MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Air Quality Program with the Environmental Management Department held the first class of its newly created Air Quality Training here August 16.
The class was created to improve the compliance of air quality standards on Camp Lejeune by giving the students information on federal, state and Marine Corps regulations on air pollution, according to Kerry Buchinger, the instructor of the course and an environmental engineer with the Air Quality Program, EMD.
“It is important that we keep regulations on the [unit] level so we can stay in compliance overall,” Buchinger said.
At the end of this one-day course, students are tested on what they have learned, according to Buchinger. Upon their successful completion of the course, the students receive a certificate proving they had attended.
The course highlighted the regulations of the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and students learned how to identify the different types of Machinery that fall under the act.
Students were also taught the correct way to fill out work logs for different machinery and the importance of turning in their reports to EMD on time, according to Buchinger. If the reports aren’t turned in on time and the information is not all there, the base can be fined for non-compliance, which could cost thousands of dollars.
Marines also learned about the proper maintenance of generators and other heavy equipment, according to Buchinger. If they are not maintained they can cause more emissions than normal and poor maintenance will also save the unit money because their equipment will not break and require further repairs, according to Sylvester.
Even though the class is now required for some Marines here other Marines came to the class for different reasons.
“I am here for the knowledge more than anything,” said Sgt. Jeff Liddie, a financial chief with the Camp Lejeune Brig.