Marines

Photo Information

Daniel Griffith gives an interview to LCTV-10 reporter Lance Cpl. Amber Blanchard, a combat correspondent with the Public Affairs Office, Marine Corps Base, during his environmental awareness project Aug. 20.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Drew W. Barker

Scout’s project aims to promote water quality

20 Aug 2005 | Lance Cpl. Drew W. Barker Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Members of the Camp Lejeune’s Environmental Management Division joined a group of Boy Scouts from the base’s Troop 490 and Jacksonville’s Troop 597 to take part in an environmental awareness project aboard the base Aug. 20.

As the final stage in becoming an Eagle Scout, Daniel Griffith, the project leader, designed, organized and executed the mission in an effort to increase public awareness of the dangers of pollution in regards to storm drains and water run-off.

The project has created publicity on the subject through the utilization of mass media distribution by way of LC-TV10 and The Globe. The information is aimed towards water quality awareness and pollution avoidance. The project also included the group adhering anti-dumping stickers onto storm water run-off drains in the commissary parking lot, around French Creek, and in a few residential areas around base.

“I hope it’ll increase peoples knowledge on base,” said Griffith. “Little things like washing your car make all the difference. If you wash on the street all the soap runs right into the drain, which funnels into the river. Wash your car on the grass and the ground will filter all the soap out.”

Other things people can do to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter storm drains include using environmentally friendly soaps, using fertilizers and other garden products according to their respective instructions, properly disposing of pet feces and having a professional change your oil, according to David Balog, an environmental protection specialist with the environmental assessment section of the Environmental Management Division, Marine Corps Base.

“People aren’t aware that the things they do at home have an adverse impact on surface water quality,” said Balog. “It’s the cumulative effects that are the problem, and what they’re doing is a very important thing.”

Griffith’s project has made great contributions to the community by warning the area about hazardous materials and their effects on surface water quality, according to David Stanley, the Scout Master with Troop 490.

“We want people to know that this is an on-going project,” said Griffith. “Everyone can help by just doing little things everyday.”

For more information on how to contribute to improving the water quality on and around Camp Lejeune, contact Marine Corps Base’s EMD, according to Balog.