Protecting and preserving the environment is an enduring mission for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
USACE has more than 4,000 environmental professionals who provide solutions to the nation's toughest environmental challenges. One of the ways USACE Far East District (FED) maintains those efforts is through the Spill Prevention and Response Plan (SPRP).
SPRP, also known as the Spill Prevention, Control and Reporting (SPCR) plan, provides instructions and procedures for the prevention, response, control, and reporting of spills involving petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) and hazardous substances (HS).
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Environmental Governing Standards (KEGS), USFK Regulation 201-1), requires all USFK installations to develop and implement a SPCR plan and to update the plan every five years.
“Personnel and organizations that use or manage POL and hazardous substances are required to use this plan as a guide to ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent spills, and to ensure prompt and effective response actions in the event that a spill occurs,” said Dr. Hyun Jun Shin, an FED geologist.
The FED Environmental section reviews all the regulatory and policy requirements, identifies organizational structure, roles and responsibilities of the operational units for each installation, then identifies all potential spill sites to conduct site visits and surveys, identifying the installation’s status of emergency spill response readiness.
“This plan can provide USFK-affiliated military forces and civilians with an understanding of a potential spill event, measures and procedures of spill prevention, and plans for spill response to mitigate further migration. It is crucial to protect human health and the environment [soil, groundwater, surface water],” said Dr. Shin.
Environmental stewardship is embedded in USACE FED culture. As the Far East District continues to make progress, they also work to improve policy, processes, and procedures.