Map data ©2017 Google

The Basics About Naval Magazine Indian Island

Indian Island


While the nation’s military provides protection for Americaand her allies, the Department of Defense (DoD) likewisemaintains a strong conservation effort at all its locations.So much so that creatures of all kinds congregate on thevast holdings of U.S. military installations. In fact, the DoDmanages and protects 400 threatened and endangeredspecies on 25 million acres of land across 420 militaryinstallations. The Defense Department now managesmore species per acre than any other federal agency,including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Serviceand USFWS. �Note: All wildlife photos were all taken using stand-alone trail cameras.

Phil GuerreroNavy Region Northwest 360-396-4955DSN: [email protected]

I count on my natural resource managers to help me make the right decisions.

—CMDR Nick Vande Griend

Natural resource managers are conducting a wildlife survey on NAVMAG Indian Island which provides valuable information to support theinstallation’s INRMP. The INRMP helps natural resource managers properly advise leadership as building projects are proposed on the island.


FOR MORE INFORMATION about Navy Region Northwest, call 360-396-1630 or visit www.homeportnorthwest.wordpress.com, www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrnw.html and/or www.facebook.com/CNRNW.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

trends of the environment


Energy Action = Mission Success for Energy Action Month 2017 SINCE 2012, OCTOBER has been designated EnergyAction Month, a celebration of energy as a pillar of thenation’s economy and a time to recognize the role indi-vidual Americans can play in reducing energy waste.

The Department of the Navy’s Energy Action Monththeme for 2017 was “Energy Action = Mission Success.”The theme makes the point that energy is integral to thesea service’s ability to maintain forward presence at sea,operate sensors that detect threats and help protect U.S.Navy forces, and conduct the full range of missions fromhumanitarian assistance/disaster relief to high-endcombat operations.

“The decisions Sailors and civilians make about energyuse on a daily basis can have a direct impact on how farwe steam, how often we refuel and how long can we stayin the fight,” said CAPT Carl Lahti, director of the Chief ofNaval Operations Energy and Environmental ReadinessDivision. “Energy Action Month reminds us of that respon-sibility and can help us focus on ways to improve ourenergy consumption.”

The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest singleconsumer of energy in the United States. The Navyaccounts for over one quarter of DoD’s petroleum use.

Throughout the month of October, the Navy demonstratedits commitment to energy resiliency through awarenessand outreach campaigns. Electronic and hard copy postershighlighting the theme circulated Fleet-wide, and Navysocial media channels featured stories, videos and tips forenergy conservation afloat and ashore.

All U.S. Navy vessels depend on hull coatings and regularhull cleanings to reduce drag from buildup that wouldotherwise degrade hydrodynamics and miles per gallon atsea, affecting speed and range. While ships equipped withtechnologies such energy dashboards, light-emitting diode(LED) lighting, and hybrid propulsion systems like USSMakin Island (LHD 8) and USS America (LHA 6) havemore “tools in the toolkit” to actively manage their energy

consumption, each Navy ship can employ bestpractices such as turning off lights in unusedspaces, using trail shaft (i.e., one or more enginessecured) when operationally safe to do so andcompleting routine maintenance on shipboardsystems to get the maximum combat capabilityfrom the fuel in their tanks.

Ashore personnel at naval facilities can takeadvantage of energy saving tips on the Chief ofNaval Installations Energy Action Month page athttps://cnic.navy.mil/om/energy-action-month/energy-tips.html.

To learn more about Energy Action Month and download outreach materials, visit http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/energy/energy-action-month.

Receive the latest Navy energy updates by following Navy Task Force Energy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/navalenergy and Twitter atwww.twitter.com/navalenergy. �

SEE NAVY ENERGY ACTION MONTHPULLOUT POSTER ON NEXT PAGE!

The decisions Sailors and civiliansmake about energy use on a

daily basis can have a direct impacton how far we steam,

how often we refuel and how long can we stay in the fight.

—CAPT Carl Lahti

TO IMPROVE ENERGY efficiencythroughout the Department ofDefense’s (DoD) large inventory ofaging constant volume multizone airhandling units, researchers from theU.S. Army Corps of EngineersConstruction Engineering ResearchLaboratory (CERL) have developed avariable volume retrofit approachthat is viable, is readily imple-mented, and in many circumstances,will be cost-effective when added toa controls retrofit.

The current design practice for mostnew heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems thatserve multiple zones is to use variableair volume (VAV) systems with VAVboxes in each zone. The DoD has alarge inventory of energy inefficientconstant volume multizone airhandling units, an older technologyalso used to serve multiple zones. Asthese multizone units continue to age,the control systems associated withthe units are often upgraded due toobsolescence or replaced due tofailure. Due to the common need toperform a controls retrofit on multi-zone units, CERL researchers wanted

to determine if it would make senseto convert the constant volume multi-zone units to variable volume multi-zone units as part of the controlsretrofit. In other words, would the costof bolstering the controls retrofit byadding variable frequency drives(VFD), outside air flow stations andsome additional programming effortpay for itself in energy savings?

CERL, with funding provided by theDoD’s Environmental Security Tech-nology Certification Program (ESTCP),researched this question by retrofitting

five multizone air handling units, two ofwhich were located at CERL in Cham-paign, Illinois and the other three werelocated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina,and evaluating one year’s worth ofoperational data. The objective of thedemonstration was to validate theeffectiveness of the retrofit approach inreducing energy consumption, analyzethe economics/comfort associated withthe upgrade, and develop technicalguidance to help installations performsuccessful retrofits.


Army Research Laboratory Develops Methodto Improve Efficiency of Multizone Air HandlersApproach Reduces Energy Consumption Without HVAC Demolition orOccupant Disturbance

Two of the five multizone air handling units retrofitted during this ESTCP-sponsored research effort were located at CERL in Champaign, Illinois.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

A CRITICAL COMPONENT of the Army’sEngineer Research and DevelopmentCenter (ERDC), CERL develops innovativetechnologies to provide suitable facilitiesand realistic training lands for the DoD.

Products and servicesfrom CERL researchenhance the Army’sability to design, build,operate and maintain

its installations and contingency bases andensure environmental quality at the lowestlifecycle cost. CERL facilities support theArmy’s training, readiness, mobilization andsustainability missions. An adequate infra-structure and realistic training lands are crit-ical assets to installations in carrying outtheir military mission.

CERL programs center on military installa-tions, contingency bases and sustainableranges and lands, additional focus areasinclude enhancing socio-cultural under-standing in theater operations andimproving civil works facilities and infrastruc-ture. Specific CERL focus areas include:

� Sustainable Installations

� Military Ranges and Lands

� Resilient Facilities and Infrastructure

� Smart Sustainable Materials

� Installation Decision Support

� Urban and Stability Operations

As the owner of approximately one billionsquare feet of buildings, the Army mustensure that its facilities are cost-effective,durable, environmentally sustainable and

flexible enough to support changingmissions. Army facilities must providequality living, working and training environ-ments for Soldiers and their families. CERLresearch in military installations focuses ondesign, materials and delivery of facilities aswell as improving the efficiency of businesspractices and operations, maintenance andrepair. These improvements will beachieved by using innovative technologies,expanding automation and streamliningbusiness processes.

DoD uses over 25 million acres of land plusextensive areas of sea and air space insupport of military training and testingmissions. However, resource degradationand environmental constraints within thefence line and developmental pressuressurrounding installations combine tocompromise and limit training and testingactivities on military lands. CERL researchcapabilities provide tools for the long-termsustainment of training ranges and lands crit-ical to military readiness. CERL research insustainable ranges and lands has two goals:

1. Provide knowledge, tools and improvedpractices to support sustained militaryuse of lands, seas and airspace.

2. Support military stewardship of naturaland cultural resources on these lands.

CERL research enhances andexpands understanding of theimpacts training and testingactivities have on resources.

To meet its research chal-lenges, CERL state-of-the-arttest facilities include:

� Triaxial Earthquake andShock Simulator

� Paint Technology Center

� Controlled ArcheologicalTest Site

� Environmental ProcessesLaboratory

� Microbiology Laboratory

The Basics About the Army’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory


� Structural Load Floor

� Air Pollution Laboratory

� Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cellwith Electrolyzer

� Environmental Chemistry Laboratory

� Chem-Bio Laboratory

� Materials Laboratory

� Center for the Advancement ofSustainability Innovations

� Synthetic Biology Laboratory

� ERDC Forward Operating Base Laboratory

� Army Facilities Corrosion Preventionand Control Project Management

CERL opened in 1969 in Champaign, Illi-nois, to be collocated with the University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) andcapitalize on UIUC’s own science and engi-neering programs, experts and facilities.CERL and UIUC collaborate on criticalresearch for DoD under an EducationalPartnership Agreement.

For more information, visit www.erdc.usace.army.mil/Locations/CERL or send anemail to [email protected].


The CERL Retrofit ApproachConverting a constant volume multi-zone system to a variable air volumesystem ordinarily requires re-ductingand re-zoning to accommodate VAVbox terminal units. This conversionrequires a major renovation that can be very costly, time consuming, and disruptive to building occupants.This complete overhaul renovationapproach is seldom consideredattractive; therefore, multizonesystems are usually operated asconstant volume systems until they fail or otherwise warrantreplacement (e.g. due to a buildingrenovation).

Multizone UnitsIn a traditional multizone system, theair handling unit contains a hot deckand a cold deck with associatedheating and cooling coils. Constantvolume multizone air handlers tend tobe inefficient because they cannotreduce the supply fan speed whenzones in the building do not need fullheating or full cooling. To deal withthe lack of fan speed control, multi-zone systems blend conditioned airfrom the hot and cold decks to createa zone air supply temperature to meetthe demands of the zone, which leadsto simultaneous heating and cooling.

Converting a constant volume multi-zone air handling unit to a variable airvolume unit will reduce heating,cooling and fan energy.

Neutral deck units have a deck forunconditioned air to mix with eitherhot or cold deck supply air to main-tain zone temperature set points.Though both traditional and neutraldeck multizone units operate fansystems at a constant speed, neutraldeck units are more energy efficientsince they can take advantage of the“neutral air” both to avoid mixingheated and cooled air and to provide“free heating” to zones with minimalheating requirements.

ESTCP IS THE DoD’s environmental technology demonstrationand validation program. The program was established in 1995 topromote the transfer of innovative technologies that have success-fully established proof of concept to field or production use.ESTCP demonstrations collect cost and performance data to over-come the barriers to employ an innovative technology because ofconcerns regarding technical or programmatic risk.

The program’s goal is to identify anddemonstrate the most promising inno-vative and cost-effective technologiesand methods that address DoD’s high-

priority environmental requirements. Projects conduct formaldemonstrations at DoD facilities and sites in operational settings todocument and validate improved performance and cost savings.To ensure the demonstrated technologies have a real impact,ESTCP collaborates with end users and regulators throughout thedevelopment and execution of each demonstration. Transitionchallenges are overcome with rigorous and well-documenteddemonstrations that provide the information needed by all stake-holders for acceptance of the technology.

ESTCP issues an annual solicitation for proposals from the Federalgovernment, academia and industry and employs a competitiveselection process to ensure that ESTCP funds high-quality demon-strations. ESTCP requires each project to develop a formal test andevaluation plan. Demonstration results are subject to rigorous

technical reviews to ensure that the conclusions are accurate andwell supported by data.

ESTCP is managed by a Director and Deputy Director, fiveProgram Managers, and a Financial Officer. The ESTCP office is co-located with the Strategic Environmental Research and Develop-ment Program in Alexandria, Virginia. In this joint programstructure, the management staff has insight into the entire rangeof scientific and technical issues associated with an environmentalproblem, from basic research questions through implementation.ESTCP relies on the technical skills offered by the participatingServices serving on its technical committees to assist in the tech-nical aspects of program development, project selection, programmonitoring and technology transfer.

ESTCP projects are managed within the following five programareas:

1. Energy and Water

2. Environmental Restoration

3. Munitions Response

4. Resource Conservation and Climate Change

5. Weapons Systems and Platforms

For more information, visit the program’s web site at www.serdp-estcp.org.

The Basics About the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30


The retrofit technique developed and studied by CERL,which is intended to be applied as part of a planned HVACcontrols upgrade, retains HVAC infrastructure and lever-ages simple controls changes to achieve variable airflow.The approach includes the installation of VFDs for thesystem fans and a flow station for the outside air intake.Since air handlers can be operated based on a setschedule or based on occupancy sensors the CERL teamimplemented and tested both options. Because theapproach avoids tampering with ductwork and terminalunits it can be accomplished for a lower first cost with lesssystem down time and less disturbance to building occu-pants than a full system retrofit.

CERL engineers developed standard controls drawings thatdefine the sequence of operation changes required for bothtraditional multizone air handlers, which were studied atCERL, and neutral deck multizone air handlers, which werestudied at Fort Bragg. The CERL control drawings includesequences for the modulating fan speed based on criticalzone damper position and an optional sequence fordemand controlled zone ventilation through room carbondioxide or occupancy sensors. These control drawings canbe used to help implement the CERL retrofit approachwhen multizone units are selected for controls upgrades.

ResultsHistorical weather data and the performance of thesystem at various temperatures during the demonstra-tion year were used to determine expected annualenergy savings for each system. Analysts determinedthat retrofitting traditional (hot deck/cold deck) units atCERL and neutral deck units at Fort Bragg resulted in a26 to 64 percent reduction in energy consumption usingeither scheduled or demand controlled ventilation.Considering only the additional costs associated withimplementing the variable volume conversion as part ofan HVAC controls retrofit project, four of the five multi-zone units had a simple payback within the 15-year life-cycle period. The larger the unit, the faster the paybacktended to be due to energy savings being proportional tomultizone unit size but with only incremental implemen-tation cost increases; however, retrofits for traditionalmultizone units as small as three horsepower (HP) werelifecycle cost-effective.

Along with all of the relevant energy usage data (i.e., fan,chilled water and hot water) researchers also collectedzone temperature and relative humidity data to determine

CERL researchers wanted to determine if it would make sense toconvert the constant volume multizone units to variable volume

multizone units as part of a retrofit of system controls.

how effectively the retrofitted units were able to main-tain occupant thermal comfort. This was importantbecause the retrofit technique was judged based on itsability to pay for itself in energy savings while main-taining occupant comfort. Researchers used AmericanSociety of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-ConditioningEngineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55 metrics to gauge andassess comfort.

The demonstration showed that this retrofit techniqueis viable, readily implemented, and in many circum-stances, will be cost-effective when added to a controlsrenovation. Contact Brian Clark for more details aboutthis study or to receive technical support for your ownmultizone retrofit project. �


RETROFIT ENERGY REDUCTION COMPARED TO A CONSTANT VOLUME MULTIZONE

1 2-Deck 8 28 42 7 2 2-Deck 3 60 64 3 3 3-Deck 3 63 57 10 4 3-Deck 3 30 26 never 5 3-Deck 3 40 39 13

Air Handling Unit Unit Type HP Scheduled VentilationEnergy Reduction

(in %/year)

Demand Controlled VentilationEnergy Reduction

(in %/year)

Demand ControlledVentilation Payback

(in years)

Traditional Multizone Unit Schematic. David Schwenk

Sean Wallace U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory217-398-5567DSN: 314-524-9922 [email protected]

Brian Clark U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory217-373-3338DSN: [email protected]

Joseph BushU.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory217-373-4433DSN: 314-524-9922 [email protected]

Hey, all you would-be photographers out there. Give us your best shot!

How would you like to see your work published in a future issue ofCurrents? We know that, for many of you, photography is more than a casual pursuit. You love to capture unique views of the world withthe click of a shutter or the tap of a smartphone. And we’d love topublish your best work.

So share your best shot with us. We’re looking for high quality, high-resolution imaginative images of:1. Natural resources on Navy installations and at sea2. Navy personnel protecting the environment3. Energy and environmental management projects on Navy installations and ships

Along with your image(s), please provide your name, contact information and a description of your image and how you took it. Images must be submitted to our Managing Editor, Bruce McCaffrey at [email protected] in digital format (as .jpg files) at a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch.

If you are using a digital camera or a smartphone, set your file size as large as possible.

Help us present the Navy’s energy and environmental management efforts through your unique perspective. We’ll take a careful look at everything you send and try to publish as much of your inspired work as possible.

So give us your best shot!

Best Sh tG I V EU S

Y O U R

John Burns

Gunther Rosen

Background photo by Pat Earley

Erin Falcone

THE DEPARTMENT OF the Navy(DON) continues to demonstrate itscommitment to identifying, evaluatingand where appropriate, remediatingcontamination resulting from its activ-ities that used chemicals containingper- and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS) that have emerged as a publichealth concern primarily in drinkingwater systems.

PFAS Regulatory StatusPFASs are “emerging contaminants”which are chemicals or materialscharacterized by a perceived, poten-tial, or real threat to human health orthe environment and by a lack ofpublished health standards. PFASshave no Safe Drinking Water Act regu-latory standards or routine waterquality testing requirements.

The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) is currently studyingPFASs to determine if regulation isneeded. In May 2016, EPAannounced lifetime health advisory

(LHA) levels for two PFASs, specificallyperfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) andperfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).According to EPA, health advisorylevels are not regulatory standards.They are health-based concen-trations whichshould offer amargin ofprotection forall Americansthroughout their life fromadverse healtheffects resultingfrom exposureto PFOS andPFOA in drinking water.

The EPA health advisory level for life-time exposure is 70 parts per trillion(ppt) for PFOS and PFOA individuallyor combined. (Note: Where acompound is not detected, the valuefor that compound is consideredzero.) Similarly, detected results of

other PFAS compounds should not beadded and compared to these levels,since EPA has not set advisory orregulatory levels for any othercompounds at this time.

DON PFAS PolicyThe DON has developed a policy toaddress past releases of PFASs in itsfirefighting and other activities. Thesesubstances may be present in the soiland/or groundwater at Navy andMarine Corps sites. If PFASs are in thegroundwater, there is the potential for


Navy Continues to Proactively AddressPotential PFAS Drinking Water ExposuresPolicy Includes Regulatory Status, Current Actions & the Path Forward

If PFASs are in the groundwater, there is the potential for these substances to migrate to public or private drinking water wells.

PFAS Molecular Structure.

these substances to migrate to publicor private drinking water wells. Toproactively address these potentialdrinking water impacts to its neigh-bors, on 20 June 2016 the DONreleased a policy memo “Perfluori-nated Compounds/PerfluoroalkylSubstances (PFC/PFAS)—Identificationof Potential Areas of Concern.”

This policy memodirects that imme-diate action be takento identify and removeimminent threats tohuman health and theenvironment. Wheresite conditions andcharacteristics indicatea PFAS has potentiallymigrated off-base andgroundwater is used asdrinking water, the policydirects DON to sampleany potentially threat-ened drinking waterpromptly to determine ifexposure at unacceptable


To Obtain More Information

TO OBTAIN A copy of the DON PFAS policy memo, visit www.secnav.navy.mil/eie/Documents/Perfluorinated-Compounds-Perfluoroalkyl-Substances-(PFC-PFAS)-Identification-of-Potential-Areas-of-Concern-(AOCs).pdf.

Sailors fight a simulated fire using aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)—a PFAS-containing substance—at the Firefighting Damage Control School at Naval Base San Diego. MCS Seaman Brandon Cyr

levels is occurring. This sampling is to proceed even if afull investigation following Comprehensive EnvironmentalResponse, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA)protocol has not begun.

In response to this policy memo in 2016, DON performeddesktop preliminary assessments of approximately 127

active and Base Realignment and Closure(BRAC) installations across the United States.These desktop evaluations were conducted toidentify potential PFAS sites and areas ofconcern (AOC) and prioritize further actions atthose with the greatest potential to impact off-installation drinking water resources. Thepolicy memo directed that drinking watersources within a mile of known or suspectedPFAS releases be investigated for currentdrinking water exposure within fiscal year2017. These efforts are being performed, perthe policy memo flow chart, and additionalinvestigations will continue based on thepotential for additional off-installation drinkingwater exposures.



FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Navy’s PFAS policy,general information and additional resources, visitwww.secnav.navy.mil/eie/pages/pfc-pfas.aspx..

Sailors conduct firefighting exercises using AFFF during a drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The use of AFFF for testing, training, firefighting and other emergency

responses is the most common DON activity that results in the release of PFASs to the environment.MCS3 Alex Perlman

Consumer Products

� Cookware (e.g., Teflon®,non-stick)

� Food containers/pack-aging such as French fryboxes, pizza boxes andmicrowave popcorn bags

Industrial Uses

� Medical devices

� AFFF

� Insect baits

� Oil production

� Paper and packaging

� Rubberand plastics

� Printer and copymachineparts


DON’s Actions Based on ResultsDON is proactively taking actions based on preliminary,unvalidated analytical results from drinking water samplesas they are received from the laboratories. Although thereis some risk in acting on unvalidated results, the DONdoes not want to wait for validated results to provide aprotective response for its neighbors. If the unvalidatedresults indicate that the level for PFOS and/or PFOAexceeds 70 ppt, then the DON provides bottled water oran alternate water supply for drinking and cooking until along-term solution is implemented. To date, actions takenby DON based on unvalidated results have beensupported by the validated results.

The DON respects the privacy concerns of private wellowners and has, therefore, only provided notification toeach property owner of their personal drinking water

results. The DON will continue to keep the results privateto the greatest extent possible.

ResourcesTo promote consistency in executing the DON policy atinstallations where there is potential drinking water expo-sure off-base, the DON has found it valuable to partnerwith other agencies such as local EPA (this often includesthe Office of Water, which project teams may not alreadybe partnered with), Agency for Toxic Substances andDisease Registry (ATSDR), state and county/local healthdepartments, and local public water suppliers. If other sitesare identified, it will be important for project teams tocoordinate with these other partners so that the public hasnon-DON partners from which to obtain impartial infor-mation regarding the EPA’s health advisory and potentialimpacts from PFAS exposure.

Common Uses of PFASs

� Personal care products (e.g., shampoo, dental floss)

� Cosmetics (e.g., nail polish, eye makeup)

� Paints and varnishes

� Stain-resistant chemicals (e.g., Scotchguard®)

� Water-resistantapparel (e.g., Gore-Tex®)

� Cleaning products

� Electronics

� Engineering coatings

� Textiles, upholstery,apparel and carpets


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Microwave popcorn bags and French fry boxes can contain PFCs; Carpeting and the chemicals applied to them that resist staining are among the more common uses of PFCs; PFCs are also contained in the rubber used to make hoses; Pizza boxes and other food containers and packaging can also contain PFCs.


Since several installations havealready completed off-site drinkingwater sampling, there are resourcesthat may be helpful to RemedialProject Managers (RPM) that mayneed to initiate these activities attheir installation. These includesampling and analysis plans, factsheets, public meeting posters, notifi-cation letters, risk communicationplans and press releases.

For More InformationFor additional information, contact thefollowing individuals.

For Environmental Restoration, Navy(ER,N) sites/AOCs:

� Tim Reisch

[email protected]

� Jennifer Corack

[email protected]

For BRAC sites/AOCs:

� Dave Barclift

[email protected]

� Jim Callian

[email protected]

Site TrackingNaval Facilities EngineeringCommand (NAVFAC) Headquarters(HQ) is closely tracking progress atNavy and Marine Corps PFASsites/AOCs with potential drinkingwater exposures, along with trackingschedules, cost and technical attrib-utes for each PFAS site/AOC as notedin the 20 June 2016 memo. In addi-tion to tracking the number ofimpacted wells, NAVFAC HQ mustreport weekly to Assistant Secretary of

releases of these chemicals. Forsome locations, these processeshave been initiated and will providevaluable lessons learned as theyproceed. Since these PA/SIs mayidentify additional sites/AOCs withthe potential to have currentdrinking water exposure, RPMsshould be aware that in the futurethey may need to proceed off-baseto sample drinking water. The DONwill conduct investigations at eachaffected site/AOC to determine thenature and extent of contaminationand, subsequently, develop andimplement long-term solutions on asite-specific basis in consideration ofexisting infrastructure, aquifer char-acteristics, extent of impact, andother factors. �Tim Reisch Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic757-322-4130DSN: 262-4130 [email protected]

Kim Brown Naval Facilities Engineering CommandHeadquarters202-685-0096DSN: [email protected]

the Navy (ASN), Office of LegislativeAffairs, Chief of Naval Operations,Commander, Navy InstallationsCommand (CNIC) HQ and MarineCorps HQ on the following dates:

� Notification of DON “partners”(e.g., department of health,regional EPA and ATSDR)

� Congressional delegation (CODEL)notification

� Local community notification

� Public meeting (if applicable)

� Drinking water sampling start date

As new sites/AOCs are identified thatrequire off-installation public orprivate drinking water sampling,RPMs will update NAVFAC HQ weeklywith this information.

Next StepsAt installations with known or likelyPFAS releases (regardless of drinkingwater impacts), it is expected thatproject teams will start to plan forand fund base-wide PreliminaryAssessments/Site Inspections (PA/SI)to investigate environmental

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY appeared inthe June 2017 issue of The ERB Garden. Ithas been updated and expanded upon forthe purposes of this Currents article. Tosubmit articles or subscribe to The ERBGarden newsletter, contact JoycePatterson at 805-982-5575 [email protected]. The ERBGarden welcomes your success stories,technology updates or other informa-tion that would be beneficial to sharewith the environmental restorationand BRAC communities.

Q: WHY SHOULD THE NAVY IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES?Using the energy dashboard allows us to monitor our energy/fuel usage throughout the ship. This year,while in drydock, we are expected to receive a thermal management system which regulates ship temperature in a more regulated manner, and the hybrid electric drive (HED). All of these technologies will significantly reduce our energy usage and give us a better picture of our overall energy usage acrossthe whole ship. Together, these technologies help us track our speed, energy and fuel consumption.

Q: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THE HYBRID ELECTRIC DRIVE BE SIMPLE TO OPERATE?With anything, you have to make it easy to operate or people won’t use it. It’s the same thing when itcomes to energy conservation and the HED. If the HED is difficult to operate, Sailors won’t use it. If it’s as simple as pushing an “on/off” button to go from the main engines to the HED and then back again, then that’s fantastic. If you want Sailors to use the HED on a regular basis, then it needs to be that simple.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCREASES

“An Energy Warrior is anybody who takes into account the energy usageon board their ship and tries to reduce fuel and/or energy consumption.This allows us to stay on station longer and perform our mission longer.”

ENERGY WARRIOR

PROFILE

LT CHRIS RAKOSKI

CHIEF ENGINEERING OFFICERUSS STOCKDALE (DDG-106)

COMBAT CAPABILITY

Q: WHEN IT COMES TO CULTURE CHANGE, WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE US?Sailors probably embrace change better than most people. We have a constant turnover of personnel and you’re always going to your next duty station. You’re always working on your next job, your next qualification. You just have to talk to Sailors about energy conservation. It’s easy. Tell Sailors why it isimportant for the Navy. Why should we conserve energy? Sailors adapt quickly and embrace change easily—you just have to explain the ‘why’ and how it will benefit the Navy in the long run.

Q: WHAT DOES AN ENERGY WARRIOR MEAN TO YOU?An Energy Warrior is anybody who takes into account the energy usage on board their ship and tries toreduce fuel and/or energy consumption. This allows us to stay on station longer and perform our missionlonger. That’s a good thing.

Make sure you check out the Energy Warrior YouTube Channel

(at www.youtube.com/channel/UCkJiid-zKaaD525DZHuEOsg).

You can also follow Energy Warrior on Instagram(@energy.warrior) and download

the Energy Warrior app from iTunes.

well-known invasive species—hasbeen in place for a number of yearsled by the U.S. Geological Survey’sBrown Tree Snake Rapid ResponseTeam. However, the MITT BOexpands the Navy’s requirement forrapid response capability to include allinvasive species.

Besides brown tree snakes, biologistsare concerned “especially with inver-tebrates (snails, slugs, ants, spidersand coconut rhinoceros beetles),vertebrates (rodents and lizards) andweed seeds that could easily get ontoa pallet that is sitting or a vehicleparked somewhere,” said StephenMosher, natural resource specialist atNAVFAC Marianas. “Those are thetypes of invasive species that aremore likely to get spread than, say, amongoose getting into a container inHawaii that gets shipped here.”

The MITT BO mandates that the Navy“establish a contractual agreement for

adequate rapid response capabilities”focusing on “control and eradicationof introduced non-established, non-native invasive species sighted in thevicinity of” MITT training areas, andstaging, storage and transportationfacilities for MITT-related personnel,cargo and vehicles.

To fulfill the mandate, in September2016 the Navy finalized a coopera-tive agreement with Colorado StateUniversity’s (CSU) Center for Envi-ronmental Management of MilitaryLands (CEMML). A four-person teammobilized in Guam in late March2017 to execute the agreement, theperiod of performance for which isone year with two one-year optionperiods. Tasks required by the agree-ment include:

� Conducting a baseline survey anddeveloping long-term monitoringprotocols for early detection ofany new invasive species.


NAVFAC Marianas Increases Vigilance Against Invasive SpeciesNew Rapid Response Capabilities Expand Targeted Species

The biological opinion mandates that the Navy establish a contractualagreement for adequate rapid response capabilities focusing on control and

eradication of introduced non-established, non-native invasive species.

PERSONNEL FROM THE NavalFacilities Engineering Command(NAVFAC) Marianas have recentlyestablished a contractual agreementwhich provides adequate rapidresponse capabilities that focus onthe control and eradication of intro-duced non-established, non-nativeinvasive species.

With the ongoing movement of troopsbetween Guam and the Common-wealth of the Northern MarianaIslands (CNMI) for training activities,the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hasexpanded the biosecurity require-ments to reduce the risk of the acci-dental introduction of invasive speciesinto areas where they are not currentlyestablished. The new requirements areset out in a February 2015 biologicalopinion (BO) for the Mariana IslandsTraining and Testing (MITT) program.

A rapid response capability for thebrown tree snake—the region’s most


“Including all of the tasks in the one cooperative agreementwas cost-efficient and will likely result in a better outcomethan separating the tasks into multiple agreements,” Moshersaid. “If we’re going to pay for a full-time staff for a rapidresponse capability, why not have them do everything?” hesaid. “They can be doing baseline surveys. If there is atraining exercise, we can send team members to AndersenAir Force Base to verify that the equipment is all cleanbefore going off-island. When they’re done there, they cancome back and continue with the baseline survey.”

Once the baseline survey is completed, team members cando long-term monitoring and control and, when needed,rapid response for an invasive species sighting. Having donethe initial baseline survey, the team will have a better idea ofwhat to expect when called on for the other tasks.

A baseline survey is to be completed first to documentspecies that are present in Guam and Tinian U.S. Geolog-ical Survey’s Brown Tree Snake Rapid Response Teamtraining locations, identify those that may present a threat,and then to be able to detect new invasive species beforethey become established.

The baseline survey is expected to take at least a yearaccording to Program Manager Tom Mathies of CEMML.“We’re tasked with recognizing a huge number of species—every plant, every invertebrate within the project areas onGuam and Tinian,” he said. “No one has ever looked to seewhat non-native species are in these training areas. This willprovide insight into what can be inadvertently spread.”

Larger species of non-native animals like monitor lizardsand medium size mammals are relatively easily detected.“But typically, weeds, spiders, ants, slugs and snails are the

The Basics About the Center forEnvironmental Management of Military LandsCEMML IS A research and service unit within CSU’s WarnerCollege of Natural Resources. The Center’s experience supportingmilitary readiness and land conservation stewardship for overthree decades provides them with the capability to apply innova-tive and useful solutions to the real-world, complex issues facingpublic lands today.

CEMML works closely with the Department of Defense, the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service and otherfederal agencies through cooperative agreements and contracts.Their applied research, operationally-focused land management,regional planning, research and policy innovations, as well aseducation and outreach efforts assist military and federalmanagers resolve issues surrounding their dual mandates to useand conserve.

For more information, visit www.cemml.colostate.edu.

� Developing standard operating procedures for thecontrol and/or removal of invasive species when identi-fied.

� Developing and implementing a plan for rapidresponse when invasive species are reported.

� Developing and implementing bio-sanitation (equip-ment cleaning) standards with qualityassurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures.

types of invasive species that are going to get spreadwithout people immediately noticing them being trans-ported until they become established,” Mosher said. “Therecould be invasive species on Tinian that Guam doesn’thave and vice versa. We don’t want to be transporting anyinvasive species. There may be something specifically thatwe need to control that may be common on Tinian, butthat could be considered a high-risk invasive species thatwe don’t want anywhere near cargo-staging areas.”

The MITT BO also raises the level to which equipmentbeing deployed must be cleaned. Specifically, itmandates adherence to the 118-page Armed Forces PestManagement Board Technical Guide No. 31, which isalready in place for the movement of military equipmentfrom foreign countries into the U.S., but now will beapplied to equipment moving between Guam and theCNMI for training.

“It’s a pretty thorough guide on washdown procedures,”Mosher said. “It gets into detail for every type of equip-ment from an amphibious assault vehicle to a pickuptruck to a seven-ton truck—all sorts of large equipment.It shows where the problem spots are, where peopletypically miss cleaning up underneath vehicles, wherematerial (especially mud) gets up inside the frame or thewheel wells. The initial idea behind the technical guidewas to ensure that the military is not transporting agri-cultural pests whether it’s a nematode or weed seeds onequipment into the U.S., but the guide’s washdown

measures also serve to prevent invasivespecies from being accidently trans-ported and potentially impacting endan-gered species at the equipment’sreceiving destination.”

“While equipment cleaning has beenmandated for years, the standards have notbeen as rigorous or as specific as TechnicalGuide 31 until now,” Mosher said.

The CSU team will provide QA/QC inspec-tions to ensure the standards are enforced.

The team will also develop protocols for dealing with high-risk species that may be in either

Guam or Tinian training locations.

From left, field biologists Kyle Ngiratregd and Brian Leo, and programmanager Tom Mathies, all of the invasive species team from the CEMMLat CSU, undergo training on Trimble handheld computer and GIS device

on Naval Base Guam. The devices will be used by the CEMML team toconduct a baseline survey of potential invasive species in Guam.


To download an electronic copy of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board Technical Guide No. 31, visit www.dodinvasives.org/AFPMB_Retrograde_Washdowns.pdf.



The team will also develop protocols for dealing withhigh-risk species that may be in either Guam or Tiniantraining locations. Mosher said he anticipates controlprotocols will be written for such known recent high-riskinvasive species as the little fire ant and the coconutrhinoceros beetle.

Little fire ants have been detected in a number of loca-tions in Guam, including recently, on one edge of theAndersen South property which is used frequently fortraining. “The CSU team will draft a control/eradicationprotocol for little fire ants,” Mosher said. “When they getto Tinian, they will know which pesticides are legal to usein the CNMI, which monitoring methods to apply andhow often to put the bait down. They’ll have the protocolin hand so they won’t have to ask ‘What do we do?’

if they happen to detect little fire ants over the course oftheir surveys.”

Other species that warrant protocols may be identifiedwhen the baseline surveys are complete. Protocols mayalso be needed for species that are identified as high riskin Hawaii, Okinawa or northern Australia all of which areoriginating points for troops coming to Guam for training.

For more information about NAVFAC Marianas, visitwww.navfac.navy.mil/navfac_worldwide/pacific/fecs/mari-anas/about_us and www.facebook.com/navfacmarianas.�Catherine Cruz NortonNaval Facilities Engineering Command [email protected]

A rapid response capability for the brown tree snake has been in place at CNMI for a number of years. USDA Wildlife Services

No one has ever looked to see what non-native species are in these training areas. This will provide insight into

what can be inadvertently spread.—Tom Mathies

ENGINEERS FROM THE NavalFacilities Engineering and Expedi-tionary Warfare Center (NAVFACEXWC) in Port Hueneme, California,have developed and demonstrated acapability for identifying and assessingpotentially hazardous cross-connec-tions in plumbing systems at Navyand other Department of Defense(DoD) installations worldwide.

Cross-ConnectionsA cross-connection is a point atwhich drinking water within thepotable water system connects tononpotable water. (Note: Nonpotablewater is water not suitable fordrinking.) Under everyday circum-stances, water flows outward into asewer system. However, under back-flow conditions, there is a danger ofnonpotable water entering thedrinking water supply. Introducingpollutants or contaminants to thedrinking water system via backflowdegrades the water quality, resulting

in adverse effects. These effects canrange from aesthetically displeasingchanges (in taste, odor or appear-ance) to serious health hazards.

Backflow events are caused by animbalance of pressure in the waterdistribution system. Backflow occursby one of two means:

1. Back-siphonage. Back-siphonageoccurs when there is a negative orreduced pressure in the potablesupply piping.

2. Back pressure. Back pressureoccurs when the pressure within abuilding’s system is higher thanthe positive pressure in the distrib-ution system.

Whenever a great deal of water isremoved from the distribution system(during fire fighting, hydrant flushingand water main breaks) conditionsmay become susceptible for back-siphonage or back pressure, causing abackflow event to occur.


NAVFAC EXWC Develops Cross-connectionSurvey ExpertiseCapability Helps Installations Mitigate Risks to Potable Water Systems

Building in an air gap is a commonway to prevent backflow. But where airgaps are impractical, plumbing systemsmust have mechanical backflowpreventers (BFP) installed to preventpollutants or contaminants from back-flowing into the drinking water supply.These BFPs must be regularly inspectedand tested, and may require mainte-nance and replacement over time, toensure that they are functioningcorrectly and continue to protect thepotable water system against backflow.

To minimize the risk posed byunprotected cross-connections,various regulatory agencies at thefederal, state, and local levels requireCross-Connection Control and Back-flow Prevention (CCC&BP) programsto be adopted and implemented.

Cross-connection SurveysThe Chief of Naval Operations Envi-ronmental Readiness ProgramManual (OPNAV M-5090.1) outlinesSafe Drinking Water Act Ashore

Under backflow conditions, there is a danger of nonpotable water entering the drinking water supply.

requirements and guidance for Navy installations. Itrequires installations that own or operate a water systemto develop and implement a CCC&BP program thatincludes procedures and mechanisms to:

1. Find and eliminate existing cross-connections andprevent new cross-connections.

2. Install, inspect and test backflow preventers whencross-connections cannot be eliminated, or as required by state and local regulations.

3. Keep an inventory of all existing backflow preventers.

4. Certify all backflow preventers as required by the stateregulatory agency. If there is no regulatory require-ment, then all backflow preventers should be certifiedat least once every six months for high hazards andonce every 12 months for low hazards by a state orlocal water authority certified tester.

5. Promptly repair or replace defective backflow preven-ters, and retain cross-connection and backflowpreventer inspection and maintenance records for atleast five years.

Tasks one through three above can be accomplishedthrough a comprehensive cross-connection survey. Thepurpose of the survey is to inventory and assess existingBFPs, identify actual and potential unprotected cross-connections to the potable water system and providecorrective action recommendations.

During the cross-connection survey, all exterior connec-tions to the potable water system are inspected. Surveyorslook for unprotected connections to irrigation systems, firesuppression systems and vehicle wash areas. Interiorspaces are also checked for unprotected connections toboilers, chillers and cooling systems, laundry facilities andother equipment connected to the potable water system.A determination is also made as to whether the facility orbuilding as a whole represents a cross-connection hazardto the potable water distribution system, and thereforewould require protection at the service connection (alsoreferred to as ‘premises isolation’).

The other element of the cross-connection surveyinvolves creating or updating an inventory of all BFPsinstalled throughout the installation. Features and charac-teristics of existing assemblies and devices are examinedand catalogued. Where unprotected cross-connectionhazards are identified, surveyors evaluate opportunitiesfor mitigating them. Comprehensive inventory informa-tion on each BFP and unprotected cross-connectionfinding is entered into a database, along with photos andmaps pinpointing exact locations.

Data ManagementThe cross-connection survey team at NAVFAC EXWC hasdeveloped a Microsoft AccessTM database tailored to meetthe requirements for specific survey locations.

The Cross-Connection Survey (CCS) database applicationprovides detailed and summary reports on BFPs andreports the findings noted during the site survey, rangingfrom discrepancies to recommended corrective actions.

The user-friendly database can be used not only to managecurrent BFPs and survey findings, but also to efficientlyorganize future monitoring, testing and managementaspects of an installation’s CCC&BP program.


To download the most recent version of the 5090 instruction, visit https://doni.documentservices.dla.mil/SECNAV%20Manuals1/5090.1.pdf.

Requirements for cross-connection surveys are discussed insection 21-3.9. Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention.



The Basics About Backflow Preventers

THERE ARE MULTIPLE BFP types and configurations available to protectdrinking water systems from backflow events. Common BFPs include:

� Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Assemblies (RP)/ReducedPressure Principle Detector Assemblies (RPDA)

� Double Check Backflow Assemblies (DC)/Double Check DetectorAssemblies (DCDA)

� Pressure Vacuum Breakers (PVB)/Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breakers(SVB)

� Hose Bibb Vacuum Breakers (HBVB)

� Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers (AVB)

� Dual Check Valves (DCV)/Dual Check Valves with AtmosphericVent (DCAV) Various types and configurations of BFPs.

Main menu of the CCS database application.

When NAVFAC EXWC engineers perform a cross-connectionsurvey at any DoD location, the database application as wellas the associated BFP photos, maps and Geographical Infor-mation System (GIS) layer, are provided to the installation asa deliverable. The installation can then update the databaseand use it to manage their respective program.

The database catalogs BFPs inventoried at buildings andfacilities throughout the installation and identifies addi-tional locations where backflow protection is recom-mended. Once the database has been populated with fielddata, photos and facility site maps collected and devel-oped during the site survey, various output reports can begenerated. Custom database reports can be tailored to aninstallation’s specific needs.

In addition to BFPs, the database incorporates survey find-ings ranging from observed ‘discrepancies’ to ‘recom-mended corrective actions.’

Discrepancies are instances where BFPs may be in needof repair or modification, out of code or have otherobserved issues that do not pose a major public healthrisk. For instance, a BFP may otherwise appear functionalor intact, but be located more than five feet above groundwith no platform for access, have insufficient air gaps oraccess for testing and maintenance or be lacking isolationshutoff valves.


Recommended corrective actions areinstances where backflow protectionfor an actual or potential cross-connection is absent or lacking orwhere backflow protection is presentbut is not commensurate with thedegree of hazard present. An exampleof lack of protection would be a lawnsprinkler system directly connected tothe water supply without any BFP. Anexample of inappropriate protectionwould be a DC type BFP protecting afire suppression system that employsfire-fighting foam (RP type requireddue to the presence of chemicals).

For both discrepancies and recom-mended corrective actions, priority orhigh concern findings are clearly distin-guished in database output reports.

Program ManagementAlthough Navy regulations do notcurrently mandate intervals for cross-connection surveys, it is prudent toperform a comprehensive installationsurvey at least every five years. Facilitiesand potable water connections areconstantly undergoing construction,renovation, retrofit and demolition, anda recent cross-connection survey isoften the best resource for the CCC&BP

program to tap into for comprehensiveunderstanding of the current status andany existing risks or vulnerabilities thatneed to be mitigated. Cross-connectionsurvey reports will:

� Recommend the correct sizes andtypes of BFPs needed to mitigatethe unprotected cross-connectionsidentified during the survey.

� Recommend extraneous BFPsinstalled on water lines no longerin use be removed and strickenfrom testing and maintenancerequirements.

� Identify newly discovered orunknown BFPs not receiving therequired periodic testing andmaintenance.

� Identify discrepancies associatedwith incorrect or problematicinstallation or configuration ofBFPs as well as any maintenanceor repair issues requiring imme-diate attention.

� Generate reports for recom-mended corrective actions anddiscrepancies that cite the require-ment or regulation and quantifythe cost of repair or retrofit.

In this example finding,the bypass linecircumvents the BFP,creating an unprotectedcross-connection to thepotable water system. Eric Friedl

� Provide the program with valu-able mapping and photographictools and GIS data to assist withasset management, testing andmaintenance.

An up-to-date cross-connectionsurvey is the best way for Navyinstallations to understand and quan-tify the risks to their potable watersystem. Additionally, the surveyreport will help steer activity plan-ning and prioritization for imple-menting recommended correctiveactions and mitigating discrepancieswhere backflow protection is lackingor inadequate.

For more information regardingEXWC and the cross-connectionsurvey process, contact Eric Friedl.Examples of various output reportsfrom the CCS database applicationcan also be provided to installations tohelp them conduct their own cross-connection surveys. �Eric FriedlNaval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center805-982-3688 DSN: [email protected]

STUDENT CONSERVATIONASSOCIATION (SCA) interns fromthe Naval Facilities EngineeringCommand (NAVFAC) Northwest areproviding valuable assistance to full-time Navy and Marine Corps environ-mental experts and specialists in areasincluding wetlands restoration moni-toring and wildlife surveys.

Originally founded in WashingtonState in 1957, SCA’s internshipprogram is America’s first youthconservation program and has beenimplemented across the Navy andMarine Corps through a cooperativeagreement.

The cooperative agreement betweenSCA and the Navy/Marine Corps ismanaged by Cindi Kunz, Senior Biolo-gist at NAVFAC Northwest. Throughthis program, the interns delivernearly 8,400 working hours annuallyto Navy Region Northwest. Theinterns conduct surveys and studies toinform Navy Environmental ImpactStatements, Environmental Assess-ments and Integrated NaturalResources Management Plans. Thecooperative program supports theNavy’s mission while providing the

interns valuable work experience inthe natural resources field.

Through this program, SCA internsare selected to support Navy andMarine Corps installationsthroughout the country and aroundthe world, including postings as faraway as Japan and Guantanamo Bay.The SCA has long pursued themission of “building conservationleaders” and recently surpassed75,000 interns.

Interns provide natural resources assis-tance to full-time environmentalexperts and specialists employed bythe Navy and Marine Corps. Thestudents’ projects in NAVFAC North-west include wetlands restorationmonitoring and surveys for terrestrialand marine mammals, forage fish,bald eagles and vegetation.

With an annual funding limit of$600,000, Kunz works with SCAcoordinators, natural resources staff,and NAVFAC Northwest acquisitionpersonnel to develop and awardindividual intern agreements for theNavy. These agreements contain theintern’s position description,


SCA Program Attracts Interns to PacificNorthwest Naval InstallationsProjects Include Wetlands Restoration Monitoring and Surveys for Terrestrial & Marine Mammals, Bald Eagle & Fish Vegetation

appointment duration and a stipendfor food and housing.

“The program provides a mutualbenefit for the Navy. The SCA internsobtain valuable experience working intheir field of interest and the Navycompletes needed field work towardthe completion of ongoing environ-mental objectives,” Kunz said.

“Projects supported by SCA internsdemonstrate to future employersthat these interns have an interest in working in this field,” Kunzexplained. “When we review a stack

After supporting Navy wetlands restorationmonitoring and vegetation efforts as an SCAintern for three years, Brendan Himelrightaccepted an environmental planning positionat Joint Base Lewis-McChord in June 2017.

of applications and our candidateshave similar educational back-grounds, the difference betweenthose who get the job and thosewho do not, is their relevant experi-ence and interest in naturalresources conservation.”

This formula worked for recent SCANavy intern Brendan Himelright.

Himelright, 28, has a bachelor’sdegree in wildlife science from VirginiaTech. He earned a master’s degree inbiology from California State Univer-

sity—San Marcos, in 2014. He workedfor the Navy as a SCA intern for threeyears. Most of his work was related towetlands restoration monitoring andvegetation surveys at Naval BaseKitsap (NBK) Bangor, Naval Air Station(NAS) Whidbey Island, and NavalMagazine (NAVMAG) Indian Island. Hewas offered and accepted an environ-mental planning position at Joint BaseLewis-McChord in June 2017.

Some of Himelright’s fondest experi-ences of his Navy SCA internshipwere at NAS Whidbey Island.

The Basics About the Student Conservation Association

SCA IS A national non-profit that engages high school and college-age member volunteers in conserving natural resources throughinternships, conservation jobs and crew experiences. Founded in 1957, the SCA has grown from 53 volunteers working in two nationalparks to more than 4,000 active members on federal, state and municipal lands, annually performing more than

1.6 million service hours across theUnited States. SCA has formed partner-ships with governmental agencies, envi-ronmental groups and corporations. Theycomplete projects in every conservationdiscipline, including ecological restora-tion, GIS/Global Positioning Systems,wildlife management and interpretation.

For more information, visit www.thesca.org.


Sarah Maher, a graduate of James Madison University, has beencompleting marine mammal surveys by observing harbor seals and sea lions at NBK installations and Manchester Fuel Department.She’s also performed forage fish surveys at Bangor, Manchester, and NAVMAG Indian Island.

“It was awesome to hear those jetsflying overhead,” he said. “Being anSCA intern has proven to be a goodfirst step toward getting experiencein the environmental world.Employers require education andexperience. We have the education,but not the experience. This SCAinternship opportunity helps fulfillthe requirement.”

Sarah Maher, 24, earned her bach-elor’s degree in biology from JamesMadison University in 2015. In orderto participate in her internship,

Jennifer Stottlemeyer, a graduate of Western Washington University,completed vegetation surveys, marine mammal and forage fish studies during her SCA internship at NBK properties and Manchester Fuel Department. She’s also performed vegetation surveys and forage fish surveys at NAVMAG Indian Island.

forage fish surveys at Bangor, Manchester, and NAVMAGIndian Island.

“It’s interesting, fun work,” Maher said. “Every day itseems we are doing something different. I’ve observed sealions and starfish for the first time while working here.”

Jennifer Stottlemeyer, 25, graduated from WesternWashington University with a bachelor’s degree in envi-ronmental studies and a minor in environmental policy.Like Maher, Stottlemeyer has seen sea lions nearManchester. “The sea lions get pretty loud,” Stottle-meyer said with a smile. She has completed vegetationsurveys, marine mammal and forage fish studies at NBKproperties, Manchester and NAVMAG Indian Islandduring her internship.

“Even a single SCA experience has a powerful influenceon our participants,” said Jaime Berman Matyas, SCA pres-ident and chief executive officer. “We instill broader lead-ership traits, which enable youth to excel in school, atwork and in life.”

NAVFAC Northwest has administered cooperative agree-ments with SCA since 1991. The current 10-year agree-ment between the Navy and SCA runs through 2019.

“There is obviously a national need for SCA interns withinthe Department of Defense,” Kunz said. “It’s a verypopular program for recruiting environmentally-focusedinterns for the Navy.”

SCA internships appeal to a diverse group of people. Sixty-six percent are enrolled in college, thirty-eight percent holdbachelor’s degrees, two percent have master’s degrees,and one percent have a doctorate degree.

The SCA and Navy partnership provides these internswith valuable experience that propels them into theenvironmental field of their choice.

“I love this program,” Kunz said. “We’ve had excellentinterns from the SCA program who are eager to learnand eager to work. We all appreciate mentoring theseyoung people who have such enthusiasm and passionfor conducting natural resources projects in support ofthe military mission.” �Phil GuerreroNavy Region Northwest 360-396-4955DSN: [email protected]


For Another Example

FOR ANOTHER EXAMPLE of how the Navy is effectively usingSCA interns, read our story “Helicopters & Terrapins Share Spaceat NAS Patuxent River: Pilots & Natural Resources Staff FindCreative Compromise & Further Turtle Research” in the spring2017 issue of Currents. You can browse the Currents archives atthe Department of the Navy’s Energy, Environment and ClimateChange web site at http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/currents-magazine.

she drove 2,800 miles in her beat-up Hyundai Sonatafrom her home in Fairfax, Virginia, to Silverdale, Wash-ington. Maher calls herself an “Army brat” so movingwas no big deal for her. Maher has been completingmarine mammal surveys by observing harbor seals andsea lions at NBK installations: Bangor, Manchester FuelDepartment, and Bremerton. She’s also performed

LET’S GET VISUAL! FOLLOW CURRENTS ON

e humans are visually wired. We have been using images to share information since

prehistoric times and almost half of our neural tissue is tied to vision. No wonder so many

people use Instagram. How about you?

Photos are a great way to find your

way into Currents magazine. When you

follow us on Instagram you get to see

into the stories. Ocean sunsets to the

science of slime—you will find all kinds

of photos showing Navy energy and

environmental work in action.

Follow us (@navycurrents) on

Instagram and you will have access

to our carefully curated photos from

each issue, thoughtfully posted over

the three-month stretch between

issues. We also provide visual

reporting from the Navy’s Chief

of Naval Operations Energy and

Environment Readiness Division

staff when they are participating

in special activities and events.

Not only can you view our account

on smart phones and tablets, but

on your computer too. There you

can find us at www.instagram.com/

navycurrents. Whatever device

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about the story behind the photo

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We encourage you to like and

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Kenneth HessCNO Energy and Environmental Readiness Division (Code N45)2000 Navy Pentagon, Room 2E258 Washington, DC 20350-2000

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