CFAY wins SECNAV Environmental Award

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East Public Affairs

Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) received notification April 10 that it has won a Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Environmental Award in the Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation category.

According to CFAY Environmental Director Jack Gilbertsen, five programs significantly contributed to CFAY winning the award – recycling; the Environmental Management System (EMS); natural, cultural and historical resources; hazardous waste; and water.

”Recycling was a big part of [the award],” said CFAY Public Works Department’s Qualified Recycling Program Branch Chief, Roy Ito. “Over the past two years, we increased recycling by 446 percent – from more than 5,000 tons in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to more than 28,000 tons in FY11. That’s a significant increase. More than 74 percent of the waste generated at CFAY ends up being recycled.”

The SECNAV Environmental Awards program annually recognizes Navy and Marine Corps individuals, teams, ships and installations for exceptional environmental stewardship. Prior to winning the SECNAV award, CFAY won at the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) level in the Cultural Resources and Environmental Quality categories.

“Environmental quality is something the Department of Defense requires us to actively manage using EMS,” Gilbertsen explained. “Each year bases review their activities to select significant aspects they would like to address. CFAY’s self-chosen EMS goals are to reduce by 64 percent and petroleum, oil, and lubrication spills decreased by 71.9 percent, down from 57 percent at the end of FY09 to 16 percent at the end of FY11.

CFAY’s energy and water conservations efforts saved more than 800,000 kilowatt hours of energy and one million gallons of water, resulting in more than $500,000 in cost savings.

According to CFAY’s submission package for the award, “With strong support from military and civilian personnel, base residents, and the Cities of Yokosuka, Zushi, and Yokohama, team members have successfully developed and maintained invaluable partnerships crucial to the success of [CFAY’s] environmental program.”

CFAY will now go on to compete in the FY11 Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Environmental Awards.



At Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East (FE) Public Works Department (PWD) Environmental Division Recycling Center onboard CFAY, forklift operator Tatsuhiro Matsumura dumps sorted metal from a hopper into a larger pile that will be picked up for recycling. According to CFAY PWD Qualified Recycling Program Branch Chief Roy Ito, the recycling center played a significant roll in CFAY winning the SECNAV Environmental award.
Photo by Joe Schmitt