Detailed Investigation of an Area-Wide Environmental Compliance and Policy Study for Air Force Wings within the Canadian Forces

摘要

The Department of National Defence (DND) is recognized as an environmentally conscious leader with respect to environmental issues at the federal level of governance. Under the Government of Canada's Federal Code of Environmental Stewardship, the DND must adhere to the strictest of environmental guidelines, laws, and codes at the Federal, Provincial, Municipal or site-specific level. In doing so, the DND follows a good neighbour policy with respect to environmental issues. As such, the Canadian Air Force has been pro-actively pursuing the completion of a series of current, relevant Environmental Baseline Studies (EBS) in order to assess the current state of affairs within AF Wings with respect to environmental (and closely related human health) issues. The current area-wide baseline study initiative promotes the DND as a leader amongst government departments in providing a good, relevant and current state of affairs with regard to the overall environmental framework being implemented across the country. A research team within the Civil Engineering Department at the Royal Military College (RMC) consisting of the Military Engineering Research Group (MERG) as well as the RMC Green Team has conducted such an area-wide EBS for the Canadian Air Force (AF). The study incorporates the findings from eight AF Wings across Canada, including their satellite and off-site facilities as well as their Forward Operating Locations (FOL). As such, the sites of investigation spanned 10 provinces within Canada. Incorporating the several levels of government standards to such a study was not a trivial matter. This study of environmental compliance utilized a measure of 21 environmental aspects and the ISO 14000 Environmental Management (2004) standard as a guide. The overall purpose of the study was to assess the current state of environmental practices within Air Force (AF) Wings. The research team established a new, innovative framework for conducting such Environmental Baseline Studies. Incorporated into the overall EBS strategy was the status update of non-compliance items noted in the previous baseline studies (circa 1990's), the current key environmental findings (good practices, compliance issues, and best management practices), and a summary of the location of heritage buildings. The noting of good practices and best management practices is an improvement over the more punitive approach of such studies in the past. As well, an innovative electronic, updateable database was established in order to monitor and manage the relevant issues on a particular Wing; empowering Wing staff to take ownership of Wing-related environmental issues. This paper highlights the key steps and challenges involved in conducting such an area-wide study of this magnitude and scope.