WEBVTT 00:00.310 --> 00:02.599 Welcome to the July edition of Core 00:02.609 --> 00:04.789 connection , your US Army Corps of 00:04.800 --> 00:06.967 Engineers is continuing to tackle some 00:06.967 --> 00:09.022 of the nation's toughest engineering 00:09.022 --> 00:11.189 challenges . In this month's episode , 00:11.189 --> 00:13.133 the chief of engineers traveled to 00:13.133 --> 00:15.133 Europe and talked with soldiers who 00:15.133 --> 00:17.467 participated in exercise Saber guardian . 00:17.467 --> 00:19.522 We also traveled to Guam where you's 00:19.522 --> 00:21.522 employees are assisting in recovery 00:21.522 --> 00:23.689 efforts on the island after typhoon mo 00:23.689 --> 00:26.280 struck in late May backside , the 00:26.290 --> 00:28.234 Galveston District is working with 00:28.234 --> 00:30.179 local citizens on an environmental 00:30.179 --> 00:32.234 impact statement for the Matata ship 00:32.234 --> 00:34.639 channel and finally , communities along 00:34.650 --> 00:36.761 Delaware's coast saw their beaches re 00:36.761 --> 00:38.928 nourished to help mitigate the risk of 00:38.928 --> 00:41.039 coastal storms . Those stories coming 00:41.039 --> 00:42.869 up on core connection 00:53.939 --> 00:55.995 in the aftermath of powerful typhoon 00:55.995 --> 00:58.217 Maar , the citizens of Guam are working 00:58.217 --> 01:00.161 to put their lives back together , 01:00.470 --> 01:02.409 helping them do so is a team of 01:02.419 --> 01:04.308 responders from multiple agencies 01:04.308 --> 01:06.086 including your US Army Corps of 01:06.086 --> 01:08.019 Engineers . The Honolulu District 01:08.029 --> 01:10.029 commander talks about you's role in 01:10.029 --> 01:12.300 those recovery efforts . My name is 01:12.480 --> 01:14.536 Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Peavey , I'm 01:14.536 --> 01:16.702 the commander of the Honolulu District 01:16.702 --> 01:18.869 and also just a proud teammate here in 01:18.869 --> 01:21.540 Guam . The mission has been to help the 01:21.550 --> 01:23.606 people of Guam and the government of 01:23.606 --> 01:25.383 Guam , specifically , it's been 01:25.383 --> 01:27.161 temporary emergency power , the 01:27.161 --> 01:29.161 critical infrastructure , temporary 01:29.161 --> 01:31.519 roofing and also debris removal of tech 01:31.529 --> 01:33.470 assistance . We've installed 81 01:33.480 --> 01:35.910 generators . We're putting roofs on 01:35.919 --> 01:38.030 houses for people that need it to get 01:38.030 --> 01:39.975 them out of shelter and out of the 01:39.975 --> 01:42.086 elements . And we're helping with the 01:42.086 --> 01:44.086 debris mission in order to clean up 01:44.086 --> 01:46.141 Guam for the priority is helping the 01:46.141 --> 01:48.252 people of Guam . There's nothing more 01:48.252 --> 01:50.419 paramount from those three missions in 01:50.419 --> 01:52.641 order to help out it's been an absolute 01:52.641 --> 01:52.489 honor and privilege to be a part of 01:52.500 --> 01:56.099 this team , the professionalism of the 01:56.110 --> 01:58.750 USA , the PRTS , everyone , a part of 01:58.959 --> 02:01.015 the cadre , everyone , a part of the 02:01.015 --> 02:02.959 team . It's been an absolute honor 02:02.959 --> 02:05.181 privilege to work this mission and work 02:05.181 --> 02:07.181 it with them . Defender Europe is a 02:07.181 --> 02:09.126 multinational joint exercise which 02:09.126 --> 02:11.300 builds readiness and interoperability 02:11.309 --> 02:13.559 between the US and its NATO allies and 02:13.570 --> 02:15.559 partners . The chief of engineers 02:15.570 --> 02:17.626 caught up with the commanders of the 02:17.626 --> 02:19.459 36th Engineer Brigade and fourth 02:19.459 --> 02:21.514 engineer battalion to talk about the 02:21.514 --> 02:23.737 experience their soldiers gained during 02:23.737 --> 02:25.681 this large scale event . Hi team , 02:25.681 --> 02:27.792 Lieutenant General Scott Spelman here 02:27.792 --> 02:29.959 55th chief of Engineers . We're coming 02:29.959 --> 02:32.070 to you today from Southeast Romania . 02:32.070 --> 02:34.181 We're out conducting exercise , Saber 02:34.181 --> 02:36.459 Guardian and we're on the Danube River . 02:36.459 --> 02:38.570 I'm with the great commander from the 02:38.570 --> 02:40.792 36th Engineer Brigade , Colonel Anthony 02:40.792 --> 02:43.580 Barbi and the commander for the fourth 02:43.589 --> 02:45.639 engineer battalion , Colonel Jason 02:45.649 --> 02:47.705 Myers , Anthony . I'm going to go to 02:47.710 --> 02:49.789 you first . How special is it here . 02:49.800 --> 02:52.369 We're on the 79th anniversary of D DAY . 02:52.500 --> 02:54.611 We're out here training on the Danube 02:54.611 --> 02:56.611 where engineers have been wrestling 02:56.611 --> 02:58.722 these waters for centuries . Anything 02:58.722 --> 03:00.833 you can share about the value of this 03:00.833 --> 03:03.000 exercise for your brigade . So , first 03:03.000 --> 03:05.167 off , it's pretty awesome to be on the 03:05.167 --> 03:07.389 Danube at the anniversary of Normandy , 03:07.389 --> 03:09.500 the Danube River . You study that all 03:09.500 --> 03:09.479 the time and I didn't realize how big 03:09.490 --> 03:11.657 it was until we come here for defender 03:11.657 --> 03:13.768 Europe Saber Guardian . And our river 03:13.768 --> 03:15.934 crossing company is getting across the 03:15.934 --> 03:17.934 630 m gap . We're out on the Danube 03:17.934 --> 03:20.157 right now and they crushed it . They've 03:20.157 --> 03:22.046 been training multi roll bridging 03:22.046 --> 03:24.212 capacity . They've been training their 03:24.212 --> 03:26.379 floats . They've been training working 03:26.379 --> 03:26.076 slip sites . They've been training with 03:26.085 --> 03:27.918 the French , the Romanians , the 03:27.918 --> 03:29.974 Bulgarians and everybody else that's 03:29.974 --> 03:32.029 out here . And I'm just proud to see 03:32.029 --> 03:34.029 sir , what the rugged soldiers have 03:34.029 --> 03:36.252 been doing . It's been awesome . And in 03:36.252 --> 03:35.365 addition to all the work that we're 03:35.376 --> 03:37.598 doing with our international partners , 03:37.865 --> 03:39.976 multi compo training as well with the 03:39.976 --> 03:42.143 Alabama National Guard that's been out 03:42.143 --> 03:44.087 here with us as well . Yes , sir , 03:44.087 --> 03:44.031 Alabama National Guard . That's their 03:44.042 --> 03:46.042 state partnership program . So they 03:46.042 --> 03:48.098 come out here all the time . They've 03:48.098 --> 03:47.602 been training with us , helping with 03:47.611 --> 03:49.778 roads and other things that we'll do . 03:49.778 --> 03:51.778 Resolute castle with them as well . 03:51.778 --> 03:53.889 That's right next year . So this is a 03:53.889 --> 03:53.641 great opportunity for multi compo and 03:53.651 --> 03:55.707 multinational training , Anthony . I 03:55.707 --> 03:57.818 just want to say thanks at the end of 03:57.818 --> 03:57.332 an incredible command tour . It's been 03:57.341 --> 03:59.397 great serving with you . Thank you , 03:59.397 --> 04:01.674 sir . I appreciate it . Thanks , Jason . 04:01.674 --> 04:03.897 Let me go to you next . You've been out 04:03.897 --> 04:03.052 here for several weeks with the fourth 04:03.061 --> 04:05.228 engineer battalion . Can you just talk 04:05.228 --> 04:07.172 a little bit about the exercise in 04:07.172 --> 04:09.005 general and some of the training 04:09.005 --> 04:11.005 objectives that you've been able to 04:11.005 --> 04:12.950 achieve as part of safe guardian . 04:12.950 --> 04:15.117 Absolutely , sir . So we just finished 04:15.117 --> 04:17.117 the wet gap crossing . That was our 04:17.117 --> 04:19.339 primary training objective to bring the 04:19.339 --> 04:21.989 50 boat MRC here to do that . But then 04:22.000 --> 04:24.222 one of my other training objectives was 04:24.222 --> 04:26.929 to use my combat engineer company and 04:26.940 --> 04:29.051 have them do some integrated training 04:29.051 --> 04:31.107 with our partner forces . And that's 04:31.107 --> 04:33.273 exactly what we've been able to do for 04:33.273 --> 04:35.496 the last month . Right , Jason , I just 04:35.496 --> 04:34.940 want to say thanks to you and your team . 04:34.950 --> 04:37.006 I think you're just taking back some 04:37.006 --> 04:39.061 great training opportunities that we 04:39.061 --> 04:41.172 certainly want to share with the rest 04:41.172 --> 04:43.339 of the regiment and it is a great time 04:43.339 --> 04:42.880 to serve in the regiment . So Jason , I 04:42.890 --> 04:45.057 just want to say thanks for all you do 04:45.057 --> 04:47.334 each and every day and again , Anthony , 04:47.334 --> 04:47.279 thanks for all that you've done for our 04:47.290 --> 04:51.239 regiment building strong as the Army 04:51.250 --> 04:53.194 Corps of Engineers works through a 04:53.194 --> 04:55.190 project . Local citizen input and 04:55.200 --> 04:57.109 stakeholder engagement is vitally 04:57.119 --> 04:59.063 important through each step of the 04:59.063 --> 05:01.429 process . Recently , the Galveston 05:01.440 --> 05:03.630 District held a public meeting to get 05:03.640 --> 05:05.473 input on an environmental impact 05:05.473 --> 05:07.584 statement . They are working on for a 05:07.584 --> 05:09.529 potential project in the Maor Ship 05:09.529 --> 05:11.640 Channel . Colonel Rett Blackman , I'm 05:11.640 --> 05:13.751 the commander of the US Army Corps of 05:13.751 --> 05:15.807 Engineers at Galveston District . So 05:15.807 --> 05:18.029 today we're in Matata County and we had 05:18.029 --> 05:20.579 a public engagement tonight to talk to 05:20.589 --> 05:22.589 folks and concerned citizens in the 05:22.589 --> 05:25.130 Matata area about the Matara Ship 05:25.140 --> 05:27.220 Channel project . So the purpose of 05:27.230 --> 05:29.119 this meeting in particular was to 05:29.119 --> 05:31.286 advise them and inform them that we're 05:31.286 --> 05:32.786 going to do a supplemental 05:32.786 --> 05:34.897 environmental impact statement on the 05:34.897 --> 05:36.952 project . And we wanted to make sure 05:36.952 --> 05:39.063 they had an overview project and that 05:39.063 --> 05:38.692 they knew where they could submit 05:38.703 --> 05:40.703 comments . So it's important to get 05:40.703 --> 05:42.814 input from the community for multiple 05:42.814 --> 05:44.814 reasons . First , the more point of 05:44.814 --> 05:46.703 views that we can consider in the 05:46.703 --> 05:49.036 project , the better the project can be . 05:49.036 --> 05:50.870 Secondly , we can make sure that 05:50.870 --> 05:53.153 everyone's interests are incorporated 05:53.162 --> 05:55.632 in the plan as best as possible . And 05:55.643 --> 05:57.810 then lastly , there are folks who have 05:57.810 --> 05:59.976 ideas and concerns and knowledge about 05:59.976 --> 06:02.192 the area that we should consider when 06:02.203 --> 06:04.925 we assessing the project on certainly 06:04.936 --> 06:06.880 on the environmental merits of the 06:06.880 --> 06:08.992 project and then how the project will 06:08.992 --> 06:11.214 impact communities . My name is Raymond 06:11.214 --> 06:13.425 Butler . I grew up here in Calhoun 06:13.436 --> 06:16.205 County Point Comfort . This is my first 06:16.216 --> 06:18.438 public meeting , but this happens to be 06:18.438 --> 06:20.605 in my hometown and I'm very passionate 06:20.605 --> 06:22.716 about seeing this project come here . 06:22.946 --> 06:26.066 I'm also myself and two other friends 06:26.075 --> 06:28.355 formed the Lavaca Bay Foundation . 06:28.726 --> 06:32.350 Their mission is to look out for La 06:32.559 --> 06:35.500 Vaca Bay . And I just , I feel like 06:35.690 --> 06:38.119 Lavaca Bay Foundation with our 06:38.130 --> 06:40.859 experience and local knowledge that the 06:40.869 --> 06:43.850 core can benefit from and from my 06:43.859 --> 06:46.026 conversations this evening , they seem 06:46.026 --> 06:48.510 to be very willing to listen . I think 06:48.519 --> 06:50.575 it was a very good meeting . I think 06:50.575 --> 06:52.741 that folks understood the work that we 06:52.741 --> 06:54.741 have done . I think we were able to 06:54.741 --> 06:56.908 communicate the work that we will do . 06:56.908 --> 06:56.869 And so for that reason , it was 06:56.880 --> 06:59.140 successful . In addition , it's just a 06:59.149 --> 07:01.093 good opportunity for us and a good 07:01.093 --> 07:03.093 practice for us to communicate with 07:03.093 --> 07:05.038 folks so that they know that we're 07:05.038 --> 07:07.260 being transparent and we're going to do 07:07.260 --> 07:09.371 our work above board in a transparent 07:09.371 --> 07:11.093 way and in a way that they can 07:11.093 --> 07:13.149 understand and that their inputs are 07:13.149 --> 07:15.093 valued in the work that we do with 07:15.093 --> 07:16.871 partial funding provided by the 07:16.871 --> 07:18.871 bipartisan infrastructure law . The 07:18.871 --> 07:20.760 Philadelphia District was able to 07:20.760 --> 07:22.927 provide coastal risk reduction to five 07:22.927 --> 07:24.816 coastal communities through three 07:24.816 --> 07:26.593 separate projects in Delaware . 07:26.593 --> 07:28.816 Ensuring these commerce centers for the 07:28.816 --> 07:28.690 state would continue to be economic 07:28.700 --> 07:30.320 drivers for years to come 07:33.130 --> 07:35.450 along . The Delaware coast beach goers 07:35.459 --> 07:37.410 are encountering ships , pipes and 07:37.420 --> 07:40.010 heavy equipment along the Delaware 07:40.019 --> 07:41.908 Coast . We are dredging and doing 07:41.908 --> 07:44.130 Beeville operations in five communities 07:44.130 --> 07:46.186 altogether . We're pumping about 1.3 07:46.186 --> 07:48.408 million cubic yards of sand between the 07:48.408 --> 07:50.575 five communities and it's all designed 07:50.575 --> 07:52.463 to maintain the dune and the burn 07:52.463 --> 07:54.630 system here and really reduce the risk 07:54.630 --> 07:56.686 of storm damages to infrastructure . 07:56.686 --> 07:58.630 The effort involving three project 07:58.630 --> 07:58.510 areas to reduce the risk of five 07:58.519 --> 08:00.297 communities came under a single 08:00.297 --> 08:02.408 contract which provided enhanced risk 08:02.408 --> 08:05.119 reduction at a reduced cost . This year 08:05.130 --> 08:07.890 happened that we got funding partially 08:07.899 --> 08:10.559 through the bill . The bi partisan 08:10.570 --> 08:12.700 Infrastructure Law and our regular 08:12.709 --> 08:16.029 program to fund all the , all the 08:16.040 --> 08:18.151 Delaware Atlantic Coast projects . So 08:18.151 --> 08:19.984 we're able to put them under one 08:19.984 --> 08:22.096 contract and save on our mobilization 08:22.096 --> 08:25.299 and for the three areas receiving sand 08:25.350 --> 08:27.572 including the beachfront in the city of 08:27.572 --> 08:29.683 Rehoboth Beach . The project provides 08:29.683 --> 08:31.794 much deeper risk reduction to a multi 08:31.794 --> 08:33.961 billion dollar economic driver for the 08:33.961 --> 08:36.072 communities and state . They ended up 08:36.072 --> 08:38.072 putting over 300,000 cubic yards of 08:38.072 --> 08:40.072 sand back on our beach . Tremendous 08:40.072 --> 08:42.294 effort , tremendous . That's our life . 08:42.294 --> 08:44.517 But where else can you go and have this 08:44.517 --> 08:46.794 beach with the amenities that are here ? 08:46.794 --> 08:48.739 Really ? Nowhere . So without that 08:48.739 --> 08:50.628 beach , we wouldn't have Rehobeth 08:50.780 --> 08:52.669 before the first grain of sand is 08:52.669 --> 08:54.891 pumped up to the shoreline . Though , a 08:54.891 --> 08:56.613 team of experts working at the 08:56.613 --> 08:58.613 Philadelphia District performed the 08:58.613 --> 09:00.724 necessary pre work to determine where 09:00.724 --> 09:02.891 to place and how much sand is needed . 09:02.891 --> 09:05.002 We've got coastal engineers who their 09:05.002 --> 09:07.070 life is working beach field projects 09:07.080 --> 09:08.858 and the science behind it , the 09:08.858 --> 09:11.299 hydraulics and hydrology , the geo tech , 09:11.309 --> 09:13.531 we've got to look at sand bar areas out 09:13.531 --> 09:16.479 on the Atlantic coast and looking at 09:16.489 --> 09:18.711 where we're going to put sand . We have 09:18.711 --> 09:20.878 hot spots , hot spots where you know , 09:20.878 --> 09:22.878 the beaches eroding more than other 09:22.878 --> 09:24.878 places throughout the process . The 09:24.878 --> 09:26.989 team works with local communities and 09:26.989 --> 09:28.989 non federal sponsors to develop the 09:28.989 --> 09:31.211 best plan on how to deliver the project 09:31.211 --> 09:31.099 with the least amount of impact on the 09:31.109 --> 09:33.039 daily lives of local citizens and 09:33.049 --> 09:35.105 visitors . The community understands 09:35.105 --> 09:37.105 the of having that dune in the burn 09:37.105 --> 09:39.349 system in place when , when work creeps 09:39.359 --> 09:41.303 into the summer season , it can be 09:41.303 --> 09:43.415 inconvenient , but we try to minimize 09:43.415 --> 09:45.581 that impact to the best of our ability 09:45.581 --> 09:45.500 by closing small sections of the beach 09:45.510 --> 09:47.621 at a time . And we're working through 09:47.621 --> 09:49.843 this . We're hoping to be finished here 09:49.843 --> 09:51.843 in the early July time frame . It's 09:51.843 --> 09:53.732 been great . The guys from Philly 09:53.732 --> 09:53.719 district have been down here the whole 09:53.729 --> 09:56.419 time managing the contract , keeping us 09:56.429 --> 09:58.485 well informed of what's going on . A 09:58.485 --> 10:00.373 lot of coordination had to happen 10:00.373 --> 10:02.540 because obviously , we still wanted to 10:02.540 --> 10:04.651 use the beach while they were working 10:04.651 --> 10:06.873 on it . So we had to move people around 10:06.873 --> 10:05.869 and that kind of thing . The contractor 10:05.880 --> 10:08.640 was great cop managed that for us . And 10:08.650 --> 10:10.761 now we're just finishing up with some 10:10.761 --> 10:12.594 of the dune crossings to get the 10:12.594 --> 10:14.706 fencing put back up and those kind of 10:14.706 --> 10:16.761 things with the work wrapping up for 10:16.761 --> 10:18.761 all three projects . These Delaware 10:18.761 --> 10:18.630 communities can breathe a little easier 10:18.640 --> 10:20.862 when coastal storms come near . When we 10:20.862 --> 10:22.807 talk about reducing risk along our 10:22.807 --> 10:24.584 coastline . We're talking about 10:24.584 --> 10:26.696 structure and here along the Delaware 10:26.696 --> 10:28.973 coast that includes homes , businesses , 10:28.973 --> 10:31.196 boardwalks , roads , even utility lines 10:31.196 --> 10:33.251 and all that is vulnerable to damage 10:33.251 --> 10:35.140 from storm events , nor Easters , 10:35.140 --> 10:37.196 hurricanes and other events . And so 10:37.196 --> 10:39.307 having the dune in place is a crucial 10:39.307 --> 10:41.529 part of really managing that risk along 10:41.529 --> 10:43.640 the coastline . From Rehoboth Beach , 10:43.640 --> 10:47.299 Delaware Patrick , that completes this 10:47.309 --> 10:50.080 episode of core connection . We'll be 10:50.090 --> 10:52.090 back again next month to cover what 10:52.090 --> 10:54.034 your US army Corps of Engineers is 10:54.034 --> 10:56.489 working on until then , have a safe and 10:56.500 --> 10:57.510 fun filled summer .