Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Coffman | OTEK Practical Environmental Solutions provided survey, analysis and removal of a...... read more read more
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SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia - An Australian Defence Force fuel truck slid off a gravel road while participating in joint military exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. As a result of the accident, a small amount of diesel fuel was spilled. The driver sustained a minor cut to his leg and returned to duty.
An immediate cleanup was conducted by the Australian and U.S. forces under the guidance of Australian government representatives and an independent environmental protection agency from Brisbane.
Following discussions with all parties, a plan of action was developed to undertake an immediate and thorough cleanup of the site.
Heavy excavation equipment was immediatly brought in to remove impacted soil for transportation to a secondary secure location. The isolated soil is currently undergoing remediation and the site of the spill was decontaminated. ADF fuel trucks are designed to minimize fuel spills in the event of a roll over, and in this case, the majority of the diesel remained in the truck.
Cleanup of the site was completed by Wednesday night and Defence will continue to monitor the effected area. The area was in a remote region far from any coastal water or natural water runoff.
By employing outside consulting, the Army has ensured that full assessment is obtained and environmental impact is negligible on completion of the cleanup. Part of the mission is to observe stewardship of the land and environment of the space occupied jointly by wildlife and the military. Turning to regional and global leaders in environmental consultation and remediation provides guidance for total impact, removal of the grossly impacted soil and transport and treatment to secure site.
The response to the diesel spill included civilan sector environmental agencies, Australian government environmental representatives, Joint involvement to include U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force and Australian Defence force personnel was realized as a result of the spill, involving clean up and lessons learned through a team effort in the effective implentation of planning and training.
Environmental management is the means of conserving, protecting and restoring environment and natural and cultural resources while accomplishing the military mission. The U.S. and ADF are committed to compliance with all applicable environmental requirements and standards.
The U.S.-ADF force's ability to accomplish its mission requires daily operations in the land, sea and air environments. We are committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner. Security and environmental stewardship are and must continue to be compatible goals.
Talisman Sabre 2011 is a biennial combined training activity designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve Australian Defence Force-U.S. combat readiness and interoperability. The exercise reflects the closeness of the alliance and the strength and flexibility of the ongoing military-military relationship.
| Date Taken: | 07.15.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.15.2011 06:47 |
| Story ID: | 73776 |
| Location: | QL, AU |
| Web Views: | 399 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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