"We've worked in some bad places, and that was a bad place," said Lt. Col. Scott Foley, 633rd SFS commander.

The gate served not only as an entrance for the thousands who work on Langley but as an inspection area for contract and commercial vehicles coming on to base. There, base defenders had no choice but to squeeze themselves between a filthy road and a dirty vehicle in every weather condition to thoroughly inspect each truck before it gained access to the installation.

But these Airmen's dirty job just became cleaner – and easier.

A new 9,000-square-foot Large Vehicle Inspection Station, complete with catwalks, inspection pits and blast-rated booths opened with a little bit of fanfare and a lot of excitement. "It's been a long time coming," said Col. Reggie Austin, 633rd Air Base Wing vice commander at the ribbon-cutting ceremony May 4. "[This] eliminates security threats and … keeps defenders out of harm's way."

Security forces Airmen previously worked a few feet from active lanes of traffic. This arrangement slowed inspection time and, in turn, created a perpetual line of trucks that slowed regular base traffic coming in through the LaSalle Gate.

The new $7.2 million inspection station can accommodate three vehicles at a time, which was part of the design to improve inspection efficiency, eliminate gate congestion and get the Airmen out of traffic.

The joint venture project, constructed by W.M. Jordan/Versar, Inc. and overseen by the Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers' includes a waiting area for drivers, a room for the canine unit and cameras for monitoring the inspection bay.

"With this facility, security forces can access each driver's license information and perform a basic background check," said Buff Jackson, Norfolk District construction representative. Specifications for LEED Silver certification – an internationally recognized standard for sustainable "green" buildings – were met during the design and construction of the facility. The station is phase one of a two-part project. The second phase of construction, which will take place at LaSalle Gate and begin this summer, will widen the road, add protective barriers and construct a visitor's building.

The temperatures at 6:30 a.m. were in the low 70s and the sun was just beginning to peek through the clouds as the day welcomed 325 people who gathered at the welcome center in North Carolina to participate in the 9th annual Paddle for the Border.

"This has been the third year I have paddled, and it has been a fantastic experience every time," said John Monroe, who drove more than three hours from a small North Carolina town to participate in the Chesapeake, Va.-sponsored event.

Monroe, 76, said the event "keeps me in shape and gives me an opportunity to travel the historical canal at my pace."

As kayaks, canoes and waterboards launched in North Carolina at 8:30 a.m., temperatures had crept to 80 degrees for the 7.5-mile paddle to Virginia. Word along the banks of the Great Dismal Swamp Canal was that the massive trees that arched over the water and small coves would provide shady retreats for people to stop, sip water and snap photos of their friends paddling by.

"It was a perfect day to slip a paddle into the dark waters of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal," Gladys Jones said.

Jones, the event coordinator for the city of Chesapeake, Va. – the city in which the paddle ended – said the maximum amount of paddlers – 300 – participated in 2011. As a result, that number was increased to 325 participants this year.

"Each year, registration becomes more competitive," Jones said. "Many participants are regulars, calling us early in January to find out when registration will begin."

Paddlers traveled from several states, as well as localities throughout North Carolina and Virginia, to participate this year.

With more paddle participants that in 2011, Joy Greenwood, park superintendant for the Dismal Swamp State Park, said it was important to that everyone be "mindful of the increased water traffic so it is an enjoyable, safe and hazard- free experience."

Accordingly, park rangers from three different jurisdictions provided on-water boat operations in support of the event while the Chesapeake fire department's community emergency response team provided on-bank observations and emergency medical services.

The annual event, sponsored by the Dismal Swamp State Park, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department, gives participants an opportunity to paddle from the Dismal Swamp State Park in North Carolina to the Great Dismal Swamp Boat Ramp in Chesapeake, Va.

President Obama's America Great Outdoors initiative, or AGO, seeks to reinvigorate the nation's approach to reconnect Americans with the lands and waters that are used for farming, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. It spreads the messages of conservation, protection, reconnection and stewardship of the outdoors.

Did you know?

The Dismal Swamp Canal was inspired by George Washington, who as a surveyor of rural lands, made his first visit to the Great Dismal Swamp in May 1763. Washington, along with other prominent Virginians and North Carolinians, suggested draining the swamp and digging a north-south canal through it to connect the waters of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. In 1805, after 12 years of back-breaking construction, the 22 mile long Dismal Swamp Canal was finally completed. Since 1929, the Corps' Norfolk District has held the responsibility for maintaining and operating the Dismal Swamp Canal, which has the distinction as the oldest continually operating man-made canal in the United States.

The $55 million complex, which is being built by Newport News, Va.- based W.M. Jordan Company, will expand the AWG's capability to program new and different scenarios based on real-world experiences for which Soldiers can train – prior to boots being on the ground.

"In today's challenges and tomorrow's uncertain conflicts, we must field an Army that must rapidly dominate any operational environment and achieve decisive results across a full range of missions," said Col. Patrick Mahaney Jr., Asymmetric Warfare Group commander, in his ceremony speech. "What we have here will enable us to assist the force to do just that."

The battle lab will provide the Army with facilities to quickly replicate and quickly devise means and methods to defeat evolving threats on the battlefield.

"This provides the Army with an area where we can model scenarios and work on rapid combat-solution development and Soldier adaptability," said Bill Mizell, Asymmetric Battle Lab operations director. Not only will the project enhance the training of Soldiers, but the local economy as well. The project is bringing in more than 200 jobs and, combined with three other firing rages being built simultaneously, the area is seeing around a $91 million investment.

"This Army investment exceeds any current corporate investment in Caroline County," said Lt. Col. Jack Haefner, Fort A.P. Hill garrison commander.

Project construction is expected to be complete in October of 2013.

Flanked by friends and guests, ODU officials and its project partners, Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Norfolk, cut the ribbon on the new sailing pier water access project and companion Elizabeth River Wetlands Restoration project.

Bob Finney, ODU vice president for Administration and Finance, told the audience that this project completion was special because it tied into the university's weeklong "Blue goes Green" celebration, which focused on the school's many environmentally-friendly initiatives.

"This project couldn't have been completed without the dedication and commitment of our Norfolk District and city of Norfolk partners," Finney said. "Together, we've completed a special project that's worthy of the other great efforts over the years to restore the health and vitality of the Elizabeth River."

Lt. Col. David Fedroff, Norfolk District deputy commander said restoring the health of the river depended on cooperation among partners; local universities; federal, state, regional and local agencies; civic groups and organizations.

The ODU Drainage Canal Wetland Restoration project is located on the main branch of the Elizabeth River within the city of Norfolk. The project is part of a much larger Elizabeth River environmental initiative that began in 1993 with four folks sitting around a kitchen table discussing ways to clean-up their beloved river.

That gathering produced the Elizabeth River Project, the grassroots non-profit organization that today has morphed into a multi-million dollar public-private venture that is steadily restoring the health of the Elizabeth River.

The Norfolk District has long partnered with ERP to make their vision to restore the river a reality. In 1998, at the urging of the ERP, Norfolk District gained Congressional approval to form a project delivery team to formulate and conduct an environmental restoration study to restore the health of the Elizabeth River. The PDT included five cost-sharing sponsors: the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the four cities on the banks of the Elizabeth River: Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

The award-winning study produced an environmental restoration plan that included the use of environmental dredging to remove contaminated river sediment and construction of wetland areas for habitat restoration.

The ODU Drainage Canal Wetland Restoration project constructed two stone breakwaters to create a protected area for nearly an acre of wetlands restoration, and a check dam at the mouth of the stormwater canal to control sedimentation. The funding for this phase of the project came from the federal government and the city of Norfolk.

An additional project feature included the rehabilitation of the existing revetments along the golf course and ODU shoreline, and the construction of a timber pier, gangway and floating pier at the ODU Sailing Center. This was funded by ODU and the city of Norfolk.

The ODU Drainage Canal Wetland Restoration project was designed by Andrews, Miller and Associates of Cambridge, Md., with construction performed by Polu Kai Construction Company of Falls Church, Va., a Service-Disabled Veterans small business.

Together, they exchanged information, technology and ideas aimed at contributing to a prosperous economic and environmentally sustainable future.

Environmental scientists and other staff of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attended the Environment Virginia Symposium, along with Col. Paul Olsen, the district's new commander and Michael Darrow, chief, Water Resources Division. The district's educational exhibit was on full display and staffed by environmental scientists in the Medal of Honor Hall at the George C. Marshall Center for Leadership and Ethics.

Olsen said he was honored to attend this important environmental symposium, with its theme: "Sustainable Solutions for Uncertain Times," and relished the opportunity to meet with and learn from so many diverse industry leaders who, like he, embrace environmental sustainment.

Shortly after assuming command of Norfolk District on March 16, Olsen was quick to convey to the district team his two environmental imperatives: "Building Strong" implies "Building Smart."

"Through combined education and dedication," Olsen said during his change of command remarks, "we balance our nation's passion to build with its responsibility to protect."

Keith Lockwood, chief, Norfolk District Operation's Technical Support Section, led a symposium break-out session on the district's Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area in Portsmouth, Va. Lockwood touched on the strategic importance of the dredged material site, but his main focus was on the growing popularity of the site as an important habitat, nesting and bird-watching area for several species of local and migratory birds.

Michelle Hamor, chief of the Flood Plain Management Section, Norfolk District, led a presentation on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Silver Jackets program and the establishment of a Virginia team. The Silver Jacket program seeks to bring together federal, state, tribal and local agencies to learn from one another and jointly apply resources to reduce flood risk. The Virginia team has been active since June 2010, and signed a formal charter in December 2010.

The Virginia team is comprised of representatives from USACE, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service River Forecast Centers and Weather Offices, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Following the presentation, Hamor paneled a question and answer session regarding floodplain management and dam safety initiatives, including the Virginia Silver Jackets Pilot Project, Flood Risk Information System.

Tom Tracy, executive director of Virginia Turfgrass Council, based in Virginia Beach, Va., called the symposium an absolute success.

"Every year I attend this symposium, I'm simply amazed at what new technology is emerging," Tracy said. "Moreover, I always leave here with my environmental tool box brimming with new, innovative ideas and solutions."

The construction of a 14-foot-high seawall, as well as a widened beach, at NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility's launch range will help slow erosion along the island that has seen the sea advance approximately 8 to 11 feet per year in recent decades.

The seawall, completed last month, extended the existing wall by 1420 feet, and protects launch pads from being washed away.

The beach fill portion, which began earlier this month, involves three dredges working simultaneously to add additional beachfront pushing the lapping waves of the ocean at least 82 feet further away from vital infrastructure rather than just a few feet.

"After the years of conceptual design, coastal modeling, environmental evaluations and permitting the Norfolk District is just as excited as our Wallops Island Flight Facility project counterparts " said George Mears, the Norfolk District project manager overseeing the construction.

Approximately 3.2 million cubic feet of beach quality sand will be pumped and placed on shore along 19,700 feet of oceanfront along the island's southeastern side.

The new beach will offer a 14-foot -high dune behind a 6-foot-high berm that will gradually descend in elevation to the ocean giving the launch range a 130-foot-wide beach to absorb the constant pounding of surf, especially during coastal storms.

The Wallops Island facility is home to, not only NASA, but also the US Navy Surface Combat Systems Center and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport making this a growing economic generator for the Commonwealth of Virginia and the region.

In his State of the Commonwealth speech, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell noted his vision for expanding the commercial space industry at the facility, something that would not be able to happen if Mother Nature continues to erode the island away and compromisinge the facilities located on site.

The project will allow the facility to continue safe launch operations for years to come, something that is vital to the nation, the Commonwealth, and the growing economy in the area.

"There is a bright and busy future for NASA, MARS and US Navy missions on Wallops Island. This project and the adaptive management and maintenance of this investment is essential to protect the ongoing health and future growth potential of those missions so unique to the Nations' science, spaceflight, and national defense objectives and regional economic development opportunities," said Caroline Massey, Assistant Director for Management Operations at NASA Wallops.

Current construction of the new beach is expected to last until late July of this year.

That was 1993.

On March 29, the Elizabeth River Project – the grassroots non-profit organization that morphed into a multi-million dollar public-private venture – broke ground on its largest public restoration site: Paradise Creek Nature Park in Portsmouth, Va.

Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, ERP executive director, told the crowd the future urban park will become a unique "oasis for recreation and education" for the city of Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads region.

Paradise Creek Nature Park is a 40-acre waterfront park on the southern branch of the Elizabeth River. When phase 1 work is completed in spring 2013, the park will boast two miles of nature trails and restored native plants that meander through one of the last stands of mature forest on the river. The former creek bottom, filled with dredged material in the mid-1990s, will be restored. The park will feature the region's largest restored wetland, plus unique outdoor sculptures, education stops, kayaking, public access roads and an earthworks mound designed as public art, where visitors can enjoy a view of the entire park.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has long partnered with ERP to make their plans to restore the river a reality.

In 1998, at the urging of the ERP, Norfolk District gained Congressional approval to form a project delivery team to formulate and conduct an environmental restoration study to restore the health of the Elizabeth River. Led by Robert Pretlow, district civil engineer and project manager, The PDT included five cost-sharing sponsors: the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the four cities on the banks of the Elizabeth River: Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

The award-winning study produced an environmental restoration plan that included the use of environmental dredging to remove contaminated river sediment and construction of wetland areas for habitat restoration.

The Elizabeth River provides for Hampton Roads in economic terms. She sets a scene for attractions, such as the Harbor Park battlefield and Norfolk's National Maritime Center, Nauticus, where its war hero resides, the U.S.S. Wisconsin. Her channel waters bustle with military fleets and foreign cargo vessels of the expanding Port of Hampton Roads. She hosts thousands of recreational boaters that cruise the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and hundreds of thousands party on her shores during the annual Harborfest.

However, the Elizabeth River remains one of the more seriously degraded urban rivers in the United States. Originally a broad, shallow estuary of the Chesapeake Bay, the river has been dredged to twice her normal depth and filled to 75 percent her normal width to accommodate three centuries of development.

Toxins accumulate in the river's muddy floor. The lurking toxins cause health problems in fish, including tumors, cataracts and other abnormalities, and pose risks for human health. Aquatic life in the river is hard-pressed to find a habitat; as much as 50 percent of tidal wetlands have been lost on the Elizabeth River since World War II.

Some of the river's problems have abated with the environmental consciousness of the last several decades. Industrial discharges into the river are regulated and significantly cleaner. Municipal improvements include state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants. Large challenges, however, remain for the 300-square-mile watershed, and that's where the district's environmental restoration plan took center stage.

The Norfolk District recently completed two wetland restoration projects: the Scuffletown Creek Sediment Remediation project in Chesapeake and the Old Dominion Drainage Canal project in Norfolk. The district is also working to complete the design leading to the construction of a wetland restoration project at Woodstock Park in Virginia Beach.

Currently, Norfolk District supports the ERP through the Craney Island Eastward Expansion project, said Michael Anderson, project manager.

"As a 50 percent cost-share partner with the Virginia Port Authority to construct the Craney Island Eastward Expansion project, we are also constructing 11 acres of wetlands at the Paradise Creek Nature Park," Anderson said.

The creation of wetlands at Paradise Creek Nature Park is set for completion in October. The park's second phase of work is scheduled for completion in 2015, and will include a children's playground and picnic shelters.

The Conference Report on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2055), instructed the IWR to report to Congress on how it should address the need for additional port and inland waterway modernization to accommodate post-Panamax vessels.

Because of the broad stakeholder interest in these options, IWR is committed to conducting its investigation and communicating the findings in a transparent and accessible manner.

About the Working Draft Report

Congress asked that the report consider: costs associated with deepening and widening deep-draft harbors; the ability of the waterways and ports to enhance the nation's export initiatives benefitting the agricultural and manufacturing sectors; the current and projected population trends that distinguish regional ports and ports that are immediately adjacent to population centers; the availability of inland intermodal access; and environmental impacts resulting from the modernization of inland waterways and deep-draft ports.

This early draft of the report has components that are still in progress.

It includes a draft executive summary to show stakeholders the direction the report authors are taking based on research to date. It incorporates information from activities and outreach efforts that were already underway, and begins to incorporate feedback from discussions held through listening sessions and other venues over the last few weeks.

The draft report considers the perspectives of shippers, carriers, ports, environmental interests, state and Federal agencies, and other interested parties as well as taking a national view.

Opportunity for Stakeholder Input

IWR will collect comments on the draft through April 18 and will host a webinar listening session from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT April 13. To participate, please RSVP to Portandwaterways@usace.army.mil. To review summaries of comments collected during last months' listening sessions, visit the study website at www.iwr.usace.army.mil/portandwaterways/.

Next Steps

The preliminary report continues development and will be reviewed by USACE headquarters and the executive branch prior to being transmitted to Congress in June 2012.

Since the turn of the 20th century, oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay have declined dramatically, largely due to disease, overharvesting, loss of habitat, and degraded water quality. "Oyster restoration is critical to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and is a high priority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," said Susan Conner, chief of the environmental analysis section at the Norfolk District, USACE. "These public meetings are being conducted to ensure that the public is aware of the Master Plan and every effort is made to identify and consider all beneficial and adverse effects of the proposal," she added.

The Native Oyster Restoration Master Plan is USACE's plan for large-scale, science-based oyster restoration throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The public meetings will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide feedback.

"We are excited with the direction oyster restoration is taking toward focused, tributary based efforts and look forward to discussing our proposed oyster restoration plans with the public", added Angie Sowers, study manager from the Baltimore District, USACE. Members of the Norfolk and Baltimore district's oyster teams as well as their partners in oyster restoration will be present at the meetings.

Public meeting dates and locations are:

Maryland
- April 10 from 3-8PM
The Philip Merrill Environmental Center (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)
6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis MD 21403

Maryland
- April 19 from 3-8PM
Chesapeake College (Route 50)
1000 College Circle, Wye Mills MD 21679

Virginia
- April 17 from 5:30-9PM
Thomas Nelson Community College
99 Thomas Nelson Drive, Hampton VA 23666

During the meetings, comments and feedback using social media are encouraged. Join the discussion on Twitter (#MdVaOyster) or watch via Livestream at http://www.livestream.com/usaceoysters. Questions posted on social media channels during the meeting will be shared and discussed at the public meetings and responses will be posted.

About the Master Plan

The Native Oyster Restoration Master Plan presents the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan for large-scale, sanctuary-based oyster restoration throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The master plan examines and evaluates the problems and opportunities related to oyster restoration, and formulates plans for implementing large-scale, Bay-wide restoration. Restoration plans recommended by USACE's master plan have been developed in coordination with the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC), and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

The long-term goal is to restore an abundant, self-sustaining oyster population that performs important ecological functions such as providing reef community habitat, nutrient cycling, spatial connectivity, and water filtration, among others, and contributes to an oyster fishery.

Public Comments

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be accepting public comments during the public meetings. In addition, written comments on the proposal will be accepted through May 19, to supplement the meeting records. Faxed comments will not be accepted. To submit written comments:

Maryland
Mail: Ms. Angela Sowers, 10 S. Howard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Email: NativeOysterRestMasterPlan@usace.army.mil

Virginia Mail: Ms. Susan Conner, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510
Email: NativeOysterRestMasterPlan@usace.army.mil

During the meetings, comments and feedback using social media are encouraged. Join the discussion on Twitter (#MdVaOyster) or watch via Livestream at http://www.livestream.com/usaceoysters. Questions posted on social media channels during the meeting will be shared and discussed at the public meetings and responses will be posted.

Note: In an effort to conserve and eliminate duplication of viewpoints or facts presented, groups with common interests are encouraged to consolidate their comments for presentation by a representative spokesperson.

Media Queries

If you are a member of the media and have questions about the Native Oyster Restoration Master Plan, please contact:

Maryland Media
Ashley Williams, Public Affairs Specialist
410-962-2809
Ashley.a.williams@usace.army.mil

Virginia Media
Pam Spaugy, Public Affairs Specialist
757-510-6398
Pam.k.spaugy@usace.army.mil

Backus, who assumed command of the district in June 2009, is being assigned to the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, Combined Joint Engineers at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. The mission of NTM-A is helping the Afghans stand up, equip and train a security structure that will allow the elected government to govern in accordance with the will of the people, and provide stability and security for the country.

The ceremony, officiated by Col. Christopher Larsen, North Atlantic Division commander, featured a color guard from the 11th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade and a quintet from the U.S. Continental Army Band at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. The formal transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from Backus to Olsen was symbolized by the passing of the organizational colors and by publishing the assumption of command orders.

In keeping with Norfolk District tradition, Jorge Nadal, acting deputy district engineer and director for Programs and Project Management, performed the transfer.

The ceremony included emotion-filled remarks from Backus, who, fighting back tears, cited several key district accomplishments and praised the district team, key stakeholders and community and government leaders for making his command tenure such a success. Larsen thanked Norfolk District for "always stepping up to the plate, no matter how difficult the mission," and characterized the Norfolk District as one of the "very best in the Corps."

Col. Victoria Bruzese, Arlington National Cemetery senior engineer, who represented Kathryn Condon, Arlington's executive program director, praised the Norfolk District team for its outstanding mission support during recent repairs of the Tomb of the Unknowns and other engineer work under way. Norfolk District became involved with supporting the Arlington National Cemetery Program last spring, providing planning, engineering design, contracting and construction support and consultation on behalf of the North Atlantic Division.

"You have brought fresh energy, technical expertise, and most importantly passion and you are an important part of the restoration of the honor and dignity that is Arlington National Cemetery," Bruzese said. "…I can't thank you enough for all the veterans and families that have loved ones in ANC."

Other presenters included Mary-Ann Saunders, who represented Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff of Chesapeake, Va. Saunders thanked the district team for its active support of the city's South Norfolk Jordan Bridge project and the annual Paddle for the Border kayaking event down the historic Dismal Swamp Canal.

John Karafa, president of Leebcor Services, LLC, a service-disabled veteran small business, thanked Norfolk District for allowing his company to participate in its mission-critical $1.14 billion 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, design and construction management work at Fort Lee, Va. Karafa said the work really gave his company a "shot in the arm," and noted how proud his employees are for achieving the first LEED Gold-certified construction project at Fort Lee: the $7.3 million Air Force/Navy Dining Facility. The certification was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Certification Institute.

The ceremony's final speaker was the newly minted Norfolk District commander. Standing erect behind the podium, all 6 feet, 4 inches, Olsen peered out over the packed theater and began his remarks by acknowledging and thanking the many dignitaries, friends, relatives, fellow engineer officers and noncommissioned officers and special mentors, many who traveled near and far to celebrate his career milestone.

A special shout-out went to Command Sgt. Maj. Clint Pearson.

"For those of you who serve, we know that no accomplishment is ever done alone…so command sergeant major, as with the rank I wear today, as well as this command, it is yours as much as it is mine," Olsen said.

Olsen then introduced his wife, Lt. Col. Cynthia Olsen, as the "infinitely more talented, more intelligent, and far better-looking colonel Olsen." Lt. Col. Olsen is assigned to The Pentagon, serving as the Army's deputy for Administrative Law.

Finally, Olsen addressed the Norfolk District's "legacy of excellence," and briefly described his sojourn throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia before taking command, admiring firsthand some of the district's great civil works and military construction projects.

"As it has done since time eternal, our fresh water flows into the Chesapeake Bay from watersheds to the North and West that owe their protection to many in the country, the Corps, our communities and the Commonwealth," Olsen said. "Through combined education and dedication, we balance our nation's passion to build with its responsibility to protect – for 'Building Strong' implies 'Building Smart'. I'm thrilled to be joining a community that recognizes both of these imperatives."

The change of command was held at the Chrysler Museum of Art in downtown Norfolk, Va.

Olsen replaces Col. Andrew W. Backus, who assumed command of the district in June 2009. Colonel Backus’ new one-year assignment is at the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A), Combined Joint Engineers at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. The mission of NTM-A is helping the Afghans stand up, equip, and train a viable and sustainable security structure that will allow the elected government to govern in accordance with the will of the people, and provide stability and security for the country.

Colonel Christopher L. Larsen, commander of the Corps' North Atlantic Division, will preside over the ceremony.

As the Norfolk District Commander, Olsen will manage the organization's dual military and civil works mission of engineering, construction and water resource management.

Colonel Olsen was commissioned in the U.S. Army upon graduation from the University of Wisconsin where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in geography. He has held leadership positions in mechanized and combat heavy engineer units in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, including command of the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, Bravo Company, 9th Engineer Battalion during Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia; Executive Officer of Headquarters Company, 43rd Engineer Battalion during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia; and Platoon Leader, Alpha Company, 317th Engineer Battalion during Operations Desert Shield and Storm in the Middle East.

Colonel Olsen is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and holds a Master of Science Degree in civil and infrastructure engineering from George Mason University, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Master of Arts Degree in business management from Webster University.

His awards include: the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and various other personal and unit commendations. Additionally, he was the 2003 recipient of the Secretary of the Army’s Frank Pace Award for innovation and the 2011 recipient of the Commandant’s Award for Distinction in Research at the U.S. Army War College.

He is married to LTC Cynthia Olsen of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps; they have three children: David, Gabriel, and Rebecca.

The refurbished gates, part of eight sets of lock gates throughout the Dismal Swamp and Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal waterways, are managed and operated by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Each set of gates along the two canals are reconditioned on a rotational schedule every five years.

U.S. Facilities, Inc., based in Chesapeake, Va., is the district's longtime contractor for annual maintenance and upkeep of both canal waterways. David Spataro, U.S. Facilities project manager, said the South Mills gate repairs included replacing leaking rubber seals, adding a fresh coat of anti-corrosive paint, spot-welding, replacing wooden timbers and cleaning valve stems.

"This rehabilitation work has historically extended the serviceability of each set of gates for up to 15 years," Spataro said.

Some finishing touches will be performed this week prior to reopening, said Joel Scussel, canal operations manager for the Norfolk District. Electric wiring is being reconnected to the motor that opens and closes the valves, and catwalks and railings removed in preparation for the repairs are being re-attached.

The Corps will also clear out the canal of tree limbs before boaters pass through.

Donna Stewart, director of the Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center in N.C., said the timing for reopening the lock will be perfect for recreational boaters on their seasonal migration north.

"It's worked out extremely well because we haven't missed many boaters at all during the lock closure," Stewart said. "Usually, boaters begin their trek from points south as the weather warms in March, and their numbers continue to build through May."

The Dismal Swamp and Albemarle and Chesapeake Canals form the historic Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, which provides pleasure boaters and commercial shippers with a protected inland channel between Norfolk, Va., and Miami, Fla.

The Dismal Swamp Canal is the oldest continually operating manmade canal in the United States.

Motorists can expect lengthy delays during this time; therefore, the following alternate route is provided:

Vehicles traveling south on George Washington Highway in Deep Creek should take I-64 West to Dominion Boulevard and then South on Moses Grandy Trail back to George Washington Highway.

Vehicles traveling south on Cedar Road/Moses Grandy Trail or north on George Washington Highway, and need to cross the Deep Creek Bridge, should take Dominion Boulevard to I-64 East to George Washington Highway.

Repairs will not affect vessels traveling the Dismal Swamp Canal.

For more information, call the Norfolk District public affairs office at 757-201-7606 or 757-510-6398.

Current areas of interest being discussed by USACE include the following:

• James River beachfront sediment sampling
• Horseshoe Pond Feasibility Study
• Preliminary assessment of FNOD
• Arsenic investigation in groundwater
• Site management plan

The quarterly Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB, meetings serve as a public forum for discussing US Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth campus. At the meetings FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members are also encouraged to attend and ask questions during the meeting.

In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, placed FNOD on its National Priorities List. In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input to project team members of USACE on cleanup plans and efforts at the site. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the community, local businesses, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation representative, property owners, and interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

All FNOD quarterly meetings and applications for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District projects branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman of the USACE Baltimore District provides overall project and funding oversight and can be reached at (410) 962-3134, or by email: Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Daily FNOD activities are managed by Jeff Zoeckler of the USACE Norfolk District. He can be reached at (757) 201-7726.

"The fiscal 2013 Civil Works budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reflects the administration's priorities through targeted investments in the nation's infrastructure that fund the development, management, restoration, and protection of the nation's water, wetlands, and related resources, said Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.

"The budget also reflects the tough choices necessary to put the country on a fiscally sustainable path," said Darcy.

The Army civil works budget funds the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of projects, and focuses on the highest performing projects and programs within three main Civil Works mission areas: commercial navigation, flood risk management, and aquatic ecosystem restoration.

It also funds programs that contribute to the protection of the nation's waters and wetlands; the generation of low-cost renewable hydropower; the restoration of certain sites contaminated as a result of the nation's early atomic weapons development program; and emergency preparedness and training to respond to natural disasters.

"This is a performance-based budget that funds the construction of projects that reduce risk to public safety, provide significant environmental restoration benefits, or provide significant economic returns on the nation's investment. America is a maritime nation, and this budget invests in navigation improvements that enable efficient use of waterborne transportation, a key component in global trade," said Darcy. "The 2012 Civil Works program is a continuing, fiscally prudent investment in the nation's water resources infrastructure and in the restoration of its aquatic ecosystems."

This budget includes $26,623,000 for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of Norfolk District projects in the three main civil works mission areas: navigation, flood and coastal storm damage reduction and environmental restoration.

Proposed funding for Norfolk District projects includes:

Environmental Restoration

• Lynnhaven River Basin, $300,000
• Upper Rappahannock River Basin, $50,000
• Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery, $2,500,000

Navigation

• Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway-Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal, $2,260,000
• Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Dismal Swamp Canal, $1,110,000
• Chincoteague Inlet, $329,000
• Hampton Roads Drift Removal, $1,682,000
• James River Channel, $3,948,000
• Lynnhaven Inlet, $100,000
• Norfolk Harbor, $10,077,000
• Rudee Inlet, $100,000
• Prevention of Deposits, $75,000
• Project Condition Surveys, $1,293,000
• Water and Environmental Certifications, $110,000

Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction

• Willoughby Spit and Vicinity, $225,000
• Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw, $2,203,000
• Inspection of Completed Works, $261,000

New federal funding in the Civil Works budget consists of $3.744 billion from the general fund, $848 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, $95 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and $44 million from Special Recreation User Fees.

The FY13 funding will be distributed among the appropriation accounts:

• $2.398 billion for Operation and Maintenance
• $1.471 billion for Construction
• $234 million for Mississippi River and Tributaries
• $205 million for the Regulatory Program
• $182 million for Expenses
• $104 million for the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
• $102 million for Investigations
• $30 million for Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies
• $5 million for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works

The FY13 Civil Works program is also provided $552 million in funding from three additional sources bringing the FY13 total program funding to $5.283 billion. This includes approximately $450 million in cost-sharing contributions from non-federal partners. Additionally, $21 million in Federal Permanent Appropriations will be available to USACE in FY13, and $81 million will be available from the Coastal Wetlands Restoration Trust Fund for the work of several of the federal agencies including USACE, overseen by an interagency federal-state task force led by USACE.

The FY13 budget supports the modernization of federal water resources infrastructure processes to address 21st century water resources needs through policies and procedures that govern federal water resources development and strategies for both managing the nation's aging infrastructure and restoring aquatic ecosystem functions affected by past investments.

The administration is considering additional proposals to advance efforts already underway and to build the foundation of a comprehensive strategy for investing in the nation's water infrastructure. In considering and developing these new policies, procedures, and strategies, the administration will continue to engage and collaborate with the many stakeholders whose interests are tied to our nation's water infrastructure, including state, local, and tribal governments, as well as the Congress.

The FY13 budget includes $1.747 billion for the study, design, construction, operation and maintenance of inland and coastal navigation projects. It funds capital investments on the inland waterways based on the estimated revenues to the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, while proposing a new user fee to increase revenue to this trust fund to enable a significant increase in funding for such investments in the future.

The FY13 O&M program is funded at $2.532 billion, including $134 million in the Mississippi River and Tributaries, or MR&T, account. The budget emphasizes performance of existing projects by focusing on the those coastal harbors and inland waterways with the most commercial traffic as well as safety improvements at federal dams and levees based on the risk and consequence of a failure. The budget also funds maintenance work at harbors that support significant commercial fishing, subsistence, or public transportation benefits.

The FY13 construction program is funded at $1.570 billion, including $99 million in the MR&T account. The construction program uses objective, performance-based guidelines to allocate funding toward the highest performing economic, environmental, and public safety investments. The aquatic ecosystem restoration program, whose priorities are informed by interagency collaboration and planning, emphasizes funding to restore several large ecosystems: the California Bay Delta, Chesapeake Bay, the Everglades, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf Coast.

USACE will continue to work with other federal, state and local agencies, using the best available science and adaptive management, to protect and restore these ecosystems. Environmental sustainability of these ecosystems also helps to support positive economic growth in the surrounding communities.

The budget funds 101 construction projects, consisting of 11 dam safety assurance, seepage control, and static instability correction projects; 24 projects ranked on the basis of life-saving benefits (including three completions); four additional project completions; three new starts; and 59 other continuing projects.

By program area, the 101 funded construction projects consist of 57 Flood and Coastal Storm Damage Reduction projects (including one new start and five budgeted for completion), 23 Commercial Navigation projects (including 11 continuing mitigation items and six dredged material placement areas, one budgeted for completion), 19 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration projects (including four projects to meet requirements of Biological Opinions and two new starts), and mitigation associated with two Hydropower projects (one budgeted for completion).

Among the ongoing construction projects in the FY13 budget, the highest funded projects are: Herbert Hoover Dike, FL, seepage control ($153 million); the South Florida ecosystem restoration program, which includes the Everglades ($153 million); Olmsted Locks and Dam, IL & KY ($144 million); Columbia River Fish Mitigation, WA, OR & ID ($98 million); Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND & SD ($90 million); American River Watershed (Folsom Dam Mod), CA ($87 million); Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, KY, seepage control ($85 million); Center Hill Lake, TN ($75 million); and New York and New Jersey Harbor, NY & NJ ($68 million).

The seven construction projects funded for completion in the FY13 budget are: Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Sites, OR& WA; Lock and Dam 27, Mississippi River, IL; Portugues and Bucana Rivers, PR; Sims Bayou, Houston, TX; St. Louis Flood Protection, MO; SW Valley Flood Damage Reduction, Albuquerque, NM; and Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, KY.

The FY13 construction program includes three high-priority new construction starts: Hamilton City, CA ($7.5 million); Louisiana Coastal Area, Ecosystem Restoration, LA ($16.8 million); and Lower Colorado River Basin (Wharton/Onion), TX ($2 million).

The FY13 budget includes funding for the initial construction of projects to reduce storm damage along the coast and the periodic renourishment of such projects. The FY13 program supports nine such projects of which two are initial construction and seven are periodic renourishment.

Recreation is funded at $252 million in FY13, with $241 million in the O&M account and $11 million in the MR&T account. USACE is the nation's largest provider of federal recreation opportunities, and its recreation areas contribute to the success of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative.

The FY13 Regulatory Program is funded at $205 million. With these funds, USACE will improve protection of the nation's waters and wetlands and provide greater efficiency of permit processing.

The FY13 FUSRAP program is funded at $104 million to continue remedial activities at 22 sites contaminated as a result of the nation's early atomic weapons development program.

The FY13 Investigations account is funded at $102 million to fund studies to determine the need, engineering feasibility, and economic, environmental and social return of potential solutions for water- and land-related resource problems. The budget will fund the completion of 21 studies and includes six new studies: Cano Martin Pena, PR; the Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Study, DE, MD, PA, VA; Englebright and Daguerre-

Point Dams (Yuba River) Fish Passage, CA; Houston Ship Channel, TX; the Louisiana Coastal Area Comprehensive Study; and the nationwide Water Resources Priorities Study, a high-priority evaluation of the nation's vulnerability to inland and coastal flooding and of the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of existing programs and strategies.

Emergency Management is funded at $36 million in FY13, with $30 million in the FCCE account for preparedness and training to respond to floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, and $6 million in the O&M account. The FCCE funding includes $2.5 million to support continued USACE participation in the development of Silver Jackets interagency teams in every state to provide unified federal assistance in implementing flood risk management solutions.

USACE will also participate with other land management agencies in the Veterans Job Corps program to put veterans to work on conservation and restoration of natural resources, recreation, and related infrastructure on federal, state, Tribal and local public lands. The $1 billion program is proposed over 5 years through the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will coordinate the effort.

The FY13 Civil Works budget press book will be available on the Web at 1:30 p.m. eastern, February 13, at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Budget.aspx, under the heading Program Budget: Press Books.

The multi-million dollar Navy Channel Deepening project deepened portions of the Elizabeth River from Lambert's Point in Norfolk, Va., to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

The dredging reduced the risk of the Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers damaging their ballast water intakes, as well as grounding and possible hull damage, said Raad Humadi, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic project manager. Those carriers and other naval ships are located at the largest naval complex in the world: Naval Station Norfolk, which is located in the Sewell's Point area of Norfolk.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and managed the dredging project. The two-phase project deepened the river from 40 to 50 feet, at a 600-foot-wide portion of the federal navigation channel from Lambert's Point to the Navy Deperming Station. Another 4.5-mile, 600-foot-wide portion of the channel from the deperming station to the naval shipyard was deepened from 40 to 47 feet.

The Deperming station performs a procedure called degaussing, which erases the permanent magnetism from ships and submarines to camouflage them against magnetic detection vessels and enemy marine mines.

"This project completion allows us to meet the current requirements for ships entering and exiting the Lambert's Point Deperming Station," Humadi said. "The other reach of the project allows carriers safe transit to and from Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs and overhauls."

The genesis of this project began in 2006, when the commanders of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic and Norfolk District met to discuss the feasibility of the Navy Channel Deepening project. Later that year, Norfolk District became a cooperating agency with the Navy on a required environmental impact statement and explored authority to resource and maintain the dredging project upon its completion.

In 2008, Norfolk District agreed to provide project design and construction management support. After approving the district's project management plan in July, the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic provided funding and project design began. Construction began on April 15, 2011. The Corps' contractor, Norfolk Dredging Company from Chesapeake, Va., completed the project. The approximately three million cubic yards of dredged material was pumped into the district's Craney Island Dredge Material Management Area in Portsmouth.

Robert N. Pretlow Jr., district project manager for the Navy Channel Deepening project, is no stranger to managing important dredging operations. In April 2003, Pretlow managed the deepening of the inbound element of the Federal Navigation Channel into Norfolk Harbor – it proved crucial for the Port of Virginia to maintain competitive advantage and meet the needs of the growing fleet of super container ships calling at the port.

"The Navy Channel Deepening project provided an excellent opportunity for the district to once again demonstrate its expertise and experience in designing and implementing navigation projects of major importance to our customer, the local port community, the Commonwealth and the nation," Pretlow said. "Our success was the direct result of teamwork and cooperation – both essential characteristics of a highly professional and dedicated project delivery team; a motivated and cooperative Navy customer; and a very diligent and responsive contractor."

The final cost of the project was $25 million and was completed Dec. 31, 2011.

The sand, trucked in from Smithfield, Va., will keep a 50-foot-wide beach design berm at 6.5 feet above sea level and protect homes and public infrastructure from receiving significant damage from flooding during coastal storms.

"The project was set up to be a storm damage reduction project, and as such, is an integral part of floodplain management for the Buckroe Beach area," said Gayle Hicks, a senior civil engineer with the City of Hampton.

Tom Lochen, the Norfolk District's project manager, said this round of nourishment also marks the final time the Corps will be financially participating in a beach nourishment project for Buckroe as part of the project.

"There is a federal spending limit of $3 million which will be achieved during this cycle," Lochen said. "After this, the City of Hampton will have sole responsibility for handling the costs and maintenance of the project into the future."

The federal limit includes the initial study, design, construction and maintenance renourishment of the beach, which was initially completed in 2005.

The project was renourished last year with 15,000 cubic yards of sand during an emergency replenishment after a powerful Nor'easter blew through the area, ripping up the shoreline. The emergency nourishment received 100 percent federal funding through Public Law 84-99, Rehabilitation Assistance for Hurricane/Shore Protection Projects and did not count against the $3 million cap set by congress.

The city has also worked to increase the amount of time between needed replenishments for Buckroe.

"The city has funded and constructed three near shore stone breakwaters to stabilize the beach," Hicks said. "Monitoring will continue on a yearly basis, and the Corps will continue to receive that data."

The breakwaters help slow wave action and allows sand to settle out with a goal of adding to the amount of sand on the beach helping to offset beach erosion.

The construction contract cost for the current round of nourishment is $920,000, which is split 50-50 between the City of Hampton and the federal government.

Dump trucks are operating in the area from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and using a route determined by the City of Hampton.

Construction at the site is expected to last until mid-January.

The dredge is on its way to Oregon Inlet N.C. from Philadelphia, Pa., and will remove dangerous shoals from the channel.

"We were receiving reports from the fishing community in Chincoteague that they could only get in and out during high tide," said Kristen Mazur, the Norfolk District project manager overseeing Chincoteague federal navigation channel project. "The fishermen were reporting that the conditions of the channel were becoming worse and they were even having some trouble getting through at high tide."

Armed with that information, Mazur called on the crew of the Currituck, who were wrapping up with some work for Philadelphia District, to see if they could spare a couple of days to dredge some of the more critical areas of the inlet.

"They are scheduled to dredge a larger portion of the channel in January, but we wanted to see if they could hit some areas that were of particular concern for the watermen," Mazur said.

The Chincoteague inlet federal navigation project is an operations and maintenance project, which supports the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore handling more than 3,000 vessels a year. The project provides the primary access from the Atlantic Ocean to a critical harbor of refuge at Chincoteague and other Federal Navigation projects in area. U.S. Coast Guard Station and U.S. Coast Guard Group Eastern Shore are also located on the project.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• James River beachfront sediment sampling
• TCC Lake consensus statement
• Geophysics date update
• Background study update

The quarterly Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB, meetings serve as a public forum for discussing US Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth campus. At the meetings FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members are also encouraged to attend and ask questions during the meeting.

In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, placed FNOD on its National Priorities List. In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input to project team members of USACE on cleanup plans and efforts at the site. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the community, local businesses, local and state officials, Tidewater Community College, TCC Real Estate Foundation, Inc., and FNOD interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

All FNOD quarterly meetings and applications for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District projects branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman of the USACE Baltimore District provides overall project and funding oversight and can be reached at (410) 962-3134, or by email: Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Daily FNOD activities are managed by Jeff Zoeckler of the USACE Norfolk District. He can be reached at (757) 201-7726.

Fort Hamilton opened its doors of the new Holiday Inn Express, formerly the Hamilton Inn, during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 16. It's part of an ongoing partnership with Lend Lease and IHG to manage and privatize lodges and hotels Army-wide under the Army's Privatization of Army Lodging program. The lease for which is administered by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' real estate office.

Ownership and management of the hotel actually began Aug. 12 when employees are no longer working for the Army but now IHG under PAL. With the ceremony, Fort Hamilton has the distinction of being the first installation to open a branded Holiday Inn Express hotel within three months of being under the PAL program.

"It's really a project of sustainability to return and reinvest money back into the installation so that you'll always have a hotel that will look like this 20 years from now or longer," said Arthur Holst, IHG Army hotels vice president of operations.

"In addition to that," added Gretchen Turpen, Lend Lease development manager, "it's important to know that it is a long-term, 50-year commitment under the PAL program to ensure prompt upgrades, maintenance and ongoing sustainment of the hotel facility. This is a financial responsibility the Army no longer has to be concerned about."

All 46 rooms have been upgraded and the hotel now boasts two distinguished visitor quarters. The one-bedroom suites have full kitchenettes and all rooms received new bedroom sets, linens and flat screen televisions, among other enhancements. In addition to the hotel's free, hot daily breakfast and weekly barbeque socials, the hotel added a 24-hour convenience mart, business center, a courtesy shuttle, on-line reservations system, safety improvements and more.

"The entire guest experience is focused on good customer service," Holst noted. "We can build great looking hotels, but that's not the right way to get satisfaction. Service and product are two sides of the same coin where there can't be one without the other. So as far as branding is concerned, when customers arrive at Fort Hamilton, with the Holiday Inn Express, they expect a Holiday Inn Express experience with the same, consistent level of service they would receive anywhere else in New York City."

"For Soldiers on official duty, statements of non-availability are no longer needed," said Denise Sutton, the hotel manager. "We have to earn their trust, because we are now competing with hotels in the city for their business."

The hotel charges 75 percent of the per diem rate or less for official travelers, which Holst said is still a discounted rate and, on the average, cheaper than their competitors beyond the gate.

"However," he added, "we still must deliver great service and earn their trust to keep them as customers, because Soldiers and their families are still our priority."

Even though Irene pushed water up to the seawall, it never went over, keeping the most damaging part of a hurricane, the storm surge, from reaching the buildings.

The project stretches six miles along the oceanfront and includes a minimum 100-foot wide, 8.5 foot high beach berm that gentle slopes to the water. It also includes a four-mile long concrete seas wall and a two-mile long sand dune system to protect the infrastructure located behind them.

Jennifer Armstrong, the Norfolk District's project manager for the protection system, says the recent amount of savings reinforces the need for a big beach.

"Since the project has been in place, the system has continually saved the tax payers of Virginia Beach millions of dollars in rebuilding costs from damages that would have occurred if the project wasn't in place," Armstrong said.

Using a formula that takes into account the height of the water during the storm and determines how far inland the water would surge if no project was in place, economists can determine damage amounts in terms of costs to the community.

Later this year, the Corps and the city are planning to begin a five-month, $12 million beach renourishment project to bring the level of protection back to its prescribed levels.

"Over the past decade the beach sand, designed to act as a sacrificial buffer, has slightly eroded away, so we want to go back and put sand back in place to keep the area protected," Armstrong said. "If you look at the initial $140 million to construct the system nearly a decade ago, the project has more than paid for itself."

The replenishment is scheduled to begin in December and last throughout the winter to minimize the potential for dredging work to harm sea turtles.

When complete, the beach will be back at its full protection levels for the next coastal storm event.

BRAC was borne from the more than $2.3 billion congressional authorization that tasked Norfolk District to manage the design and construction of 43 military projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia – and all in just four years. Norfolk District's "village" response was an "all hands on deck" team strategy that embraced the professional talents and communication skills of project customers, key stakeholders and district assets to ensure each project's success.

"Our success is a testament to the outstanding partnership we've enjoyed at every level of this massive and complex multi-year mission," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "Well-deserved congratulations go out to all of our customers, the district's executive leadership, BRAC program managers, project managers and engineers, quality assurance representatives, contracting, real estate and other vital administrative support teammates -- and all the design and construction contractors, large and small."

The Defense Department introduced BRAC in 1988 to reorganize base structure to effectively support the armed forces, increase operational readiness and support new ways of doing business to meet future security needs and global threats.

Norfolk District's BRAC mission was born in October 2007, when the North Atlantic Division headquarters received $7.5 billion in Army BRAC program funds. Of that amount, Norfolk District received the second largest in the division.

The challenge for the Norfolk District was to complete all the projects using an accelerated construction timeline to meet the congressionally-mandated Sept. 15, 2011 deadline.

To deliver their BRAC bundle of joy, Norfolk District began by hiring more than 100 short-term contractors – project managers, quality assurance inspectors, project engineers, and administrative support staff – to augment its permanent staff and help deliver the BRAC projects.

Norfolk District then established a BRAC area office at Fort Lee, Va., to exclusively manage the majority of its BRAC mission: 35 projects valued at $1.14 billion. At Fort Belvoir, Va., Norfolk District teamed with the Fort Belvoir BRAC Integration office to manage the design and construction of the $1.03 billion Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. And at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. (formerly Fort Eustis), a district project team managed seven BRAC projects totaling $135.4 million, including the new $104 million Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters. The new headquarters was made necessary by the BRAC decision to close Fort Monroe, Va., on Sept. 15.

Just as a child multiplies responsibilities for a parent, Norfolk District experienced a threefold increase in its workload during the four-year mission.

To meet the BRAC deadline, the district's contracting office administered BRAC contracts using two innovative contract award processes. First, the district made one qualified contractor responsible for the design and construction of each project within the BRAC program. Second, it used Integrated/Design/Bid/Build procurement, contracting with different companies for the design and for the construction of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. This process provided increased project constructability, accurate cost/schedule impacts of design decisions and improved design coordination.

According to Fort Lee BRAC officials, the mission there is equated to a 25-year construction program executed in just four years. And the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital was constructed in only four years, using an evidence-based design process to make decisions based on the best available research. It takes 10 years to construct the average military hospital, Fort Belvoir hospital officials said.

"It was so rewarding to get all the projects awarded within the accelerated BRAC timeline and to meet our Sept. 15, 2011 mission deadline," said Debora Gray, contracting chief for Norfolk District's military branch. "Wow, what a journey! It was at times very challenging, but full of fun and satisfaction just knowing that our deserving service members and their families would enjoy first-class military facilities for decades to come."

The Norfolk District family wanted their products to be more than a "chip off the old block" – they wanted to leave a legacy.

"There are numerous ways to measure the return on this (BRAC) investment, but the most important is the quality of training provided the sons and daughters who serve their country," said Maj. Gen. James L. Hodge, Fort Lee's Combined Arms Support Command and Sustainment Center of Excellence commanding general."

The Norfolk District "BRAC child" had an environment-friendly posture instilled in it: the finest state-of-the-art construction technology, such as reflective paving and roofing materials that reflect the sun and decrease heat build-up and energy use. And the latest in sustainable green initiatives, like collecting rainwater and storing it in underground cisterns to provide 91 percent of water for landscaping.

All BRAC projects were constructed to meet the Defense Department's Leadership in Energy Design standards. Many projects achieved or are pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council's silver rating standards or better.

The $7.38 million Air Force/Navy Dining Facility at Fort Lee achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Certification Institute. To date, the multi-service dining facility is the only DoD military construction project completed by a service disabled veteran small business to attain a LEED Gold certification.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, which opened Aug. 31 and had its first arrival as Bethany Beauchan was born at 4:33 p.m., achieved LEED Silver certification. With the wealth of innovative green initiatives adopted during the design and construction of the hospital, like patient-controlled environments and natural lighting and views of nature to reduce stress, hospital officials are eagerly pursuing LEED Gold certification.

The Norfolk District also earned several national accolades for excellence in design-build construction and project management, and the district's Small Business program secured $152 million in BRAC small business contracts over the last four years. This achievement allowed the district to annually exceed and lead sister districts in Corps-mandated small business goals.

Brig. Gen. Gwen Bingham, former Fort Lee garrison commander from 2005-2008, likened the community approach to nurturing every BRAC project from inception to completion as a "journey" not a "destination."

"In almost every forum I spoke," she said, "I would say that BRAC is not a destination; it's a journey and we're building relationships along the way. Our community leaders and partners have continually been an integral part of this journey in every way — all along the way. Truly, all of the men and women who planned for and executed the thousands of actions required to bring about BRAC success deserve our profound debt of gratitude in building the brick and mortar required to train warriors and grow leaders…for generations to come."

It took all of Norfolk District – a 500-plus employee-village – to raise their BRAC "child" by the Sept. 15, 2011 deadline. BRAC was on time and on target – and will continue to grow as a positive benefit to America and its service members for generations to come.

The test pulse, conducted by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and peak at 3,500 cubic feet per second.

The agencies advise people to be aware of the river fluctuations that will be caused by the test pulse. The pulse is expected to raise the water level downstream in the Jackson River by up to five feet in some sections and up to three feet in the upper James River, but will remain several feet below flood stage. In some areas, the rate of the river rise may exceed two feet per hour.

The river is normally at a constant height and flow during this time of year.

Gathright Dam will gradually increase water releases from 240 cfs to a maximum of 3,500 cfs by 9 a.m. The maximum surge will last two hours, and at 11 a.m. releases will begin to gradually decrease, and return to 240 cfs by 2 p.m.

The controlled release will test whether the pulses effectively remove algae and improve water quality by simulating natural storm events that occur during the late summer and early fall. This natural variability is reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam.

A 3,000-cfs test pulse in August 2010 showed that the pulse raised dissolved oxygen levels in the river, scoured excess oxygen-consuming algae and "slightly improved" aquatic habitat of the Jackson River below Covington.

The pulses are part of a continuing Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study at the dam. The study will determine whether a change to current low-flow augmentation operations at the dam can improve the overall water quality and ecological resources in the lower Jackson River without affecting the existing fisheries in Lake Moomaw and the trout fishery below the dam.

High water and debris damaged the swing arm of the structure during Hurricane Irene, causing the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use a limited locking scheduled.

Repairs, which began on Monday, took several days to complete and involved removing pieces of the lock gate arms that have been in place since the mid-1930's.

The locks at Great Bridge resume their normal operational schedule of on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Dismal Swamp Canal remains closed to vessel traffic due to trees knocked down during Hurricane Irene blocking the waterway.

For information about the status of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal as well as the Dismal Swamp Canal, call (757) 201-7500 and select option 3. Information is also available online at www.nao.usace.army.mil or on the District's Facebook and Twitter sites www.facebook.com/NAOonFB or www.twitter.com/norfolkdistrict.

Boaters underway can reach bridge and lock operators on marine radio channel 13.

The Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection Project Completed in 2002has protected Virginia Beach's oceanfront from coastal storms including hurricanes and countless nor'easters, including Hurricane Isabelle in 2003, when it saved the city an estimated $82 million in damage repairs.

Jerry Swean, a geologist with the Norfolk District, kept a watchful eye on the project during the storm, and said you can see the differences between pre-protection project and post protection project.

"In 1998 we had a nor'easter come through that had a similarly high tide as Irene. The story back then was much different then today: homes were damaged and water was washing across the roadways," Swean said.

The Corps and the City of Virginia Beach are getting ready to replenish the beaches along the City's 11 miles of coastline to ensure the protection level is where it needs to be.

Jennifer Armstrong, a project manager who oversees the oceanfront project for the Corps, in order for the system to be successful, it needs to have both a large beach and seawall/dune system in place.

"The higher and wider beach works in tandem with the concrete seawall and dune system by acting as a sacrificial erosion buffer and dissipating the wave energy," said Armstrong. "Erosion of the beach sand during storm events like Irene is not only expected, but is a critical feature of the system."

According to Phil Roehrs, a coastal engineer with the City of Virginia Beach, keeping the protection project at a high level of readiness saves taxpayer money.

"If you look at the aspect of lowering the payouts the federal government would make as the underwriter of the National Flood Insurance Program the project has more than paid for itself in savings to taxpayers," Roehrs said. "The other thing you don't see is a huge cadre of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees, or other emergency workers streaming into the area because the oceanfront wasn't heavily damaged. The need for that level of response isn't needed, thanks in part to having the protection system."

The oceanfront project received some erosion during Hurricane Irene, but Armstrong says the upcoming work has already accounted for it and no additional costs to taxpayers will occur as a result.

"The project is designed to require periodic re-nourishment to replace the natural and storm-event erosion and to take into account the possibility of such storms during each cycle," Armstrong said. "Plans to re-nourish the six-mile stretch of Virginia Beach oceanfront were underway prior to Irene and are scheduled for construction later this year."

With continued construction occurring to the beaches along Virginia Beach's coastline, the city says it highlights how a good relationship between federal and local officials benefits its local citizens.

"We can't be more ecstatic about our relationship with the Corps of Engineers when it comes to providing coastal protection for our citizens," Roehrs said. "The proof is in the pudding: just look at how well our projects have stood up to the storms over the past decade."

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 250 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Wednesday, August 31, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying August 31, the inclement weather date is Thursday, September 1.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

Crews are repairing the lock with a spare arm and expect to have the structure operational by Wednesday.

It's the first time the structure has been damaged during a storm event said Joel Scussel, Norfolk District project manager for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

"The gate has been there during Hurricanes Floyd and Isabelle and has never sustained this type of damage. The only thing we have had was some water get into the electrical systems during a nor'easter but nothing mechanical like this," said Scussel

With the Dismal Swamp Canal originally closed due to the wildfires, boaters traveling the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway will have to wait it out until the necessary repairs can be made.

"This is a priority, we need to get this up and operational to get boat traffic flowing again," said Scussel

The district performed one locking prior to shutting the lock down for repairs, allowing Corps debris removal vessels and NOAA research vessels that sought shelter upstream to move into the Elizabeth River to assist in port cleanup efforts.

For information about the status of the Albemarle and Chesapeake as well as the Dismal Swamp Canal, call (757) 201-7500 and select option 3. Information is also available online at www.nao.usace.army.mil or on the District's Facebook and Twitter sites www.facebook.com/NAOonFB or www.twitter.com/norfolkdistrict.

This RAB public meeting serves as the main forum for public discussion of Corps remediation progress at the 975-acre former ordnance depot. FNOD was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Site update
• James River beach sediment sampling
• Geophysics data update
• Completed area of concern site inspection reports

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997, as the main forum for community citizens to directly provide input on the cleanup effort at the formerly used defense site. Project team members available at each RAB meeting include: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA.

The restoration advisory board is also comprised of community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, and the Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation, Inc.

Additional project information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/

The results of the August 2010 surge, or test pulse, recently released by the DEQ, indicate the pulse raised dissolved oxygen levels in the river, scoured excess oxygen-consuming algae and "slightly improved" the aquatic habitat Jackson River below Covington.

"We are monitoring the Jackson River before and during test pulses to establish current baseline water quality conditions," said Jason Hill, an environmental scientist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. "We will be using this baseline data to track any environmental changes that result from these simulated storm events."

The Department of Environmental Quality requested the test pulse from Norfolk District, which owns and operates the Gathright Dam. The dam, located on the Jackson River, creates Lake Moomaw.

The eight-hour test pulse peaked at 3,000 cubic feet per second for two hours.

"The dam operators did a great job mimicking a natural storm event," said Larry Ives, Norfolk District civil engineer.

The results of the test pulse are being used in an ongoing feasibility study at the dam. The study will determine whether a change to current low-flow augmentation operations at the dam can improve the overall water quality and ecological resources in the lower Jackson River without affecting the existing fisheries in Lake Moomaw and the trout fishery below the dam.

Another pulse is scheduled for late September. The feasibility report will be completed in 2012.

The closure, which is temporary, allows firefighters to have continuous unimpeded access into the fire zone from route 17.

"We received a request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation to see if we could close the canal so firefighters wouldn't have to wait for potential bridge openings near the fire, we didn't see any major issues with the request so we went ahead and closed the canal to assist them in any way we could," said Joel Scussel, the Dismal Swamp Canal project manager.

The restriction will be lifted when the fire is contained and smoke levels diminish for safe navigation.

Boaters are advised to use the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal which remains open and operational. Addition information about the canal closure can be obtained by calling 757 201-7500 and pressing option 3.

Spraying will be conducted over the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, adjacent city properties and the Churchland area here.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C., will conduct low-flying operations spraying for adult mosquitoes in areas north of Route 164 from 4 to 9 p.m. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to planes used for crop dusting.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations and anyone with known allergic reactions is advised to stay indoors.

If adverse conditions don't allow spraying on Thursday, the spraying will be rescheduled for Friday.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

According to the National Wildlife Service, lightning sparked a wildfire on August 4, which has been increasing in size and is moving towards the reservation.

"Though no structures or personnel are in immediate danger we felt it prudent to close the area to visitors as a just in case," said Joel Scussel, the Dismal Swamp Canal project manager.

The area will remain closed until the threat of fire has passed.

The reservation contains buildings and control structures for the weirs utilized to control water flow from Lake Drummond to the Dismal Swamp Canal. It offers citizens an opportunity to experience primitive camping, picnicking as well transfer small watercraft from the canal to Lake Drummond via a trolley system.

More information about the fire and closures throughout the Dismal Swamp can be found at www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp. Individuals seeking more information about the reservation closure can contact the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (757) 201-7606 or by email at cenao-pa@usace.army.mil

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct low-flying operations as it sprays for adult mosquitoes in areas north of Rte-164 from 4 to 9 p.m. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area and anyone with known allergic reactions is advised to stay indoors.

If conditions don't allow spraying Tuesday, the inclement weather date is Wednesday.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

And, like all of the Corps employees here from around the country, she volunteered for the work.

It's been unlike anything she's ever experienced.

When Ange arrived, almost a month after the deadly May 22 storm, she was awed by the destruction left in its wake - more than 6,900 homes destroyed and another 875 damaged, about 500 commercial properties, a hospital and most of the city schools left in shambles.

"I was kinda like the gawking bystander; I just wanted to take it all in," Ange said.

But Ange had no time to gawk.

That week, the Corps ramped up its efforts to remove an estimated 1.87 million cubic yards of debris from the streets and residential properties of Joplin. Signs posted around the Corps' Recovery Field Office reminded employees of the monumental task ahead of them: just a million cubic yards of debris could cover the Kansas City Chiefs' home field at nearby Arrowhead Stadium - to a height of 510 feet.

The Corps set a goal of having the job done in 67 days. Ange arrived on day 21.

"The first day was hectic," she said. "I was running around between crews and trying to learn everything, trying to learn where streets were because there were no street signs or landmarks except the debris piles, which were always changing. There was still a lot of work out there."

After a week serving as a quality assurance specialist - ensuring contractors removed debris properly and safely - supervisors gave her a new assignment: assessing private properties before debris crews arrive. She took to it immediately, said Garrett Wickham, a volunteer from the Corps' Portland District and team lead for the assessments.

The assessments begin when a property owner or, in some cases, city officials sign a Right of Entry, or ROE, a document allowing the Corps to enter the property and remove debris. Then, Corps teams locate the property, mark the property lines and address, sketch and photograph the property, and note and flag debris types and piles, utilities and hazards. With this documentation done, Corps quality assurance specialists and contractors can locate and clear the property quickly and safely.

Ange enjoys the work - it's not that different from the day-to-day work she does in Virginia for the Corps' Norfolk District. As an environmental scientist in the district's regulatory branch, the Old Dominion University graduate is often outdoors gathering information for pending permit applications or for the enforcement of actions taken without a permit. It's work she described with a smile as "like crime scene investigation - for the environment."

The assessment work requires a lot of movement throughout the 6-mile-long, one-mile-wide debris area, requires a lot of responsibility, a lot of independence, Wickham explained.

Ange was a natural for the work.

"You're on your own out there and given enough responsibility to make decisions," Wickham said. "I don't have to worry about her. I can send her off with a stack of ROEs [assessments] and instructions to call if there are any issues."

The work Ange and others do for the assessments is a critical element of the Corps' debris removal process, said Ron McDonald, a volunteer from the Portland District who serves as a quality assurance supervisor.

"Without an accurate assessment, we'd have teams going out there that are really unprepared for what's on the property, McDonald said. "It's actually a very good process."

The importance of the process isn't lost on Ange, who identified the need for and developed a step-by-step assessment checklist for new Corps volunteers to use after the current team departs. While she was completing that task, she also developed job aids for incoming quality assurance specialists and took on the job of training new arrivals chosen for assessment work. Wickham said he loves her reliability.

"The great thing about Nikki is that you can tell sometimes that she's not excited about doing something, but she never complains," he said. "She just smiles and does it."

That kind of positive attitude is crucial for mission success, said Traci Davis, a volunteer from the Corps' Kansas City District who serves as a quality assurance supervisor.

"The whole operation feeds off of attitude," she said. "If we have a positive attitude, the contractors and the people we encounter will have a positive attitude. We'll get things done."

And the Corps is getting things done. Just two days before Ange's scheduled return home to Chesapeake, Va., Col. Dan Patton, the Joplin Recovery Field Office commander, reported to city and federal officials that 65.1 percent of the debris had been removed from city streets and properties.

"It's definitely changed a lot since I got here," Ange said. "There was a lot more debris along the right of ways and tons of houses were still standing - not completely intact, but standing. Now they are leveled out and lots are cleared."

Ange has also changed. Walking through the debris and seeing the items lost by people and families - important documents, valuables, children's toys - has given her a new perspective. "It's motivated me to be more prepared for something like this," she said. "It's going to be one of my priorities when I get home."

After the wedding.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located on federal property in the Churchland area of Portsmouth.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at with a liquid mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Monday, the inclement weather date is Tuesday, June 14.

Clean the Bay Day is a statewide initiative organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, thousands of citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear litter from waterways.

This year, more than 6,200 volunteers statewide removed approximately 200,000 pounds of debris from 500 miles of streams and shorelines along the bay, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Last year, 7,430 volunteers removed 217,641 pounds of debris at 245 sites along 419 miles of the Chesapeake Bay.

Norfolk District employees volunteered three hours of their time Saturday morning to remove debris from the shorelines of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the federal waterways of the Hampton Roads harbor.

"We had a fantastic turn-out, and it says a lot when people travel from as far as their home in Williamsburg to participate," said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist here and zone captain for the district's team of volunteers.

Although Clean the Bay Day is regionally managed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the event organization for the local area is done by Keep Norfolk Beautiful. "I think it's great for the Norfolk District that we have the opportunity to work with KNB since it helps promote our volunteer efforts and work in general throughout the community," Donofrio said.

This year, the Corps partnered with volunteers from the Society of American Military Engineers of Hampton Roads.

According to data collection sheets provided to Donofrio, more than 3,800 pounds of trash was removed from CIDMMA's shorelines, a majority of which included plastic bottles and Styrofoam from buoys, cups, or other containers and nautical debris.

Some unusual items found by district employees included a chair, life jacket, My Little Pony toy, lip gloss, cooler tops, plastic parts from syringes, mini-fridge, six-foot snake skin, pair of pants, remote control from a crane lift and a pair of sneakers.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct aerial spraying between 4 and 8 p.m. Monday, June 6, weather permitting.

Aerial spraying will occur in areas north of Rte-164.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will be conducting low-flying spray operations in the area.

People with known allergic reactions are advised to stay indoors. Beekeepers who reside in the spray area are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations.

If conditions don't allow spraying June 6, the inclement weather date is Tuesday, June 7.

For more information about the spraying operations, call the Portsmouth Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666.

This RAB public meeting serves as the main forum for public discussion of Corps remediation progress at the 975-acre former ordnance depot. FNOD was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Review of Land Use Control Interim Plans
• Project Management Website/GIS initiatives
• Discussion on perchlorate, radiological information and munitions that have been discovered at FNOD
• Track G Magazine Line (Area of Concern 10) analytical report
• Public Affairs Working Group update

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997, as the main forum for community citizens to directly provide input on the cleanup effort at the formerly used defense site. Project team members available at each RAB meeting include: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA.

The restoration advisory board is also comprised of community members, local business representatives, local and state officials and the Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation, Inc.

Additional project information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct aerial spraying between the hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday May 26th, weather permitting. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will be conducting low-flying spray operations in the area.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area and anyone with known allergic reactions is advised to stay indoors.

If conditions don't allow spraying on May 26, the inclement weather date is Friday, May 27th.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

Their mission became easier May 5, thanks to the design and construction management expertise of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Clark W. LeMasters, Army chief of Ordnance and commandant of the Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Va., used a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony to praise the completion of five new high-tech buildings, all part of the new Army Ordnance Center campus at Fort Lee.

The five new buildings were also memorialized during the ceremony in honor of five distinguished Ordnance Corps veterans. The building's names and functions are: Miley Hall, fire control department; Porter Hall, advance track department; Cohen Hall, armament and electronics maintenance department; Hatcher Hall, turret department; and Dickson Hall, advance wheel department.

Fort Lee will complete about $1.2 billion in construction projects later this year, totaling 56 new buildings, as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure authorization. Under BRAC, the Army Ordnance Center and School relocated from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland to Fort Lee.

The new state-of-the-art buildings are a marked improvement from those at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, LeMasters said.

Norman Malbon, a civil engineer and member of the Norfolk District Engineering Branch, represented the district during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Malbon's team at Fort Lee developed the request for proposals that defined the general design-build requirements for constructing these facilities. He took the opportunity to tour the buildings prior to the ceremony.

"I was very impressed by the size, quality and functionality of the buildings," Malbon said. "All of the facilities were in operation and looked great, including the 400-person auditorium, the shooting range, the welding booths, the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank repair high bay areas and the classrooms."

The $800 million, five-building complex, is the latest edition to the Ordnance Center campus and instructors and students praise the complex for its hands-on, high-tech features. It includes multiple new audio visual capabilities and high-tech, energy-efficient and interactive training equipment, specific to each building's specialty.

"Each building's advanced automation, larger footprint and safer environment is tailor-made for enhanced and successful training," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Blucher, advanced wheel instructor for warrant officers. "When students arrive here, they soon realize they are definitely getting world-class training instruction."

The five-building complex also met the Army's Leadership in Energy Environmental Design, achieving a silver certification. Some of the building's notable "green initiatives" include:

• Stormwater design that reduces particulate pollution and erosion
• Reflective paving and roofing materials that reflect sun and decrease heat build-up and energy use
• Non-emergency interior lights that automatically turn off during non-business hours and exterior lighting that reduces light pollution
• Drought-resistant landscaping that eliminates the need for irrigation
• Low-flow fixtures that reduce overall water consumption
• Refrigerants for mechanical systems that reduce damage to the ozone layer and don't contribute to global warming
• All appliances are ENERGY STAR® rated

According to LeMasters, after six years of planning, these buildings "are the future of the Army Ordnance Corps to pass through for years to come."

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct aerial spraying between the hours of 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, weather permitting.

Aerial spraying will occur in areas north of Route-164.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will be conducting low-flying spray operations in the area.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area and individuals with known allergic reactions are advised to stay indoors.

If conditions do not allow for spraying on May 7, the inclement weather date is Monday, May 9.

Updates for the aerial mosquito spraying will be available on the Portsmouth Mosquito Control Hotline after 11 a.m. Friday, May 6. The hotline is available at 393-8666, extension 7324.

So, what better place to celebrate the spirit of America's Great Outdoors then at the nation's oldest continually operating canal?

That's exactly what Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy will do when she joins more than 300 people to participate in the City of Chesapeake's 8th Annual Paddle for the Border on the Dismal Swamp Canal Saturday.

Paddlers will launch from the Dismal Swamp State Park in South Mills, N.C., paddle 7.5 miles and end with a picnic at the Dismal Swamp boat ramp on Ballahack Road.

Though the canal will be full of canoes and kayakers, motorized boaters will still be able to access the waterway, but they may experience some delays while navigating the canal from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 1:00 p.m.

Law enforcement and public safety officials from North Carolina and Virginia will be on site during the event—both on the water and observing from the shore— to assist with any emergency situations that may arise.

Paddle for the Border is sponsored by the Dismal Swamp State Park, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department.

President Obama's AGO initiative seeks to reinvigorate the nation's approach to reconnect Americans, especially young people, with the lands and waters that are used for farming, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. It spreads the messages of conservation, protection, reconnection and stewardship of the outdoors.

This famous Native American proverb speaks volumes about the current state of our nation's complex environmental problems, which if left unresolved, threaten the future ability of our children to enjoy the wondrous natural beauty too often taken for granted.

That's why more than 50 environmental scientists and other staff of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, attended the 22nd Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, held April 5-7 on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va.

With the symposium theme, "Sustainable Solutions for Uncertain Times," the Norfolk District team joined representatives of the private and public sectors as well as non-governmental organizations to exchange information, technology and ideas that will contribute to a prosperous economic and environmentally sustainable future.

"The symposium was a superb venue for our regulatory staff to meet one of its focus areas this year of increased transparency," said Michael Darrow, chief of Norfolk District's Water Resources Division. "Everyone took the opportunity to explain our Corps mission, capabilities and support to the Commonwealth of Virginia to our public and private counterparts, as well as to environmental consultants and interested public citizens."

The Environment Virginia Symposium is the brainchild of Ron Erchul, a former VMI professor and retired U.S. Navy captain, who, nearly a quarter century ago, received a grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment to conduct research on groundwater contamination in the Shenandoah Valley. As part of that grant, VMI held a conference to report the results of his research and to encourage others to join in the quest for solutions to complex environmental issues. Today's symposium is a continuation of partnering efforts for economic and environmental success in Virginia over the past 22 years.

Mark Mansfield, chief of Planning and Policy for the WRD, served on the symposium program development committee and, using the concepts of the project management business process, developed a project management plan that integrated the contributions of several district members into this year's conference agenda.

Col. Andrew Backus, district commander, led a plenary session entitled "Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load and the Watershed Implementation Plan"; Hal Wiggins, regulatory branch, provided a presentation, "Low Impact Development and Section 404 Clean Water Act Permitting"; and Jeanne Richardson, regulatory branch, moderated sessions on "In-Lieu Fee Mitigation: New Initiatives and Frameworks" and "Case Studies of Mitigation Banking."

In his published message to symposium attendees, retired Army Gen. J. H. Binford Peay III, VMI superintendent, acknowledged their daily efforts and leadership on behalf of environmental sustainability, and cited a recent tragedy of global importance that make their cause more urgent.

"Fortunate to live in this beautiful Commonwealth, we are surrounded by abundant natural resources. Human ingenuity has allowed us to use these resources to advance the human condition, but we are mindful of the limits imposed by the forces of nature," Peay said. "As we meet, the people of Japan are coping with an environmental and human crisis that defies description. The world community has united to provide assistance. It is one of the greatest struggles ever witnessed between man and his environment. We pause to reflect on their situation, grateful for this opportunity to come together in search of meaningful and lasting solutions."

John Evans, environmental scientist and longtime district employee, attended the symposium for the first time with many of his regulatory colleagues. He said he was extremely impressed with the intense two-day symposium and that it was well organized and presented a diverse and informative environmental update.

"We really got the big picture on pollution and nutrient reduction efforts for the Chesapeake Bay," Evans said. "We explored other opportunities for low impact development with regards to stormwater management and met with other environmental firms to discuss the Corps' permit process."

The regulatory team talked with several small business firms and directed them to the district's small business office for contract opportunities. They also networked with other environmental agency staff, including the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We were all interested in learning about some of the products and services available to make data collection less costly and more efficient; future energy sources; wetland and stream mitigation updates; and new perspectives on global warming, climate change and future population growth predictions," Evans said.

This year's symposium also featured a special session on social media that provided an overview of the tools available and how global corporations, like Coca Cola, Inc., as well as smaller Virginia organizations are communicating effectively in today's world.

Mark Haviland, public affairs chief for Norfolk District, presented, "What's Possible in the World of Social Media," to an overflow breakout session. His presentation covered social-media startup; using Norfolk District's award-winning social media sites as a model; online tools, such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, video and photo sharing; basic web research and internal investigation; and communication rules.

"Feedback has been nothing but positive, and we plan to continue this as an annual event," Darrow said.

After examining the labels, she'll roll open a drawer marked, "James River 1800-1887." Inside is a cache of delicate, yellowed, hand-drawn linen maps dotted with precision script and labeled with the graceful lines of flawless cursive and around the penned river banks, bushes and trees.

Killam, the lone Norfolk District librarian, said she couldn't narrow it down to one favorite as she pulled several maps from drawer and laid them out with the care of a conservator handling the Mona Lisa.

"These are fascinating," Killam said. "They're almost works of art." These maps – a fraction of the thousands dormant in their metal berth – are just an entry in the index of the tens of thousands of goods the library's got.

This library, however, is a library with a theme. The latest New York Times bestseller probably won't make an appearance here among the maps, nautical charts, engineering reports and the thousands of books: books on math, hydrology, bridge building and even a dog-eared copy of "Killer Angels."

The Army Corps of Engineers specificity lends itself to a trove of long-forgotten treasure, as author Earl Swift found.

"It's great to go trolling in there – you can find fascinating things that will lead to more," he said. "You'll stumble on veins of forgotten history – it's pretty cool."

Swift, a Virginia-based journalist, used the library to research stories he wrote for newspapers and his book, Journey on the James: Three Weeks Through the Heart of Virginia.

"There are weird little documents there that you can't find anywhere else," he said. Those kinds of documents helped Swift relocate prisoner-of-war camps where Nazis were held in southeast Virginia during World War II. He was able to get his bearings with landmarks that still existed.

"Thanks to the library, we had layouts," he said. "There were plans for guard towers … I was not expecting to find that and was completely floored to come across it."

Closer to home, Norfolk District employees find little gems that make their job easier.

George Janek frequently checks out the most recent issues wildlife periodicals, which have articles on stream restoration, threatened and endangered species, and wetland functions and values – the kind of information pertinent to an environmental scientist at Norfolk District. He's also used the library's topographic maps from the 1940s to determine jurisdiction over streams and wetlands.

Killam said that's the kind of primary-source material that is rarely found at other libraries.

Bo Taran, a supervisory civil engineer, uses the library as a starting point for new projects.

" … We can get a bird's eye view of how the new projects will impact the existing sightscapes and in many instances future development sightscapes," he said. He also uses the library to find natural changes to waterways, streams, rivers and tributaries by comparing maps over a certain span of time.

The library is also furnished with materials for test-takers, professional development courses for ladder climbers, annual engineering reports dating back to 1867 for the history buffs and little things, like a slang dictionary for those who aren't hip to the lingo.

Even with all the tangible finds in the library, Killam said there's more to find online through the USACE online library.

But for some, the library is a place to embrace peace and quiet or to use as a place to meet. Killam says she's got something for everyone at the library and if you don't believe her, she'll help you find it – something she loves after working libraries for more than 35 years.

"My favorite part is helping people," she said. "I'm always trying to draw new people in."

In a one-person position, she whips up bibliographies, dashes off citations, arranges inter-library loans, takes suggestions, and answers questions – all in a day's work.

"It's just amazing what you can find in here," she said. "That's one thing about the library – when you need it, you need it." The library is available to the public. If you are interested in visiting the Norfolk District USACE library, call 757-201-7562 to make an appointment.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the approximately $20 million project that will allow the Navy's nuclear powered aircraft carriers the ability to traverse from Norfolk Naval Station to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard safely at all times of the day.

"The dredging is necessary to eliminate the risk of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers damaging their ballast water intakes, as well as grounding and possible hull damage." said Raad Humadi, project manager with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic For three tenths of a mile, from Lamberts Point to the Navy Deperming Station, a 600-foot-wide portion of the federal navigation channel will be deepened from 40 feet to 50 feet. Another four-and-half-mile, 600-foot-wide portion of the channel from the deperming station to the naval shipyard will be deepened from 40 feet to 47 feet.

"This will allow us to meet the current requirements for ships entering and exiting into the Lambert's Point Deperming Station, allowing the carriers safe transit into and out of the Deperming Facility," said Humadi. "The other reach of the project allows the carrier safe transit to and from Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs and overhauls."

The Corps' contractor, Norfolk Dredging Company from Chesapeake, Va., will start dredging operations at Lamberts Point and work their way to the naval shipyard over the next 18 months, removing approximately 3 million cubic yards of material. The dredged material will be pumped into the district's Craney Island Dredge Material Management Area in Portsmouth, Va.

Over the course of the next two weeks Norfolk District survey vessels will use SONAR to get a detailed look at the navigation channel to ensure the sandbars forming on the bottom have been removed.

"We have a pretty good idea that the Currituck got the problem areas removed, but we use the survey vessels as a confirmation; as well as we can determine exactly how much sand was removed and how deep the channel is after dredging ," said Gregg Williams, Norfolk District dredging project manager.

Depending on funding, the inlet portion of the channel is scheduled to be dredged again next year, ensuring the Chincoteague Inlet federal navigation channel will remain safe and open for commercial and recreational watercraft.

The Chincoteague Inlet is the gateway to the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore, handling more than 3,000 vessels a year, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The annual project was approved in 1972 by the chief of engineers under the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor act of July 14, 1960.

The fort, erected in 1834 at Old Point Comfort in Hampton, Va., will be transferred to the Commonwealth of Virginia on Sept. 15, under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation. Before then, Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has work to complete that will benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Norfolk District is partnering with the Commonwealth's Fort Monroe Authority to design and construct back flow preventers or flap gates for approximately 30 storm drain outfalls located throughout the property. Installation of these tidal check valves will prevent tidal intrusion onto the property and reduce pollutants and nutrients from entering the Chesapeake Bay.

The Water Resources Development Act lays the groundwork for the project and partnership.

"Protection is a big priority at Fort Monroe," said Bill Armbruster, executive director of the FMA. "Parts of Fort Monroe were substantially damaged by floodwaters from Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The Army Corps of Engineers built a new seawall at the post. The completion of this project has a high value to the future success of Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort."

Fort Monroe is surrounded almost entirely by tidally-influenced waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the east, Hampton Roads harbor to the south, and Mill Creek to the west. Due to its low elevation, the fort is highly susceptible to flooding.

After Hurricane Isabel unfurled its fury on the fort in 2003, Norfolk District proposed the Fort Monroe Flood Proofing project in 2005, as part of a larger flood study of the fort.

Jennifer Armstrong, project manager and biologist at Norfolk District, is leading the flood proofing project. Armstrong recently returned to Norfolk District after serving more than two years with the New Orleans Hurricane Protection Office, where she managed the completion of several key post-Katrina flood protection projects.

"The study found that flooding events on Fort Monroe bring about two significant problems for the Chesapeake Bay," Armstrong said. "First, flood waters infiltrate the sanitary sewer system causing untreated sewage to be discharged into the Chesapeake Bay. The untreated materials contain large quantities of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), suspended solids and fecal bacteria. Second, storm events result in the flooding of basements located on the fort, which can cause a myriad of problems. In the past, this water has been pumped directly into the Chesapeake Bay without treatment. This flood-proofing phase of the project will provide additional defense towards reducing flooding on the fort for up to a 40- to 50-year storm level."

This project alone will not eliminate the threat of flooding caused by tidal surge and tropical storms, Armbruster said, but the Corps also identified additional seawall and breakwater protection projects in their 2005 study which have yet to be implemented.

A $20 million Fort Monroe Seawall Repair and Improvement Project had already begun in the winter of 2003, but it was suspended by the U.S. Army in July 2005, after Fort Monroe appeared on the BRAC list for closure. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld reauthorized the project in November 2006, and the Norfolk District resumed construction of the seawall repair in March 2007.

Now completed, the new 9.5 foot seawall stands in front of the existing structure, which averaged 7.5 feet in elevation. The seawall project repaired deficiencies and improved flood protection for Fort Monroe from a 5-year level – a storm that has a 20 percent chance of occurring in any given year – to an approximate 25-year level, a storm with a four percent annual occurrence rate. The project included breakwaters and beach replenishment along the lower parts of the shoreline facing the Chesapeake Bay.

Over the years, Norfolk District has partnered with agencies like the Fort Monroe Authority to seek solutions and implement programs for restoring the health of the nation's largest estuary – the Chesapeake Bay.

Stretching across more than 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses parts of six states along the U.S. East Coast. With its many tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay watershed endures an array of assaults from the air, water and land. Chemical contaminants, air pollution, landscape changes, erosion and over-harvesting of fish and shellfish also stress the Bay and its wildlife. The watershed's worst problem is nutrient pollution, which fuels the growth of algae blooms that degrade water quality and negatively impact aquatic life.

The Norfolk District has used the Section 510 Program of the Water Resources Development Act to enhance the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay through the reduction of sediment and dissolved nutrients and improvement of wastewater treatment facilities.

Essentially, women were erased from history.

In the 1970's, that began to change as a movement to celebrate women's history gained momentum – a momentum we still feel each March, during National Women's History Month.

Regina Malveaux, J.D., newly appointed executive director of the YWCA South Hampton Roads, will join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, on March 17 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of Waterfield Building to celebrate Women's History Month and the economic, political and social achievements of American women – past, present and future.

"Each year that we recognize and participate in National Women's History Month, we pay tribute to the millions of women who sacrificed so much to help create a better society and world," said Gregory E. Headen, chief of Norfolk District's Equal Employment Office. "Their achievements serve as an enormous inspiration and road map for future generations."

"Our History is Our Strength," is the 2011 March National Women's History Month theme. Knowing women's stories provides essential role models for everyone, according to the National Women's History Project, and role models are genuinely needed to face the extraordinary changes and unrelenting challenges of the 21st century.

Malveaux, who resides in Norfolk, Va., has compiled a resume of career achievements, all while raising two college-age children, that would easily transform her from "ordinary" to "extraordinary."

Prior to taking the helm of the YWCA South Hampton Roads, Malveaux served as founding director of the Women's Legal Center in San Diego, Calif., and legal advocate for the YWCA San Diego.

Malveaux holds an undergraduate degree in Social Policy from San Diego State University and a law degree from Howard University School of Law. During law school, Malveaux served as both a White House and Congressional intern, for then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, then chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Malveaux has served on a number of boards aimed at advancing racial justice and economic empowerment, including the San Diego NAACP, Dress for Success and Second Chance. She is nationally recognized as a tenacious advocate for women, youth and children, and has received numerous national accolades, including "Emerging Leader" by the Children's Defense Fund and one of 10 National Head Start Policy Fellows during the Clinton administration.

President Barack Obama, in his 2011 proclamation honoring National Women's History Month, also praised the extraordinary accomplishments of women in shaping the course of our nation's history, and issued a challenge:

"Today, women have reached heights their mothers and grandmothers might only have imagined. Women now comprise nearly half of our workforce and the majority of students in our colleges and universities," he said. "They scale the skies as astronauts, expand our economy as entrepreneurs and business leaders, and serve our country at the highest levels of government and our Armed Forces. In honor of the pioneering women who came before us, and in recognition of those who will come after us, this month, we recommit to erasing the remaining inequities facing women in our day."

His office might indicate something like that: neatly arranged awards and shiny plaques that line his office walls praise his work with small businesses in tall, etched letters. Another decoration for his efforts, a ceremonial sword, guards the front of his desk. He keeps three smooth black stones that say "respect," "trust" and "integrity" on a table in his office – they're a few basic tenets of how Beecher does business. The Web will tell you his expert testimony was shared with Congress and he's spoken at or attended more small business conferences than a contractor could throw a brick at.

As the chief of the Small Business Program Office, is he the best at what he does? Maybe. Kaney O'Neill thinks so.

O'Neill was a Navy airman apprentice when she fell and became a quadriplegic more than a decade ago. As a service-disabled veteran, she owns a general contracting company in Washington, and she met Norfolk District's Beecher at a small business conference. Since then, Beecher has become an advocate for her, like he is for all service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

"When you're in a business like mine, it's difficult," O'Neill said. "Jack has been somebody who actively supports my business, and done everything in his power to help make me and my business successful."

Beecher is the magic man of opportunity for small businesses. At Norfolk District, his small business section connects work opportunities, mostly contracting, with small women-owned businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and small businesses in historically underutilized zones, among others. But Beecher is making waves in his efforts to help service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

From beaches to business

Fresh out of the jungles of Pleiku, Vietnam, Beecher joined Norfolk District in 1970 as a surveying aid and four years later he became a general clerk in the contracting division, and he's since worked his way through the ranks.

Beecher said he's come a long way.

A beach-bum at heart, a young Beecher was content to surf the crisp Atlantic waves when he wasn't stocking shelves, sacking groceries or crashing at his parents' Portsmouth home. He was doing just that when an official-looking letter, signed by the president, found its way to Beecher in 1968: "You are hereby ordered to report for and submit to induction into the Armed Forces of the United States …"

"To be honest with you, at the time, I didn't care to be in the Army," Beecher said.

But Beecher now uses the connection he feels from his two years in the Army to help service-disabled veterans: Beecher is also an SDV, something he found out after his prostate cancer was linked to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

"As a service disabled veteran, I have a personal perspective on trying to help those companies," he said. "Not a day goes by that I'm not dealing with a SDV."

Small business, big success

Beecher became the District's small business chief in 1998 and the program manager for the SDVOSB category about four years ago. As program manager, he said he had a valuable tool at his fingertips - an executive order directing federal agencies to award 3 percent of their contract budget to SDVOSB.

"The order was a really great incubator for vets who were interested in starting small businesses and working with the federal government," said David Spanka, president of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Council. However, Spanka said this order was weakened by its wording.

"The order simply established an agency goal," Spanka said. "A lot of government agencies don't meet that goal, but pat themselves on the back when the achieve 1 percent."

Spanka said agencies like the Veteran's Administration and Norfolk District have done well in meeting or exceeding the 3 percent mark. The District lands that recognition in part to the small business section's efforts: in Beecher's first year as program manager, the Corps increased its SDV awards from $217 million to $543 million as the small business section put SDVOSB in front of contract officers and decision makers at Norfolk District. Beecher says the successes are a reflection of Corps employees and leadership – and each played a role in ensuring that every fiscal year since 2008, Norfolk District has exceeded the 3 percent goal. In fiscal year 2010, 15 percent of the contracting budget went to SDVOSBs.

While some SDVOSBs come to Beecher, others are found by Beecher. He looks for SDVOSB construction companies, and helps them navigate the federal marketplace as they seek opportunities to do business with Uncle Sam. He's found dozens of companies at conferences, in meetings, through databases and watched the businesses ride their success to become something larger.

"I've actually seen some small businesses go from having companies that do $100,000 a year to well above $4 or $5 million a year," he said. The Corps awarded more than $2.2 billion dollars in contracts to SDVOSB over the last three years.

John Karafa's construction business was one such company. The company's maiden project was the Fort Lee dining facility in 2008. It was also the seed project for the fledgling company, Leebcor.

"We had a lot to lose or a lot to gain," Karafa said. "They say you're only as good as your last project and we wanted to put our best foot forward – and this wasn't an easy building."

The dining facility, which was a $6.8 million contract award, earned a LEED Gold rating in 2010 based on the company's work. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

"That project enabled us to launch a credible, quality-focused business," Karafa said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the [small business] program. I had this opportunity because of Jack."

Norfolk District has since awarded Karafa's company with a handful of multi-million dollar projects under the SDV set-aside.

The small business section also helped cast Jim Hart's construction business, Arriba Corporation, as another company that handles million-dollar contracts. Arriba started in 1998 with two employees and one contract. But that was before Jack Beecher and a contract for a job at Fort Eustis.

"Jack provided a lot of support," Hart said. "He's incredibly committed to small businesses."

Hart credits Beecher with strengthening SDVOSBs by advocating for them and getting companies in front of decision-makers.

"His voice was pretty loud," Hart said. "He rallied a lot of people to say, 'look, this makes sense.'"

In the meantime, Beecher continues to support SDVOSB, finding new businesses and keeping in touch with companies, like O'Neill's, that he's helped along the way.

"He's never stopped helping me," O'Neill said. "It says a lot about what kind of man he is and about his work effort – it's a beautiful thing."

The Norfolk District plays a vital role rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure through overseas contingency operations, or OCO. Employees from Norfolk District, ranging from engineers, analysts, project managers, architects and support staff volunteer for deployments for six- and 12-month periods. They are improving ports, repairing more than 35 bridges, dredging, providing electricity, building the first-ever water treatment facility, rebuilding airports, police stations and housing throughout the country. It's just a handful of the more than 4,800 reconstruction projects the Gulf Region District has completed.

Walter Kloth, a 23-year-old geographic information system technician and youngest Norfolk District volunteer to deploy, spent six months in Iraq last year.

"Before leaving, I thought I would be surrounded by miles of desert, ducking into buildings to avoid the random sand storm … (I was) mentally preparing myself to work ten-plus-hour days, seven days a week," Kloth said. "It was nothing like I had envisioned."

The Virginia Beach native worked in the northern province of Kabul – a higher elevated region - grass, trees, terrain with goat herders and lots of rose bushes, he said. Kloth, along with the other volunteers, lived in a prefabricated metal container - roughly the size of an 8x36 box with air conditioning. In his spare time he played cards and watched movies on his personal laptop - an essential travel item that broke up the "Groundhog Day" feeling, he said.

His daily routine consisted of using GIS as integrated hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

"Simply put, GIS gives you a birds-eye view of the terrain to support construction, installation of pipes and other infrastructure elements. It provides an intricate part of the framework for planning," Kloth said.

Kloth is just one of many who have helped breathe life into a damaged and disintegrating infrastructure. Upgraded warehouses, silos, and other facilities have been built and are re-employing more than 3,500 workers at Umm Qasr, Iraqi's main port. Other projects include dredging the port 33 feet deeper and removing unexploded ordnance and other sunken obstacles. By early June 2009, the channel was deep enough to allow ships carrying 15,000 metric tons of food to unload.

"It's important and satisfying to know we are making a difference in the lives of people … and that goes far beyond building infrastructure to sharing knowledge of engineering, construction management, and business practices. The Corps team continues to make a lasting impact," said Maj. David A. Fedroff, Norfolk District deputy commander and the district's OCO program manager.

To date, more than 100 Norfolk District employees have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan since 2004.

Norfolk District has a little more than400 people, and about two percent of the team deploys at any given time to support overseas contingency operations, said Jan VanHouten, an emergency management specialist and the coordinator for OCO.

"The Corps is one of the few organizations that have the capability to design and build the infrastructure of a country, and it started when we provided humanitarian assistance by building tent cities in the Balkans in the late nineties" VanHouten said."Our mission has definitely evolved and our successes and contribution in Iraq and Afghanistan are evidence of our ongoing efforts."

It's also an organization where employees like Kloth are committed to the mission.

"Most people ask me, 'Why would you want to go there and do what you do?' and I ask them, 'Why not?'" Kloth said.

The Gulf Region District team has completed $7.8 billion in reconstruction projects. In addition to the more than 4,800 reconstruction projects completed, 261 projects are in progress and 27 projects are being planned, according to a 2009 GAO report.

"The Coast Guard requested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dredge Currituck remove severely shoaled portions of Oregon Inlet in North Carolina so they could execute their rescue missions before it moved on to its next job at Chincoteague, Va.," said Christopher Frabotta, dredging project manager with the Corps' Wilmington District.

Annual scheduled maintenance dredging of the Chincoteague Inlet federal navigation channel will remove about 100,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand keeping it open and safe for commercial and recreational watercraft.

The dredge should not interfere with boaters navigating the channel. The Currituck, scheduled to be onsite for 21 days, will work around-the-clock to remove the potential hazards from the channel.

The sand the dredge collects from the project will be placed just offshore of NASA's Wallops Island facility.

The Chincoteague Inlet is the gateway to the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore, handling more than 3,000 vessels a year, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The annual project was approved in 1972 by the chief of engineers under the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor act of July 14, 1960.

Over the years and behind the scenes, the National Park Service has teamed with Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to complete a variety of environmental repair and restoration projects to conserve Colonial's scenic beauty and natural and historic objects for the enjoyment and education of future generations.

Now they're teaming up to assemble a project delivery team through an interagency agreement to design and construct a combination of shoreline structures and marsh protection in four sections of the York River at the Colonial National Historical Park. It's where Mother Nature continues to exact a heavy toll on the bluffs and shoreline of the venerable York River.

"The National Park Service, including Colonial National Historical Park, has benefited from the expertise of the Norfolk District for many years," said Lilly Hardin, project manager for NPS' Denver Service Center. "Their level of support and understanding has ensured that the park's cultural and archeological resources will be protected for future generations. This latest project will ensure that the scenic beauty of the York River and the historic culture of Colonial Parkway will both be preserved."

Design and construction funding for the York River Shoreline Stabilization project totals $6.2 million, which includes $738,000 to perform specified emergency construction. For the remaining project, the team will initially complete a 30 percent design of the entire 4.1 mile shoreline repair, and then a 100 percent design for the emergency repair portions of the project.

Norfolk District will provide construction contracting and management for the emergency construction under the current agreement.

Cara Sydnor, project manager and biologist at Norfolk District, is leading the restoration and repair project. The Omaha, Neb. native has served seven years with Norfolk District and said she feels uniquely qualified to lead this restoration and repair project, which will begin later this year, because of her background in biology and love for the natural environment.

"My work in wetlands preservation, riverbank restoration and waterway management has helped me really understand the forces – artificial and natural – that degrade our nation's amazing natural beauty. Preserving a portion of that natural beauty, especially at Colonial National Historical Park, is a dream project for any biologist," Sydnor said.

The NPS has managed Colonial National Historical Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, since the early 1930s. The park covers about 15 square miles and is centered on a peninsula between the York and James rivers, in southeastern Virginia. The park offers pilgrims a scenic 23-mile Colonial Parkway that meanders through the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Yorktown Battlefield and the historic district of Colonial Williamsburg.

Norfolk District has completed a variety of preservation and restoration projects at the park. Some of those projects have included the stabilization of key sections of the Jamestown Island shoreline; the rehabilitation of the centuries-old Wormley Pond Dam in Yorktown; and completed in 2007, the Emergency York River Shoreline Repair and Protection Project.

This RAB public meeting serves as the main forum for public discussion of Corps remediation progress at the 975-acre former ordnance depot. FNOD was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Project update
• Technical team update
• Public affairs community outreach

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997, as the main forum for community citizens to directly provide input on the cleanup effort at the formerly used defense site. Project team members available at each RAB meeting include: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA.

The restoration advisory board is also comprised of community members, local business representatives, local and state officials and the Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation, Inc.

Additional project information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/

The Corps Dredge Currituck will remove about 100,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand that's creating shoals in the channel and could present a hazard to local commercial and recreational boaters.

The dredge should not interfere with boaters navigating the channel. The Currituck, scheduled to be onsite for 21 days, will work around-the-clock to remove the potential hazards from the channel.

"We work very closely with the local boating community to ensure our operations have little to no impact on their abilities to transit through the channel; however, boaters do need to be especially aware around the dredge and remain clear while they are working," said Gregg Williams, the Norfolk District project manager for the dredging.

The sand the dredge collects from the project will be placed just offshore of NASA's Wallops Island facility.

The Chincoteague Inlet is the gateway to the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore, handling more than 3,000 vessels a year, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The annual project was approved in 1972 by the chief of engineers under the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor act of July 14, 1960.

The more than 200-year-old fort stymied the British during the War of 1812 when it prevented a war fleet from capturing the USS Constellation. During the Civil War, the fort loaded the Confederate's ironclad, the CSS Virginia, with munitions before it rumbled with the Monitor. Over time, wind pushed on its tired wall, water bullied the bricks and portions of the wall's outer layer – the veneer – were starting to lean like the Tower of Pisa.

In short, Fort Norfolk's wall was showing its age.

And for the last standing harbor-front fort authorized by President George Washington, that means a facelift.

So on a recent February day, contractors put in the last few rows of bricks as the wind whipped off the Elizabeth River. Workers iced each red brick with mortar before carefully tapping them level on the wall as 400-pound white capstones lay a few yards away in the grass – as the originals, they would be replaced when the work was done.

Craig Jones, a project manager at Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is a liaison to the Norfolk Historical Society. He helped coordinate the repairs, as the district is responsible for keeping the fort, which is on its federal property, from crumbling into obscurity.

"We're trying to maintain the integrity of the wall," Jones said.

That's an uphill battle for a wall as old as Fort Norfolk's. The first bulwark was earthen with wooden supports. It wasn't until 1810, when war with England became inevitable, that it got the masonry-upgrade. Even then, the wall was a "dry stack:" bricks were laid without cement, without anything to bond the bricks together. It was a tactical advantage when it came to cannon-ball blasts against the wall: bricks in the wall would shift to absorb the impact. A previous repair from 30 years ago had fixed the aging veneer, but hadn't tied it to the existing brick.

Contractor Mike Gianizero and his crew demolished part of the failing outer veneer before putting down a layer of modern brick that matched the look of the older masonry. He thinks that water was trapped behind the brick, and as the water froze and expanded over the years, it pushed the brick out.

That's one hypothesis.

Leonard Mule, structural section supervisor at Norfolk District, said it's possible that suction along the wall may have contributed to its failure, especially if there was already a weakness in the bulwark. The law of physics says when wind blows along a surface, it causes suction. It's the same high-pressure principle that keeps airplanes aloft.

No one will know for sure unless the historical society sends out an archeologist to oversee a renovation of the wall – an excavation that would lead to a full-blown archeological dig. But the wall repairs aren't that, so the major source of the wall's suffering remains a mystery for now.

What does a facelift like that cost these days? About $43,000, according to Christian Brumm, a civil engineer supervisor at Norfolk District. That price tag is about five times the cost of a real facelift, but it's a real deal in terms of the square footage operated on: more than 600 square feet of veneer was replaced. That included soil anchors, a welded-wire mesh system for lateral stability and a whitewash. The Corps footed the bill for the work, and had the blessing of the Norfolk Historical Society.

The repairs are on time for next year's 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812.

"It's critically important that we take care of [the wall] so that the rest of the country gets the benefit of this historic gem," said Louis Guy, former president of the Norfolk Historical Society and an expert on Fort Norfolk. "It's a vital element to the celebration next year."

This wasn't the first and it won't be the last time the wall – or the fort – goes under the hammer for work. Because of its age, repairs like this are normal, Jones said.

She's amassed a collection of "cradle to grave" design and construction projects over the course of a 26-plus year career as a project and resident engineer with Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her repertoire includes soldier and airmen barracks, dining facilities, hospitals, dental clinics, gyms, family housing, child development centers, commissaries, indoor and outdoor training facilities and much more.

Despite her stockpile of experience, Michener admits she was nervous when the call came for her to join the staff of the Fort Lee Base Realignment and Closure Area Office, which was established to handle more than one billion dollars in new construction projects.

When President George W. Bush signed the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act in 2005, he set into motion a military construction transformation that would totally change the landscape of Fort Lee. By fall 2011, the Army installation near Richmond, Va., will have completed 35 BRAC infrastructure projects to accommodate more than 22,000 troops, installation employees and family members – nearly double its 2005 military population.

It wasn't the number of construction projects Michener and her team had to manage that gave her pause, but the swift pace of work involved in fulfilling the BRAC process by fall 2011, said Michener.

"We began BRAC 05 construction in fall 2007, using an accelerated construction timeline," Michener said. "To meet this timeline, our team has had to stay focused and disciplined every day – on each project – to ensure we successfully complete our BRAC mission by 2011."

To meet the looming 2011 deadline, Norfolk District used an innovative contract award process that sped up project delivery time by making one qualified contractor responsible for the project's design and construction, said Debora Gray, chief of Contracting Office's Military Branch.

Michener has completed five BRAC 05 military construction projects and is currently working her last three, with one being a consolidated troop medical/dental clinic, one of only a handful in the Army inventory. It's part of the BRAC Ordnance Center and School, which sits on 380 acres and resembles a college campus. Known as Fort Lee North, the campus is comprised of five barracks, 10 training bays and one of the largest dining facilities in the Army, and 4,500 advanced individual training students and their instructors. The state-of-the-art troop medical/dental facility is set for completion in May.

"This is really a neat project. It combines a wide variety of medical and dental services, including in-house medical laboratories and a dental fabrication unit, so the students can receive timely medical and dental treatment at just one medical facility," Michener said.

Greg Hegge, chief of Norfolk District's Fort Lee Projects Branch, had nothing but praise for the work accomplished by the Fort Lee BRAC Area team.

"So many factors contribute to the success of each construction project here, but it's the men and women in the field who are the true heroes of the battle," said Hegge. "Each day they work tirelessly, even through holidays, to administer these construction contracts. It is only through their dedicated efforts that we deliver these quality projects on time, within budget and environmentally sound and safe for soldiers and their families."

Michener came to Norfolk District after serving with the Corps' Huntington District for two-plus years, and as a resident engineer here, she supervises the project construction staff. Michener, a West Milford, W.Va. native, is also the go-to for technical advice regarding the project's design, construction, contract administration, and issuing of contract modifications.

Michener's recipe for project success is admittedly "old school," but she stressed the importance of always keeping it simple and never losing sight of the big picture.

"Take extra effort that the roof doesn't leak and the mechanical systems heat and cool properly, and that all the special systems the customer needs to operate and train are functional," Michener said. "Get that done on time and you should have a successful project."

Doug Garman 202-761-1807
Doug.M.Garman@usace.army.mil

Pamela K. Spaugy 757-201-7059
Pamela.K.Spaugy@usace.army.mil

02/14/2011 - Washington — The President's Budget for fiscal year 2012 (FY12) includes $4.631 billion in gross discretionary funding for the Civil Works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, offset in part by a proposal to cancel $57 million of prior year funding, of which $35 million was provided through an emergency supplemental appropriation.

The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, said, "This year's Civil Works budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reflects the Administration's priorities through targeted investments in the nation's infrastructure that help restore the environment and revitalize the economy, while also reflecting the need to make the tough choices necessary to put the country on a fiscally sustainable path.

"This is a performance-based budget that funds the construction of projects that reduce risk to public safety, provide significant environmental restoration benefits, or provide significant economic returns on the nation's investment," said Darcy.

The Army Civil Works program additionally contributes to the protection of the nation's waters and wetlands; the restoration of certain sites contaminated as a result of the nation's early atomic weapons development program; and emergency preparedness and training to respond to natural disasters.

This budget includes $51,373,000 for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of Norfolk District projects in the three main civil works mission areas: commercial navigation, flood and coastal storm damage reduction and aquatic ecosystem restoration.

Norfolk District projects include:

• The Atlantic Coastal Waterway (operations, $1,742.000)
• The Atlantic Coastal Waterway (operation of the Dismal Swamp Canal, $1,156,000)
• Chincoteague Inlet (maintenance, $600,000)
• Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw (operations, $2,253,000)
• Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Newport News Harbors/drift removal (maintenance, $1,048,000)
• Hampton Roads/prevention of obstructive deposits (operations, $75,000)
• Inspection of completed works (operations, $230,000)
• James River Channel (operations, $175,000; maintenance, $4,188,000)
• Chowan River ($124,000, reconnaissance)
• Lynnhaven River Basin (preconstruction engineering and design, $300,000)
• Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Craney Island (construction, $27,400,000)
• Norfolk Harbor (operations, $526,000; maintenance, $10,524,000)
• Project Condition Surveys (operations, $832,000)
• Upper Rappahannock River Basin Comprehensive (feasibility, $200,000)

New federal funding in the Corps' Civil Works budget consists of $3.753 billion from the general fund, $758 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, $77 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and $43 million from Special Recreation User Fees.

The FY12 funding will be distributed among the appropriation accounts as follows:

• $2.314 billion for Operation and Maintenance
• $1.48 billion for Construction
• $210 million for Mississippi River and Tributaries
• $196 million for the Regulatory Program
• $185 million for Expenses
• $109 million for the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
• $104 million for Investigations
• $27 million for Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies
• $6 million for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works

Non-federal partners are expected to make approximately $540 million in cost-sharing contributions to the Rivers and Harbors Contributed Funds in FY12. Additionally, $15 million in Federal Permanent Appropriations will be available to USACE in FY12, and $85 million will be available from the Coastal Wetlands Restoration Trust Fund for the work of several of the Federal agencies including the Corps, overseen by an interagency Federal-State task force led by the Corps.

The FY12 Budget funds capital investments in the inland waterways based on the estimated revenues to the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. Among coastal navigation projects, the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) program gives priority to the harbors and channels with the most commercial traffic. The Budget also funds maintenance work at harbors that support significant commercial fishing, subsistence, or public transportation benefits, although at a lower total level than in prior years.

In connection with the FY12 Budget, the Administration proposes changes in the way federal navigation activities are funded. The Administration will work with Congress to reform the laws governing the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to support increased investments in safe, reliable, highly cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable inland waterways, while ensuring that commercial navigation users meet their share of the costs of activities financed from this trust fund. The Budget proposes to increase revenues paid by commercial navigation users sufficiently to meet their share of the costs of activities financed from this trust fund in future years. In addition, legislation will be proposed to expand the authorized uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund so that its receipts are available to finance the federal share of efforts carried out by several agencies in support of commercial navigation through the nation's ports.

The FY12 O&M program is funded at $2.445 billion, including $131 million in the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) account. The Budget emphasizes performance of existing projects by focusing on the maintenance of key commercial navigation, flood and storm damage reduction, and other facilities.

The FY12 construction program is funded at $1.558 billion, including $78 million in the MR&T account. The construction program uses objective, performance-based guidelines to allocate funding toward the highest performing economic, environmental, and public safety investments. The priorities of the Corps' aquatic ecosystem restoration program are coordinated with, and informed by, interagency collaboration to restore nationally significant ecosystems including the California Bay Delta, Chesapeake Bay, the Everglades, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf Coast.

The Budget funds 92 construction projects, consisting of 10 dam safety assurance, seepage control, and static instability correction projects (includes one project completion); 20 projects ranked on the basis of life-saving benefits; two additional project completions; two new starts; and 58 other continuing projects.

By program area, the 92 funded construction projects consist of 55 Flood and Storm Damage Reduction projects (three budgeted for completion), 16 Commercial Navigation projects (including five continuing mitigation items and four dredged material placement areas), 19 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration projects (including three projects to meet Biological Opinions), and mitigation associated with two Hydropower projects.

Among the ongoing construction projects in the FY12 Budget are: the South Florida ecosystem restoration program, which includes the Everglades ($163 million); Olmsted Locks and Dam, IL & KY ($150 million); Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, KY, seepage control ($132 million); Columbia River Fish Mitigation, WA, OR & ID ($128 million); Herbert Hoover Dike, FL, seepage control ($85 million); Center Hill Lake, TN ($79 million); Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND & SD ($73 million); Bluestone Lake, WV ($70 million); and New York and New Jersey Harbor, NY & NJ ($65 million) . The three construction projects funded for completion in the FY12 Budget are: Crookston, MN ($1.25 million), Dover Dam, OH ($5 million), and Santa Paula Creek, CA ($2.1 million).

The FY12 construction program includes two high-priority new construction starts: Hamilton City, CA ($8 million), and Raritan to Sandy Hook (Port Monmouth), NJ ($3 million).

The FY12 Budget includes funding for both initial construction of projects to reduce storm damage along the coast and periodic renourishment of such projects. The FY12 program supports 10 such projects, of which three are initial construction and seven are periodic renourishment.

The Budget funds activities for large-scale ecosystems including the California Bay Delta, Chesapeake Bay, Columbia River, Everglades, Great Lakes, Louisiana Coast, Missouri River, and Upper Mississippi River. The Corps will continue to work with other federal, state and local agencies, using the best available science and adaptive management, to protect and restore these ecosystems. Environmental sustainability of these ecosystems also helps to support positive economic growth in the surrounding communities.

The FY12 Budget provides $50 million ($46 million in O&M account and $4 million in Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE)) for a comprehensive levee safety initiative to help ensure that federal levees are safe and to assist non-federal parties to address safety issues with their levees. The initiative includes funding for ongoing work on the National Levee Inventory Program as well as for the Silver Jackets interagency teams.

The FY12 Regulatory Program is funded at $196 million. With these funds, USACE will continue to protect the nation's waters and wetlands, improve compliance with and enforcement of wetlands regulations, and improve permitting processes.

The FY12 FUSRAP program is funded at $109 million to continue remedial activities at 22 sites.

The FY12 Investigations account is funded at $104 million. The Budget includes four new studies: Englebright and Daguerre Point Dams (Yuba River) Fish Passage, CA; Cano Martin Pena, PR; the Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Plan; and the Louisiana Coastal Area Comprehensive Study. Funding is also included for the Water Resources Priorities Study, a high-priority evaluation of the nation's vulnerability to inland and coastal flooding and of the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of existing programs and strategies.

Emergency Management is funded at $34 million in FY12, with $27 million in the FCCE account for preparedness and training to respond to floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, and $7 million in the O&M account. The FCCE funding includes Corps participation in an expansion of Silver Jackets interagency teams to every state to provide unified federal assistance in implementing flood risk management solutions.

Recreation is funded at $259 million in FY12, with $247 million in the O&M account and $12 million in the MR&T account. USACE is the nation's largest provider of federal recreation opportunities, and its recreation areas contribute to the success of the Administration's Great Outdoors Initiative.

But those first employees were not alone.

Urban feral cats roamed the 19th century stronghold, one of the best preserved War of 1812-era military fortresses in the United States. And while no one knows their exact number, stories passed down by employees over the years put the numbers of feral cats as high as 100.

A few employees would volunteer their time and resources to feed and look out for the cats; some cats were adopted by employees. But there was no formal program to manage and control their population.

That changed in 1992 when the district formed an all-volunteer Feral Cat Management Program. At that time there were 62 feral cats, including a few strays.

The FCMP is a trap/neuter/return program (TNR). Each cat is caught in a humane trap and taken to a veterinarian to be examined, neutered, inoculated and given any necessary treatment. The veterinarian clips or notches the cat's ear tip to indicate that the cat has been altered. The cat is then returned to Fort Norfolk to live its feral life.

The FCMP provides food, water and shelter as well as veterinary care, which includes all necessary vaccinations and testing and treatment for feline diseases. Norfolk District's program is modeled after Alley Cat Allies' TNR Program, a nonprofit national network that links caretakers and helps educate the public on the humane management of feral cat populations.

The FCMP is funded through the district's Corps Cat Fund, which consists solely of volunteer donations. The program has all but eliminated the conception and birth of new kittens and over time has significantly reduced the cat population. The eight cats that remain in the program live in a safe, healthy environment.

"The cats here are an integral part of the urban wildlife scene at Fort Norfolk, and they are beneficial to the environment," said Lane Killam, one of the original Norfolk District FCMP caretakers. "Fort Norfolk is located on the Elizabeth River, and the feral cats help control the rodent population. They are generally leery of humans and non-aggressive."

The eight feral cats at Fort Norfolk, with names like Yoda, Mackie, M.J., Mr. Blackie, Maxie, Honey, Bear and Prissy, have become somewhat social with their FCMP caretakers.

"I grew up on a farm with cats in a very cat-loving family," said Betty Waring, who has fed the ferals here since the 1980s. "It has been one of my greatest pleasures to take care of these wonderful animals over the years. When I arrive at work each morning, the cats run to greet me with their tails up high. Their love is unconditional, which matches that of our great group of caretakers here."

Each feral cat has its own unique personality and some are real characters, Killam said.

In 2001, Mackie won the Alley Cat Allies' Photo Contest, and her likeness was featured on a syndicated cartoon strip. And Bubba, who recently died, had a video posted on YouTube, "It's All About Bubba," which was produced by FCMP caretaker John H. Newton.

Sometimes stray or abandoned cats show up at Fort Norfolk, like one that the FCMP group found and named Jimmy Kat. Longtime caretaker Anita Bradshaw said caretakers bring cats like Jimmy Kat to the veterinarian for a health check, and then find them a loving home.

The Norfolk District caregivers found a new home for Jimmy Kat a few weeks before Christmas.

"I love each of these cats as though they were my own, and when we lose one, it hurts just as much," Bradshaw said. "I'm a true believer in our program. If a feral cat colony is managed correctly, the population can be controlled in a humane way."

During the hot and humid summer months when sun bathers line the white sandy beaches and stroll along the Virginia Beach boardwalk, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more than 20 years ago, Schulte douses himself with sunscreen, puts on his trademark straw hat, white cotton tank shirt and shorts, and spends the day going from oyster sanctuary to oyster sanctuary, measuring the size of oysters and gathering underwater imagery of the reefs built since 2004. In the winter, as swirling winds and temperatures dip to 30-degrees, the Midland, Pa. native is bundled up and on the water checking the reefs and thinking of innovative ways to naturally enhance the population of oysters.

Schulte, a marine biologist at the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is turning a barren portion of the Great Wicomico and Lynnhaven Rivers into blossoming oyster reefs, teeming with healthy oysters.

But the shuck doesn't stop there: he has set his sights on the Painkatank River and its potential to become the next Wicomico.

The oyster population in the Chesapeake is estimated to be less than one percent of its size during the 19th century, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Over time, overfishing, pollution, destruction of habitat and, most recently, disease ravaged the oyster population.

Oysters are a key species for the bay's health because they act as a filter, improving water quality. Chesapeake's historic oyster population could filter the Bay's volume every three or four days. Today's oyster population would take more than a year to filter the same amount of water, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The filtration process is significant to the water and aquatic life – it consumes algae, clarifies the water, helps bay grasses thrive and reduces shoreline loss. Fish and crabs hide in the small crevices and holes created by the oysters and shells that make up the reef.

The Norfolk District became involved with native oyster restoration in 1999. The first two projects, in the lower Rappahannock River and the Tangier Sound, were designed to help the commercial oyster fishery. The project's mediocre success required the Corps to go back to the drawing board. The Corps' new strategy became geared toward ecological restoration: developing self-sustaining oyster populations on restored reefs.

With that in mind, Schulte and the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project Team set out restore the reefs and built them to mimic the historical high reef structure from the 1800's, Schulte said.

The vertical design worked, Schulte said. Previous reef construction required a thin shell layer a few inches thick on the bottom. The new blueprint called for a minimum reef height of 12 inches, simulating historic oyster reefs. The goal was to populate tributaries leading to the Chesapeake Bay with protected reefs. The hope then was for a process called recruitment.

During recruitment, oyster adults spawn on the reefs and release tiny larvae into the water. The larvae drift in the water for up to three weeks, looking for a new home. With the primitive eye and foot they develop near the end of their larval phase, they're looking for prime real estate: a hard object, preferably another oyster, to settle on.

"Once they 'set' the baby oyster loses its foot and eye, never to move again, transforming into a tiny version of what we see on our plates when we order oysters on the half-shell," Schulte said.

Creating larger oyster populations for water purification increases fishery stocks for watermen, which means more revenue for the approximately 1,800 full-time watermen left standing after the bay's decline.

Ken Smith, president of the Virginia Waterman's Association, said deterioration of the Chesapeake Bay's health took its toll on watermen. About 5,000 watermen used to work the bay, but when the tides changed, they were forced to find other work, said Smith.

"It was good living when I started, and in the mid 80's, that changed," he said. "I make half of what I used to bring home and the decline is a direct reflection of the health of the Chesapeake Bay … We stopped having fish in those areas; they were dead zones."

The Corps partnered with the VMRC and Virginia Institute of Marine Science to revive the fading oyster population and increase recruitment in Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and constructed the first Wicomico River reefs in 2004. Starting with the Wicomico reef habitat, Schulte and his team decided to focus on a tributary-by-tributary fashion, starting with small, tidally retentive systems most likely to provide oyster recruits for restored reef habitat. One of the goals of the Great Wicomico River oyster restoration project was to increase local recruitment, and thus, the population.

In just a few years, the team's efforts paid off. The adult oyster population on remnant habitats – former reef bases that were dormant and covered with silt and algae – were now home to baby oysters from protected reefs, and the oyster population had increased from 630,000 to 13.80 million by 2008. The adult oyster population on the restored habitat was 119.20 million in 2007 and was about the same in 2008 – in 2004, there was not a single mollusk on the habitat.

Schulte said the team was successful, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission moved some of the Great Wicomico recruits, or "seed" oysters, to areas for later harvest, while leaving the sanctuaries alone to produce still more recruits in the future.

"The restored reefs are now performing better than we could have hoped," Schulte said. "The tides have changed – both for watermen and the recruitment of oysters,"

Smith, the 40-year waterman who has worked the northern neck of the Wicomico, Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers and tributaries, believed that if the bay was clean, nature would take care of the rest. For Smith, seeing is believing.

"Now there is grass growing there that we haven't seen in years …" Smith said about Glee Point at the northern neck of the Wicomico. "Oysters are piling up on the rip-rap, pilings, rocks along the shoreline – I attribute it to the recruitment from the Corps' reefs."

During a recent trip to the Lynnhaven, Schulte measured oysters six- to eight-inches long on protected reefs. The average oyster ranges from three- to-four inches. Oysters on the restored reefs in the Great Wicomico are measuring up to six-inches and longer after six years of reef growth, Schulte said. Disease killed some of the oysters, but many survived and new baby oysters, called "spat," have recruited to the reefs in large numbers. This should allow the reefs to continue to be a home for many millions of oysters, Schulte said.

"That's amazing and it shows us that it is only going to get better," he said.

The Corps protects thousands of oysters with aquaculture netting, which is part of an anti-predator experiment. These oysters and larger shell reefs built in 2007 and 2008 are thriving at several sites in the river. Early monitoring is showing some of the restored reefs are on a track similar to the older Great Wicomico high-relief reefs.

The findings from Wicomico, which have been published recently in the journal Science, indicate that the restoration project resulted in a 57-fold increase in the Great Wicomico oyster population and is currently the largest restored oyster reef network in the world. Adult oyster densities are averaging about 700 per square meter of reef, with about 300 young oysters, called "spat," adding up to about 1,000 oysters per square meter of high relief reefs. These densities have never before recorded in the modern-day Chesapeake Bay. The oysters are all from wild recruitment, not planted "spat-on-shell."

"This is the first time the Chesapeake Bay Program goal of a 10-fold increase in native oysters has been met in any location, and we exceeded it by almost six times," said Col. Andy Backus, commander of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the project for the federal government.

"I have seen first-hand the positive ecological impact this project has had. We hope to increase the existing Lynnhaven River from fifty to sixty acres of reefs to one hundred acres and do additional plantings of spat-on-shell baby oysters on some of the restored reefs," Backus said.

The Corps, Lynnhaven River Now and the City of Virginia Beach, with the endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, were instrumental in overlooking and continuing the efforts once the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project started, Schulte said.

Schulte and the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project Team received the Coastal America Partnership Award in 2009 for their innovative and successful ongoing efforts to restore and protect the coastal environment, specifically, the Native American Oyster, in the Lynnhaven River.

But this doesn't mean Schulte will spend a lot of time sitting idle - he can usually be found on the waters of the Great Wicomico, Lynnhaven and canvassing the Painkatank River as a potential site as research and solutions continue.

Did you know?

• The Chesapeake Bay watershed is approximately 64,000 square miles. The Lynnhaven basin is about 64 square miles and in many ways is a microcosm of the Chesapeake Bay. The watershed is heavily urbanized, and much of the original forested areas and a sizeable portion of the wetlands, which once lined the river, is now lost. In the 1890's, James Baylor, who surveyed all of Virginia's oyster grounds, called Baylor Grounds, delineated 986 acres of public oyster grounds in the Lynnhaven River, specifically in Broad Bay, Linkhorn Bay, Crystal Lake and Lynnhaven Bay.
• By the mid-1970s the natural oyster reefs in the Lynnhaven River were essentially gone except for a few scattered patches, less than one acre in size.
• All of the Lynnhaven River's waters were closed to shellfish harvest of any sort due to high bacteria levels in the water. However, the Corps considered the river a good candidate site based on several factors: the history of high oyster recruitment in the river, its once-extensive oyster beds and the high-density remnant oyster population where the Corps found more than 1,000 oysters per square meter of stone rip-rap along shorelines. The Corps estimated there were 10 million to 20 million oysters, scattered mostly on rip-rap and along marsh edges throughout the Lynnhaven River system, prior to the proposed Corps reefs. Some of the adults were observed at 5 to 7 inches in length, which indicated the wild Lynnhaven oyster had significant resistance to the diseases MSX and Dermo. Both diseases typically kill native oysters when they are 1 to 2.5 inches in length.
• The Corps first proposed the Lynnhaven River as a potential restoration site in 2003 and planning began in 2004. Several small reefs were built in the river prior to the planning, but due to their design and placement, had not done well. By consulting with physical oceanographers and using a hydrodynamic model, the Corps determined that the design of the prior reefs caused them to trap excessive amounts of sediment and their locations were not ideal for receiving or providing oyster larvae.
• The Corps used the hydrodynamic model to help place the Corps-built reefs in better locations. The Corps also found and used historic information about Baylor Grounds in the Lynnhaven River. The information was lost for many years after the Commonwealth of Virginia removed all Baylor, or public, oyster grounds managed by the state and surrendered them to private industry.
• The reefs were built in two stages during 2007 and 2008. The City of Virginia Beach provided funding for spat on shell: a hatchery bred wild Lynnhaven strain oysters, "set" the resulting larvae on shells in the hatchery and then planted on several Corps-built reefs identified as being "source reefs." These reefs, once mature oysters are on them, will provide oyster larvae to most areas throughout the Lynnhaven River system. This spat on shell amounted to more than 5,000 bushels of baby oysters, numbering more than 10 million planted oysters on the corps "source" reefs.
• Currently, 60 million to 90 million oysters live on Corps reefs. Many of these survived disease and grew to a large size, especially the City of Virginia Beach spat on shell, some of which are up to 6 inches long now. The Corps plans to construct more reefs and plant more spat on shell, increasing oyster recruitment throughout the river. The Corps is in the process of building about 40 more acres of reefs over the next few years and hopes to exceed 200 million oysters in the Lynnhaven River.

As water spills off roofs and impermeable pavement, what water doesn't seep into the exposed ground ends up in storm drains, and that can add up quickly: an inch of rain on Richmond is roughly 973 million gallons of water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Effectively managing stormwater in a large, urban area such as the city of Richmond is a large-scale effort, and Norfolk District is partnering with Richmond to design and construct major improvements to one of its vital stormwater management systems – the Joseph Bryan Park Stormwater Management Project.

According to project officials in Richmond, and based on a 2009 Jordan Branch Watershed Study, sediments had entered and filled the ponds, reducing their hydraulic capacity and water quality benefits.

Managers must address numerous factors including the control of flooding and erosion; management of hazardous materials to prevent release of pollutants into the environment; and construction and maintenance of stormwater systems to remove contaminants before they pollute surface waters and groundwater resources. The Joseph Bryan Park Stormwater Management Project plays a role in this overarching effort.

"We are pleased to be working with the Norfolk District to utilize their extensive experience in flood control and water quality projects," Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones said. "This project will provide a benefit to city residents, park users and the Chesapeake Bay by improving the health of our water environment."

Joseph Bryan Park is a 262-acre public park located on the north side of Richmond. Three tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay watershed enter the park and empty into a series of two in-line stormwater management ponds. Jordan's Branch and Upham Brook creeks empty into Upper Young's Pond, while Princeton Creek runs into Lower Young's Pond. The system leads directly to Chickahominy River, which is a branch of the James River, one of the largest tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Section 510 Program of the Water Resources Development Act, addresses this problem and authorizes the Corps to work with Richmond.

The project design calls for dredging about 100,870 cubic yards of sediment from the ponds to increase their capacity. Additionally, the Corps will modify the lower outlet structure and construct three sediment forebays, one at each tributary, to collect trash and sediment before it enters the main lake.

According to Janet Cote, project team member and marine biologist with Norfolk District, the primary environmental benefit gained from this project is the "removal of dissolved nutrients and total suspended solids from stormwater before these materials enter the Chesapeake Bay watershed."

"The Chesapeake Bay's nonpoint source control program emphasizes reductions of controllable nonpoint sources, including runoff from urban and suburban lawns, roadways, and other developed areas. These runoffs account for about 60 percent of the harmful nitrogen entering the Chesapeake Bay," Cote said.

Project planners said that dredging the existing in-line pond system to expand the capacity of the permanent pool will also increase the efficiency of the settling treatment provided by the facility. Once improvements are completed, planners estimate that the stormwater management lakes will remove approximately 1,900 pounds of phosphorous and 5,500 pounds of nitrogen annually. In addition to the environmental benefits, the project will greatly improve long-term operations of the stormwater facility.

Over the years, Norfolk District has partnered with cities like Richmond, state and federal environmental agencies, and ecosystem-friendly civic groups to seek solutions and implement programs for restoring the health of the nation's largest estuary – the Chesapeake Bay.

Stretching across more than 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses parts of six states along the U.S. East Coast. With its many tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay watershed endures an array of assaults from the air, water and land. Chemical contaminants, air pollution, landscape changes, erosion and over-harvesting of fish and shellfish also stress the Bay and its wildlife. The watershed's worst problem is nutrient pollution, which fuels the growth of algae blooms that degrade water quality and negatively impact aquatic life.

Norfolk District has used the Section 510 Program of the Water Resources Development Act to implement a native oyster restoration project in the lower Rappahannock River. Currently, the Corps is pursuing a number of the other projects under the same program to enhance the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay through the reduction of sediment and dissolved nutrients and improvement of wastewater treatment facilities.

Watson will join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, on Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of Waterfield Building to celebrate Black History Month and the legacy and contributions to our nation by African Americans.

"African Americans and the Civil War" is the 2011 National Black History Month theme designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The theme honors the efforts of people of African descent to destroy slavery and inaugurate universal freedom in the United States.

"Each year, as we recognize and participate in African American History Month and other national cultural observances, we increase our awareness of special groups in our society and foster mutual respect and understanding of our rich cultural diversity," said Gregory E. Headen, chief of Norfolk District's Equal Employment Office. "These observances also allow us to take a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation, and what challenges remain."

Watson is considered by many scholars as an authority on the African Diaspora, the willing and unwilling migration of millions of indigenous people from the African continent. He has served on several national advisory boards that focused on the complete interpretation of African American history.

According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, as the United States prepared for war in 1861, African-American slaves knew that a battle between the Union and Confederacy might bring freedom.

More than 200,000 free and enslaved blacks joined the effort to bring the Confederacy to its knees – they served as soldiers, nurses, spies and cooks, enduring inferior pay and treatment compared to their white counterparts.

Frederick Douglass, the famous abolitionist, drove efforts to allow black men to enlist in the Union forces.

"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States," Douglass said.

President Barack Obama paid homage to Douglass in his 2011 proclamation honoring African American History Month: "The great abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass once told us, 'If there is no struggle, there is no progress.' Progress in America has not come easily, but has resulted from the collective efforts of generations.

"…African Americans have strengthened our Nation by leading reforms, overcoming obstacles, and breaking down barriers," Obama wrote. "During National African American History Month, we celebrate the vast contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history and identity."

"I'm extremely proud of every employee at the district and of the work they perform daily," Col. Andrew Backus, district commander, said. "Each one provides exceptional service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation."

The survey and award program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state's economy, its work force and businesses. The Best Places to Work in Virginia is a list of 50 companies in three size categories. The Norfolk District ranked 14th in the large business category.

"Having recently won the distinction as Inside Business' Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads, I believe each and every employee should also take great pride in earning this recognition on a state-wide level," Backus said. "An additional noteworthy distinction associated with this announcement is that Norfolk District is the only federal government agency of the 50 companies identified as the best places to work in Virginia."

Companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements to be considered:

• Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
• Be a publicly or privately held business;
• Have a facility in the state of Virginia;
• Have at least 15 employees working in Virginia;
• Must be in business a minimum of one year.

"I've been here only a year, but I feel this is a warm, friendly environment where people genuinely love what they do and want each other to succeed," Danit Carrier-Tal, a management analyst for the Norfolk District, said. "I feel the projects I work on make a difference and are important to the community and the nation."

District employees are involved in more than 400 projects throughout Virginia. The projects range from the historic military construction effort at Fort Lee to flood risk management projects and environmental restoration efforts..

Carrier-Tal said district managers want people to believe in their work and that makes all the difference.

"A significant number of employees have worked here more than 30 years, even through better economic times" she said. "You can tell they're happy, too."

Organizations from across the state entered the two-part survey process for the Best Places to Work in Virginia. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top organizations and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings.

"I know that the Norfolk District is the best place to work, not only for the missions we execute and our beautiful facilities, but mostly because of our employees – they are the best," Backus said. "They make the district the professional and friendly place that it is, and it is their passion, diversity and teamwork that make this district exceptional."

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Virginia program, visit www.BestPlacesToWorkVA.com

A waste water treatment plant in one of its towns, Dillwyn, required expansion, so county officials approached the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District with a request: help us complete the design and construction of the expansion.

Norfolk District, which provides assistance with water-related environmental infrastructure projects, responded with a project delivery team to meet the goals of the Dillwyn WWTP expansion: improve the quality of treated material released from the facility and provide additional storage capacity. The extra storage would contain the large volume of waste water produced during significant rain storms – peak flows as high as 150,000 gallons per day – eliminating instances when untreated sewage is released into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

"One significant way to restore the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay, such as oysters, blue crabs and submerged aquatic vegetation, is to improve water quality through the reduction of dissolved nutrients entering the watershed," said Janet Cote, team member and marine biologist with Norfolk District. "Expanding the WWTP will result in improved water quality of the James River by removing dissolved nutrients and sediment, which will ultimately improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay."

The Dillwyn WWTP serves the local town, the areas near the intersection of Routes 15 and 20, the industrial park, the high school and the middle school. The Dillwyn WWTP is currently permitted for 100,000 gallons per day and discharges a monthly average between 60,000 and 65,000 GPD. During rain, the plant has experienced peak flows as high as 150,000 gallons per day. After waste water is treated, the material is released into an unnamed tributary of Whispering Creek in the James River Basin, according to Buckingham County officials.

"Monitoring has shown that progress has been made in reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay from nonpoint and municipal point sources, but work still needs to be done to reduce the amount of nitrogen and sediment loading released into the watershed," Cote said.

Overflows from combined sewers pose a serious threat to the James River, project planners said. During high water events, storm water creates high flows that are too great to be processed by the WWTP and excess flows run untreated into the river, carrying large quantities of raw sewage. During large rainfall events, some WWTPs contribute more fecal bacteria than from all other combined sources on the river. These large storm overflows also force the closure of oyster beds in the lower estuary segments to prevent fecal contamination.

Currently, nine tributaries to the James River, located in Albemarle and Buckingham counties, have impaired waters due to bacteriological contamination. If left unchecked, said district planners, these waters will fail to meet the minimum required Total Maximum Daily Load to sustain water quality, as prescribed by the nation's Clean Water Act. The expansion project will also help to achieve sustainable nutrient reduction goals.

Buckingham County sponsored the study, finalized in December 2009, which evaluated the expansion and upgrade of the Dillwyn WWTP. The upgrades recommended in the study included several retrofits, construction of structures and implementation of new technologies.

District project planners said the expansion will include the installation of sequencing batch reactors with tertiary filtration and an ultraviolet disinfection upgrade. The existing head works will be demolished and replaced with a new structure fitted with new grinding and screening equipment to protect downstream equipment and improve the quality of treated material. A second equalization tank will be constructed to meet the capacity requirements for the 200,000 gallons per day facility. Additionally, a new influent flow meter, in-plant pump station, automated solids dewatering system, fuel storage tank, and electrical control building will be built.

The improvements will provide nutrient removal capabilities necessary to meet new permit conditions, and provide an added barrier of regulatory compliance.

Over the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, has partnered with counties like Buckingham, state and federal environmental agencies, and ecosystem-friendly civic groups to seek solutions and implement programs for restoring the health of the nation's largest estuary – the Chesapeake Bay.

Stretching across more than 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses parts of six states along the U.S. East Coast. With its many tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay watershed endures an array of assaults from the air, water and land. Chemical contaminants, air pollution, landscape changes, erosion and over-harvesting of fish and shellfish also stress the Bay and its wildlife. The watershed's worst problem is nutrient pollution, which fuels the growth of algae blooms that degrade water quality and negatively impact aquatic life.

Under Section 510 of the Water Resources Development Act, Norfolk District is addressing the bay's habitat protection and restoration, sediment pollution cleanup, restoration of tidal and non-tidal wetlands and native oyster restoration. Dillwyn's water-related environmental infrastructure project fell within the scope of the WRDA.

The needed repairs were identified in November 2010 during an annual inspection of the facilities at which time it was determined that the items could be addressed during the off-peak usage season.

"This will have little to no impact on the majority of boaters because typically February is one of our slowest months" said Joel Scussel, the Norfolk District's Dismal Swamp Canal project manager.

Four sections of steel, measuring four-feet-long each will be replaced during the shutdown. The steel supports, some of which have been in place since 1941, hold the gate motors in place and have deteriorated over time due to exposure to the elements.

"The steel is located under the control houses of each lock gate, very near the water so deterioration is to be expected," said Scussel.

Mariners traversing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway during the shutdown will still be able to use the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal to reach their destinations to points north or south. Boaters can call the Great Bridge Lock at 757-547-3311 to check the current status of the canals.

Construction on the Dismal Swamp Canal, which was dug by hand, began in 1793 and was completed in 1802, according to the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center. Today, the canal is a Historical Landmark in the National Register of Historic Places. Visit http://www.dismalswamp.com/ for more information on the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Local police said Batten did everything right — from keeping people from moving the victim's neck to positioning her car behind the accident. She even turned her tires to force her car away from the accident, in the event it was hit by an approaching car.

The incident planted an indelible seed in Batten's mind — one that grew into her deep desire to join the auxiliary police unit of Chesapeake, Va.

Batten wanted to see if she would enjoy the work, so she attended the Chesapeake Citizens' Police Academy. The academy teaches citizens about the police department and how it operates. Citizens ride along with officers during patrols, learn about specialty units like K-9 and SWAT, and are given the opportunity to fire a police-issued Heckler & Koch .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Batten made the big leap in 2008, when she enrolled in the auxiliary police academy. It's community service; there isn't some alternative motive, such as money or hidden incentives, she said. She does it for the pure joy of it, and unlike a full-time police officer, is unpaid.

The auxiliary units are a great asset to their cities, said local police. Through this unit's volunteer service, police departments are able to increase their manpower, while also cutting costs.

"I love it when I help someone, no matter what is going on in their life," said Batten. "I have to maintain my professional police demeanor while I'm in uniform, but when I get to talk about it, I get to grin knowing I've done a good job."

To become an auxiliary police officer, one must complete the same training as regular officers: defensive tactic training, which includes being pepper sprayed; weapons qualification; and offensive and defensive driving. The academy has the highest expectations for their cadets; they must score 100 percent on all tests. This is important because while enforcing the law decisions must be made confidently.

During her 26 weeks of academy training, Batten would pull her regular eight-hour shift at the Norfolk District, and then go to the academy at night for another seven hours of training. Even now, Batten has to juggle the stress that comes with patrolling the city.

"I see her getting tired after working , but she loves both jobs so much that I couldn't see her stopping anytime soon," said daughter Stormie Batten, who works here as a contracting file keeper. "My dad is a cop, too, and my mom was in the U.S. Navy, so it wasn't out of the blue when she decided to become an auxiliary police officer. Her personality fits the profile."

Batten's academy training has also benefitted her job at the Corps. In 2009, just after completing the academy, she deployed to Iraq for 10 months, working in Program Support. Her duties included: ensuring Iraqi engineers received on-post access; processing biometrics, which included retinal scanning and issuing ID cards; time keeping; and updating accident hazardous analysis. Her knowledge of security procedures proved invaluable.

Batten is required to work a minimum of 24 shift assignments annually, but she enjoys her work so much that she works about four shifts a month.

Auxiliary police officers like Batten come from all walks of life. They are professional engineers, retired police officers, naval commanders -- some even own companies. Batten is originally from Oakdale, N.Y., and Vancouver, Canada. After reenlisting in the Navy twice in the Aviation Electronics career field, she settled down in Chesapeake, Va., with husband Jessy Batten, Chesapeake police officer. They have three children: Shelby, Stormie and Josh.

Auxiliary police officers said they are driven by the spirit of volunteerism.

"It's volunteering, and it has given me opportunities that most college professors couldn't have had, like diving for evidence," said Ben Dobrin, auxiliary police officer and professor at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Va. Dobrin and Batten attended the Chesapeake academy and have worked several shifts together.

Auxiliary police officers have the same authority, rights and responsibilities as their full-time counterparts. During her last shift, Batten accompanied her partner on domestic calls, traffic violations and an attempted suicide.

"We hardly ever get a 'thank you,' " said Batten. "When you do get that citizen affirmation for resolving a domestic violence issue or for providing someone directions, it's so heartfelt. It's really awesome!"

Batten said she never wants to face danger, but through her training and preparation, she is equipped with the skills necessary to enforce the law and protect society.

It's all about helping others for Batten, as she frequently recalls that day on the interstate in Long Island, N.Y. She could've kept driving past, but she didn't. She didn't expect anything in return and now as an auxiliary police officer of Chesapeake, Va., she still doesn't.

After clocking out from the Corps, Batten dons her police uniform, gear belt and bullet-proof vest. She is a volunteer police officer and very proud of it.

"I'm doing something to better the world we live in," Batten said. "That's my reward."

• If there is a severe storm, then power outages could occur. If you have a loss of power, it is recommended you stay in a place that has power and heat, such as a friend's home, hotel or local warming shelter.
• If you must stay home during power outages, plan now how you will stay warm. Choose a room that can be closed off and heated safely by something other than electricity.
• If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for heat, have a professional check it, especially if it has been a long time since the last cleaning. Residue can build up and cause fires.
• Portable generators and kerosene and propane heaters should be inspected and cleaned by professionals so they work safely. Proper ventilation is essential. Follow the manufacturer's directions when using.
• During power outages, don't use candles for light. Flashlights are much safer. Be sure to have extra batteries on hand. If you plan to use a candle until a flashlight can be found and used, be sure to place the candle on a plate or non-flammable surface. Keep candles away from flammable material and never leave a candle unattended and be sure to extinguish the flame before going to bed or leaving the room.
• Plug space heaters into wall outlets, not extension cords. Keep space heaters at least three feet from other objects. Never leave a space heater unattended, and turn it off before going to bed.
• Keep your automobile gas tank full during the winter. It's always best to stay off roads during winter storms. Most accidents occur within the first two hours after a storm starts. If you must drive, know the road conditions before you go. Call 511 or go to www.511Virginia.org for around-the-clock travel information. Also, if you are going to drive in a winter storm, be sure to tell someone your destination and the routes you are going to take to get there.

It's essential that you and your family have a winter emergency plan. Here's why: If your family can't return home because of severe weather or closed roads, you need to decide ahead of time on meeting places away from your neighborhood. You also need an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family's point of contact for emergency communications.

Learn more about making a plan for winter weather and all emergencies at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

On Dec. 22, 2010, the state-led team, co-chaired by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, signed the Virginia charter during a ceremony in Richmond, Va.

"I am very excited about the signing of the Virginia Silver Jackets charter," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "The collaborative approach among federal, state and local agencies will better prepare us all for floods and other potential disasters. This is what good government looks like -- agencies working closely together toward the common purpose of serving the public."

Signatories present included members from Norfolk District, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey. After the signing ceremony, the charter was forwarded for signatures from members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region III, and Corps district commanders in Baltimore, Md., Wilmington, N.C., Nashville Tenn., and Huntington, West Va.

The name Silver Jackets is symbolic. During an emergency response, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, team members are clad in red and FEMA representatives don blue, allowing each agency to be easily identified. Silver, however, represents a neutral color, not associated with an agency, but rather a goal: a unified federal response to flood risk management.

"A charter is helpful in formulating team focus," said Michelle Hamor, Silver Jackets co-chairperson and certified floodplain manager here. "The charter also provides a wonderful opportunity for each represented agency to show their commitment. A team is only successful if the agencies truly support it. I continue to be humbled by the passion and support of the team members and their representative agencies," she added.

While a charter can help a team focus and build team identity, it is not absolutely necessary to achieve the goals of Silver Jackets. Prior to the signing of the Virginia charter, for example, the Virginia Silver Jackets team has been active holding regular meetings. At the 2010 Flood Risk Management Workshop in St. Paul, Minn., the team also held its first small-group meeting. The meeting included representatives from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, all five USACE districts with jurisdiction within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and FEMA, Region III.

The team also developed an action plan, hosted an Invitational Kick-Off WebEx for potential core team members and other interested parties, established an active team within Virginia, hosted a face-to-face meeting, published articles in the Virginia Management Association and Virginia Department of Emergency Management newsletters, and conducted a field visit to Giles County, Va., to discuss the county's recent flash-flooding issues.

Giles County was one of two counties greatly impacted by a rain event in southeast West Virginia and western Virginia in mid-March 2010. The area experienced a near-record snowpack which, thanks to the warmer temperatures, began to melt and saturate the ground. Beginning on the evening of March 12 and continuing through the morning hours the next day, a storm system contributed two- to three inches of rain to the already saturated ground. The precipitation could only run-off the hilly terrain, quickly overwhelming creeks and rivers, causing flash flooding. One such creek, Wolf Creek, which begins in Bland County and winds through Giles County until its confluence with the New River at the town of Narrows had significant flooding. The flooding measured its third highest discharge, nearing one-percent annual chance flood levels, according to the National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office in Blacksburg, Va.

In April 2010, the Giles County administrator requested assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia to install additional rain and stream gauges on three creeks, including Wolf Creek. While Wolf Creek is currently gauged, the gauge is located near the town of Narrows, and provides more information for water flowing into the New River than warning for the town. A new stream gauge has been proposed further upstream to provide additional warning time and capture as much of the flow as possible, allowing the town to respond accordingly.

The Virginia Silver Jackets team also met with Chris McKlarney, Giles County administrator, and toured impacted areas. The Silver Jackets discussed alternatives and developed a draft action plan using available programs. The goal of the plan is to address the needs of the community and to explore other mitigation opportunities to reduce flooding risk. The Virginia Silver Jackets are currently in the process of providing a response to Giles County.

You know her best for her roles as Harriet DeLong on the television drama, "In the Heat of the Night," opposite the late Carroll O'Connor, and as Liz McIntyre on the ground-breaking series from the 70's "Room 222". Ms. Nicholas has guest starred on numerous other television shows and appeared in films with comedian and author Bill Cosby and academy award-winning actor Sidney Poitier before pursuing her dream of being a writer. Along the way, she received two Golden Globe nominations, two Los Angeles Emmy Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and has been honored by Morgan State University and Harvard University, where she has performed.

Her first novel, "Freshwater Road", is the coming-of-age story of Celeste Tyree, set against the sprawling backdrop of America's civil rights movement, specifically "Freedom Summer" in Mississippi. The novel draws heavily on Nicholas' personal experiences during the civil rights movement.

Dr. King's perpetual national holiday theme, in keeping with his enduring legacy of American non-violent activism, is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!"

On Nov. 3, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing the third Monday of every January as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday, which began in 1986. However, the effort to make Dr. King's birthday a federal holiday began 15 years earlier, four days after his assassination.

Those events are full of intrigue. Read "The Making of the King Holiday: A Chronology" at Related Links for a detailed historic account.

The IRS is taking this step because of the continued growth in electronic filing and the availability of free options to taxpayers, as well as to help reduce costs.

The IRS mailed postcards to individuals who filed paper returns last year and did not use a tax preparer or tax software. The postcard provides information on how to get the tax forms and instructions they need for filing their tax year 2010 return.

Through the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District has participated in the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program, or TFOP, making forms and instruction material available for employees here through its library services.

The district library will continue to provide:

• Publication 1132 (Reproducible Copies of Federal Tax Forms and Instructions)
• 1040s
• Schedules A, B, C and D (Itemized Deductions, Capital Gains and Losses, etc.)

In addition, there are numerous options available for employees to obtain tax products as well as free tax preparation and assistance in filing their tax returns:

• Download forms and instructions online at: <http://www.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsInstructions.html>.
• Visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center at: <http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html>, participating libraries and U. S. post offices.
• Individuals making $49,000 or less can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance <http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html> program for tax-free preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing.
• Individuals aged 60 and older can take advantage of free tax counseling and basic income tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly at: <http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html>.
• IRS Free File provides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms, plus free electronic filing. For more information, visit IRS Free File at: <http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html>.

February filing for many taxpayers

In related news, following last month's tax law changes the Internal Revenue Service announced that the upcoming tax season will start on time for most people, but taxpayers affected by three recently reinstated deductions need to wait until mid- to late February to file their individual tax returns.

The agency said that it would not be ready to process returns carrying itemized deductions, because it has to reprogram its processing systems following the passage of the big tax bill at the end of 2010.

Tax filing deadline extension

The Internal Revenue Service also announced Jan. 4, that taxpayers will have until April 18, 2011, to file their 2010 returns and pay their tax bills because of a holiday on April 15.

April 15 is Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers who file extensions will have until Oct. 17, 2011, to file their 2010 tax returns.

For more information on the district tax forms program, stop by the district library. For more information on the 2010 tax year preparation, visit: www.irs.gov.

• Who is our emergency point of contact? Choose an out-of-town friend or relative to be your contact. During emergencies, it's often easier to make long distance calls. An out-of-town person can help communicate among separated family members.
• Where are our meeting places? In case you can't return home, choose a place to meet in your neighborhood and another place outside your neighborhood if you can't get there. Your neighborhood meeting place may be a friend's house on the next street. A meeting place outside your neighborhood may be a nearby church, store or another friend's home.
• Do our schools have emergency plans? If you are a parent, ask your school and daycare provider about their emergency plans. Find out how they will communicate with families during a crisis. Ask if they are prepared to stay in school, if necessary, and where they plan to go if they must leave.

Winter has barely begun, but it has brought frigid temperatures to Virginia. Here's what you should know about staying safe and about being prepared for winter emergencies:

• If power goes out and you have no heat: You'll need blankets or sleeping bags for warmth in as few as four hours after power is out, depending on your home's insulation. Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, and wear a hat and mittens.
• If you use kerosene or propane heaters: These should be used with much caution. The room must be ventilated by opening a window. Keep heaters at least three feet away from flammable objects such as curtains, blankets and furniture. Place heaters on a hard surface, not on carpet. Refuel them outdoors after they have cooled.
• If there is a power outage and you need information: Be sure you have a battery-powered radio with extra batteries. Get one with a weather radio band so you can hear reports from the National Weather Service and your local radio stations. Find these at electronics and sporting goods stores, department stores, from catalogs and on-line.
• If you can't get out, you'll need supplies: Stock at least a three-day supply of food that doesn't need refrigeration or electricity to prepare. You may also need water – three gallons per person will last three days. Be sure to have flashlights and extra batteries on hand. Don't use candles during power outages.
• If you must drive during a winter storm: Most traffic crashes happen within two hours after a storm starts. Try to stay off the road to give snowplows time and space to work. Wait until daylight to drive so sunlight can warm the roads. Get road conditions by calling 511 or go to www.511Virginia.org . Buckle up every time you drive – it's the law.

For more information about preparing for winter weather and other emergencies, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov .

The Achievement Award recognizes the accomplishments of women who have been successful in their businesses and careers, who have made a significant impact in the business community, and who serve as an inspiration to others.

Benson, one of eight members on the district's executive/corporate board, is profiled in a special issue of Inside Business, along with the other community honorees.

"I'm honored to have been selected for such an award," said Benson. "I believe in being a mentor and an example for women in the workforce. Working hard to be successful and also helping others achieve success in their businesses and careers, is critical. To be recognized and awarded for it is very humbling."

"Benson has made a significant impact to our organization as our first mission support division chief," said Col. Andrew W. Backus, Norfolk District commander. "In this capacity, Ava is responsible for the overall support to the district's 450-employee workforce as it executes its primary missions of engineering, construction and water resources management for the nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Benson's duties include human resources support to the district's workforce, management of both historic and working facilities here that recently underwent a $7.1 million renovation, and all contracting, information technology, logistics and security management support.

"Because Ava's position is new, she has had to innovate and devise processes that provide both support to the district and synergy among several departments. She has hired employees and has begun to mentor and develop them to shape her division. Additionally, she assumed a chair on the district's board of directors and has been a compelling voice in the corporate governance of the organization. She is clearly a role model for all of our employees," Backus added.

Benson has served the federal government for nearly 30 years of combined service with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers. Before her current assignment as mission support manager, Benson served as chief, resource analysis branch in the district's resource management office. She has served as the Norfolk District manpower officer and a program/project manager in various district and regional special assignments, including the Defense Department's Competitive Sourcing Program.

Mark Camsky, chief of the district's resource management office, served as Benson's supervisor prior to her promotion. Her leadership and influence on the district is best exemplified by her tremendous work ethic, willingness to mentor subordinates and her ability to get the absolute best from her staff, he said.

"Benson is the regional 'go to person' for management, manpower, budget and internal control issues, and is also a recognized national Corps asset," said Camsky. "She is often called upon to train others in her leadership techniques and was recruited as an instructor for the Corps-wide budget training Prospect course. Benson is a take-charge leader who makes positive things happen, regardless of the assignment."

Alicia Farrow, a civil engineering-local intern in the district's operations branch, has been mentored by Benson since 2008. She credits Benson for helping her to understand Corps operations and for displaying a sincere interest in her professional career and personal life.

"Mrs. Benson has always been there for me, always interested in hearing my plans for the future, and always encouraging me to strive for nothing but the best," said Farrow. "During many of our conversations, I learned that she, too, started as a Corps intern. So I knew she could really relate to me. She's a great role model. Just think: She has gone from an intern to a division chief and a member of the district's executive/corporate board."

A graduate of Norfolk State University, Benson has completed the Department of Army Intern program and the USDA Leadership Development Graduate School. She is also a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers, Federally Employed Women, Parent Teachers Association and a lay leader in her church ministry.

Benson's advice to women in the workforce: "Strive to become invaluable to whatever organization you work in. Maintain your integrity, learn and grow, assume tough assignments, and help someone else along the way."

"I grew into a very handsome young kitty, if I may say so myself. Life was good. I was loved and I was very happy. In return, I tried my very best to be a good feline; I always tried to use my litter box, I ate all my food, I only played with my own toys and I never sharpened my claws on the furniture.

"One day, something happened that made me very sad. My beloved people stopped loving me. Apparently, they decided that I was too much of a bother to care for anymore, so they put me in a box with a door on it and drove me far away from home. Eventually they stopped the car and took the box out. Boy was I scared! My heart raced out of control and I guess I started to cry, at least as much as a cat can.

"The door on that unbearable box suddenly opened and I was dumped out onto the street. I was so frightened, I just ran away from them and that mean box. "I ran and ran, nearly out of my mind, until I found myself at the entrance to Fort Norfolk, home of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District. "To my joy and amazement, Fort Norfolk was also home to other cats. I said to myself, 'Jimmy, you've hit the cat lottery!'

"Gradually, I began to realize that I was all alone. The other cats were feral, and they didn't take a liking to me.

"I decided I had to try and find my own way here in this new place. Other humans, nice people who work here, put food out every day for the other cats. They also fed me. Over time, we gained each other's confidence and became good friends. They touched me gently and rubbed me just like "my people" used to do. I finally began to trust people again and longed for the day when I had another home and new people to love.

"My Christmas wish came true not too long ago, as the kind cat caregivers here found me a new home and new people to love and care for me.

Thanks to all the great people here at Fort Norfolk, who have fed me, cared for me and offered up the occasional head rub. I will miss all of you, but I now have a new home, with my very own people -- just in time for Christmas. Meow!"

This is a true success story for the Norfolk District Feral Cat Management Program, or FCMP. If a cat is abandoned and found on the premises it is taken to a veterinarian for a health check. The next step is to find a loving home for the cat.

The district's FCMP has been in operation since 1996, and is led by Lane Killam, district librarian. We operate exclusively from monetary donations to feed and care for the cats. Similar programs nationwide have demonstrated the ability to reduce the number of unwanted cats, while maintaining the existing cats in a safe, humane and healthy environment.

Employees interested in participating in the program can contact Betty Grey Waring, Lane Killam, Anita Bradshaw, Sherri Jefferies or Elizabeth Morton.

The Corpsaleers, the district's chorus, where featured, and Col. Andrew W. Backus, Norfolk District commander, was on hand to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

The 7-foot high Christmas tree, adorned with more than 100 angel tree tags is the centerpiece of the lobby in the Waterfield Building. The angel tree tags are for Norfolk's Saint Mary's Home for Disabled Children. Contributors remove one or more tags from the tree and purchase gifts for the child described on each tag.

The Corpsaleers, along with the district commander, Santa Paul and other Corps employees, will deliver the Angel Tree gifts Dec. 21. The Corpsaleers will also perform a medley of holiday songs for the children.

The deadline for donating a gift is Dec. 17. For more information, contact Ashley Reynolds, Norfolk District welfare council president, at 201- 7838 or email at Ashley.R.Reynolds@usace.army.mil.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• CERCLA (superfund) process
• Risk management
• Public affairs update

The quarterly Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB, meetings serve as a public forum for discussing US Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth campus. At the meetings FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members are also encouraged to attend and ask questions during the meeting.

In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, placed FNOD on its National Priorities List. In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input to project team members of USACE on cleanup plans and efforts at the site. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the community, local businesses, local and state officials, Tidewater Community College, TCC Real Estate Foundation, Inc., and FNOD interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

All FNOD quarterly meetings and applications for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District projects branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman of the USACE Baltimore District provides overall project and funding oversight and can be reached at (410) 962-3134, or by email: Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Daily FNOD activities are managed by Jeff Zoeckler of the USACE Norfolk District. He can be reached at (757) 201-7726.

More than 130 entries were received nationwide for the 2010 Project Achievement Award program, and the final 15 winners were announced during the Association's Industry Recognition Banquet Oct. 5 at the National Conference and Trade Show in San Diego, Calif.

"This award is a testament to the outstanding partnership enjoyed at all levels of this massive and complex program. Well-deserved congratulations to all of our customers, the Corps' program manager, project managers, resident engineers, quality assurance representatives, administrative support team, and all the design and construction contractors, large and small," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander.

Since 1999 these awards have been presented to projects that exemplify the contributions of professional construction and program management to the successful completion of a challenging project or program. The Project Achievement awards are grouped into buildings and infrastructure, new construction and renovation across several budget-size ranges, as well as program management honors for buildings and infrastructure and an international award.

Fort Lee's Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, Phase 1 construction included 11 projects and 22 new facilities. Work included the demolition and clearing of 330 acres with construction of roads, gas lines and a flyover bridge. New facilities included the multifunctional Sustainment Center of Excellence headquarters building, the Army Logistics University, equipped to train 40,000 students annually, five new high-bay facilities for hands-on training, dining facility, three new barracks that house up to 2,700 Soldiers, and 12 other administrative, education and training facilities.

As cited in the nomination packet: In completing this large government program, there was great potential for serious delays, cost overruns and claims. Yet there were none. This extraordinarily complex and accelerated program finished on time, $5 million under the $667 million budget, with no litigation. It is a marvelous example of technical innovation and collaboration among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, and two private sector program and construction management companies – MOCA Systems and URS Corp.

"Congratulations to our standout projects. The number and quality of projects that were submitted this year sets the bar very high for what is expected to yield a successful project," concurred Judges Mark Ballard, PE, and Brian Koches, CCM.

CMAA is North America's only organization dedicated exclusively to the interests of the professional construction and program management industry. On behalf of its 27 regional chapters and more than 6,300 public and private organizations and individuals throughout the nation, CMAA promotes professionalism in the Construction Management industry and provides resources, advocacy, professional development, certification, and business opportunities to its members. CMAA's national headquarters is located in McLean, Va. The Association's Web site is www.cmaanet.org.

Chief Lynette Allston, a wife and mother of two sons, a business woman and the elected chief of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Va., will discuss her tribe's origin and display artifacts representing its rich cultural heritage here in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

Throughout November, National Native American Heritage Month, with its theme: "Life is Sacred – Celebrate Healthy Native Communities," encourages all Americans to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of this country's original inhabitants, explorers and settlers.

"For millennia before Europeans settled in North America, the indigenous peoples of this continent flourished with vibrant cultures and were the original stewards of the land. From generation to generation, they handed down invaluable cultural knowledge and rich traditions, which continue to thrive in Native American communities across our country today. During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor and celebrate their importance to our great nation and our world." -- Excerpt of National Native American Heritage Month Proclamation by President Barack Obama

National Native American Heritage Month began at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States.

One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y.

He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans," and for three years they adopted such a day.

In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kan., formally approved a plan and directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation Sept. 28, 1915, declaring the second Saturday of each May, as an American Indian Day, and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

On the second Saturday in May 1916, the governor of New York declared the first American Indian Day. Several states followed with a celebration on the fourth Friday in September. Other states designated Columbus Day as Native American Day.

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush Sr. approved a congressional joint resolution designating November as "National Native American Heritage Month."

American presidents have issued similar proclamations each year since 1994.

Millions of us suffered through power outages. Snowplow drivers worked around the clock to get roads open. School systems shut down for days. Sadly, 14 Virginians lost their lives due to last winter's storms.

Many communities set records for the number of days with at least one inch of snow on the ground. And it could happen again this year.

Winter Preparedness Week – set for Dec. 5-11 – is the time to get ready for possible bad weather. All it takes is one heavy snow that sticks around for several days or an ice storm that knocks out power to remind us that being prepared ahead of time just makes sense.

• Make a plan. Decide on a meeting place outside of your neighborhood if your family is separated and cannot return home because of closed roads. Choose an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family's point of contact for emergency communications. With your family, write down your emergency plan – get a free worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
  
• Get a kit. Here are basic supplies for winter weather: three days' food; three days' water (a gallon per person per day); a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries; and your written family emergency plan. After you have these essential supplies, add a first aid kit, medications if needed, blankets and warm clothing, supplies for special member of your household, and pet items.
  
• Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should listen to local media for information and instructions from emergency officials. Be aware of winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions. You can get road condition information 24-hours-a-day by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org.
  

The Norfolk District launched its new employee automated notification system May 20, that's aimed at improving employee communications during hazardous weather and emergency situations affecting the district. To date employees here have overwhelmingly approved of the new employee emergency notification system.

If you haven't signed up to receive your employee automated emergency notification, log onto http://naointra.usace.army.mil/sites/EmployeeNotificationForm/default.aspx.

Finally, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov and print out an emergency supply checklist and a family emergency plan. It's time to get ready for winter weather – now!

Aerial spraying will occur in areas north of state Route 164.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. of Mechanicsville, Va. will conduct aerial spraying between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. Oct. 19, weather permitting.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will conduct low-flying spray operations in the area.

Beekeepers in the affected areas should keep bees covered during the spraying operations and people with known allergic reactions should stay indoors.

If conditions don't allow spraying Oct. 19, the inclement weather date is Oct. 20.

Updates for the aerial mosquito spraying will be available on the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline, 393-8666, after 11 a.m. Oct. 18.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Monday, October 4, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying October 4, the inclement weather date is Tuesday, October 5.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Friday, Oct. 1, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Oct. 1, the inclement weather date is Saturday, Oct. 2.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spraying operations.

This marks the second year the district participated in the university's military appreciation day.

"It brings attention to the Norfolk District and helps us recruit perspective employees," said Gregg Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager. "We are utilizing our partnership with the university to bring in new talent at the district."

Kimberly Robinson, a secretary in the district's contracting office, agrees with Headen and volunteered to give up a portion of her Saturday to help promote the district, which is also this year's winner by Inside Business as "The Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads."

"We need to work towards getting more diversity, we need young smart people to come to the Army Corps of Engineers, and that's why we are here," said Robinson.

Having an organization like the Norfolk District attend pre-game events is considered mutually beneficial to Hampton University organizers.

"It makes it easier for students to speak with and interact on a face to face basis so having the Norfolk District here presents a wonderful opportunity for our students," said Evelyn Oakley, the assistant vice president for development at Hampton University.

For Headen, the event is a good launching point for the district to expand and go after additional minority talent in the area.

"We are trying to extend into Norfolk State University and develop partnerships with Fort Lee and Fort Eustis in the future to help us reach our goals in hiring minorities," said Headen.

A family of barn owls -- mom, dad and three babies -- has taken up residence inside hollow steel tubing, causing construction workers to work around and modify their construction plans.

When the owls first appeared on the construction site, project managers looked into possibly moving them, allowing the work to continue as planned.

The birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; therefore, you need a permit to move a bird away from its natural setting, especially during the nesting season, said Thomas Olexa, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Armed with that knowledge and seeing that the location of the nest would not pose an issue for construction workers, the Corps contractor Blue Ridge General came up with an alternative plan.

The project manager with the contractor said, "Hey, it is not going to interfere with our work, we will go ahead and work around them until they fledge and leave the nesting site," said Olexa.

According to Olexa, the average nesting period lasts five to eight weeks, and even though work has continued, those overseeing the project site believe the visitors will pack their bags soon and vacate their lodging quarters.

"We are about five weeks into (the nesting season) now so we are hoping that in two- to three- weeks they will be gone," said Kim Wilhelm, a construction representative for the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who is managing the military construction project.

Once the owls have vacated the building, contractors will finish the work in the area the birds took up residence.

"We'll have to go back and remobilize to fill in the hole, but Blue Ridge General has been very careful to work around the situation," said Wilhelm.

Biologists say this type work is a testament to how man and nature can work together.

"It's a great success story; this is a good example of being a steward of the environment," said Olexa.

Those working on the project say they are going to be gracious hosts in another way as well.

"We're not going to make them pay a bill," said a smiling Wilhelm.

Since 1854, Virginia's State Fair has featured the finest exhibits and shows, toe-tapping music, fine arts and crafts, animals and agriculture, blue-ribbon competitions and more.

With the fair's theme, "Green Space," Norfolk District's exhibit will include its updated command display featuring a visual composite of the district's diverse missions. The district exhibit will also feature banners depicting the Corps' regulatory, civil and military jurisdiction boundaries within the Commonwealth of Virginia, along with a new, visually-appealing recruiting banner and Social Media poster. Handouts include district project brochures, school-age, eco-friendly coloring books and various district branding items displaying the Corps logo, website and Facebook addresses.

According to fair organizers, due to significant coverage regarding environmental issues in the media and in our school educational programs, the public is even more interested in seeing what business, industry and non-profit organizations are researching, developing, or implementing to improve the quality of our environment.

District experts will also be available each day to answer questions and explain the Corps' mission, as well as offer environmental solutions to protect our natural resources.

Norfolk District has a unique opportunity to educate up to 600,000 area citizens on its goals, functions and missions, especially those programs and initiatives that protect and restore the Commonwealth's environment as well as advance our nation's economy, said officials here.

Luis A. Rivera, an educator and former TV news reporter, is the featured guest speaker.

Hispanic American Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with its theme, "Heritage, Diversity, Integrity and Honor," recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States, as well as a celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture.

The observation started as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to cover a 30-day period.

September 15 is the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Each country declared its independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence on Sept. 16, 18 and 21, respectively.

The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2009, was 48.4 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 16 percent of the nation's total population. In addition, there are approximately 4 million residents of Puerto Rico, a Caribbean U.S. territory.

The lock operating hours are being reduced from four per day to two per day due to limited rainfall and subsequent low water levels in Lake Drummond and the Dismal Swamp. Currently, the DSC controlling depth is six feet.

This action is being taken in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve the available water supply in the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge. The restriction is expected to be temporary until sufficient rain falls in the Lake Drummond watershed to replenish the swamp.

Vessels unable to comply with the reduced schedule can transit the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, through the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake. This canal is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Lock operators will monitor Channel 13.

Speaking about the declaration, Governor McDonnell noted, "The current forecast has Hurricane Earl passing east of Virginia later this week. However, a change in the storm's path could bring hazardous weather conditions to eastern Virginia. This declaration is a precautionary move which will allow state agencies to be ready just in case resources are needed."

In declaring a state of emergency, the governor authorizes state agencies to identify and position resources and manpower for quick response anywhere they are needed in Virginia. In anticipation of this weather system:

• The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state's preparation for the storm at Increased Readiness condition with increased staffing.
• The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is holding conference calls with the National Weather Service, local governments and state agencies.
• The Virginia Department of Transportation is making sure storm drains are clear in the Hampton Roads region.
• The Virginia National Guard is preparing for possible post-storm response in the Hampton Roads region and the Adjutant General is now authorized to call up those resources he thinks are necessary to ensure it can fulfill its mission in the event the storm impacts Virginia.
• The Virginia Department of Social Services and Virginia Department of Health are on standby and prepared to open state-managed shelters if those are necessary.

Virginians, especially those in Hampton Roads or travelling to the coast, should pay close attention to local weather forecasts. Also, they should have an emergency plan in case the storm changes its forecasted path. A slight westward movement in the track of the storm will increase the risk of dangerous weather in eastern Virginia. We ask Virginians to remain vigilant. In order to be prepared, all citizens should ensure that they stock up on supplies.

More information about hurricane preparedness is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov and www.ListoVirginia.gov . Online videos that explain storm surge, lane reversal and evacuation routes are at http://www.youtube.com/vaemergency (captions are available)

Thanks to a partnership between the Norfolk District and the City of Chesapeake, and funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, nearly one-acre parcel of land has returned to its natural, historical state.

"Ultimately, what we are trying to accomplish is taking a piece at a time and restoring this river shoreline system to some level of what it was in the historical past," said Craig Seltzer, the Norfolk District's technical team leader for the project.

Since World War II, development along the Elizabeth River has taken a toll on wetlands, as natural sites became dumping grounds for construction debris, were paved over or replaced by retaining walls.

"Before there were a lot of environmental regulations and laws in place regulating activities in wetlands a lot of dumping activity occurred in most of the river basins throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed," said Seltzer.

Now, a concerted effort is underway to restore small pockets of wetlands such as the siteat Scuffletown Creek to help bring back a healthy, thriving river basin.

"Every pocket that can be brought back to this urban environment is really critical," said Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, executive director of the Elizabeth River Project, a non-profit organization focused on restoring the environmental quality of the Elizabeth River. "If you look around at the shoreline you pretty much see a hardened shore, so an acre is a big area to restore for wetlands,"

As the restored wetlands mature, they'll provide a natural habitat in an otherwise urban environment.

"They provide nursery areas for a lot of our shellfish and finfish, Seltzer said. "These nurseries provide refuge and food – an environment where the animals can develop defense mechanisms and become reproducing adults," said Seltzer

Though the long term impacts of the restored wetlands won't be noticed for a couple of years, citizens frequenting the area will notice an immediate change.

"Instead of rebar and a bunch of concrete exposed on the shoreline and perhaps the unsightliness of invasive scrub vegetation growing there before, citizens will see a naturalized shoreline instead of something that looks industrial or commercial," said David Mergen, an environmental scientist with the City of Chesapeake's Public Works Department.

Aesthetics aside, the Scuffletown Creek project marks the completion of the first of several environmental restoration initiatives in the Elizabeth River Basin by the Norfolk District in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.

With this project complete focus shifts to the other environmental restoration initiatives that comprehensively will help to bring back one of the Chesapeake Bay's most polluted waterways.

"Anywhere you can find the landowners, the funders, the scientists and the engineers getting together to bring back healthy wetlands is a significant achievement and that's so much better for the health of the river," said Jackson.

Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast five years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made significant progress on New Orleans' Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, or HSDRRS. In collaboration with the State of Louisiana, levee authorities, local governments, academia, industry and the public, the work continues at a rapid pace and the Corps remains committed to providing 100-year perimeter protection to the greater New Orleans area by June 1, 2011. Over 276 contracts have been awarded and over $9 billion obligated for the program. Current obligations include over $2 billion directly to small and disadvantaged businesses, representing close to 30 percent of all contract obligations.

Norfolk District support

Immediately following the terrible tragedy that devastated the Gulf Coast region, employees of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lined up at the district's emergency management office to volunteer to assist in the Corps' recovery efforts.

Since 2005, more than 70 district employees have voluntarily deployed to the Gulf Coast region in support of the Corps' recovery efforts and ongoing hurricane and storm damage risk reduction work.

Jan Van Houten, district emergency management specialist, was the first Norfolk employee to deploy to the emergency operations center at Mississippi Valley Division. Her primary job there was to coordinate civilian and military movement of personnel and resources to Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as coordinate FEMA missions for the region. Tracking boots on the ground, as well as Corps resources, was a major task, she said.

"Our employees really stepped up to help citizens affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Van Houten. "Many of our volunteers extended their initial 30-day deployment, some for up to one year, and many more redeployed multiple times. One employee was so drawn to the work and people in New Orleans, that she took a permanent position working on the levee restoration project."

"I marvel every day at the unbelievable spirit of volunteerism and service our people here demonstrate," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "Whatever the volunteer mission, our people step up and ask, 'What can I do?' 'How can I help?' The district is very fortunate to have employees that continually are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to assist victims of disaster events. I couldn't be more proud of them."

The HSDRRS is now more than one-third complete: 65 of 69 100-year contracts in the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity project have been awarded; 36 of 39 100-year contracts in the West Bank and Vicinity projects have been awarded; and 12 of 35 contracts have been awarded for Southeast Louisiana work.

HSDRRS major project status

• The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier at Lake Borgne, the Corps' largest design/build civil works project, is 74 percent complete. The 1.8-mile surge barrier wall is virtually complete while work continues on the three gated structures. This project will work in tandem with the Seabrook Floodgate Complex, which will begin construction soon.
• Construction started this year on the West Closure Complex, a $1-plus billion project to include a 225-foot floodgate, levees, floodwalls, and the world's largest drainage pump station. This huge project is already 38 percent complete, and work continues around the clock.
• Other major work includes: erecting surge protection barriers for the Harvey and Algiers Canals, adding scour protection, replacing deficient I-walls with stronger T-walls, repair of existing pump stations, storm-proofing pump stations, improving interior drainage, and restoring and completing components of the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity and West Bank and Vicinity projects.

Public involvement, public safety

• The Corps has welcomed public participation throughout the decision process, hosting more than 300 public meetings throughout the greater New Orleans area to listen to stakeholders and to obtain public comment on the HSDRRS.
• The Greater New Orleans area already has better than ever before perimeter defense against hurricane storm surge.

Facts and figures

• HSDRRS is fully funded at nearly $14.5 billion.
• HSDRRS is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' number one domestic priority.
• The Corps is building the HSDRRS with new and more stringent design criteria. Extensive modeling, lessons learned and risk-informed processes have enhanced the Corps' design criteria and on-the-ground construction.
• Additional information is available at: www.mvn.usace.army.mil/

Citizens are invited to drive through a designated area of the Kempsville Middle School parking lot from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. as city officials simulate the mass distribution of water in the event the city's water supply is ever compromised. The middle school is at the intersection of 860 Churchill Drive and Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach.

"This is an opportunity to test emergency relief plans before a catastrophic event occurs so when the time does come, we'll be well equipped to serve the community," said Thomas Leahy, public utilities director.

During the exercise citizens will drive up to the distribution area, pick up a free case of bottled water and a reusable shopping bag containing a Virginia hurricane evacuation guide along with giveaways provided by area organizations such as Lynnhaven River Now.

According to Katie Rider, media and communications coordinator for the city of Virginia Beach, "citizens should be in-and-out in about 10 minutes without having to step foot outside of their vehicles."

Also participating in the exercise will be volunteer members of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' commodities team - a specialized Corps team that helps the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and other state officials coordinate the purchase, transportation and distribution of water and ice during times of federal emergencies.

"Exercises such as the one organized by the city of Virginia Beach are essential components of a proactive approach to emergency preparedness before a disaster," said Jan VanHouten, emergency management specialist.

The exercise also provides Norfolk District's commodities team members with a great opportunity to foster interagency teamwork, continued VanHouten.

Although the commissaries may carry some of the brands such as Hillandale and Sunshine that were mentioned in the Aug. 13 recall action, the cartons of eggs sold in military stores are not part of those linked to salmonella contamination, officials said.

Commissary customers can check the status of their eggs at home by looking for the Julian date and plant code stamped on the end of each egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P, followed by a number. The Julian date follows the plant number. Example: P-1946 223.

The initial Wright County Egg recall announcement involved more than 228 million shell eggs. On Aug. 18, the recall expanded to more than 380 million eggs sold in cartons of six, 12 or 18 eggs.

The Aug. 13 recall applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps; plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946; Julian dates of 136 to 225.

The Aug. 18 recall of cartons of six, 12 and 18 eggs applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Albertson's, Mountain Dairy, Glenview, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Pacific Coast, Farm Fresh, Lund and Kemps; plant numbers 1720 and 1942; Julian dates of 136 to 229.

To date, the recalled eggs are known to have been distributed to stores nationwide, according to the Food and Drug Administration's recall alert sent Aug. 13. Illnesses relating to the shell eggs have been confirmed, and trace back investigations are ongoing, the FDA statement said.

The salmonella organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 400 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Saturday, Aug. 21, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Aug. 21, the inclement weather date is Sunday, Aug. 22.

Call Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

"Tenacity, Mike is very tenacious, he wants to stick with a given task until it gets done," said Steven Powell, civil engineer and fellow colleague. "As a very positive and professional district leader, he is a perfect example of the Army's value of selfless service."

Brig. Gen. Peter A. DeLuca, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division commander, recently identified Anderson as Norfolk District's participant in the division's Executive Leadership Development Program, or ELDP.

ELDP provides civilian employees an opportunity to experience a regional perspective on leadership and participate in senior-level Corps activities within the division's geographical area of responsibility: Norfolk, Europe, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New England and New York districts.

Anderson was selected from among five highly qualified Norfolk District leaders. The program consists of week-long training at the University of Maryland's National Leadership Institute, a four-day USACE Capitol Hill workshop "shadowing" several senior executives, attending executive level meetings, managing a team project involving fellow associates, and a four-month leadership development assignment.

"I'm very excited and believe the ELDP will provide me with an excellent opportunity to build on my leadership skills," said Anderson. "I've received nothing but positive encouragement from my family, fellow colleagues and leadership here. It's very gratifying."

Anderson attributes his strong work ethic to his parents, stepdad and former U.S. Marine, Howard Perry, and mother, Sarah Hall, a district retiree.

As a 14-year-old, Anderson lived with his parents on a U.S. Marine base on Okinawa, Japan, along with his two sisters, Cindy and Deanna. There he remembered playing with the other American children in competitive baseball games against other Japanese youth. It was there where he had his first job painting fire hydrants, curbs and gutters and where he learned how to scuba dive and sail.

Born in Alexandria, Va., Anderson spent most of his childhood in Virginia Beach, Va. Receiving a hand-me-down 1975 AMC Gremlin from his oldest sister, Anderson traveled to and from work at the local "Soup and Such" restaurant. The husband of the restaurant owner was an entertainment lawyer and would often bring his high-profile clients in for lunch, and that is where he met America's famed heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali.

The 1985 graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach went on to join the U.S. Army. Fresh out of airborne school, he married his high school sweetheart Amy Harris. He was subsequently stationed in Alaska, where he and Amy began their family, daughter, Melissa, 21, and son, Chris, 19. In 1992, Anderson returned to school, graduating from Old Dominion University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

College life for Anderson was balancing his school work and focusing on his family and work.

"It was very difficult to feed and raise a family while going to school," recalled Anderson. "I can't put enough emphasis on how important college is, but you have to be motivated and remain focused and seek out opportunities."

After graduation, he applied for and enrolled into the Civilian Career Intern Program sponsored by the U.S. Army and was assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District. The intern program allowed Anderson to rotate throughout different civil engineering offices, learning the organization's structure and gaining increased experience in civil engineering. In 2002, the Anderson family returned to Hampton Roads, when he transferred to the Norfolk District.

"Things haven't always been easy, but my family has always taken priority," said Anderson. "I appreciate my wife and children's patience; they have always been very supportive of my professional career."

Always self-evaluating, Anderson constantly asks himself, "What can I do better today, and how can I have a positive effect on someone else's life?"

The $7.9 million project is being completed in two phases. The first 12-month phase will be the construction of the Large Vehicle Inspection Station, or LVIS. The second phase, expected to take approximately nine months, is making improvements to the LaSalle gate.

The LVIS will be built along Armistead Avenue near the installation's west gate, allowing up to three large trucks at a time to be inspected under a 5,200 square-foot canopy and away from the regular gate.

"Our security personnel are literally inspecting large vehicles in one lane of traffic outside of the La Salle gate. Once we construct this new large vehicle inspection station all commercial and large military trucks will come off of La Salle and come to a 21st century facility for inspections," said Lt. Col. Jeff Ullmann, commander of the 633rd Civil Engineers Squadron. "It will also be a great place for the drivers to wait while their vehicles are being inspected, as well as an area for our military working dogs to get out of the heat or cold in between inspections."

Project architects designed the LVIS facility to meet environmental standards.

"Most of the area is wetlands and there is an endangered species of rattlesnake here so we had to work hard to put the road in - in a manner that would minimize impact to the environment," said Patty Vaught, project manager who is overseeing the project. Vaught works with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Vaught also points out that that the LVIS facility is near the end of the runway and construction crews will need to coordinate with airfield traffic management so construction does not impede on flight operations. Crews will also work closely with the city of Hampton to rework the intersection of Armistead Avenue where it intersects with the new facility roadway and Sweeney Boulevard.

Phase two of the project encompasses reconstructing the LaSalle gate and includes building a new 568-square foot gate house, a new 5,200 square-foot visitor center, as well as the addition of a third lane for inbound traffic to improve traffic flow.

During four months of phase two construction at the LaSalle gate, the area will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians while contractors from W.M. Jordan Versar, JV work to get the facility completed. A temporary pass and ID/visitors center will be opened at the west gate while the LaSalle gate is closed.

"The flexibility of the new design and its ability to meet the DOD anti-terrorism force protection standards make it better suited to accommodate random anti-terrorism measures for sustained operations," said Col. Donald Kirkland, the 633rd Air Base Wing commander. "This is apparent in the road design, the traffic geometry, as well as the overall site design."

"This is truly an important day for the Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] as we celebrate the completion of this beautiful building. This facility will guide a new era of defense intelligence analysis capability that will greatly enhance our senior policy commander's ability to successfully perform their missions," said Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr., DIA director.

JUIAF, a $61 million design-build military construction project, was completed under the leadership of Gary Tysor, project manager; and Terry Deglanden, resident engineer, Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps' contractor was Archer Western Contractors of Chicago, Ill., and the project's designer was Michael Baker Jr., Inc. of Alexandria, Va.

The 170,500 square-foot facility, a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, authorization merges intelligence operations -- approximately 800 people from DIA and 200 from the Army National Ground Intelligence Center, which is adjacent to the JUIAF on the Rivanna Station campus. This collaboration will provide enhanced command and control, promote acquisition, assimilation and analysis of real-time intelligence, and enhance organizational productivity, inter-agency connectivity and inter-operability, said DIA officials.

Colonel Lisa Price, commander of NGIC, said her organization will work in tandem with JUIAF to solve military-related problems through information-sharing and joint-intelligence analysis.

According to Ann H. Mallek, chairman, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, the JUIAF is also boosting the local economy with an increase of government and defense contractor workforces.

The JUIAF features a low-building profile that is sculptured into the site's topography to take advantage of views of the natural forested area, a pond and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The project provides a new access control point for Rivanna Station, meeting current Army security standards. JUIAF will also receive Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council that meets the Army's Leadership in Energy Design, or LEED, standards.

The pulse release, a controlled release of water which simulates storm events, is expected to raise water levels downstream in the Jackson River by up to four feet and up to two feet in the upper James River.

Water levels will remain several feet below flood stage.

In some areas, the rate of the river rise may exceed 1 foot per hour and people who live near or recreate on the rivers are cautioned to be alert to changing conditions.

The pulse release will begin at about 6 a.m., with dam operators gradually increasing outflow of water from 280 to 3,000 cubic feet per second by 9 a.m.

Dam operators will maintain the 3,000 cubic feet per second release for two hours and gradually decrease the water flow from the dam at 11 a.m. By 2 p.m., water flow from Gathright Dam will return to a normal seasonal outflow.

The controlled release of water is being done to test whether or not pulses are effective at removing algae and improving water quality by simulating late-summer and early-fall storm events, a natural variability that's been reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam. This test is part of a study authorized under Section 216 of the Rivers and Harbors and Flood Control Act of 1970.

The Corps' Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw project, located on the Jackson River, 43.4 miles upstream of its confluence with the Cowpasture River, is a multipurpose project authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1946, and is regulated to reduce flood damage at downstream locations, to increase low flows for improvement of downstream water quality, and to provide water-based recreation opportunities.

Babyface – with local opening act, Slapwater, – will perform at 5 p.m. in a concert Aug. 21 at Walker Airfield.

The concert is free and open to the public; fireworks will follow.

"Babyface is a fabulous entertainer and what he's done in his career is just staggering," said Maria Jackson, event coordinator. "So many entertainers from all music genres have partnered with him to harness his creativity," she added. Edmunds has produced and written music for many artists such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Pink, Fall Out Boy and Phil Collins, to name a few.

"His music appeals to all generations and I can tell you that we've already had a tremendous response from the community when they heard he was coming to Fort Monroe. This concert is going to be big and a great community event," said Jackson.

Edmonds' career took off in 1989 with the top 10 hit "It's No Crime" from his double platinum album "Tender Lover." Babyface continued to score with four more platinum albums, including "Grown and Sexy" in 2005. His latest album, "I Need a Love Song," was released in December 2008.

"If you were to closely examine the annals of modern pop music history, few creative forces have been more seminal or have impacted the contemporary pop/urban genres as much as Kenny Babyface Edmonds," according to his website, www.babyfacemusic.com. "He has reached icon status as a poignant tunesmith, prolific hit maker/producer, superstar recording artist and revolutionary label owner."

Gates to the concert area open at 5 p.m., with Slapwater starting at about 5:30 p.m., followed by Babyface at around 8 p.m. A spectacular fireworks display will round out the evening at approximately 9:30 p.m.

No pets, coolers, backpacks, outside food or beverages may be brought into the concert area. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on site. Guests are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets for comfortable seating. Weapons are not allowed on post.

Visitors are offered the following traffic and installation access information to make arrival and departure run smoothly.

• Access to the installation for anyone 18 years and older requires a valid picture ID. All three installation gates will be open at 4 p.m. for the evening's activities; however, the Ingalls Road entrance is restricted to vehicles with a DoD decal or VIP invitation. McNair and Stilwell Roads will be accessible for the general public. All vehicles are subject to searches and all traffic will be directed by law enforcement personnel to parking areas.
• Those that live on Fort Monroe and plan to have non-DoD visitors at their living quarters should have them arrive prior to 4 p.m. Non-DoD visitors arriving after that time will not be permitted to turn off designated routes (Fenwick and Stilwell Roads) unless they are escorted by a military ID-card holder.
• The Mercury Boulevard bridge will be closed to inbound and outbound traffic at 8:50 p.m. The route will reopen at the conclusion of the fireworks display, as soon as the Hampton Police Department has cleared the bridge, at about 10:30 p.m. Initial departure from the post will be over the Mugler Bridge to Phoebus.
• Long lines of traffic at the end of the evening are to be anticipated. Motorists are asked to be patient and be very observant of pedestrians crossing streets and parking lots on the way to their vehicles.

Fort Monroe is committed to ensuring all events are accessible to people with disabilities. Contact the Fort Monroe EEO Office at 757-788-3500 if special accommodations are necessary to attend this event.

This Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation-hosted concert begins at 2 p.m. in Williams Stadium on the corner of Lee and Mahone avenues.

Admission is free and open to the public.

The event headliners include the pop/southern rock band Junior from Gladewater, Texas. Music fans are raving about the young group's sound that has drawn comparisons to legendary stage acts like Green Day, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even The Doors.

Junior has played and toured with some of the biggest bands in the business – The All American Rejects, Lifehouse, Joan Jett, Brett Michaels, .38 Special and many more. They also placed second out of 800 bands in the Grammy Demo Review category of the Vans Warped Tour.

The band's studio work includes a 2001 single-track demo release titled "Starving Artists of the Year," an extended play recording titled "Redneck, White and Blue" in 2003, and a full-length album, "Y'all Ready To Rock?" in 2005. The band signed with Toucan Cove/Universal Records in 2007 and released "Are We Famous Yet?" The new album includes the song "She's So Amazing," with a guest vocal by Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup.

Also performing at the Aug. 14 concert is Lisa Palleschi, a singer-songwriter from Long Island, N.Y.

Writing, singing and performing on the piano and guitar since an early age, Palleschi is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. Her music has been featured on several sports-related programs – to include the season-opener videos for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds – and live venues like NFL stadiums and NASCAR events. Her heavy-rock sound is reflected in her production work for famous groups and individuals like 3 Doors Down, Gasoline Heart, Jennifer Paige, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez.

Palleschi will release a new album titled "All the Way" in August. Her earlier recordings include a five-song demo (2003) that caught the attention of Richie Cannata of Billy Joel's band and led to even more studio work. Her 2006 album "Released" included the singles "This Is Me" and "I Wanna See You Cry," and it set the stage for the young songwriter's future as a recording artist.

Additional information and music samples from each of the featured performers can be found at www.juniorrocks.com or www.lisapalleschi.com.

Concert-goers are reminded that personal pyrotechnics, glass bottles and pets are not permitted. Coolers may be no larger than 6 x 6 x 12 inches.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Gate guards and roadside signs will direct drivers to parking areas. All non-DoD visitors, age 18 or older, must present a driver's license or government-issued picture ID to access the installation.

For more event details, visit www.leemwr.com or call 804-765-3176.

"I really believe our team's energy and presence was equally as impactful as our enthusiasm for our jobs -- the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and STEM,"said Kristen Donofrio, a biological scientist and one of the STEM speakers. "Knowing we are giving students a passion for science, a glimpse of future technology and explaining what the Corps does as it relates to high school classes available, is a fabulous feeling,"she said.

The four Norfolk District employees participating in last week's class included: Kristen Donofrio, Danit Carrier Tal, Alicia Farrow, Erika Fields and Rachel Jones.

The main goal of the Corps' high school outreach program is to "connect with today's youth and promote careers that fall under STEM, hopefully, by planting a seed at a young age so students are more prepared for high school and college,"said Jones, who is a project planner with the district's plans and policy division.

While the outreach program is still in the developmental stage, teacher intentions include providing an overview of STEM and teaching students which jobs are available under the STEM initiative and how each is a valuable asset to the Corps' mission. For Ryan Matthew, recent graduate of William E. Waters Middle School and rising 9th grader at Wilson High School, this experience has been eye-opening.

"I really like it, I learned everything I needed to know, and now I know that I would like to go into architecture or computer science,"said Matthew.

The purpose of the Beazley Nauticus Ocean Quest camp is to encourage the STEM initiative. The students enrolled in the program have an interest in science and are selected through an application process, which includes teacher recommendations and an essay.

Over the next several weeks, the members of the outreach program will contact the principals and guidance counselors of local schools to arrange other presentations during assemblies, classroom visits and lunch blocks to inform students about the opportunities that exist in STEM careers.

"Many of the children have not experienced the larger world outside of Portsmouth,"said Patricia Gorton-Jackson, camp counselor. "The goal is to make them aware of the importance of our national waterways and channels and open their minds to careers involved within these fields."

Contractors came to Portsmouth from as far away as Florida, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Oklahoma, North Carolina and the District of Columbia to attend the event.

Hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, and the Virginia Port Authority, or VPA, the open house provided attendees a unique and effective opportunity to network and learn about bid package information for upcoming contracting opportunities slated to be a part of the 522-acre Craney Island Eastward Expansion project.

A project of dual purpose, the eastward expansion will extend the life of Craney Island as a dredged material management area and provide land for construction of a new marine terminal.

Norfolk District Commander Col. Andrew Backus provided opening remarks during the event, citing the strong partnership with 50/50 cost-sharing partner VPA to construct the new marine terminal using innovative and cutting-edge technologies.

The multi-million dollar marine eastward expansion construction project calls for the expertise of firms specializing in dredging, earthwork, port construction, in addition to resources provided by aggregate suppliers of rock and sand.

Jeffrey Florin, VPA's deputy executive director for operations and chief operating officer, provided information about significant milestones for the project, including the Nov. 2007 approval of the Water Resources Development Act and the Sept. 2009 Congressional appropriation of $100,000 for dike construction.

VPA and Craney Island Design Partner representatives Ira Brotman and Andy Kondysar provided project updates, including an overview of the selected design, material quantities, permits and project schedule.

The initial construction contract, which includes construction of the containment cell cross dikes, will be advertised this summer and is expected to be awarded in the early fall.

Additional contracts expected for bid this year include the first environmental mitigation project and naval pipeline relocation. The mitigation project includes the creation of 10 acres of wetlands from an upland area along Paradise Creek in Portsmouth. The Navy fuel and oil waste pipeline relocation calls for the installation of approximately 10,000 linear feet of an eight- and 10-inch steel pipeline, 800 linear feet of which require underwater construction.

VPA and NAO previously hosted a contractor open house Feb. 21, 2008 to provide firms with information about the eastward expansion project.

Presentations and materials from the July 22 contractor open house are available online for viewing and download at http://craneyisland.info/Contractors.html.

While conducting a post-storm inspection at 8 a.m., July 21, following an overnight storm that struck the Chesapeake, Va. and South Mills, N.C. border area, the crew of the Corps vessel Elizabeth discovered an enormous tree blocking the width of the DSC.

When Hurricane Isabel battered the DSC seven years ago, a 22-mile stretch of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and seven miles outward to the Pasquotank River in N.C., Corps volunteers and its contractor, U.S. Facilities, worked 12-hour days for nearly three weeks to clear about 1,000 downed trees. Fortunately, it took U.S. Facilities and the Elizabeth crew a little more than eight hours to clear the canal July 21.

"The temporary obstruction was the largest single tree they have ever removed from the canal. One tree limb weighed over 6,000 pounds and the trunk weighed more than 26,000 pounds," said Dennis Barnes, crane operator onboard the Elizabeth.

Due to the Corps' fast response, only four recreational vessels were delayed on the canal during the removal and cleanup.

They're part of a little-known group of employees from the Norfolk district office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who go abroad to support missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. (read more)

To help educate Corps employees who have expressed an interest in deployment, the Corps' North Atlantic Division held a video teleconference, or VTC, July 7, to explain overseas contingency operations and the Corps' family readiness program.

The VTC was presented by Kirsten Smyth, deployment coordination administrator and Connie Morinello, regional community support coordinator.

"I believe family support is a very important aspect in educating and encouraging Corps employees to deploy," said Smyth.

Jan Van Houten, a Norfolk District emergency management specialist, also serves as a deployment coordinator. Her responsibilities include recruiting volunteers and submitting resumes, processing pre-deployment paperwork and medical evaluations, arranging transportation for deployees to the Corps Deployment Center in Winchester, Va., supervising the family readiness support program, processing awards and helping with post-deployment support.

Lois Wilkins, who is the district's family readiness coordinator, provides families with a point of contact within the Corps and regularly communicates with deployees and their families by email and social media sites like Facebook.

During the pre-deployment stage, Wilkins ensures that wills, powers of attorney and passports for family members are processed. She also adds that personal touch by coordinating and sending care packages to district deployees and organizing farewell ceremonies.

"Thanks to Jerri Wehrle, who recently turned over the district program to me, the district has a great family readiness program," Wilkins added. "I enjoy working with our deployees and their families before, during and after deployment, and try to make this transition in their lives as comfortable as possible."

Finding employees who are willing to deploy for six months to a year can be difficult at times. Paula Van Antwerp, wife of Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, chief of engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the first family readiness coordinator, believes "if we can win the hearts of the families during the recruiting stage, then the decision process will be much easier."

She knows firsthand the hardships of having a loved one deploy overseas and uses her experiences to help other families.

"When my husband and I thought about family support, we didn't want it to be a burden," said Mrs. Van Antwerp. "We needed to have people available who have the training and resources to provide families with answers. This program does that."

To date, more than 25 Norfolk District employees have deployed to support overseas contingencies since July 2003.

For more information about deployment opportunities, contact Jan Van Houten in Emergency Management and visit: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/OverseasDeployment.asp.

And it has.

Today, the 6-foot-1 Chesapeake, Va. native works at the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has been with the Corps for 29 years and has been the chief of planning and policy since March 2001. Prior to working for the Corps, he worked for the Department of Labor as a regional economist in Washington.

First impressions may be a bit intimidating due to his serious approach, but he is quick to make you feel comfortable. He has a natural talent of elaborating, painting the picture, sort-of- speak, so a person understands. Mansfield contributes his success to the high standards he sets for himself.

What may appear as a lifetime ago is a vivid memory to Mansfield as he describes growing up and working hard to earn a dollar. It's as if he was telling a story about something that happened moments ago. That's what you can expect when you meet him, work with him. He is someone who takes the time to show you how a process works. He does not cut corners and if it takes two hours instead of 30 minutes, expect to spend two hours learning how to do it right.

I guess if you had to describe Mansfield in one sentence, it would be: He is articulate, a perfectionist as well as passionate about his family and the people he works with at the Corps.

"Mark has always been a team-oriented person," said Bob Oswald, Norfolk District attorney. "He will go the extra mile to provide the right answer for our customers, stakeholders and coworkers. He is also really good at making himself available if you need to contact him. We have worked with each other on many projects over the past two decades."

His commitment to the Corps surpass the regular 40-hour week. Dedicating much of his time to the civil works program, Mansfield is constantly on the road meeting with Corps' partners, customers, and stakeholders, focusing on customer service and building relationships.

Taking on the role of the district's congressional liaison, Mansfield ensures there is one voice communicating the district's capabilities to Congress. As chief of the programs and planning branch, he is responsible for a long list of mission areas, including all civil works projects that fall under the navigation, flood risk management and environmental restoration business line.

"The jobs I had as a young man taught me quickly that pursuing a college education is what I needed to reach my full potential," Mansfield said. About 20 percent of Mansfield's graduating class attended college; the rest went on to blue collar trades, such as employment at local shipyards in Hampton Roads or working for Dominion Power.

The 1973 graduate of Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Mansfield earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Old Dominion University in 1977. He went on to earn his certificate of Professional Financial Planning from ODU in 1985. He also attended the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hampton Roads course in 1989, which is a professional developmental course focusing on water resource issues in Hampton Roads.

"The course gave me the opportunity to see the challenges of water resource management from the military, city, county and elected leader's perspective," Mansfield said.

Mansfield is known for being personal with his colleagues, sharing stories about his family and making it an effort to learn about theirs. This attribute gives him the ability to build strong relationships, which goes a long way in civil works projects.

"He is one of the hardest working individuals I have known," said Tom Lochen, supervisory oceanographer. "He is extremely dedicated to mission execution, to our customers and to our district."

Mansfield opted to join the Corps team in Norfolk because of the water resource work. His interest with water traces back to his childhood when he was an active surfer. Although he does not surf anymore, he still enjoys the water, whether it is boating, walking the shoreline that overlooks the Norfolk harbor, or spending the weekend at his beach house in North Carolina.

"The water has a special place in my heart, so much that my favorite food has always been seafood," Mansfield admits. His passion for water has had a direct influence on his career path as well. The Corps' current oyster restoration projects in the Lynnhaven and Great Wicomico Rivers is dear to Mansfield's heart. He was the project manager of the non-native oyster Environmental Impact Statement project.

Being a team player, Mansfield would like the oyster restoration project to be a collaborative effort, bringing together experts from the Baltimore and Norfolk Districts, and other federal, state and regional agencies. "I believe each member of the team can offer a different expertise to the project," he said.

Oysters are essential to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The reefs act as a hard substrate providing a habitat for all species and filtration for the bay.

"Mark and I completed the Environmental Impact Statement together, our relationship with the Norfolk District continues to grow, sharing information and coordinating efforts," said Tom O'Connell, Maryland's director of department of natural resources fisheries services. "He is a great listener who ensures every viewpoint is heard."

Aside from his passion for water, he also enjoys woodworking, using hand tools, a trade he picked up from his father. The meticulous nature of this craft and the amount of patience needed exemplifies Mansfield's approach to work.

"It's kind of relaxing and I get instant gratification when I am working on home projects," Mansfield said. He often compares woodworking to the meticulous planning process of a multi-million dollar civil works project that may take years to complete based on the complexity, scope and funding availability.

"I was fortunate enough to have really good mentors who taught me so much when I was getting started at the Corps. The road traveled to reach that place, where you are truly happy in life -- what you are doing both personally and professionally -- may take time, but once you are there it is rewarding … very self-rewarding," Mansfield said.

More than 50 companies competed in three categories (small-, medium-, and large-business). A panel of judges named the Norfolk District Best Place to Work in the large business category as well as the overall Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads.

Colonel Andrew Backus, district commander, and several district employees attended the awards luncheon and accepted the honor on behalf of "Team Norfolk".

"The Norfolk District is the kind of organization we are proud to recognize," said Carol Lichti, editor of Inside Business. "We are in a recession and this is a good way to show our community the value of what businesses are doing to keep the economy moving. The Corps is leading by example and very engaged with the community and the well-being of their employees. That is what this award is all about," Lichti added.

This is the eighth year Inside Business has honored companies in Hampton Roads. How a company treats its most valuable asset – its employees – is a key element in the judging process. Employee survey input is another.

"Norfolk is a great district, mainly because of the people here. Our team members are dedicated, enthusiastic and talented people who stay actively engaged to support the Corps' mission -- not only in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but overseas well," Backus said.

The Norfolk District is responsible for military and civil construction projects, maintaining navigable waterways, protecting the environment such as coastlines, storm damage reduction, environmental restoration, hurricane and beach erosion protection, and infrastructure design and build in overseas locations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Along with a spectacular view of the Norfolk harbor, employees who work at 803 Front Street in Norfolk also find time after work to get together for field trips, camping, canoeing, cookouts and seafood roasts.

"This is a great place to work because of the people. We are a family and care about each other. I believe that is the key ingredient to any winning team," said Danit Carrier Tal, management analyst. Carrier Tal was an intern for four years before joining the Corps team fulltime a year ago.

Of the 404 employees, many have worked with the Corps for 25, 30 and 35 years. There are husbands and wives, parents and their children who work here.

"This is one of the best family-environment organizations I have had the pleasure of working at in my 22 years in the U.S. Army," said Backus. "I'm happy to come to work every day. It's unique to have such a diversified group of professionals -- their can-do attitudes, creativity and mix of seasoned and fresh-out-of-college employees is why we are successful. Knowing we are helping our community is very rewarding," he added.

The district opened its doors for business for the first time in Hampton Roads in 1879. Now headquartered in downtown Norfolk and Fort Norfolk – one of the last remaining harbor forts and recent site of the reenactment of the War of 1812 -- the Norfolk District has 22 field offices, including Fort Belvoir, Va., Fort Lee, Va., Joint Langley-Eustis, Va., and Great Bridge Reservation in Chesapeake, Va.

Written, shot and edited by Patrick Bloodgood, a Norfolk District public affairs specialist, "Full Potential" was produced for the Hampton Roads Navigation Summit to raise awareness about the initiatives that will keep the Port of Hampton Roads viable and economically competitive in the future.

"Most people do not know that one out of every 10 jobs in Virginia is tied to the Port," said David White, vice president of the Virginia Maritime Association. "This video does a very good job of telling the story of how the Port of Hampton Roads can contribute even more to the regional and national economies and what will be needed to achieve our full potential."

The Accolade Competition is an international video award competition honoring those who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity and recognizes those who produce "standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change."

"The Accolade is not an easy award to win, entries are received from around the world," said Thomas Baker, Ph.D., who chairs The Accolade Competition. "The goal of 'The Accolade' is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve."

Film and television industry professionals judged "Full Potential," which competed against other videos from around the world.

According to Bloodgood, the entire production was done using in-house equipment and workforce, and used volunteer voice talent as well as subject matter experts in the compilation of the video.

"It is a big honor to know something I created won on an international competition level," said Bloodgood. Bloodgood also praised U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cornelius Reed, who performed the voice over work for the project.

"Commander Reed was great; his voice fit perfectly with the project, and I can't say enough how appreciative I am that he came in voluntarily to help us out," said Bloodgood.

The video can be viewed on both the Norfolk District's YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-wmsiVEm60 or on the Vimeo Channel at http://www.vimeo.com/10578804.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's high school outreach program is designed to educate students about the benefits of pursuing STEM-related academic studies, including research opportunities, jobs, internships and higher education.

The program is a comprehensive effort cultivating high school students to STEM and providing guidance from the perspective of district interns who have already completed the program, said Danit Carrier Tal, project manager for the new initiative.

Along with a team of a dozen up-and-coming district leaders, Carrier Tal has worked the past few months to lay the groundwork for the program under the direction of seasoned leaders at the district. One of which is Keith Lockwood, chief of the technical support section, who launched an integrated internship program in January 2008 to recruit student interns at the professional, graduate and under-graduate levels.

"I am thrilled at the opportunity to help the team of interns launch their high school outreach program. These young leaders, who all started off as a part of the integrated internship program, are definitely taking the district to new heights when it comes to growing our connection to younger generations," said Lockwood.

Expanding the recruitment and hiring processes of the integrated internship program, the newly developed high school outreach program is a means of exposing local high school students to STEM. A tri-fold brochure created by the team outlines high school level science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses to help prepare students for college-level courses or the workforce.

The goal of the high school outreach program, unlike the internship program, is to increase the number of high school students with interest and competencies in STEM, which may ultimately increase the number of college graduates and professionals with the technical competencies that comprise the Corps of Engineers' workforce.

Carrier Tal is a prime example of a success from the district's internship program. Since joining the Corps of Engineers', Carrier Tal led a successful initiative that resulted in Norfolk District being chosen by Inside Business as the 2010 Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads award. A similar initiative led by Carrier Tal, who works as a management analyst with the engineering branch, led to two environmental sustainability awards for the district from the City of Norfolk.

Another district success story who notes the importance of STEM class offerings in high school settings is Drew Johnson.

"I went to Cox High School in Virginia Beach and they offered basic technical drawing, which led to my enrollment in an architecture class as well as an engineering class. It was in these classes when I realized I wanted to be a structural engineer. Here I am now, working in the structural section at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," said Johnson.

To get the new outreach initiative started, Johnson and his fellow team members are scheduled to make a presentation at Nauticus, a maritime-themed science center and museum in Norfolk July 13. Area students attending the museum's water scholars oceanography camp will receive a 90 minute presentation by district interns working in diverse STEM-related jobs, including staff accountant, environmental scientist, program analyst and engineer-in-training.

In August, team members will follow up with area high school principals and guidance counselors to arrange similar presentations for students attending Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News and York County schools. Each team member serves as a point of contact for specific school districts.

"We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide guidance and mentorship to students at a very critical time in their lives as they make decisions about joining the workforce or going to college," said Carrier Tal.

Engineer-in-training and fellow team member Alicia Farrow echoes Carrier Tal's sentiments. "Knowledge about STEM programs is extremely important because it not only informs students about science, math, engineering and technology, but the program also keeps those students who already have a passion in one or more of those fields a career choice and opens the door for career opportunities."

Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers are encouraged to attend the event to learn details about the 522-acre Craney Island Eastward Expansion project and the bidding process.

A project of dual purpose, the eastward expansion will extend the life of Craney Island as a dredged material management area and provide land for construction of a new marine terminal. The multi-million dollar marine construction project calls for the expertise of firms specializing in dredging, earthwork, port construction, in addition to resources provided by aggregate suppliers of rock and sand.

During the contractor open house, representatives from NAO and VPA will provide project updates, including an overview of the selected design, material quantities, permits and project schedule.

The initial construction contract, which includes construction of the containment cell cross dikes, will be advertised this summer and is expected to be awarded early fall.

Additional contracts expected for bid this year include the first environmental mitigation project and naval pipeline relocation. The mitigation project includes the creation of 10 acres of wetlands from an upland area along Paradise Creek in Portsmouth, Va. The Navy fuel and oil waste pipeline relocation calls for the installation of approximately 10,000 linear feet of an eight- and 10-inch steel pipeline, 800 linear feet of which require underwater construction.

Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers interested in learning about immediate and long-term contracting opportunities are required to register for the open house individually at this link.

The archaeologists, led by Dr. Michael Hargrave from the Engineer Research Development Center's Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, focused their attention on several anomalies identified by ground-penetrating radar during a site survey in February.

Hargrave and his team, Dr. Jarrod Burks, director of geophysical survey, and Jeff Dilyard, staff archaeologist, both with Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc., focused their efforts on determining if graves, human remains and artifacts were present in five trenches that included several anomalies – discolored areas in the ground that the team believed had the highest potential of being graves.

The effort is part of the Army's responsibility under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, said Paul Presenza, a cultural resource specialist with the fort's Department of Public Works. As the Army works to close Fort Monroe, officials must work with consulting parties to evaluate the potential effects of the closure on historic properties and define steps to avoid, reduce or mitigate harmful effects.

Thirty-two consulting parties, including the Contraband Historical Society, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Preservation Virginia worked with the Army to determine what actions can be taken regarding Fort Monroe's historic properties – such as the geophysical and archaeological search for a possible contraband cemetery.

As the Corps conducted archival research, the focus narrowed to a field adjacent to the post's airfield, now a place where Soldiers and their families practice their golf swing and walk their dogs. The area served as the post cemetery until the late 1890s and, once graves were removed to cemeteries in nearby Hampton, Va., later served as living and operations areas during World War I and II, Presenza said.

Throughout the week, Hargrave, Burks and Presenza watched for signs of artifacts as Addam Weatherly, a deckhand with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' navigation support team, excavated the upper layers of the trenches – modern-day dredged sand fill -- inch by inch.

As Weatherly's excavation work neared the World War I habitation layer, a visible dark line about 36 inches below the modern surface, scientists moved in with shovels and trowels and explored the trench floors by removing layers a centimeter at a time until they hit the water table. Then they sifted through bucket after bucket of material at sorting tables erected near the trenches.

"Archaeology is often long periods of boredom punctuated by a few exciting moments … followed by more boredom," Burks often said as the scientists clustered around a potential find only to return to the routine moments later.

One by one, each of the anomalies revealed themselves as something other than graves – mostly pits of discarded building material, such as wood, bricks and the occasional piece of glass. Two spent .45 caliber bullet casings were the only signs that the dig occurred on a historic military installation.

Hargrave will submit a report detailing the geophysical and archaeological findings of the contraband cemetery investigation to officials at Fort Monroe in August.

In an effort to promote safety and accident prevention, while also accommodating landing zones used during military flight operations, CIDMMA will accept requests for authorized visitation.

CIDMMA, operated and managed by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reopened to visitors on a limited basis April 2.

Authorized visitation of Craney Island includes educational activities arranged by public or private academic institutions, environmental and natural resource organizations, birdwatching clubs and other groups established to study nature.

Because of its proximity to the Hampton Roads federal waterways, Craney Island offers a low-cost method to dispose of materials dredged during harbor deepening and maintenance dredging projects. In addition to providing a cost-effective alternative for dredged material, Craney Island stimulates ideal breeding conditions for bird species that are endangered, threatened or of special concern.

Requests for authorized visitation should be submitted to the chief of the Craney Island project office at least two weeks prior to the date of the intended visit. The date and times available for authorized visitation will be determined based on site conditions, construction activity and other operational factors. In most cases, authorized visits will be arranged for weekends to avoid conflict with daily construction operations.

School groups, organizations, associations and clubs interested in visiting Craney Island are encouraged to call CIDMMA's project office at (757) 484-1021 to arrange a visit.

The kickoff event Monday, June 14 featured a presentation from Edwina Forrest and Valerie Lewis, both registered dieticians employed by the Office of Food Services for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Forrest supervises 21 of the city's 82 food service operations and Lewis acts as nutrition and training coordinator. During the kickoff event, attendees learned how to read ingredient labels to make nutritious food choices and they also had the opportunity to sample healthier foods such as trail mix and baked snacks.

Following Monday's kick-off presentation, employees were invited to donate blood aboard the American Red Cross mobile. Safety Week Committee member Nora Batten reports that the employees exceeded the goal of collecting 25 pints, as 28 pints were collected.

In tune with the focus on nutrition and exercise, district commander Col. Andrew Backus led a half-hour lunch time walk along the Atlantic City Elizabeth River Trail Tuesday, June 15.

Also on June 15, Herb Maher, City of Virginia Beach safety specialist, provided two four-hour long first aid classes. Family members and friends of the district were also invited to attend the classes to learn first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator procedures.

"Always remember it's better to do something than nothing," Maher stressed to a roomful of inquisitive and attentive participants who were very active during the hands-on portion of the class.

Each participant received a card, valid for two years, certifying their completion of the National Safety Council CPR course.

Wednesday's events included a health fair hosted by the Fort Norfolk Chapter of Federally Employed Women (FEW). Medical professionals from Ghent Chiropractic, Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare were on hand June 17 to provide free health screenings and counseling related to blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes risk, body mass index, tobacco cessation and chiropractic therapy.

"Every time FEW hosts a health fair, we attract a larger and larger number of employees that take advantage of the opportunity to speak to health care professionals and get confidential screenings. We are definitely happy that people are recognizing the importance of their health," said Melinda Worrell, president of the Fort Norfolk Chapter of FEW.

In a memorandum to the district, Col. Backus asked all employees to take the time to closely reflect on how they can improve personal safety and health within their offices, work environments, homes and leisure activities.

"Safety is everyone's responsibility. We have to live safety, we have to think safety, we have to practice safety, and we have to keep safety on our minds day in and day out," said Backus.

The day began with a retiree breakfast hosted by Norfolk District Commander Col. Andrew Backus. More than 25 retirees -- who collectively had more than 700 years of service to the Corps -- attended.

"I'm here to see the people I used to work with and they look good for being old geezers," Jim Walsh said with a laugh. Walsh served with the Corps for 34 years and retired as deputy chief of engineering.

Following the breakfast, district employees began to arrive, and most of the retirees stayed for the duration of the event to talk about Corps projects they had worked on and meet the project managers who are overseeing those projects today. Colonel Backus, who has been with the district since June 2009, mentioned that last year's Engineer's Day was the first district event he attended. He then continued by congratulating everyone for a great year of hard work.

"It's right around the time of the Army and Engineer's birth, it's a time to reflect on our heritage and the past year," Backus said.

General George Washington appointed Col. Richard Gridley as the first chief of engineers on June 16, 1775. On March 16, 1802, the U.S. Army officially established the Army Corps of Engineers.

The district's welfare council organized the annual fete, and funding to pay for the food, beverages, DJ and door prizes was raised through bake sales and parking spot raffles. Welfare council members balance their responsibilities at work with volunteer welfare council activities.

"There was a lot of work to make this happen, but we have a great team," said Jennifer Heuer, president of the welfare council. "The staff at US Facility (Great Bridge Reservation) was also a great help, along with logistics," she added.

A great atmosphere was created at the park as music of every genre was played by DJ and district employee, Carlton Lillard. Lunch was catered by Alfs Café, and included fried chicken, hot dogs, pulled pork barbecue, green beans, hush puppies and macaroni and cheese. The desert table was overflowing with brownies, cupcakes, pudding, cookies and more. After lunch, people teamed up to play volleyball, horseshoes and kickball.

"It's great to take a break from our normal day of work; this event also gives me and other employees the opportunity to meet people who are new to the district," said Keith Lockwood. "I also enjoyed beating the interns in kickball."

There has been a competitive kickball game between the summer interns and full-time employees for several years. Although the full-time employees have always won, the interns were able to put up a great fight with a final score of 6-4. There was also a competitive volleyball game with the executive staff winning by two points in the third game.

This year's Engineer's Day proved to be a great way to kick-start the summer. At every corner of the park, people were seen smiling and laughing as they socialized, reflected and participated in summer activities.

The cafeteria opens up to several lines serving a variety of foods including pizza, salad and desert. This new dining facility will accommodate for the increase of airmen and sailors scheduled to train at Fort Lee. Funding for the new facility fell under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC.

According to Headquarters of the Department of the Army, "BRAC is a means by which the Department of Defense (DoD) reconfigures its infrastructure into one where operational capacity is optimized for both warfighting capability and efficiency, and joint activity opportunities are aggressively pursued."

The work taking place at Fort Lee is part of DoD's efforts to reconfigure its infrastructure and to pursue joint activities. The dining facility, which has been open since June 1, is equipped to feed 800 service members per meal every 90 minutes. Food is served buffet-style, similar to a college cafeteria. It is also intended to be a gathering place for group activities.

"This is probably going to be one of the first dining facilities in the Army that will have all the services together working under the same roof and eating in the same facility," said Johnnie Durant, installation food program manager, Fort Lee.

Fred Stokes, former National Football League defensive end, was the guest speaker during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

"This is a great facility, when the military has someone who is a possible recruit they should bring them to this dining facility; showing them where they will be spending 20 to 30 minutes per meal every day." said Stokes. "It's an honor to be here today. I'm always very grateful to the men and women who proudly serve. When I travel I like to always thank them for doing what they do." ]]> David Kidd, Norfolk District Public Affairs News Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:05:00 -0400 http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/News/20100618_FtLee_Dining_Facility.asp 06/18/2010 - WASHINGTON — William (Bill) Sorrentino Jr., deputy district engineer of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award in April, at the 2010 Career Program 18 (Engineers & Scientist – Construction) Annual Training workshop held in San Antonio, Texas.

Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, commanding general, USACE, presented the award to Sorrentino at the annual training workshop, held March 30 through April 1. The workshop brought a wide diversity of leaders and practitioners within the career program together to learn, share best business practices and "chart the path to greatness," according to Van Antwerp.

As USACE functional chief of CP-18, the chief of engineers may choose each year to confer an award in a special category of service. These discretionary awards are not competed and are based on involvement in the career program goals and objectives, impact on the workforce and enduring contributions.

"For 15 years, Sorrentino has worked steadfastly to improve intern programs and training, and continues to be a proactive contributor to the overall success of the career program," said Van Antwerp. "He is without a doubt one of the most respected spokespersons for our program and serves as a model for other leaders within CP-18."

According to the chief of engineers, more than 220 senior leaders, training coordinators, activity career program managers, supervisors, interns, human resource personnel and workforce development specialists attended what is considered one of the most successful CP-18 workshops to date.

"I was especially pleased to note that we had several attendees from Installation Management Command, the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, the Army Medical Command, the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and representatives from career programs 16 (Engineers & Scientists – Non Construction) and 34 (Information Mission Area) join us this year," said Van Antwerp. "Often we get so involved in the mission that we overlook taking the time to have conversations, ask questions and learn from each other."

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award," said Sorrentino. "My time serving on the CP-18 Career Planning Board has been both personally and professionally fulfilling. Spending time with other dedicated leaders on the Board, all focused on growing our employees, is a highlight in my career. We all need to get involved and make a difference!"

NWP 21 is used to authorize discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for surface coal mining activities. The suspension is effective immediately and applies to the Appalachian region of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

NWP 21 continues to be available in other regions of the country.

The suspension in Appalachia will remain in effect until the Corps takes further action on NWP 21 or until NWP 21 expires on March 18, 2012. While the suspension is in effect, individuals who propose surface coal mining projects that involve discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States will have to obtain Department of the Army authorization under the Clean Water Act, through the Individual Permit process. The individual permit evaluation procedure provides increased public involvement in the permit evaluation process, including an opportunity for public comment on individual projects.

On June 11, 2009, the U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with each agency agreeing to work together to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of surface coal mining activities in the Appalachian region. As a part of the MOU, the Corps agreed to issue a public notice to seek comment on the proposed action to modify NWP 21 to preclude its use in the Appalachian region.

On July 15, 2009, a Federal Register notice was published soliciting public comment on the Corps' proposal to modify NWP 21. The notice also proposed to suspend NWP 21 in order to provide more immediate environmental protection while the longer-term process of modification is fully evaluated. The comment period was extended in response to many requests, and public hearings were conducted in October 2009 in each of the six affected states. Approximately 6,000 individuals attended the public hearings and about 400 individuals provided oral testimony. The Corps received approximately 23,000 comments during the comment period that concluded on October 26, 2009, of which 1,750 were substantive comments that were nearly evenly divided for and against the proposed modification and suspension actions.

The Corps determined after a thorough review and consideration of comments that continuing use of NWP 21 in this region may result in more than minimal impacts to aquatic resources. Activities that result in more than minimal impacts to the aquatic environment must be evaluated in accordance with individual permit procedures. Therefore, NWP 21 has been suspended in this region and coal mining activities impacting waters of the U.S. in this region will be evaluated in accordance with individual permit procedures.

NWP 21 verifications provided in writing by the Corps to mining companies before today's suspension will continue to be valid until the NWP expires on March 18, 2012. Modification of NWP 21 will continue to be evaluated and a decision on this proposal will be made before NWP 21 expires.

Five pending NWP 21 requests are currently being processed in the Appalachian region affected by suspension of NWP 21. Corps districts will contact these applicants to discuss the process to submit individual permit applications for these activities. If applicants submit individual permit requests for these activities, the Corps districts will prioritize the evaluation of these applications. The Corps will work with the applicants and other interested parties to address and resolve substantive concerns and make final permit decisions as expeditiously as possible.

The Corps' decision will be published in the June 18, 2010, edition of the Federal Register. A copy of the notice, FAQs and the decision document will be posted on the Corps' Web site at http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/nnpi.aspx.

Militia re-enactors, local historians, naval exhibits and children's activities are included in the program, scheduled to take place at the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, land that figured prominently in the 1813 battle that raged 137 years ago.

On hand for the day will be re-enactors from the 2nd Virginia Regiment Militia and the 20th U.S. Infantry. Both will demonstrate musket firing and will talk with visitors about the life of Virginia soldiers during the War of 1812. Local historians will address the context of the battle and relate it to other battles waged during what many describe as the "the second American Revolution." The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum will also exhibit displays and maps, and will engage children in interactive crafts of the period.

Boy Scout Troop 219 will provide the honor guard during opening and closing ceremonies during the event, which happens to fall on Father's Day.

"We think a trip to Hoffler Creek will make a great Fathers Day gift," says Randi Strutton, executive director of the non-profit foundation. "It's a chance to enjoy the outdoors, to learn a little history and to exercise the imagination — all for free! What dad wouldn't love that?"

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve is a site on the National Park Service's Star-Spangled Banner Geo-Caching Trail and in line to join the National Star-Spangled Banner Trail, now limited to sites only in Maryland. A state historical marker at the gate of the preserve commemorates the Battle of Craney Island in the war that inspired The National Anthem and that secured America's independence from England.

Visitors planning to attend the free event at the 142-acre wildlife preserve are advised to wear shoes and socks, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.

For more information about Hoffler Creek programs and kayak rentals, contact the foundation at 757-686-8684, E-mail at hofflercreek@hofflercreek.org, or go online by visiting www.hofflercreek.org.

Outfitted with sunscreen, bug spray and work gloves, 41 district employees braved a heat index of more than 100 degrees to keep Virginia waterways clean by participating in the 22nd Annual Clean the Bay Day June 5.

Clean the Bay Day is a statewide initiative organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, thousands of citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear litter from waterways.

Norfolk District employees volunteered three hours of their time Saturday morning to remove debris from the shorelines of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the federal waterways of the Hampton Roads harbor.

"I'm excited that we had a record number of employees come out to Craney Island to participate and spruce up the site this year," said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist here and zone captain for the district's team of volunteers.

According to data collection sheets provided to Donofrio, 9,320 pounds of trash was removed from CIDMMA's shoreline, a majority of which included plastic and Styrofoam items, such as bottles, bags, wrappers, crab pot buoys and miscellaneous nautical debris.

Along with employees on-site at CIDMMA, members of the district's survey and navigation support teams patrolled area waterways using a small skiff and the district's patrol boat HARRELL. These vessels picked up floating debris that could potentially damage vessels in addition to collecting 450 pounds of trash.

Some unusual items found by district employees included a decoy duck, a bra, pizza delivery carrier, expired military identification, credit cards, portable toilet door, bowling ball and a periscope.

The nearly 10,000 pounds of trash collected by Norfolk District is part of the 177,577 pounds collected by 6,100 Virginia volunteers, who were dispersed between 242 sites with one common goal in mind – a cleaner, more wholesome Chesapeake Bay.

"Chesapeake Bay Foundation truly values the great partnership we have with the Corps for Clean the Bay Day," said Christy Everett, director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation office in Hampton Roads. "By cleaning the huge Craney Island site, Army Corps of Engineers staff are doing a tremendous service for the community, while improving the health and appearance of our waterways."

Stepping through Fort Norfolk's arched entryway, visitors will be transported to another era as they have the opportunity to see military demonstrations of musket and artillery firing, marching and drilling.

The fort's four-acre site overlooks the Elizabeth River and includes earthwork embankments, ramparts, a dungeon, officers' quarters, powder magazine, barracks, and guardhouse with most structures dating back to 1810.

Originally built of earthen walls with wooden and some brick supports, Fort Norfolk is the last remaining of 19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President George Washington.

The fort helped protect Norfolk during the War of 1812. In the Civil War, Confederate forces seized the fort and used its magazine to supply the CSS Virginia (Merrimack) during its battle with the USS Monitor. In 1862 the fort was recaptured by the Union Army and used as a prison. Later it was an ordnance depot for the Navy. In 1923 the fort was occupied by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which still owns Fort Norfolk. The Norfolk Historical Society began making restorations to the fort in 1991.

Members of the public are invited to attend the June 19 encampment, hosted by the Norfolk Historical Society. The encampment will provide attendees with the opportunity to take a step back in time and learn about the victory at the Battle of Craney Island on June 22, 1813 in addition to the extensive history of Fort Norfolk. Self-guided tours of Fort Norfolk are available during the week.

NOTE TO VISITORS AND PARTICIPANTS: Attendees are permitted to park in the lot adjacent to Norfolk District's guard house and gate, located in the Ghent section of Norfolk at 803 Front Street. Visitors parking in Norfolk District's lot will sign in at the guard house and receive a Fort Norfolk tri-fold brochure.

For the past five months, Byrne has been serving as the interim division chief.

Byrne, originally from Lynn, Mass., graduated from Lowell Technological Institute, Lowell Mass., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In 1998, he completed his Masters of Engineering in Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. He is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Byrne's passion is spending time with his family and friends. While not at work, he enjoys woodworking, a craft he became interested in from watching the TV show "This Old House." Most of his work entails making furniture for his wife, Beth, who retired from the Corps two years ago. This meticulous skill set is also present in his other hobby, water color painting. He and Beth live in Virginia Beach. Their son, Jonathan, is a 2010 graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.

"These are historic times for Norfolk District," said Byrne. "Our employees, at every level in the organization, have consistently stepped up to the plate to deliver quality service to our customers. I can't tell you how proud I am of them and to be part of this great team."

Byrne moved to Hampton Roads and began working at Norfolk District shortly after graduating from Lowell Technological Institute. Although the Corps was his first job out of college, he admits he never planned to live this far south. "My plan was to work in Norfolk until I got another job offer in New England, but the area and the job grew on me," he said.

Byrne was first hired as a cost engineer. Six months later he transferred to become a geotechnical engineer in the geo-environmental section. Byrne worked his way up to chief of geo-environmental section, chief of operations branch and, in 2006, he was promoted to deputy chief of technical services division, or TSD.

"The important thing in a career is to plan it," said Byrne. "If you want to stay purely technical take advantage of training opportunities…improve yourself every day…and become the best you can be in your chosen field. If you want to explore other areas, you need to take full advantage of developmental assignments to expand your knowledge and experience base and successfully position yourself for future opportunities."

His first career goal, earning his professional engineering license, was accomplished in 1983, which required an eight-hour written exam and at least four years of engineering experience. Byrne's second goal was reached last month with his promotion to chief of engineering and construction division.

The job search was open to both internal and external candidates on a national level. Byrne's experience throughout the different branches of TSD made him highly competitive within the selection process.

"The transition has been good, I was deputy chief for four years and acting chief since November, and now I'm officially chief," said Byrne.

As chief of TSD, Byrne's primary responsibility is to ensure the Corps meets its commitments in regard to cost, schedule and quality of the products and services they provide to their customers. His leadership philosophy is to equip his division team with the resources they need to perform their mission, and then empower them to work at a high level.

"Matt Byrne is an exceptional leader and a very detailed-oriented professional," says 17-year Corps veteran and co-worker Cheryl Fromme. "I think those traits, along with his wonderful sense of humor and Bostonian accent will serve him well as the new chief."

Byrne's career has been highlighted with many memories, promotions, opportunities and projects, but the one thing that has kept him at the Corps for 32 years are the people.

"I thank our employees here for being consummate public servants, for giving back to the citizens of Virginia, and for serving the nation and the U.S. Army," said Byrne.

Following tradition, the Harborfest Parade of Sail will salute thousands of onlookers around noon on Friday, June 11. While many onlookers will be stationed at vantage points along the Elizabeth River, the larger portion of the crowd is expected to be viewing from Town Point Park, where the vessels will dock. Visitors will be able to play "pirate for a day," climb aboard and tour authentic tall ships, look at the wares of local artists, and listen to live musical acts.

Harborfest began more than a quarter century ago when the Norwegian Tall Ship Christian Radich came to Norfolk, a waterfront community that had no city-owned property or docking facility. The ship was docked three blocks from Town Point at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 13,000 people crossed her gangway in just one and a half days. Over the next two years, City planners and leaders created berthing to accommodate more ships, and a waterfront public park was planned. Norfolk Harborfest was born.

Today, tall ships from all over the world frequently call on the city of Norfolk and nearly half-a-million visitors gather near the waterfront each year for this annual celebration of one of Hampton Roads' nautical heritage events.

"We were thrilled that Norfolk District was invited by Norfolk Festevents in March to have one of our vessels participate in Harborfest", said Billy Simmons, captain of the ADAMS II vessel.

"The ADAMS does a lot of work in the Hampton Roads harbor so it is a perfect fit," continued Simmons.

Norfolk District's ADAMS II vessel, equipped with state-of-the-art underwater surveying equipment, is used to survey water depths and locate obstructions that could potentially cause extensive damage to watercraft transiting federal navigation channels in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"This is a great opportunity for the public to see an important aspect of the district's navigation mission," said Eric Legaspi, chief of the district's navigation support and survey section.

During Harborfest, ADAMS II is scheduled to dock at the Otter Berth, where the Spirit of Norfolk cruise ship docks. Members of the public are invited to visit June 11 (Friday) from 2-6 p.m. and June 12-13 (Saturday and Sunday) from noon until 6 p.m.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5921 Harbour View Boulevard in Suffolk.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• USACE Planning Process for Civil Works Projects
• Site Management Plan Update
• Munitions Response Update and Path Forward
• Public Involvement Plan (PIP)

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. In 1999, EPA placed FNOD on its National Priorities List.

In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College (TCC) representative, TCC Real Estate Foundation, Inc., other property owners and FNOD interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager, (410) 962-3134; Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil.

Additional project information is located at: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/.

Work on the project is slated to begin on June 2.

"We've been working on this project since 1998 so it's great to get this project going," said Robert Pretlow, project manager with the Norfolk District.

The project is the Corps' first comprehensive effort to restore wetlands lost along the Elizabeth River Basin since the end of World War II, will have several positive impacts on the creek, the Elizabeth River, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

"This is not a huge restoration project on the ground, but it is huge nevertheless because it is the first of (hopefully) many similar projects to come, said Craig Seltzer, technical team leader on the project. " This project will transform a highly impacted site to valuable Elizabeth River fish and wildlife habitat and will provide the impetus to continue moving in a positive direction."

The former wetlands area being restored were covered with three to seven feet of construction debris located adjacent to the city's boat ramp off Poindexter Street.

The project also includes the clearing and excavation of 3,300 cubic yards of fill material, importing 950 cubic yards of sand, constructing three 56-foot stone and sand containment structures, and planting more than 8,900 plants best suited to survive in a wetlands habitat.

"We believe that this project will compliment the ongoing shoreline restoration work within the Elizabeth River watershed and restore needed shoreline wetland resources," said David Mergen, an environmental scientist with the City of Chesapeake. "The ecological functions this project will restore to these impaired waters are critical to achieving our clean-up goals for the Chesapeake Bay."

The project was first authorized in 1996 as part of the Water Resources Development Act for the same year and the final studies were completed in 2000, which at that time federal funding was not available to bring the project to completion. It wasn't until the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that funds to complete the project were made available.

More information about the Scuffletown Creek Wetlands Restoration Project can be found on the Norfolk District's Website at www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/ScuffletownCrkWtlnd_Restoration/.

Hurricane season formally begins June 1, and the Virginia General Assembly created the sales tax holiday to ease the cost of creating an emergency supply kit. Tomorrow through May 31, the purchase of certain items is exempt from sales tax. Some retailers also are discounting items that are exempt from sales tax for additional savings. Customers can use manufacturer's coupons to lower the price of an item even more.

Among the items exempt from sales tax are: bottled water of all sizes and types, flashlights, battery-powered radios, batteries and first aid kits. Frequently asked questions about the tax holiday, a media kit and links to the Virginia Department of Taxation's complete list of tax-exempt items are available at http://www.readyvirginia.gov/stayinformed/sales_tax_holiday.cfm .

Dr. Verma, an endowed university professor of mathematics at Hampton University, Hampton, Va., is a first generation Asian-American of Indian descent, who has lived in the United States for the past 21 years.

In his presentation, "Diverse Leadership for a Diverse Workforce," Dr. Verma discussed with district employees the many reasons for celebrating Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, elaborating on how people of Asian and Pacific Island descent have greatly contributed to American society. He also revealed that among the nearly 30 different ethnicities represented by Asian-Pacific Americans, each group offers unique cultures, heritages and religions.

In 1977, Congress reserved the first 10 days of May to celebrate Asian-Pacific American heritage. Congress recognized that people of Asian and Pacific Island descent should be commemorated for their important contributions in shaping the history of the United States. In 1990, the celebration was expanded to a month-long observance in May.

Following his presentation, Dr. Verma conducted an audience quiz using the Personal Response System. PRS is a computer program that uses clickers to answer questions. He quizzed the audience on his presentation as well as their knowledge of significant Asian-Pacific Americans.

At the program's conclusion, district employees were treated to a food-tasting of Philippine cuisine, featuring pancit and ensemada.

Clean the Bay Day is an annual statewide event organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear debris from Virginia waterways. In 2009 alone, 7,022 volunteers removed 102 tons of debris from 475 miles of waterways.

Norfolk District employees are slated to clean up debris from the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the Hampton Roads harbor.

To date, 24 district employees have volunteered to pick up shoreline litter and collect debris from along the perimeter of CIDMMA, said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist and district zone captain for the district's team of volunteers. In addition to the team of volunteers on-site at CIDMMA, members of the district's debris removal team are scheduled to patrol area waterways to pick up debris that could potentially damage vessels.

Following Clean the Bay Day clean-up, volunteers are permitted to stay on-site until 3:30 p.m. to take advantage of the many recreational uses of Craney, including fishing, crabbing, bird watching and hiking.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the project's construction phase, which is on an accelerated timeline as mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, authorization. Once completed, the Joint Task Force National Capital Region (medical) will staff and equip the facility.

To meet the accelerated construction timelines dictated by BRAC, the project is being constructed through an Integrated/Design/Bid/Build, or IDBB procurement. This innovative process uses a construction contractor well before traditional processes would have allowed to increase constructability, provide accurate cost/schedule impacts of design decision, and help improve coordination resulting in fewer design omissions and errors.

The hospital was designed by a joint venture team of HDR, Alexandria and Dewberry of Fairfax, Va. Both are AE design firms. It is being constructed by the joint venture comprised of Turner Construction of Arlington, Va., and Gilbane Building Company, based in Providence, RI.

Turner Construction is engaged in many types of construction projects, including office buildings, high-tech facilities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, hotels, retail, educational and cultural buildings. The Gilbane Building Company worked on such notable projects as the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore Center for Innovative Technology, Union Station and The National Air and Space Museum.

The 1.275,000 sq. ft. military construction project features a six-level community hospital, including medical administration areas. The design includes 120 in-patient beds, a 10-bed intensive care unit, a 10-bed behavioral health inpatient unit, a cancer center, an emergency department, pharmacy, operative services center with 10 operating rooms, diagnostic centers such as pathology and radiology, and modular clinic space dedicated to outpatient services. Additional space is planned for future outpatient expansion. In addition to the square footage of the facility itself, the project includes two parking garages and surface parking for 3,500 parking spaces, a helipad, ambulance shelter and dedicated central utility plant.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Soldiers and their families. The hospital is one piece of a realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans under BRAC 2005. Other elements of the health care network include the realignment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Naval National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

The new facilities will be jointly staffed rather than single service billets with a mix of military medical professionals from the Army, Navy and Air Force. This unprecedented and transformational decision ushers in a new model for health care delivery in the National Capital Region. While military hospitals have traditionally provided care to beneficiaries from all services, military treatment facilities were never staffed with a representative mix of medical personnel from the service medical departments.

"It is critical that every Virginian treat hurricane season seriously and understand how they could be affected by flooding, high winds and tornadoes during this time of year," said Governor McDonnell. "Those who live along coastal areas also need to learn if they are in a storm surge zone and determine where they would go if they have to evacuate. Everyone should take steps now to help keep their families safe."

We are partnering with Virginia retailers to get the word out to families about saving money while getting ready for emergencies, McDonnell continued. "Hurricane season is also flood season. Just because you don't live on the coastline, don't think you aren't affected. Past years have brought us heavy rains and slow-moving tropical systems that have caused extensive damage and loss of life," he said.

Individuals and families should have a family emergency plan and put together a kit of essential supplies including at least a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to hear emergency information and extra batteries.

Make a family emergency plan

If you had to leave, know in advance where you would go and where you could take your pets. Identify several places you could stay in an emergency – perhaps a friends' home in another town, a hotel or public shelter if necessary.

Choose an out-of-town friend or relative as a family point of contact, and be sure every family member has that person's phone number. Go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov for family plan worksheets. Click on Make a plan.

Get essential emergency supplies

Start with at least a three-day supply of bottled water and packaged and canned food. Add a manual can opener, flashlights and extra batteries, first aid kit and medications. Store in waterproof containers that have wheels or that you can lift easily. Get an emergency supply checklist at www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Click on Get a kit.

Listen to emergency information from officials

In case there is no power, you will need a battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Listen to local media for the best information about your area. Consider purchasing a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with a weather band so you can get information directly from the National Weather Service.

Also, be aware that flooding is the most common disaster in Virginia, and it is costly. Just an inch or two of water in a home or business adds up to about $8,000 in repairs. Homeowners' insurance policies don't cover flooding, so talk to your agent now about flood insurance. It usually takes about 30 days for a new flood policy to go into effect. See www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

To help Virginians get supplies for hurricane and flood season, retailers are stocking up for the Commonwealth's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs May 25-31.

During those days, no sales tax will be charged on the purchase of many items that can be used to prepare homes and businesses for hurricane and flood season and to fill emergency supply kits. All retailers participate, according to Virginia law.

Batteries, flashlights, bottled water of all types and sizes, cell phone batteries, coolers, portable generators and many other useful items can be purchased with no sales tax added during the week. Many retailers will post signs listing all the allowable items so that Virginians can get ready for hurricane season, which begins June 1. For a complete list, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

"The goal of this exercise is to build relationships, identify roles and responsibilities, and talk about the lessons learned from past events and how to move forward," said Lt. Col. Michael Darrow, Norfolk District's deputy commander.

"The world has changed since 9-11 and after Hurricanes Floyd, Isabel and Katrina, our citizens expect the Corps to be ready to respond in a time of crisis," said Darrow, who participated as the exercise commander.

In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel, which at one point was rated as a Category 5 hurricane, ravaged America's East Coast from North Carolina up to Pennsylvania. It left more than two dozen people dead, caused billions of dollars of damage, shut down electrical power to over a million customers, affected drinking water in parts of Virginia, brought the federal government to a halt for two days, and closed schools, businesses and public transportation.

Hurricane Isabel was the strongest Atlantic storm system to strike the East Coast of the United States since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. That storm, which was similar to Isabel in size and strength, killed more than 50 people and caused more than $4 billion in damage.

The disaster response and preparedness exercise allowed the Corps and state participants the ability to discuss planning and collaborate on ways to carry out domestic operations in conjunction with state agencies and local first responders, said Jan Van Houten, an emergency management specialist who has been with the Corps for more than 20 years. This particular exercise simulated a Level 2 hurricane striking the shoreline of Virginia's eastern shore.

The exercise began with the hurricane making landfall, which led to simulated recovery operations after the storm, followed closely with coordinated efforts between the Corps and local and state agencies to capture key lessons learned for future discussion and evaluation.

"Even though this training scenario is based on a hurricane response, the lessons we learn here would apply to any kind of mission we might receive," said exercise participant Tom Friberg, who is the district chief of operations, support section.

Friberg, a civil engineer with the Corps for more than 30 years, cited completed civil works flood reduction projects like the Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection and Richmond Floodwall Protection projects that require continued assessment and monitoring of their effectiveness.

The exercise also tested procedures the Corps and state agencies use to respond to requests for assistance from local municipalities that are funneled through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, or VDEM, into the Corps' operations center.

"The only way we can be properly prepared to respond effectively in times of crises, is to plan, train and then exercise our procedures in coordination with our state partner agencies. This exercise is an important part of that preparation," stressed Van Houten.

"A general officer should have vision, leadership and character. DeLuca is an incredible leader in that capacity," said Van Antwerp during his opening remarks. "I want to continue to build our future and we are taking a giant step in that direction with this ceremony today."

During the ceremony, the promotion order was read, the old rank was removed and the new rank was placed on DeLuca's Army combat uniform by his family members, Tracy and Nicholas.

"This opportunity is being offered to me because of the sacrifice of American Soldiers and their families. That sacrifice is huge," said DeLuca. "I accept this on behalf of all the great people I have served with."

DeLuca became commander and division engineer of NAD on April 17, 2009. As commander, DeLuca oversees the planning, design and construction of projects to support the military, protect America's water resources and restore and enhance the environment within an 180,000-square-mile area along the Atlantic coast. This includes more than $7 billion in work to support the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 authorization. He is also responsible for a variety of division engineering and construction activities for international, federal, state and local governments and agencies in the United States and overseas, including in Europe and Africa.

USACE is one of 11 Army direct reporting units and is the world's largest public engineering, design and construction agency. Under the office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C., USACE is a worldwide network of eight divisions, 41 subordinate districts, two laboratories and one engineer research and development center providing quality, responsive engineering service. North Atlantic Division, headquartered at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., is comprised of six districts – Norfolk, Baltimore, Europe, New England, New York and Philadelphia.

The Defense Department (DoD), the Army and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are committed to managing the transition with minimal disruption to our extremely valuable civilian workforce and the critical missions we carry out around the globe, said DoD leadership.

The Army will transition most of its NSPS employees to the General Schedule (GS) during fiscal year 2010, which ends Sept. 30. USACE will transition to the GS system May 23, 2010.

"I am committed to an open, strategic and smooth transition from NSPS, and want to thank all of the employees and managers who have worked so hard to write clear objectives…and to promote and sustain a high performance culture in a fair and equitable manner while meeting the needs of our organization," said Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, USACE commanding general.

Legislative mandates

To achieve successful transition into the GS performance management system, Section 1113 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 mandated that:

• No employee will suffer loss of pay upon conversion. For example, if an employee's pay falls between two steps, the employee will go to the higher step. Those whose pay falls above step 10 of their GS position will be on retained pay and will receive 50 percent of the January General Pay Increase until the GS pay system catches up with their retained pay.
• The Secretary of Defense must plan an enterprise performance management system and present it to Congress by Jan. 2012.
• The workforce must be trained. DoD and the Army have posted on-line information to help educate supervisors and employees about GS pay system rules and regulations (Chapter 53 of Title 5 of the United States Code) on classification, hiring and pay setting procedures (e.g., Time in Grade; short-term and temporary appointments; ‘rule of three' when hiring non-Government employees) and collective bargaining obligations. These resources include: Classifying Positions under GS: A Primer for Supervisors; GS 101; Guidance Governing NSPS Transition Period – Prior to Termination; NSPS to GS Transition Guide (Chapters 1 to 4); NSPS Transition Simulator; Performance Management: A Tool to Achieve Results; and Chapter 6: Frequently Asked Questions.

Effects on 2010 performance management plans

In general, USACE NSPS performance objectives were an improvement — they were SMART (specific; measurable; aligned with mission; realistic; and timed), and they helped employees identify how their duties and responsibilities help the Corps accomplish its mission and relate to the USACE Campaign Plan, said USACE officials, who added:

• We will continue to use NSPS performance objectives in the Total Army Performance Evaluation System (TAPES).
• As a result, all objectives must be approved in the NSPS Performance Appraisal Application (PAA) by May 22, 2010; otherwise employees will not have access to their performance information maintained in the PAA after conversion.
• All interim reviews should be communicated to the employee, then documented and returned to the employee via the PAA.
• For those transitioning out of NSPS, the current performance year consists of NSPS time (Oct. 1, 2009 – May 22, 2010) and GS/TAPES time (May 23, 2010 – Oct. 31, 2010) for a single performance year of Oct. 1, 2009 – Oct. 31, 2010.

Facts and figures

• Prior to conversion, there were 226,000 NSPS employees in DoD; 82,000 in the Army; and 17,500 USACE employees.
• More than 75 percent of the Army's NSPS employees will transition during FY10; USACE will transition May 23, 2010
• USACE exceptions include: Task Force Hope/Hurricane Protection Office; deployed employees; any organization approved for transition to the Acquisition Personnel System or the Science and Technology Reinvention Lab Demo Project.
• Additional information is available at:
  1. www.cpol.army.mil/library/general/nsps/
  2. www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps/faqs.html

Many everyday items are exempt. Shop for items on this list that have a price of $60 or less:

• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs, reusable ice
• Batteries, excluding car or boat batteries
• Battery-powered light sources, including flashlights and lanterns
• First aid kits
• Cell phone chargers
• Weather Band radios and NOAA Weather Radios
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radios, including radio with electrical power option
• Bottled water of any size, including flavored, carbonated and vitamin water
• Two-way radios
• Manual can openers
• Tarps, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths
• Bungee cords and rope
• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers
• Empty gas, propane or diesel fuel tanks or containers
• Water storage containers such as buckets, barrels, canteens, coolers
• Storm shutter devices made for the prevention of storm damage (not plywood)

Shop for items on this list that have a sales price of $1,000 or less:

• Portable generators and generator power cords
• Inverters and inverter power cables.

Participating retail outlets will have information about the upcoming Virginia tax holiday. For more information, go to www.tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday. For information about getting ready for hurricane and flooding season in Virginia, visit www.ReadyVirginia.gov ]]> By Virginia Department of Emergency Management News Tue, 04 May 2010 11:30:00 -0400 http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/News/20100427_AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth.asp 04/27/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Throughout May, Americans will reflect on and honor the richly diverse and historical accomplishments made by fellow citizens, Asian and Pacific Islanders, who have shaped our country's history.

This year, Norfolk District employees can reflect on those accomplishments with Dr. Arun Verma, a native of India, and professor of mathematics at Hampton University, Hampton, Va., during a presentation 1:30 p.m., May 19, in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

For the second consecutive year, district specialists earned first-place recognition for their efforts using social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to advance employee and public communication efforts.

The district also earned a first-place unit award for "Outstanding Command Blog" and employee Patrick Bloodgood captured an individual award in the television news report category. The second-place award recognized the district's Web-based Weekly Update.

In a message to Corps employees Feb. 24, Lt. Gen. Robert L. "Van" Van Antwerp, U.S. Army chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, announced the contest results and praised public affairs professionals for "raising the bar as we go from 'good to great' in communication."

During the annual contest, judges scored 212 entries in 30 categories, including print journalism, photography and broadcast products, for technical quality and value to Corps and U.S. Army communications.

"I'm thrilled with the contest results and am very proud of the team," said Mark Haviland, the district's public affairs chief. "Not only did the team work hard to establish a reputation as skilled communicators, but they also made a concerted effort to share their knowledge throughout the Corps and with other government agencies."

The Norfolk District's first-place entries, along with other Kassner contest winners, will now compete alongside first-place winners of other major Army commands in the Department of the Army's 2009 Major Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Communication Competition.

The Dwight and Dorothy Humphrey Memorial Scholarship is one of several scholarships administered by the Portsmouth Community Foundation, a nonprofit community corporation created by and for the people of Hampton Roads.

Dwight Humphrey was the founder of the Fort Norfolk Credit Union and a former Norfolk District employee. Upon their passing the philanthropic Humphreys, who had no children, donated their entire estate to charities.

The Portsmouth Community Foundation, established in 1965, helps donors make a positive impact on the Hampton Roads community by making giving easy, flexible and effective. The Foundation's professional staff has an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and resources available that shape the Hampton Roads community, and invests long-term to bring people and organizations together to address local issues and opportunities.

Corps family members seeking the Dwight and Dorothy Humphrey Memorial Scholarship must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

To apply for a scholarship, visit the Portsmouth Community Foundation, online at www.thepcf.org.

No part of Virginia is immune from tornadoes. They can hit at any time of the year and at any time of the day. There are two things that every family, business and organization should do to get ready:

• Get a NOAA weather radio with SAME alerts.
• Participate in the statewide tornado drill Tuesday, March 16, at 9:45 a.m.

"NOAA weather radios are the best way of getting tornado warnings," said Bill Sammler, National Weather Service (NWS) warning coordination meteorologist. "A network of radio stations broadcasts weather data from the nearest NWS office. When a tornado warning is issued, the weather radio sounds an alarm followed by information on where the storm is, which way it's moving, while telling people in its path to take cover, added Sammler."

SAME alerts stands for Specific Area Message Encoding, a feature that lets you program your radio for your area. NOAA weather radios are available at electronics and sporting goods stores, department stores, boating stores and via the internet. They come in battery-powered models and many also have AM/FM band. Some have strobe lights for the hearing impaired. Prices start at about $30.

Everyone should practice taking cover from tornadoes, stressed state officials. During the statewide tornado drill, which is a joint VDEM and NWS effort, schools, businesses, organizations and families are encouraged to participate.

At 9:45 a.m., the NWS will send a "test" tornado warning on NOAA weather radio. This will prompt radio and television stations to broadcast a test message. Some NOAA weather radios will not automatically turn on when receiving a "test" signal, so participants should turn on their radios approximately five minutes before the start of the drill.

"Emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility," said Michael Cline, VDEM state coordinator. "Make it part of your family emergency plan to have a tornado drill at least once a year. The more you practice, the better able you will be to respond to an emergency."

To learn more about conducting a tornado drill, and to register your participation in the March 16 statewide drill, visit www.vaemergency.com.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, will be held at a new location — the Hilton Garden Inn, 5921 Harbour View Boulevard in Suffolk. The location change provides the RAB with more space for meetings.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Site Management Plan Update
• Munitions Response Update and Path Forward
• Horseshoe Pond Update
• Main Burning Ground Update

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. At these meetings, the FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members attending the RAB meeting are welcome to ask questions of any of the assembled team members. In 1999, EPA placed FNOD on its National Priorities List.

In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College representative, property owners and FNOD project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager, (410) 962-3134; Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Additional project information is located at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/.

This year, Norfolk district employees can ruminate on those accomplishments with renowned international artist Ms. Rieneke Leenders of Virginia Beach. The presentation will be March 17 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

The design inspiration of the Women's History Month observance poster comes from the National Women's History Project's 2010 theme, "Writing Women Back into History," said Peter Hemmer, a defense department illustrator. "The poster includes many of the names of women who have been honored by the women's history project in previous years, and the image is a sketch from a suffrage photo from the national archives," Hemmer added.

Women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the general public consciousness as recently as the 1970s, according to officials of the National Women's History Project. To address this historical oversight, added officials, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, Calif. Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration for 1978.

International Women's Day, celebrated the week of March 8, was chosen as the focal point of the observance. The activities held were met with enthusiastic response, and within a few years, dozens of American schools planned special programs for Women's History Week, said project officials.

The efforts of many women paid off in 1981, as a congressional resolution declared a "National Women's History Week." Senator Orrin Hatch and Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored the first joint congressional resolution.

In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Real estate will locate and dust off several property maps to find the location of the property and will be able to answer questions, such as, "Where is the piece of property? Are we relinquishing all or part of it? Are we already leasing the property? Are there buildings on the property?"

Today, this task is made easier with Geographic Information System, or GIS, technology. The GIS can create multi-layered electronic maps, including all property information in one digital environment, saving project managers and the real estate support team considerable time and money.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, embraced GIS in 2005 to improve its real estate management program and quickly retrieve various kinds of property information and maps to help manage military projects.

The district's real estate staff has available electronic maps created with GIS technology instead of previous outdated methods such as printed and often outdated maps. The GIS method has proven to be a better tool for planning, appraising, acquiring, leasing, managing, analyzing and/or disposing properties.

The geographic information system is computer-based and capable of capturing, storing, analyzing and displaying location-based information as well as electronic maps, reports and charts.

This technology tool also takes information from various sources, such as aerial photographs or electronic data, and combines these layers of information to provide significant and more accurate analysis.

For example, Norfolk District currently takes information from various sources, such as historical printed maps, aerial photographs, wetlands data, building location information and environmental data. By taking this information and combining it with GIS data, multi-layered electronic maps are created – all together in one digital mapping environment.

Norfolk District's military properties include:

• Fee acquisitions: Property the district purchased for a fee.
• Acquired lesser interests: Property the district does not own but has the right to use, such as lease.
• Disposal: Property the district sells or transfers to another party.
• Outgrants: Government property used by others for non-government purposes, such as for road and utility easements, cell tower leases/licenses and school use.

"With GIS, the district's military projects property information can now be viewed in one digital mapping environment," said Jeff Swallow, district geographer. "This up-to-date information is easily accessed by computer and maps can be changed instantly, and we plan to expand this application to civil works projects in the future," he added.

Since GIS-created maps have multiple overlays and include varied sources of information, decision makers can see how this information affects each other.

This easy analysis was not possible in the past when printed maps were used. Printed maps had limited and sometimes outdated information, and were also a labor-intensive process to update.

"Originally, cartographers created these maps by hand, using pen and Mylar on drafting tables. They would then be stored in filing cabinets and map rooms," explained Swallow. "When these maps had to be changed it was done manually on the original Mylar map. The maps had to be located and laid out on a table to make the changes. Plus, all the information you needed was never on the same map," added Swallow.

To provide all Corps districts the benefits of GIS, Swallow is part of a USACE team that is creating a new and more "robust" Real Estate Management Information System (REMIS) that incorporates GIS. REMIS will help district's better manage real estate assets, according to Swallow.

In addition, linking REMIS with GIS will enable real estate staffs to easily access legal and financial accountability information about properties, providing a better method to track property finances for required financial reporting purposes.

In the end, each asset in REMIS will have a corresponding mapping location in the GIS as an analysis reference for the real estate community.

"These electronic maps are beneficial to the Corps' real estate staff and project managers because they are more accurate and provide current information. Corps real estate offices can now view land assets in a dynamic digital environment - think Google Earth - and make better decisions using this digital GIS technology," Swallow added.

To learn more about GIS and how to include GIS in your projects, contact the Norfolk District geospatial service section at (757) 201-7616.

An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. An AED treats patients through defibrillation -- the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

At approximately 11:45 a.m., Feb. 8, the superintendent of the Corps' Spillway Number 3 replacement contract work at Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, Portsmouth, Va., called to report one of his employees had passed out. He said he had called 911 and would meet them at the Craney Island gate and lead them to the employee.

"I knew from past experience here that emergency response to our location can sometimes be confusing because of the remote location," said Carlos Quinones, a Craney Island civil engineering technician.

Quinones said he immediately grabbed the AED mounted on the wall and drove to the scene to see if he could assist. When he arrived at the scene, he saw the man lying on the ground and someone performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

His first aid/CPR training immediately took over.

"I approached the man and noticed that he was barely breathing. I instructed the young man, who was administering chest compressions, to stop. The young man, who was also the victim's stepson, appeared extremely distraught, but he told me he will help if needed," Quinones said.

Quinones said he tried to get the victim to speak, nod his head or even blink, but he could not respond. "His breathing was getting increasingly erratic, and after about two minutes, had stopped breathing," Quinones added.

Quinones then checked for a pulse and when there was none he unpacked the AED and instructed the stepson to lift his father's shirt so he could place the AED pads on his bare skin. Once the pads were in place, the AED scanned the victim's body and audibly informed Quinones to clear the patient and administer shock.

"After clearing the area of bystanders, I administered shock and observed a considerable convulsion of the victim's body. I then checked for signs of breathing and a pulse. The victim slowly began breathing and within 3-4 minutes, regained consciousness," said Quinones.

For the remaining 6-7 minutes before an emergency medical team arrived, Quinones kept talking to the victim to keep him conscious. Once the ambulance arrived the medical crew took over.

Quinones, an eight-year Corps veteran, who acts as a contracting officer representative and quality assurance inspector at Craney Island, said that while this incident was his first use of the AED, it is a very simple device requiring the user to follow very basic directions.

"The AED is not a panacea for all emergencies or even all cardiac incidents, but the full integration of these potentially life-saving devices into our district health and safety program is very important," stressed Quinones. "We'll use this incident as a teachable moment to inspire, motivate and continue our everyday goal of making Craney Island a safe working environment for all."

Quinones dropped by the hospital this morning to check up on his "recovering patient." Doctors anticipate a full recovery within two weeks.

Norfolk District employees were among the 2,636 thrill-seekers Feb. 6, who participated in the 18th Annual Polar Plunge despite temperatures in the 30s, snow flurries and winds gusting up to 30 mph.

"This year's polar plunge was a very challenging event to pull off considering Saturday's weather conditions, but we managed to do it in a safe fashion," said Rick Jeffrey, president of Special Olympics Virginia.

As a national annual fundraiser, polar plunge proceeds benefit children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics. Since its inception in 1993, more than 28,000 plungers have raised more than $5.5 million for Special Olympics Virginia.

The Corps team included the district commander, civil engineers, environmental scientists, construction representatives and interns who work at the Waterfield Building and field offices in Richmond, Va., Fort Eustis, Fort Monroe and Langley Air Force Base. The 17 Corps plungers raised more than $3,000 in support of Special Olympics Virginia.

Activities featured this year included the first-ever Pee Wee Plunge for youths 12 and under, live music and warm beverages, a corn-hole tournament, plunger costume contest, ice carving demonstrations and sand sculpting.

To support the event's "superhero" theme, Norfolk District's plunge team Corps donned hard hats and custom-made red capes, complete with the Army Corps of Engineers castle insignia.

This year's polar plunge marks the fourth time civil engineer Jon Reyes plunged into the icy Atlantic and his second time as team captain.

According to Reyes, the biggest challenge he faced organizing this year's district team was distance. As a resident engineer at the Fort Eustis, Va. field office, and nearly 40 miles from district headquarters in Norfolk, Reyes relied heavily on E-mail and phone communication to recruit team members.

Despite gusty winds, high waves, snow flurries and freezing rain, engineer-in-training and first-time plunger Drew Johnson was undeterred.

"During and after the plunge, I couldn't really feel anything at all. Although the water was surprisingly refreshing, the worst part was the snow-covered sand and my feet staying cold … it felt like it was 10 degrees. I didn't regain feeling in (my feet) for a few hours, but it was definitely worth it," said Johnson.

Johnson is quick to add that thousands of enthusiastic plungers were inspired by the opportunity to raise funds that benefit nearly 9,500 athletes throughout the Commonwealth.

Construction representative Robert Graham agreed, adding, "I endured the insanity for a great cause!"

The guest speaker will be Mr. Marvin Lake, president of Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, Inc., and former public editor of the Virginian-Pilot. Lake, who was known as the newspaper's arbiter of fairness, accuracy and balance, will share his thoughts and experiences in keeping with this year's theme: "History of Black Economic Empowerment."

Lake will also host a 30-minute locally-produced Public Broadcasting System (PBS) documentary, "Church Street: Harlem of the South." He will discuss the emergence of Norfolk, particularly Church Street, as the hub of economic empowerment for African Americans of Hampton Roads during the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

"In fact, Norfolk was known as the ‘Harlem of the South' and was one of the nation's standard-bearers in gauging economic wealth for African Americans," said Gregory E. Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager.

The award-winning film was produced by Vandora Williams, one of the district's small business historically black colleges and universities contractors from Hampton University.

Another documentary being aired nationwide during February on PBS is "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots." The two-part documentary, produced with the Army's cooperation, tells the untold story of African Americans in the military throughout the nation's history.

Hosted by Halle Berry, narrated by Avery Brooks and introduced by retired Gen. Colin Powell, the four-hour documentary begins at the dawn of U.S. history to tell the story of African Americans who risked their lives to win and protect American freedom while striving to acquire it themselves.

In addition to film footage and photos, "For Love of Liberty" uses letters, diaries, speeches, journalistic accounts, historical text, and military records to document the accomplishments of African Americans who served in the military since the republic's earliest days. Their personal stories give a moving account of service and sacrifice, from the Revolutionary War -- whose first casualty was a black man, Crispus Attucks -- to today's war against global terrorism.

"It is a wonderful story … of a group of Americans who never lost their love of this country, never lost their faith in it or what the founding fathers had promised them," said former Secretary of State Colin Powell."

Praised by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, "For Love of Liberty" is much more than a collection of historical facts and figures. It shares the compelling personal stories of men and women who make up the fabric of an inspiring narrative. Their first-hand accounts are told by a who's who of prominent entertainers and public figures.

The entertainers include: Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Susan Sarandon, Louis Gossett Jr., Ossie Davis, Robert Duvall, Danny Glover, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Elliot, and Delroy Lindo. Sound bytes are included from Walter Cronkite, Isaac Hayes, John Goodman, Jesse L. Martin, Peter Coyote, Ice-T, James Garner, Robert Townsend, Alan Rickman and Roscoe Lee Browne.

The words they deliver convey an epic saga of perseverance and triumph, which the film brings to life through rare photographs, archival materials, re-enactments, personal memorabilia, historical paintings, and posters. Also included is original footage of hundreds of monuments, battlefields, memorials, and other historic sites in more than 20 states and throughout Europe.

"Our goal is to raise public consciousness about this extraordinary and little-known aspect of our nation's history, and I'm deeply indebted to all those who've supported our commitment to get this story told," said Frank Martin, the film's director. "The theme that echoes across the centuries -- the price of liberty -- is one that is relevant to all Americans," Martin added.

Acclaimed actor Louis Gossett Jr., one of the film's executive producers, said: "‘For Love of Liberty' has the power to forever change perceptions about the vital role African Americans have played during the entire course of U.S. military history. I'm honored to be part of this important and ground-breaking film, and thankful to all my fellow actors who have helped to bring this story to life."

For more information and broadcast schedule dates, visit www.forloveofliberty.org.

The USACE project manager and contractor will coordinate the establishment of a temporary 2,500-yard exclusion zone with the U.S. Coast Guard, Langley Air Force Base and local emergency responders prior to the detonation. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, will be offshore to enforce the exclusion zone.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will publish a broadcast notice to mariners to inform the maritime community of this and future detonations. The on-scene coordinator will monitor VHF channel 16 and 13 and marine broadcasts will air every 15 minutes, one hour prior to closing an area and throughout the detonation sequence. The on-scene coordinator may also expand or reduce the overall size of the exclusion zone as conditions warrant.

This on-site detonation is part of the USACE two-year, two-phase remedial investigation and feasibility study of the former aerial bombing range.

Phase I of USACE fieldwork was conducted from January through early April 2009. The fieldwork consisted of munitions investigation in the northern portion of the refuge and along the southern shoreline using metal detecting instruments. This process helps identify areas that may require future cleanup work.

Phase II fieldwork began Jan. 4, 2010 and is focusing on the interior of the southern portion of the property. Work will continue through March, and consists of investigation of munitions and collection of soil, sediment and water samples for testing.

"The primary focus of the remedial investigation is to characterize the nature and extent of Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) and Munitions Constituents, or MC, at the refuge," said George Follett, Corps project manager.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is formerly known as the Plum Tree Island Range and was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice from 1917 through the late 1950s. The former bombing range, which consisted of approximately 3,200 acres, was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972.

With the exception of waterfowl hunting on adjacent Cow Island, which was not part of the bombing range, the refuge is closed to all public use due to the potential for encountering unexploded ordnance.

For more information on ongoing fieldwork at Plum Tree Island, visit the Norfolk District Plum Tree Island Website.

Tops In Blue will be presenting "To Dream," an action-packed performance of music and dance featuring Latin sounds, country music and pop hits, as well as songs from popular movies and Broadway shows.

Combined with lights, elaborate costumes and precise choreography, it's a concert sure to please everyone, say organizers.

Tops In Blue features the "best of the best" of military talent, with members from 15 U.S. states and several overseas military bases. Representing a wide variety of career specialties, they are an elite group of entertainers selected from active duty units throughout the Air Force.

The group will visit more than 120 locations in the U.S. and 25 foreign countries during the tour, continuing a 56-year tradition of performing at all U.S. military bases. The tour also includes entertaining deployed troops in Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

All are welcome to enjoy a free night of entertainment. For more information, residents can visit topsinblue.com or contact the Langley Air Force Base Community Center at 764-2983.

The guest speaker will be Mr. Marvin Lake, who retired in 2007 as the public editor of the Virginian-Pilot. He was known as the newspaper's arbiter of fairness, accuracy and balance, and will share his thoughts and experiences in keeping with this year's national theme: "History of Black Economic Empowerment."

The program will also feature a 30-minute film, entitled "Church Street: Harlem of the South," showcasing black economic prosperity of downtown Norfolk, specifically Church Street.

The film was produced by Vandora Williams, who is one of the district's small business historically black colleges and universities contractors from Hampton University. Lake will talk about a time when Church Street was the black economic mecca not only for Norfolk, but Hampton Roads, and nationally known for its entertainment industry from the 40s through the 60s.

"In fact, Norfolk was the standard-bearer in gauging economic wealth for black Americans," said Gregory E. Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager.

In his proclamation honoring African American/Black History Month, President Barack H. Obama wrote: "In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our nation's enduring struggle to perfect itself.

"Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation, and what challenges remain. This year's theme, "The History of Black Economic Empowerment," calls upon us to honor African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it," Obama added.

American educator and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), considered a pioneer in the study of African American history, is given much of the credit for Black History Month, and has been called the "Father of Black History." The son of former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood in New Canton, Va., working in coalmines and quarries.

He received his education during the four-month term that was customary for black schools at the time. At 19, having taught himself English fundamentals and arithmetic, Woodson entered high school, where he completed a four-year curriculum in two years.

He went on to receive his Master's degree in history from the University of Chicago, and earned a PhD from Harvard University.

Disturbed that history textbooks largely ignored America's black population, Woodson took on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. To do this, Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. He also founded the group's widely respected publication, the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he developed Negro History Week.

Woodson believed that America "should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice."

Woodson chose the second week of February for the celebration because it marks the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the black American population:

• Frederick Douglass (February 14), an escaped slave who became one of the foremost black abolitionists and civil rights leaders in the nation.
• President Abraham Lincoln (February 12), who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in America's confederate states

In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month. The month is also sometimes referred to as African American History Month.

During the four-month intensified surveillance/monitoring period, which began in mid-October 2009, the reservoir level was lowered while immediate and short-term risk reduction measures and studies were implemented. The lower reservoir increased available storage for rare flood events.

Significant items accomplished and documented by the Corps during the evaluation period included:

• Completion of the dam safety consultant's independent assessment of existing data and condition of the dam – It was determined there was no evidence of increasing seepage at the dam and the current pool elevation could be safely returned to the normal conservation pool elevation.
• Completion of internal review of the instrumentation data – It was determined there was no evidence of increasing seepage or unusual conditions at the dam.
• Completion of four months of increased monitoring/surveillance and data collection - No unusual or unexpected conditions were observed by the Norfolk District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Completion of additional remote monitoring equipment installation on project instrumentation - During the return to the normal conservation pool level, the Corps will continue the increased monitoring/surveillance and data collection.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (NAO) is executing the overall plan as briefed Oct. 2, 2009. The intensified surveillance/monitoring conducted to date indicate no unusual conditions and Gathright Dam is functioning as designed. NAO will issue the Jan. 2010 report on Feb. 5, 2010.

For more information about Gathright Dam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please visit our web site at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/

The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, Route 1 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, will close to vessel traffic during the Great Bridge lock closure Feb. 9. The Great Bridge lock closure is required to facilitate the changing of lock gates at the Great Bridge facility.

Boaters desiring to transit the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway during the closure may use the Dismal Swamp Canal, Route 2. The Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal form alternative routes along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway between Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound.

The Dismal Swamp Canal, maintained to a depth of 6 feet, has a normal operating schedule for openings at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. This schedule is subject to change during adverse weather conditions.

Bridge and lock operators monitor marine radio channel 13.

For additional information, call Joel Scussel, Norfolk District of the Army Corps of Engineers, at (757) 201-7642.

The bridge, located on the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, Va. borders, where Mount Pleasant Road turns into North Landing Road, closed Nov. 16, 2009. Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, managed the project.

The two stimulus contracts were awarded in late August 2009, one to Luna Development, an 8-A contractor out of Norfolk, and one to U.S. Facilities, a minority-owned contractor based in Philadelphia.

Luna Development work included additional security and safety upgrades to the bridge house, upgrade bridge house windows, doors, roofing, AC and heat (energy efficient), and installing an onsite storage building.

US Facilities work included removal and replacement of the existing bridge surface (steel grid and concrete fill), some structural steel work, paint structural steel and bridge, repair some underwater support pilings, repair concrete abutments, and replacement of traffic control gates, lights and poles.

On Jan. 12, the concrete surface of the bridge was placed; it was delayed from the scheduled placement due to extremely cold weather this month. The concrete was heated and cured for seven days and passing test results were received Jan. 20.

The bridge has been inspected and final punch list items and adjustments are being completed. The detour will be removed Jan. 22, and the bridge opened by 2 p.m.

These are permanent sanctuaries -free from fishing - creating the second largest such network in the world. This network functions as a Marine Protected Area benefiting the ecosystem with increased oyster larval production throughout the river, improved juvenile fish habitat, and better water quality. The team will continue to collaborate between federal, state, local governments, academia and local non-profit organizations to expand the sanctuary to at least an additional 40 acres.

The ceremony, which was the highlight of the Lynnhaven River Now's annual social, was held at the Steinhilber's Restaurant in Virginia Beach.

The award is the only environmental award of its kind given by the White House, and Col. Andy Backus, commander of the Norfolk district, accepted the plaque on behalf of the Corps.

Individual plaques were also presented by Mr. Doug Lamont, assistant secretary of the Army (project planning and review) to: Mr. David Schulte, a marine biologist who has been with the Norfolk district for nine years; Mr. Clay Bernick, on behalf of the City of Virginia Beach; Mr. Jack Travelstead from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission; Mrs. Karen Forget of Lynnhaven River Now; and Mr. Rom Lipcius, a professor at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Schulte, who is also a doctoral student at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has been involved in the restoration project since the Corps initiated the planning effort in 2004.

"If it wasn't for the City of Virginia Beach getting the shells we would not have been able to get started" said Schulte.

Karen Forget, executive director of Lynnhaven River Now, said, "This award will help shed light and bring awareness to the water quality of the Lynnhaven River and potentially other tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay."

The Corps and its partners, all of whom, along with endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, were instrumental in starting, overlooking and continuing the efforts once the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project started. The first Corps-built reefs were constructed in 2007, the next were built in 2008.

The Norfolk District has been involved with native oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay since 1999. The first two projects were completed in the lower Rappahannock River and in the Tangier Sound. The projects were designed to primarily augment the commercial oyster fishery but had limited success. The team changed their strategy – one geared towards ecological restoration with hopes of developing self-sustaining oyster populations on restored reefs. Reefs were built at higher relief from the bottom to better mimic historical oyster reef structure in the hope that they would perform better than the prior designs, which are to scatter a thin shell layer a few inches thick over the bottom or to build a series of six foot tall mounds in an "upside down egg-shell crate" configuration. The team also decided to focus on a tributary-by-tributary fashion, starting with small, tidally retentive systems most likely to provide oyster recruits for restored reef habitat.

This new strategy was implemented in the Great Wicomico River in 2004. "The restored reefs are now performing better than we could have hoped," said Schulte.

"Lynnhaven reefs are following on track and we expect similar projects to be as successful in several years," said Schulte. Schulte added that based on studies and the success of the sanctuaries in the Lynnhaven and Great Wicomico Rivers, intertidal near- shore reefs are the next direction for oyster restoration in the Lynnhaven River.

For more information on the continuing collaborative efforts of oyster restoration, visit the U.S. Army Corps if Engineers, Norfolk District, website at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/

Kidd, a Virginia Wesleyan College student studying communications with a focus on media studies and journalism, supplements his academic studies with valuable work experience at the Corps' Norfolk district.

As an intern with the emergency management office, Kidd has gained exposure to the national response framework and the role of federal agencies in preparation for emergencies.

"Before this internship, I knew nothing about emergency management, but since this past summer and winter break, my eyes have really been opened to the importance of being prepared for severe weather," said Kidd.

Last summer Kidd attended a three-day public information officer's training course in Lynchburg, Va., provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Additionally, Kidd participated in a Point of Distribution (POD) functional exercise organized by the City of Virginia Beach. For Kidd, the exercise was an in-depth look into the planning, operations and demobilization stages of distributing emergency supplies.

"The POD training was a great exercise to see. Actually, seeing it gave me a clear understanding of the preparations that go into emergency management," said Kidd.

In the event of an emergency, a POD site houses truckloads of water, ice, ready-to-eat meals and emergency supplies in strategic locations throughout the Commonwealth.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency Nov. 11 due to severe flooding in the southeastern areas of the state. A coastal storm, fed by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida resulted in the activation of the Emergency Operations Center to mobilize agencies, including the Army Corps, in preparation for severe flooding and power outages.

While severe flooding swept the Hampton Roads area, Norfolk District's Twitter and Facebook Web sites provided updates to district employees, citizens and stakeholders about accountability procedures, weather conditions and road closures.

Before returning to Virginia Wesleyan College for the spring 2010 semester, Kidd is updating the district's hurricane response plan with and emphasis on strategic communication responsibilities, which details protocols, preparations and procedures during emergencies such as the recent flooding.

Kidd's update to Norfolk District's hurricane response plan incorporates innovative and integrated methods of dealing with emergencies, including an analysis of the latest Web 2.0 tools.

Since joining the Norfolk District team in May 2009, Kidd's internship experiences with the emergency management office allowed him to fulfill Virginia Wesleyan's internship requirement.

When the spring 2010 semester starts Jan. 25, Kidd will continue his communications studies. Kidd is enrolled in media law, online journalism and advertising courses in addition to a journalism workshop for the school newspaper.

Kidd is slated to receive his bachelor's degree in communications in June 2011.

The bridge, located on the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, Va. borders, where Mount Pleasant Road turns into North Landing Road, closed Nov. 16, 2009. Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, is overseeing the project.

The two stimulus contracts were awarded in late August 2009, one to Luna Development, an 8-A contractor out of Norfolk, and one to U.S. Facilities, a minority owned contractor out of Philadelphia.

Luna Development work includes additional security and safety upgrades to the bridge house, upgrade bridge house windows, doors, roofing, AC, and heat (energy efficient), and installing an onsite storage building.

US Facilities work includes removal and replacement of existing bridge surface (steel grid and concrete fill), some structural steel work, paint structural steel and bridge, repair some underwater support pilings, repair concrete abutments, and replace traffic control gates, lights, and poles.

As of Jan. 6, installation and welding of a new steel grid on the Virginia Beach span is complete. Installation of the new steel grid on the Chesapeake span is complete and welding is being performed. The grid is scheduled to be filled with concrete Jan. 8 and a temporary heating system will be installed to keep the concrete at the correct temperature during the curing process. Final painting is being performed when weather permits and is scheduled to be done by Jan. 15.

Also, new traffic gates and control lights are installed and operational. New drawbridge open signs will be installed once received, underwater substructure work is scheduled to be done by Jan. 15 and the bridge house repair work is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 12. This work has no affect of reopening the bridge.

Work is progressing well; delays have occurred due to heavy rain in November and December, and unseasonably cold temperatures in January. Contractors worked through the holidays to regain schedule.

The award, the only environmental award of its kind given by the White House, will be presented to David Schulte, a marine biologist with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Schulte will accept the award on behalf of his efforts and those of 39 other team members who will also attend the ceremony at Steinhilber's Restaurant in Virginia Beach.

Schulte, who is also a doctoral student at the College of William and Mary's, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has been involved in the restoration project since the Corps initiated the planning effort in 2004.

Virginia Tippie, director of Coastal America, together with Assistant Secretary of the Army (project planning and review) Doug Lamont, will present the plaques and congratulatory letters from President Barack Obama to representatives of each member of the team.

The Corps, partners with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Lynnhaven River Now and the City of Virginia Beach, all of whom, along with endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, were instrumental in starting and continuing the efforts once the Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project began. The first Corps-built reefs were constructed in 2007; the next were built in 2008.

The Norfolk District has been involved with native oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay since 1999. The first two projects were completed in the lower Rappahannock River and in the Tangier Sound. The projects were designed to primarily augment the commercial oyster fishery but had limited success. The team changed their strategy – one geared towards ecological restoration with hopes of developing self-sustaining oyster populations on restored reefs. Reefs were built at higher relief from the bottom to better mimic historical oyster reef structure in the hope that they would perform better than the prior designs, which are to scatter a thin shell layer a few inches thick over the bottom or to build a series of six-foot-tall mounds in an "upside down, egg-shell crate" configuration. The team also decided to focus on a tributary-by-tributary fashion, starting with small, tidally retentive systems most likely to provide oyster recruits for restored reef habitat.

This new strategy was implemented in the Great Wicomico River in 2004. "The restored reefs are now performing better than we could have hoped," said Schulte.

The findings, which have been published recently in the journal Science, indicate that the restoration project has resulted in a 57-fold increase in the Great Wicomico oyster population and is currently the largest restored oyster reef network in the world. Adult oyster densities are averaging about 700 per square meter of reef, with about 300 young of the year oysters, called "spat," adding up to about 1,000 oysters per square meter of high relief reefs, densities never before recorded in the modern day Chesapeake Bay. What is more remarkable, added Schulte, is that these oysters are all from wild recruitment, not planted "spat-on-shell."

"This is the first time the Chesapeake Bay program goal of a 10-fold increase in native oysters has been met in any location, and we exceeded it by almost six times," said Col. Andrew Backus, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, which manages the project for the federal government.

Applying the lessons learned from the Great Wicomico River Oyster Restoration project, the Norfolk Corps proposed the next restoration reef network to be built in the Lynnhaven River in 2004. This time, the Corps had more partners willing to help. The collaborative relationship with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Lynnhaven River Now, and the City of Virginia Beach, all of who, along with endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, were necessary to get the US Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration project constructed.

"I have seen first-hand the positive ecological impact this project has had. We hope to increase the existing 50 to 60 acres of reefs to100 acres and do additional plantings of spat-on-shell baby oysters on some of the restored reefs," he added. According to Schulte, thousands of oysters the Corps protected with aquaculture netting as part of an anti-predator experiment are also thriving at several sites in the river. Early monitoring is showing some of the restored reefs are on a track similar to the older Great Wicomico high relief reefs.

Coastal America's Partnership Award recognizes the collaborative, multi-agency effort that was needed to leverage and combine enough resources to successfully restore, preserve and protect Lynnhaven River's population of native American oysters.

Members of the Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project Team include:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science
• Lynnhaven River Now
• City of Virginia Beach

Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, has been at the forefront of that change, managing the design and construction of such varied military facilities as:

• Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing – The project consists of an 117,284 square foot, three-story facility to accommodate 336 Soldiers. When completed in February, each dwelling unit will include two bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom. A laundry room and common areas are included on each floor.
• Battalion Headquarters – The 14,000 square feet, two-story facility, set for completion in March, will provide administrative and command operations support to a small battalion.
• Company Operations Facility – Set for completion in March, the project consists of four buildings to house company administrative operations and store supplies. The administration building is a two-story, 16,120 square feet facility. The other three buildings, totaling 76,272 square feet, are readiness modules that will support Soldiers' operations and equipment and each house two companies.
• Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility – The four-unit project, set for completion in September, will maintain and repair various Army operational vehicles. Totaling about 57,000 square feet, the facility includes service and storage areas as well as administrative offices.
• Company Operations Facility – Set for completion in December, the 62,055 square foot, one-story facility will house company administrative operations and support storage of Soldiers' operations and equipment.
• Army Training Support Center – With expected completion in March 2011, phase I for this advanced training facility includes 56,670 square feet of administrative spaces, special work areas, classrooms, storage areas and mailroom functions.
• U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Headquarters and Band Facility – Set for completion in April 2011, the TRADOC headquarters complex will include command suites, private offices, special access program facilities, emergency operations center, administrative spaces and an auditorium. While housing 1,260 employees in its new 263,676 square feet headquarters, TRADOC will also house 66 musicians in an adjacent 18,841 square feet band facility.
• Child Development Center – With expected completion in April 2011, the 26,000 square feet project, using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, is designed to accommodate 232 children during indoor and outdoor activities.

Each of the above projects are designed and constructed to meet the Army's Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED), achieving a silver certification.

Other related BRAC 2005 military construction projects under way include the renovation of Building 705's West Wing and expansion of the Fort Eustis Directorate of Information Management (DOIM).

Caldwell, who was the only reporter present at the assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968, will tell a compelling story of what he witnessed that fateful day, as well as share historic moments in America's civil rights struggle.

He is also nationally renowned for his in depth reporting of historic civil rights cases. Of particular note, Caldwell is the groundbreaking journalist, whose refusal to disclose confidential information involving his sources in the Black Panther Party, led him to become a central figure in one of the 20th century's most celebrated cases involving reporters' rights.

Caldwell is currently a writer-in-residence at Hampton University, where he teaches a civil rights and the press course.

Dr. King's perpetual national holiday theme, in keeping with his enduring legacy of American non-violent activism, is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!"

On Nov. 3, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing the third Monday of every January as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday, which began in 1986. However, the effort to make Dr. King's birthday a federal holiday began 15 years earlier, four days after his assassination.

The events that led to Dr. King's holiday are full of intrigue. Read "The Making of the King Holiday: A Chronology" at Related Links for a detailed historic account.

Hello Norfolk District,

On Nov. 12, I arrived in Afghanistan. I spent five days meeting with many of the Afghan Engineer District staff and going over our shared projects. I also played basketball with Herman Wine and some other nice men.

As resident engineer, I'm responsible for Gardez resident office as well as the project office in Ghazni. Our office consists of 12 staff, construction projects totaling $250 million and 30-plus project sites. Our projects are mostly Afghan national police sites, Afghan border patrol sites, Afghan national army base improvements/expansions and roadwork. We build compounds, wells, offices, support facilities, dining and laundry facilities, a hospital, fire stations, a track and soccer field, a gym...I think you get the picture.

The work here is challenging, rewarding and guaranteed to develop me personally and professionally. My fellow colleagues are determined and dedicated. The accommodations are great; my room is one of the few with a bathroom/shower. I have a gym to work out in and sometimes the weather is nice enough to play basketball. The food in the dining facility is usually good; I really enjoy the made-to-order omelets each morning. I'm confident that I will have fond memories of this experience for many years to come.

Here's wishing every one a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Travis Davidson,
Resident Engineer

On Dec. 1, employees joined District Commander Col. Andrew Backus during the annual angel tree lighting ceremony at the Waterfield Building to choose one of the 88 blue or pink paper angels hanging from the tree.

Each paper angel included the first name, age and wishes of a child from Norfolk's St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children.

St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children is the only pediatric long-term-care residential facility of its kind in Virginia for children and young adults with severe disabilities, and one of about 100 nationwide.

Since 1988, Norfolk district has provided cheer to children at St. Mary's by fulfilling their holiday wishes.

"Christmas isn't Christmas until they come here," said Shirley Parham, a member of St. Mary's activities staff, as she introduced the Norfolk district choral group, the Corpsaleers.

On Dec. 17, St. Mary children and staff members gathered in the facility atrium to listen to the Corpsaleers perform an hour-long melody of holiday carols. District welfare council employees shook maracas and bells as Corpsaleers sung in harmony to holiday carols such as "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer", "Jingle Bells", "Silent Night", "Silver Bells" and "It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas".

Immediately following the Corpsaleers performance, Col. Backus and Corpsaleers went caroling through the facility, spreading holiday cheer to staff members and children who were not able to attend the performance in the atrium.

The district's angel tree program allows Norfolk district employees to give back to the community and ensure the angels at St. Mary's, many of whom will not spend the holidays at home with loved ones, receive gifts this holiday season.

For more information on the St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, visit their Web site at www.saintmaryshome.org.

The $26 million military construction project, managed by Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, is the latest project completed at Fort Lee, under the Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC 2005 authorization.

When the final BRAC projects are completed at Fort Lee in September 2011, the Corps will have managed the construction of 32 military projects totaling an estimated $1.34 billion, said William G. Robson, P.E., the Fort Lee BRAC area engineer.

"In the last two years, Fort Lee has doubled its size with these new construction projects," said Morrow.

"Today's opening of the Soldier Support Center represents a major milestone and concept change here. We are centralizing 20 different organizations from across 10 different locations on post, to serve as a one-stop shop for in and out processing of Fort Lee personnel," Morrow added.

The highlight of the ceremony was the dedication of the auditorium in honor of the late Dwight A. Faughn, an Army retiree and former Fort Lee adjutant general and director of human resources from 1994-2007. A bust of Faughn and a plaque, inscribed Faughn Hall, was unveiled as permanent fixtures of the auditorium.

With family members in attendance, including his wife, Clyda, of 39 years, keynote speaker Esther T. Lee praised Faughn as a shining example of perseverance and devotion to duty, who daily demonstrated an unwavering desire to support the Fort Lee military community.

"Dwight truly deserves this recognition…anyone who knew him quickly discovered that he cared deeply for Soldiers," said Lee, a special project officer for the Strategic Initiatives Group, Combined Arms Support Command. Lee also worked closely with Faughn as a former Fort Lee deputy garrison commander.

On Sept. 23, 2007, Faughn lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Maj. (ret.) Dwight A. Faughn rests in Arlington National Cemetery.

The new center is 83,876 square feet and features a 350-seat auditorium, four 100-seat classrooms and two conference centers. The center will also serve as a welcome center for visitors on post, and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days week.

Post activities housed at the Soldier Support Center include:

• Human resources directorate/adjutant general
• Casualty assistance
• Records holding /freedom of information act
• Army career and alumni program
• Permanent party personnel services
• Trainee/Student Services
• ID card/DEERS
• Retirement services
• Transition center
• Personnel automation
• Assignments/reassignments (passports/family travel)
• Army community service
• Defense military pay office
• Transportation (personal/inbound property; Carlson Wagonlit)
• Housing
• Vehicle registration
• Medical and dental activities
• Post retention

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital (FBCH) will become part of the National Capital Region's integrated military healthcare organization, a world-class medical delivery system dedicated to care for the needs of service members and eligible beneficiaries. Together with the U.S. Army Health Facility Planning Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District is leading design and construction of the $807 million hospital.

The FBCH campus includes a seven-story, 120-bed hospital tower, four buildings, which house more than 25 Primary and Specialty Care clinics, two open-air parking garages and a central utilities plant. When complete, the hospital will be one of the world's premier military medical facilities.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of the National Capital Region's integrated military healthcare organization, a world-class medical delivery system dedicated to care for the needs of service members and eligible beneficiaries. Together with the U.S. Army Health Facility Planning Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District is leading design and construction of the $807 million hospital.

The FBCH campus includes a seven-story, 120-bed hospital tower, four buildings, which house more than 25 Primary and Specialty Care clinics, two open-air parking garages and a central utilities plant. When complete, the hospital will be one of the world's premier military medical facilities.

The FESC will replace the existing fire station, centralize key equipment and consolidate the security dispatch. Its new location will be well outside Radford's munitions production area.

"Today is an historic day in the life of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant...thanks to support from the U.S. Army and the Corps of Engineers. We will finally be able to replace our 1940's-era fire station," said Munera. "The new fire station will be a state-of-the-art facility and provide our first responder's a home they deserve. It will also guarantee the safety of the installation for years to come," Munera added.

Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers is managing the military construction project, which is scheduled to begin March 15, 2010. The project completion date is June 2011.

The Corps' contractor is IronBridge Construction, Inc., a certified small business administration service-disabled veteran-owned small business construction firm, based in Richmond, Va.

At 15,000 square feet, the FESC will consist of a modified-standard, two-company fire and security station, with drive-through structural apparatus bays, consolidated fire and intrusion detection alarm control center, arms room, emergency medical service room, and offices and administrative areas.

Other features include: training/shift assembly room, dormitory rooms, a full complement of male and female bathroom and shower facilities, kitchen with dining area, break room, mechanical rooms, fire alarm and suppression systems, uninterruptible power supply and intrusion detection system. The facility will also be handicap accessible.

Anti-terrorism and force protection measures were included in the design.

The project design and construction will also meet the Army's Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED), achieving a silver certification.

The meeting provides an opportunity for area residents to view design drawings and road alignments of the proposed bridge, which makes the bridge larger and intersections safer for residents.

In October 1996, an initial appraisal concluded the current bridge is functionally obsolete because of increasing traffic volumes, too narrow of a roadway and poor alignment with the connecting roads. The bridge replacement project is currently in the design phase, which ends in early 2010. No construction activity will occur until Congress funds the project.

The Deep Creek Bridge is a federally owned and operated facility located where U.S. Route 17 crosses the Dismal Swamp Canal. Once completed, the City of Chesapeake will own and operate the new Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Deep Creek Bridge.

The Corps re-mobilized a small crew in October to perform limited non-intrusive collection of geophysical data through December. There are no plans to perform detonations. Full mobilization of the unexploded ordnance team begins in January and runs through March 2010, with RI of anomalies and collection of soil, sediment and water samples for testing.

The primary focus of Phase II is to characterize the nature and extent of Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) and Munitions Constituents, or MC, at the refuge, said Project Manager George Follett.

From January through March 2009, USACE and contractor Shaw Environmental, Inc., completed Phase I of the RI, which culminated in two munitions detonations.

"Work consisted of a 123-acre shoreline surface sweep from the top of the sand dune to the low tide line," said Alex Smith of Shaw Environmental. "The team identified and removed surficial material potentially posing an explosive hazard."

Approximately 263 Jet-Assisted Takeoff (JATO) rockets were recovered, along with bomb and rocket fragments. The only items found during the surface sweep that contained energetic material were six JATO rockets. These were disposed of by detonation, Smith said.

Additionally, eight tons of munitions debris, primarily consisting of empty JATO rocket bodies, was demilitarized on site, certified as hazard-free and transported to nearby Messick Point for temporary storage prior to disposal.

Phase I work included the geophysical investigation of a pre-planned percentage of 2,000 acres of the northern interior of Plum Tree Island, using sub-surface metal detecting. All accessible subsurface anomalies potentially representing munitions were excavated as part of the investigation.

MEC located in the sample areas included 13 World War I-era MK 1, 50-pound demolition bombs/fuses. The explosive ordnance disposal detachment at Langley AFB in Virginia worked with Shaw Environmental during munitions detonations.

"Our Phase I work went extremely well in large part to the outstanding support received from our key partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Langley AFB, the city of Poquoson and the U.S. Coast Guard," said Follett.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge was formerly known as the Plum Tree Island Range and was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice from 1917 through the late 1950s.

The former bombing range, which consisted of approximately 3,200 acres, was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972.

With the exception of waterfowl hunting on Cow Island, which was not part of the bombing range, the refuge remains closed to the public due to the potential for encountering unexploded ordnance.

For more information on future fieldwork at Plum Tree Island, visit the Norfolk District Plum Tree Island web site.

The bridge, located on the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, Va. borders, where Mount Pleasant Road turns into North Landing Road, closed Nov. 16.Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, is overseeing the project.

The two stimulus contracts were awarded in late August 2009, one to Luna Development, an 8-A contractor out of Norfolk, and one to U.S. Facilities, a minority owned contractor out of Philadelphia.

Luna Development work includes additional security and safety upgrades to the bridge house, upgrade bridge house windows, doors, roofing, AC, and heat (energy efficient), and installing an onsite storage building.

US Facilities work includes removal and replacement of existing bridge surface (steel grid and concrete fill), some structural steel work, paint structural steel and bridge, repair some underwater support pilings, repair concrete abutments, and replace traffic control gates, lights, and poles.

As of Dec. 9, all existing bridge surface has been removed and new steel grid arrived on schedule. Installation of the new steel grid will start this week. Painting started on Sunday, Dec. 6 with minor delays due to weather. New traffic gates and lights have arrived and are also being installed. Underwater sub-structure work is progressing and bridge house repairs will be completed by early January. Neither effect reopening of the bridge.

The project is currently 15% complete with the majority of work scheduled to take place in the next 3 weeks.

For more information, call Joel Scussel, Operations Branch, Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, at (757) 201-7642 or (757) 201-7642. Media POC is Pam Spaugy, 201-7059 or 646-7472.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, will be held in the first floor meeting room of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, near the corner of Harbour View Boulevard and College Drive, 8060 Harbour View, Suffolk, Va.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Impact of the Nor'easter on FNOD property
• Horseshoe Pond comments from EPA
• FNOD community interviews
• Draft Public Involvement Plan
• Document repository location and transfer
• Transition of project management duties from Suresh Kikkeri to Sher Zaman

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. At these meetings, the FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members attending the RAB meeting are welcome to ask questions of any of the assembled team members.

In 1999, EPA placed FNOD on its National Priorities List. In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College representative, property owners and FNOD project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Suresh Kikkeri, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager, (410) 962-5618. George Mears of Norfolk District manages daily FNOD operations, (757) 201-7181. Additional project information is located at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/fnod.

The event featured holiday caroling by the district singing group, The Corpsaleers. Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander, asked volunteers to share memories of past Angel Tree drives prior to lighting the district tree.

The tree, located in the lobby of the district's Waterfield Building, is adorned with 88 paper angel tags with the first name, age, gender and holiday wishes of a child from Norfolk's Saint Mary's Home for Disabled Children. Contributors remove one or more tags from the tree and purchase appropriate gifts for the child described on each tag.

The Corpsaleers are scheduled to deliver the gifts and perform for the children Dec. 17.

The deadline for donating a gift is Dec. 11.

The extended period of rain, through Nov. 15, raised river levels in the Appomattox, Chowan, Blackwater and Nottoway River basins and produced minor to moderate flooding.

Last March 2, Virginians got a big white reminder that winter weather packs a punch when a significant snowfall covered the Commonwealth. The storm caused icy roads, traffic crashes and power outages, and it shut down schools, offices and businesses.

"Life was disrupted, no doubt about it," said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. "Last year we had just the one big storm, but we're long overdue for a typical winter that brings several snows as well as ice storms. It's really important for everyone to get ready for winter."

Virginia is vulnerable to severe winter weather, which can lead to injury and death from hypothermia, heart attack, stroke and traffic crashes. This winter, families also are vulnerable to novel H1N1 flu.

Gov. Kaine has declared Winter Preparedness Week -- Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 -- to highlight importance of getting ready for possible bad weather and protecting your family's health and safety.

Several state agencies, local emergency management offices and the National Weather Service are joining to provide winter safety information to Virginia residents during Winter Preparedness Week and throughout the season.

"All it takes is one heavy snow that sticks around for several days to remind us that being prepared ahead of time makes a lot of sense," said Bill Sammler, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS in Wakefield, Va. "Use Winter Preparedness Week as a time to get ready for the season and also to ensure your family's safety."

• Get a kit. Emergency supplies for winter weather include – at a minimum – these basic items: three days' food and water; a battery-powered radio with extra batteries; and a family emergency plan. After getting these supplies, then add a first aid kit, medications if needed, blankets and warm clothing, supplies for special members of your household and pet items.
• Make a plan. Choose an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family's point of contact for emergency communications. Decide on a meeting place if your family can't return home because of closed roads. Discuss with your family what you would do in case of severe winter weather in your area. Write down your plan. Get a simple family plan form at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
• Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should listen for up-to-date information from your local media and emergency officials. Local media will give instructions from local, state and federal agencies that cover road conditions, winter storm watches and warnings, power outages and health information. Make sure your battery-powered radio is working and you have extra batteries in case the electricity goes out.
• Norfolk District accountability: In the event of an emergency, your supervisor will try to contact you. However, employees are responsible for taking the actions (in order) specified on their Norfolk District Accountability instruction card. If you don't have a card, get one from the district emergency management office.

Some additional winter safety tips include:

• Keep space heaters at least three feet from other objects. Never leave space heaters unattended. For additional winter fire safety tips, go to www.vafire.com/fire_safety_education/tipsheets1/winterholiday.pdf.
• Install a smoke detector in every bedroom and one on every level of your home. Check the batteries monthly, and replace them once a year at the same time every year.
• Make sure outdoor pets have adequate shelter, unfrozen water and food.
• Driving is most dangerous when the temperature is at or under 32° F. If the road is wet, patches of ice are possible, especially on bridges and curves. Avoid using cruise control in winter weather conditions. For 24-hour road conditions, all 511 or log onto www.511Virginia.org.
• If your household includes someone with special needs, (has a disability, requires electricity to operate home medical equipment, needs to go to dialysis, etc.) call your local emergency manager to let them know where you live and what you will need during an emergency.

Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or ARRA funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, awarded a $193,000 contract to Luna Development, an 8 (a) small business contractor in Norfolk, and a $1.6 million contract to U.S. Facilities, a minority-owned contractor from Philadelphia, Pa.

Luna Development is performing bridge house repairs, which includes additional security at the bridge house and upgrading the energy-efficient bridge house with windows, doors, roofing, air conditioning and heat.

U.S. Facilities will perform the second work phase – when the bridge closes to vehicular traffic. Repairs include the removal and replacement of the existing bridge surface, steel grid replacement and concrete fill, repairs to the underwater support pilings and concrete abutments, and replacement of traffic control lights and poles and traffic control gates.

While the bridge is closed, travelers headed south on North Landing Bridge in Virginia Beach can detour around the bridge by using Indian River Road to Kempsville Road to Centerville Turnpike, back to Mount Pleasant Road. The detour should be followed in reverse for motorists traveling north on Mount Pleasant Road in Chesapeake. This detour will be marked.

Travelers are also reminded that only repairs are being made to the 58-year-old bridge span and bridge house. Once completed, the load limits, vessel clearance, capacity and width of the bridge will remain the same. Throughout repairs, the bridge will remain open to boating traffic; closed to vehicular traffic.

The cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach have been notified and detour signs will be posted. The U.S. Coast Guard will not issue a Notice to Mariners since boat traffic will not be affected.

For more information, call Joel Scussel, Operations Branch, Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, at (757) 201-7642.

Chief Walter D. "Red Hawk" Brown III, elected chief of the Cheroenhaka Nottoway Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Va., will discuss his tribe's origin and display artifacts representing its rich cultural heritage here in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

Throughout November, National American Indian Heritage Month, with its theme: "Understanding Native American Heritage Now and Then," encourages all Americans to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of this country's original inhabitants, explorers and settlers.

"The indigenous peoples of North America — the first Americans — have woven rich and diverse threads into the tapestry of our nation's heritage. Throughout their long history, they have faced moments of profound triumph and tragedy. During National American Indian Heritage Month we recognize their accomplishments, contributions, and sacrifices, and we pay tribute to their participation in all aspects of American society." -- Excerpt of National American Indian Heritage Month Proclamation by President Barack Obama

National American Indian Heritage Month began at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States.

One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y.

He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans" and for three years they adopted such a day.

In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kan., formally approved a plan and directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation Sept. 28, 1915, declaring the second Saturday of each May, as an American Indian Day, and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

On the second Saturday in May 1916, the governor of New York declared the first American Indian Day. Several states followed with a celebration on the fourth Friday in September. Other states designated Columbus Day as Native American Day.

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush Sr. approved a congressional joint resolution designating November as "National American Indian Heritage Month."

American presidents have issued similar proclamations each year since 1994.

In a televised press briefing tonight, Army Lt Gen. Robert Cone corrected earlier reports that said Hasan and the police officer, who shot him several times, were killed. Rather, he said, both are recovering at a nearby hospital.

All but two of the victims are Soldiers, Cone said.

Cone confirmed the identity of Hasan, reportedly a psychiatrist on the base who was scheduled soon to deploy, but would not say more about the suspect. Hasan has been in the company of a Criminal Investigative Division officer since the midday shooting, he said.

In answer to a reporter's question, Cone said of the suspect, "I would say his death is not imminent." Hasan is not yet talking to investigators.

Three other Soldiers were initially detained for questioning, but later released. After interviewing more than 100 people at the scene, Cone said, investigators determined there was only one shooter.

While investigators haven't ruled out terrorism in the case, Cone said, the evidence doesn't suggest it.

The shooting began about 1:30 Central Time at Hood's Soldier Family Readiness Center where Cone said Soldiers from multiple units were crowded into the center for a scheduled weekly "make up time" for medical and dental appointments.

Casualties were high due to the enclosed location, but would have been much worse were it not for the training and quick reaction of the Soldiers, Cone said, adding that he was on the scene quickly after the shooting began.

"Suffice it to say...the American Soldier did a great job," he said.

From the reports of eyewitnesses, he said, the Soldiers - "many of them combat lifesavers" -- reacted instantaneously, ripping off parts of their own clothing to treat the wounded.

"I credit the first responders," he said. "God bless these Soldiers and Department of Army civilians. As horrible as this was, it could have been much worse."

Some 600 people attending a college graduation of 138 Soldiers in an adjacent building were unharmed because first responders secured the building, he said.

The suspect is believed to have used two handguns in the shooting, one a semiautomatic, Cone said. And in responding to a question, "As a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons on Fort Hood," he said. "This is our home."

However, Cone said, "We will increase our security presence here in the coming days."

The FBI is working the investigation, along with military and other law enforcement, he said. The base was on lockdown until 7 p.m., a base spokesman said.

For now, Cone said, Fort Hood officials are focused on caring for the wounded, securing the base, notifying victims' families and providing grief counseling. A family hotline is available to obtain information at 254-288-7570.

Cone, who received a call from President Barack Obama soon after the shooting, said he was grateful for an outpouring of support. "It is truly overwhelming the offers of support we have had from around the nation," the general said. "Tomorrow at Fort Hood, we return to normalcy, schools will be open."

The Central Texas base is the military's largest, covering some 340 square miles and is home to 40,000 Soldiers. And, according to its Web site, is known as "The Great Place" for its quality of life for Soldiers and their families.

From Oct. 19-23, the Wilmington, N.C.-based ship and crew of four, called Virginia Beach, Va., home. The 150-foot long, 484-ton dredge moored at Rudee Inlet during that time and is the only vessel capable of navigating shallow channels and removing sand from the shoals and deepening navigational channels.

The Currituck, which spends most its time working the coastline from Florida to Maine, operates seven days a week and has little downtime, according to First Mate Weldon "Tumpy" Davis.

Davis, who grew up near the water, comes from a family of fishermen. He has been dredging for 16 years and has served with the Corps for 14 years.

The Currituck, which holds up to 15 dump trucks of sand per load, deepened the channel two feet and replenished the north side jetty of Croatan Beach, said ship's Captain Martin "Marty" Willis.

Willis, who lives 30 miles from Moorehead City, N.C., says, "This the best job to have if you like being on the water. I see dolphins, whales, sharks -- all kinds of fish -- it just doesn't get any better than this."

"Rudee Inlet must be constantly surveyed and monitored to ensure the channel is safe for navigation," said Kristin Mazur, project manager and engineer with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"Weather events can cause significant shoaling therefore it is critical to maintain the channel with the Currituck on a regular basis, (about three to four times per year). Commercial fishing boats, charter sport fishing vessels, research vessels from Virginia Marine Science Museum, U.S. Navy craft, several party/tour boats, and various transient vessels benefit from the dredging of the Currituck, a valuable Corps resource," she added.

It was a clear, calm day on the water Oct. 22. Dolphins were jumping in the wake of boats crossing the channel. As the Currituck positioned itself at the mouth of the inlet, 10 large vacuum pumps were turned on and began sucking water and sand from the ocean floor. Within minutes, the clear water coming through the pumps and emptying into the holding bin -- also known as a hopper -- began to darken as sand filtered through the pump and filled the void. As sand comes in, water is pumped out.

It's difficult to imagine the amount of sand this small vessel can hold. The hopper, shaped like an upside down pyramid, is full within two hours. "When mounds of sand start to pierce the top of the water, swirling around in the hopper, it's time to empty," Willis explained. The pumps stop and the ship heads toward the disposal site. In this case, it was only 800 feet away.

Pointing to the beach, Willis says, "We have discovered that by disposing the sand 20 to 30-feet from shore, the current and tide washes most of the sand toward the shoreline, which replenishes the beach."

It's the way the sand is released that makes this vessel so unique. Once the ship and its cargo of sand are in position, the hull begins to slowly open -- like a giant clam. Once the water mixes with the sand it begins to slowly sift away in small and large pieces only to find its way back to the bottom of the ocean floor.

Its cargo dumped, the hulls which are like two metal claws, come together once again and the ship heads back to the channel for another load. "The outboard unit, which swivel 360 degrees and can be raised and lowered, gives the Currituck an incredible maneuvering ability," Willis said.

When you look off the coast of Croatan near Rudee Inlet, the Currituck, which can dredge up to 3,500 cubic yards of sand a day, is no longer in site. It is on its way back to North Carolina for another dredging job. This vessel, after all, is in great demand.

Following opening remarks by Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander, in which he discussed his vision and mission priorities for Norfolk District, employees received staff orientation briefings by various division, branch and section chiefs.

Norfolk District's 12 new employees are:

• Kyle O. Barnes, electrical engineer in the Engineering Branch, Technical Services Division
• Andra Brumley, ACE-IT (Army Corps of Engineers-Information Technology) contractor
• Janet Cote, ecologist in the Planning Branch, Planning, Programs and Projects Division
• Brian M. Eason, construction control representative in the Construction Branch, Technical Services Division
• Deborah N. Gates, realty specialist assigned to the Residential Communities Initiative, Real Estate Office
• Steven W. Gibson, environmental scientist, Regulatory Office
• Zacharie A. Grose, student trainee in the Engineering Branch, Technical Services Division
• Kyle A. Guess, general attorney, Office of Counsel
• Leonard W. Mule, supervisory structural engineer in the Engineering Branch, Technical Services Division
• Krista L. Sowers, student trainee in the Accounting Branch, Resource Management Office
• Steven A. Vanderploeg, environmental scientist, Regulatory Office
• Jacqueline B. Wilkinson, realty program support specialist assigned to the Residential Communities Initiative, Real Estate Office

Installed in 1983, several portions of the exterior edge of the concrete sidewalk had eroded from a combination of normal wave energy action and saltwater exposure, said Kristin Mazur, project manager. While the sidewalk was still traversable, a handrail was installed for safety, according to Mazur. There is an approximate seven-foot vertical drop from the edge of the western sidewalk to rocks and water below.

"Our team wanted to ensure that the style of handrail complimented the historic aesthetics of Fort Norfolk," said Mazur. "By working with and including valuable input from the Commonwealth's Department of Historic Preservation, the state's archeological approval process was approved."

During construction, Norfolk District contractor Hammer/Delaware of Virginia Beach, Va., discovered a leak in a sewer manhole. "The leak turned out to be water; however, it required immediate repair so the contractor could install the concrete," said Mazur.

"We immediately contacted our logistics staff. Because this repair was outside the project's scope of work, Allan J. Guerra, chief of logistics, used the district's on-call contractor to repair the manhole. In less than 24 hours, Hammer/Delaware resumed work," she added.

Mazur also praised the work of Andy Reid, contracting officer representative, and Josh Williams, construction inspector, for "maintaining excellent communication between the project team to ensure success."

"The success of this project was due to a total team effort led by Mazur," said Lt. Col. Michel R. Darrow, deputy district commander. "She formed a great project delivery team, which was comprised of members from the operations, engineering, contracting and planning branches within the district."

Compared to FY 08, these figures represent a 6 percent increase in obligations and a 43 percent increase in actions. Other key contracting accomplishments include adding more than 200 employees, closing more than 102,000 contracts and deploying a National Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Database to track USACE's overall contracting capacity.

"This may sound like a whole lot of numbers to many of you, but those numbers impact real people — whose quality of life will be greatly improved because of work you are doing. None of this would be possible without your passion, dedication, commitment to the mission and disciplined action," wrote Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, USACE chief of engineers.

Civil Works

USACE executed $10.84 billion in civil works funds in FY 09, a 42 percent increase ($3.22 billion) over FY 08. Other significant civil works accomplishments in FY 09 included:

• USACE was nearly perfect in its civil works scheduled work execution—the Corps executed 98 percent of its scheduled regular program, 99 percent of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) work, and 96 percent of its supplemental work.
• Of the total civil works funding awarded in FY 09, $2.21 billion was ARRA funded, which represents 48 percent of USACE's total $4.6 billion in recovery act funds.
• USACE divisions and districts are developing realistic schedules and cost estimates, are addressing issues that arise, and are working diligently to achieve results.

Military Programs

Funding for USACE's military construction programs in FY 09 totaled $19.35 billion, an increase of $3.7 billion over FY 08. The military programs funds include Military Construction (MILCON), 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC), and ARRA.

In FY 09, military programs:

• Executed 96 percent of its forecasted program funds and 94 percent of its forecasted projects;
• Awarded $10.29 billion in non-BRAC military construction, up from $6.7 billion in FY 08, and $6.3 billion in BRAC funds, an increase from $5.2 billion in FY 08; and
• Awarded 399 projects under ARRA, which exceeded its commitment of 384 and totaled $870 million in obligations

In addition to civil works and military programs, USACE's Engineering Research and Development Center obligated $933 million — a 6 percent increase over FY 08 — to find innovative ways to manage America's infrastructure, reduce risks to warfighters, and preserve the environment.

On Oct. 11, I arrived in Afghanistan. I got over jet lag early last week, which has thus far proven to be the most challenging thing about being in Afghanistan. My first couple of days here, I averaged only about 2-3 hours of sleep per night. After that, I gained an additional hour each night.

I'm responsible for all current and future construction projects on the compound I am staying at, as well as for maintenance and repair contracts outside the scope of logistics. I'm also the project manager for construction, maintenance and repair contracts for all Afghanistan engineer district field sites.

After a five-day transition with the outgoing project manager, I'm hitting the ground running. The work is challenging and rewarding. The accommodations are good – my room has a college atmosphere, including a telephone with a local Stateside exchange number, and a desktop computer with internet access. We can call our families every day. The food in the dining facility is good and plentiful so I hit the gym every morning. I am confident that this experience will be a great one.

Herman J. Wine, PMP
Qalaa House Program Manager

I have been in Afghanistan since Oct. 12. Our group departed from Norfolk Oct. 2 and it took over a week to get here, including spending nights in tents with 105-degree heat - definitely something I will have to take up with my travel agent when I get back - Smile! I have to say, though, it has been interesting so far.

We arrived safely and I have begun working as a construction representative in the resident office here. So far so good — smile!

Dave Linn, Con-Rep
Camp Spann,
Masar E-Sharif, Afghanistan

McGraw-Hill's Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine awarded the Army Logistics University or ALU at Fort Lee, Va., with the Award of Merit in the Government/Public category and a Special Jury Award for Project Management.

"The Norfolk District project team excelled in overcoming the project's two greatest challenges: coordinating the installation of all the technology and designing and building the project on an aggressive, fast-track schedule," said Bruce Buckley, editor of Mid-Atlantic Construction. The Army Logistics University project also achieved an excellent safety record: recordable incidents vs. man-hours: zero vs. 78,583 man-hours; lost time accidents: zero, added Buckley.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America or DBIA honored Norfolk District contractor Tompkins Builders, Inc., with the 2009 Design-Build Excellence Award in Public Sector Buildings category, for its work on the $50 million Sustainment Center of Excellence or SCOE project at Fort Lee.

"We are proud to continue our relationship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and to be honored by the DBIA for successfully delivering the SCOE project to benefit our servicemen and women at Fort Lee," said Ed Small, president, Tompkins Builders.

The Associated General Contractors-Washington, D.C. chapter also honored Tompkins Builders and the Corps with a Merit Award for Design-Construction of the SCOE project.

"This merit award honors great projects in areas where our contractors do business," said Cherie Pleasant, chief executive officer of AGC-Metropolitan D.C. "It took great teamwork between the Corps and Tompkins to complete this multi-functional project on time and within budget."

Mid-Atlantic Construction, in announcing its 40 award-winners, spanning 16 categories, said the independent jury, whose members represented architects, engineers and general contractors, focused on those projects that best achieved the established goals of the project team:

• Overcoming significant challenges
• Adopting innovative approaches
• Executing exceptional design and craftsmanship
• Maintaining safe sites; and
• Displaying strong teamwork

With a total cost of $136 million, Army Logistics University is the newest and largest completed 2005 BRAC project at Fort Lee. The ALU resembles an all-inclusive small-college campus, located on 46 acres with more than 300,000 square-feet. ALU trains military students from 63 foreign countries, housing approximately 2,300 students daily.

DBIA cited Tompkins Builders for completing the Corps' Sustainment Center of Excellence project within the prescribed 18-month schedule, for delivering the project within budget and for constructing the SCOE to achieve a LEED® Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Completed in December 2008, the 218, 579 square-feet SCOE headquarters is a multi-functional center overseeing all logistics, human resources, finance training and combat developments for the U.S. Army. Expertise in supply, services, maintenance, munitions and transportation are now located on a single installation, making the SCOE the lifeblood of Army logistics. Under BRAC 2005, the SCOE consolidated logistics schools from three installations onto Fort Lee -- the U.S. Army Transportation Center and School from Fort Eustis, Va.; the U.S. Army Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School from Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.; and the U.S. Army Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School from Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

When the 2005 BRAC authorization projects are completed at Fort Lee in September 2011, the Corps will have managed the construction of 32 military projects totaling about $1.34 billion, said William G. Robson, P.E., contracting officer's representative and Fort Lee BRAC area engineer.

Robson contributes the success of the Fort Lee BRAC program to many factors, but most important, he said, is the team's goal to provide a quality project on time, within budget and environmentally sound and safe for Soldiers and their families.

"Awards and recognition are fine and the team feels a great sense of pride," said Robson, "but our real satisfaction comes every day when we hear our Soldiers, who occupy these great facilities, say, ‘Man, I have never been in a place as nice as this…Wow!'"

Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or ARRA funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, awarded a $193,000 contract to Luna Development, an 8 (a) small business contractor in Norfolk, and a $1.6 million contract to U.S. Facilities, a minority-owned contractor from Philadelphia, Pa.

Luna Development is performing bridge house repairs, which includes additional security at the bridge house and upgrading the energy-efficiency of the bridge house with improved windows, doors, roofing, air conditioning and heat.

U.S. Facilities will perform the second work phase – when the bridge closes to vehicular traffic. Repairs include the removal and replacement of the existing bridge surface, steel grid replacement and concrete fill, repairs to the underwater support pilings and concrete abutments, and replacement of traffic control lights and poles and traffic control gates.

While the bridge is closed, travelers headed south on North Landing Bridge in Virginia Beach can detour around the bridge by using Indian River Road to Kempsville Road to Centerville Turnpike, back to Mount Pleasant Road. The detour should be followed in reverse for motorists traveling north on Mount Pleasant Road in Chesapeake. This detour will be marked.

Travelers are also reminded that only repairs are being made to the 58-year-old bridge span and bridge house. Once completed, the load limits, vessel clearance, capacity and width of the bridge will remain the same. Throughout repairs, the bridge will remain open to boating traffic; closed to vehicular traffic.

The cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach have been notified and detour signs will be posted. The U.S. Coast Guard will not issue a Notice to Mariners since boat traffic will not be affected.

For more information, call Joel Scussel, Operations Branch, Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, at (757) 201-7642.

myPay allows many of the six million payroll customers of DFAS to access pay information and update such items as direct deposit account numbers, start or stop allotments, alter tax withholding amounts and retrieve tax forms.

The new upgrade will require users to establish new user names and passwords.

In the past, myPay account access used a user's Social Security number and a DFAS-provided PIN to establish a myPay permanent PIN. Later enhancements allowed the user to change their user name, known as a login ID, from their SSN to one of their own making. While the user names were masked (actual letters, numbers and symbols were not visible on the computer screen), more sophisticated "key logging" spyware could potentially provide this information to identity thieves should a user's computer become compromised.

This was also behind an earlier security upgrade, which required the use of a virtual keyboard when entering a PIN. The virtual keyboard uses mouse clicks rather than keyboard entry to enter a PIN and access a user's account.

According to myPay officials, customized login IDs and passwords will allow DFAS customers more flexibility and opportunities to increase the security of their personal information.

Login IDs, also known as user names, will require six to 129 alphanumeric characters that will be unique to one user only. Should a user attempt to create a login ID that has already been established, they will be informed to attempt another request using a different ID.

Login IDs must meet the following requirements:

• No less than six and no more than 129 characters.
• Cannot be nine numbers only (prohibits use of a SSN as a login ID).
• May contain alphabetic (letters) and/or numeric characters and may also contain the following special characters: @ (at sign), _ (underscore), - (dash), . (period), ‘ (apostrophe)

Rather than using a myPay PIN, the new security enhancement will require users to establish passwords to accompany their customized login IDs.

Passwords will be created by each user and must meet myPay standards:

• No less than eight and no more than 15 characters.
• May not include the last four numbers of the user's Social Security number.
• May not match the user's login ID.
• May not match any of the user's previous 10 passwords for myPay access.
• Must contain at least one letter and one number.
• Must contain at least one of 10 special characters.

Instructions for creating login IDs and passwords will be available on the myPay Web site to assist users. In addition, users can call the Customer Support Unit at 1-888-332-7411 or click the "Contact Us" link on the myPay home page for assistance.

Accounts with a Restricted Access PIN, which allows access to pay account information without the ability to make changes for persons authorized by the primary user, will also be prompted to establish a limited access ID and password using the same requirements. Use of the myPay interactive voice response system, which allows telephone access to certain pay information, may still be entered using the Social Security number and myPay PIN.

A virtual keyboard must still be used to enter a user's password.

While this security enhancement is intended to help keep users' information secure and prevent unauthorized access to pay accounts, myPay officials encourage all users to take appropriate actions to keep their login IDs and passwords private. This can include storing them in a lockable and secure place, memorizing them and destroying any written record, and not sharing them with anyone.

The top ideas that receive the most votes by Oct. 31 are presented to the Steering Committee on Federal Sustainability, a group comprised of senior officials from each agency who are responsible for delivering each agency's sustainability plan under President Barack Obama's Executive Order on Federal Sustainability.

"The goal of the tool is to harness the collective wisdom of the more than 1.8 million civilian employees and our men and women in uniform," said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. "We recognize that the best ideas, the ones that are going to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money for taxpayers, will not all come from Washington. They are going to come from places like Fort Hood, Texas, Kansas City, Denver and beyond."

On Oct. 5, Obama signed an Executive Order on Federal Sustainability, and in doing so, committed the federal government to lead by example, practice what we preach and help build a clean energy economy through the way we operate. The federal government is the largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy, and purchases more than half-a-trillion dollars in goods and services every year.

Available at www.WhiteHouse.gov/GreenGov, all visitors are able to view and explore ideas submitted through the site but only individuals with federal email addresses can log on and submit their own clean energy and green government ideas, and vote on others.

The GreenGov Challenge runs through Oct. 31.

This age restriction reflects the higher prevalence of 2009 H1N1 among children and adolescents, putting them at greater risk of carrying the virus into health care settings. Medical evidence suggests infected persons can transmit the virus as much as 24 hours before displaying symptoms.

"I applaud this regional approach to community safety and infection prevention," said State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, MD, MBA. "Every Virginian wants to maximize safety for hospitalized patients."

Our goal as health care providers is to use every available and appropriate measure to protect our patients from exposure to outside infections. This visitation change comes at a time when the 2009 H1N1 virus is already spreading and before seasonal flu typically appears in our region.

In the shared interest of patient safety, 18 area hospitals have proactively put these visitation measures into place. They apply only to visitors, not to those seeking medical care.

Additionally, individuals displaying symptoms of influenza-like illness should not visit area hospitals. Symptoms of flu include fever and respiratory illness, such as cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, chills and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

This visiting policy change will remain in effect during the flu season and while prevalence of flu in the region is extraordinarily high.

Participating hospitals include:

Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center
Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital
Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Riverside Regional Medical Center
Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital
Riverside Tappahannock Hospital
Riverside Walter Reed Hospital
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Sentara Bayside Hospital
Sentara CarePlex Hospital
Sentara Heart Hospital
Sentara Leigh Hospital
Sentara Obici Hospital
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center

Hospital leaders understand the inconvenience this policy change may cause area families. However, they ask the community to understand the need to control the spread of flu to patients and to partner with these institutions for the good of public health.

Limited exceptions may be made for expectant and new fathers under the age of 18 and, for example, instances involving patients at the end of life. Exceptions would be allowed at the discretion of the attending physician and hospital leadership.

During the Oct. 7 program, held at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District headquarters, Shackelford discussed this year's theme, "Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation," focusing on communicating effectively with disabled people.

"For 31 years, I've had the privilege of working for the Corps and side-by-side with some of the most talented people I will ever meet," said Richard Klein, chief of programs branch.

Klein emphasized that having a disability does not mean you can't make a difference. "We've had engineers and architects who were in wheelchairs; we have had disabled people working here for the Corps as long as I can remember – all of them bring something to this exciting and worthwhile mission, and the bottom line is we have an excellent team. It just doesn't get any better than that," said Klein.

During her address, Shackelford vividly described the 1983 traffic accident that took her son's life and that left her paralyzed.

Determined to live a full and active life, Shackelford said of her spinal chord injury disability, "You fall and you get back up! I can still do what I need to do."

Shackelford, first runner-up in the 2007-2008 Ms. Wheelchair Virginia Pageant, also shared how her 5-year-old grandson motivated her to become an advocate for the disabled.

"He asked me one day when I was in need of something, ‘How do I know what to do if you don't tell me?'" said Shackelford. "I realized then that I could make a difference and become an advocate for the hundreds of thousands of disabled people who are an intricate part of our workforce and society."

Shackelford also credits her success to her mother's support. "My mom's unfailing support and the words of encouragement I continue to receive from family and friends are amazing!" she said.

Shackelford said that there are more than 54 million Americans with some form of mental or physical disability, and that the numbers continue to grow, especially due to our Wounded Warriors returning from war and the aging baby boomer population.

Shackelford's discussion included an audience participation session, where employees indicated a disability they could live with, and one they would not want to face. Feedback varied, and many employees commented that they needed to consider how a disability would affect their lives and the things they loved to do.

An informative video followed on the dos and don'ts to communicating effectively with people with wide-ranging disabilities.

Shackelford concluded her discussion on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the importance of providing disabled people with "reasonable" accommodations in the workplace.

Gary Szymanski earned the 2008 Department of the Army Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award.

Roberto "ROBERTO" Henriquez, international vocal stylist and keyboardist, is set to entertain employees here with his huge repertoire of Latino melodies.

Hispanic American Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with its theme, "Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now," recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States, as well as a celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture.

The observation started as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to cover a 30-day period.

September 15 is the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. They all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, 18 and 21, respectively.

The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. On the 2000 Census form, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or "other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino." More than 35 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino on the 2000 Census.

Eligible products must be priced at $2,500 or less for each item, and be purchased for non-commercial home or personal use.

The exempt Energy Star items include dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, air conditioners, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats that carry the Energy Star designation.

The exempt WaterSense items include bathroom sink faucets, faucet accessories and toilets.

Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Governor Kaine also launched the Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program. It's a new program to encourage the purchase of high-efficiency appliances and products. The program will use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA, to provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifying appliances and equipment.

Homeowners will be eligible for rebates for 20 percent of the costs of the products, up to $2,000. Residential consumers will be eligible for rebates on air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, hot water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators, as well as for insulation and replacement windows.

Commercial consumers will be eligible for 20 percent of their costs up to $4,000. They could receive rebates on heating and cooling equipment, hot water heaters, window replacements, lighting upgrades, high efficiency motors, compressed air and steam system upgrades, as well as insulation and replacement windows.

Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be required to complete an application form.

Governor Kaine also highlighted the availability of federal tax credits made available through the ARRA. The Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits provide a 30 percent tax credit, up to $1,500 for the purchase and installation of specific products from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010. Qualifying products include energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes.

For more information on these programs, click on the links below.

Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program

Federal Tax Credit

Energy Star and WaterSense Qualified Products Holiday page

Vaccination will be available at the Waterfield Building on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, in conference room 1A.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closely monitoring the worldwide spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. According to the Army Surgeon General, H1N1 influenza so far has been no more severe than seasonal flu. H1N1 is expected to be the dominant strain of circulating influenza this year because, until vaccination, most people lack immunity to it. Influenza is not the common cold, and can be a severe to life-threatening disease.

What is influenza (the flu)?

• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It spreads from person-to-person and can cause mild to severe illness, and in some cases can lead to death. In the United States, yearly outbreaks of seasonal flu usually happen during the fall through early spring.
• It's thought that H1N1 flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.
• H1N1 and the seasonal flu also cause similar symptoms: fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, chills, headache, muscle aches and feeling rundown. H1N1 seems to infect young adults more frequently than seasonal flu, which is most dangerous to the elderly or the very young.
• Symptoms normally last three to five days, but a person may infect others for several days before showing symptoms and for as much as 10 days after symptoms end.

Every year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and its complications. Prepare for H1N1 flu the same way you do for seasonal influenza. Get vaccinated as soon as you can. You'll need both H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. All federal employees, except those with severe allergy to eggs, are encouraged to get vaccinated. Both vaccines are mandatory for service members.

Nationally, the Federal Occupational Health (FOH) has distributed its seasonal flu vaccines to federal facilities. Seasonal flu shot clinics will begin either Oct. 5th or Oct. 13th. FOH will administer H1N1 vaccines at federal facilities. The H1N1 distribution plan is still being finalized, but FOH anticipates that it will begin H1N1 shot clinics in November. The H1N1 vaccine will also be available at vaccine clinics throughout the country. Limited vaccine may be available nationwide in the initial 2 or 3 weeks of the 2009 H1N1 vaccination program, so specific target groups and high-risk subgroups have been prioritized to receive the first available doses.

Immunizations – the first defense

• Immunization remains the best method of preventing or reducing illness from flu viruses.
• Getting an annual influenza vaccine (either a shot or an inhaled nasal spray) protects many people from getting the seasonal flu or becoming severely ill.

Preventive Methods – for your daily routine You can take common sense precautions to protect yourself and your family and decrease the spread of flu viruses:

• Cover your mouth with a tissue if you can, or your upper arm, when you cough. Then throw the tissue away.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol gel hand cleansers are an effective alternative.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• If you or a loved one are sick, stay home, and try to avoid close contact with sick people.

For additional Information:
General information on seasonal flu and H1N1 can be found at: www.ready.army.mil and www.flu.gov.

"I am tremendously honored to have this opportunity to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works," said Darcy.

"America is faced with many challenges in how to best conserve, protect, enhance and use its critical water resources today and into the future," Darcy continued. "We also need to modernize and maintain the nation's aging water-related infrastructure that is so critical to our environment, economy and the quality of life for all Americans."

"I look forward to working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal and non-federal agencies as we seek enduring, sustainable solutions to these challenges," added Darcy.

As the ASA CW, Darcy will establish policy direction and provide supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the Corps' Civil Works program. This includes all reimbursable work performed on behalf of other federal and non-federal entities, as well as the formulation and oversight of the program and budget of the Army National Cemeteries. Her responsibilities include programs for the conservation and development of the nation's water and wetland resources, flood risk reduction, navigation, and shore protection.

Darcy was appointed ASA CW by President Barack Obama on August 11, following her confirmation by the Senate on August 7. She had previously been the senior environmental advisor to the Senate Finance Committee, responsible for environment, conservation and energy issues.

Prior to that, Darcy was senior policy advisor to the Senate Environment and Public Works, or EPW Committee, concentrating on water resource and conservation issues involving the Corps and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From 1993 through 2000, she served as a professional staff member on the EPW Committee, working on a variety of issues, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Army Corps of Engineers programs, FEMA, Everglades restoration and the Clean Water Act.

Darcy hails from Fitchburg, Mass., and has a B.A. in philosophy and sociology from Boston College and a M.S. in resource development from Michigan State University.

A few months ago, USACE Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, joined me for a quick photo-op prior to the start of the Afghanistan Engineer District Change of Command ceremony. He's extremely pleased with the work we are doing here. Recently, I was granted a six-month extension to my original tour. By extending, I hope to complete my main project which is a contract to construct a critically needed national training center. I received that very generous "goodie box" that you all sent me. What a blessing you all are, and how thankful I am to have folks who express such care and thoughtfulness. I look forward to seeing everyone sometime during my R&R.

God bless each of you. I really appreciate you.

Johnnie ><>

The plan is a response to Gathright's Dam Safety Action Classification, or DSAC, rating received Sept. 2, according to Bill Sorrentino, chief of the district's engineering, construction and operations division, which operates the facility.

Corps experts assessed and assigned the Gathright Dam rating of DSAC II or "potentially unsafe." The rating includes a risk-informed screening process, which considers current dam behavior, how well the dam meets current design criteria, as well as the potential consequences of dam failure. The screening process identified three unconfirmed safety issues at Gathright which merit further study and analysis, said Sorrentino.

"We're confident there is no evidence to suggest an emergency situation exists or is about to occur at Gathright Dam," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "Public safety is our top priority and we've taken immediate action to reduce potential risk at the facility. Throughout fiscal year 2010, we'll investigate the concerns raised by the inspectors and take the necessary corrective action."

During the evaluation of Gathright, inspectors expressed concerns about possible increased seepage at the toe, or downstream edge, of the dam and an undetermined flow rate a quarter mile downstream.

Immediate risk reduction actions taken at the facility include reducing the Lake Moomaw water level by one foot per week and conducting inspections three times a day.

District officials also plan to increase remote electronic monitoring of the site by December. Throughout fiscal year 2010, district scientists and engineers will conduct a series of investigations and studies using state-of-the-art methods, Sorrentino said.

"For 30 years, we've routinely inspected and monitored Gathright to ensure compliance with the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety," said Sorrentino. "What is new is how the Corps assesses our dams and is incorporating risk concepts into dam safety management, routine activities and programming decisions."

The Corps implemented the DSAC system in 2005 to prioritize funding, studies and remedial work for 610 dams maintained by the Corps nationwide. DSAC I is the rating assigned for the highest risk dams and DSAC V dams are considered safe and in compliance with current criteria. The system also prescribes a policy for developing and implementing risk reduction measures at dams receiving low ratings, Sorrentino said.

The Corps' Dam Safety Program is critical to addressing our nation's aging infrastructure, reducing the risks of flood and storm damage, and ensuring Corps owned and operated dams are operated safely and minimize risk to the public, Backus said.

"The primary objective of the Corps' Dam Safety Program is to maintain public safety by making sure the dams we own and operate are safe and risks to the public are minimized," Backus said. "A key component of that objective is maintaining active and open communication with the communities downstream from the facility."

The first step in that communication process was today's meeting with city and county officials, he said. The district has also established a Web site at www.nao.usace.army.mil/gathrightsafety.asp and will keep the public informed through traditional and social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Backus will also answer public queries at his blog, www.armyengineersnorfolk.blogspot.com/.

The Department of Defense designated the U.S. Army as the executive agent for the HAP. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administers the program for DoD through three field offices -- the Savannah, Fort Worth and Sacramento Districts. These field offices evaluate applications to determine eligibility and benefit award.

HAP administrators will immediately start processing applications for eligible personnel to include:

• Active and former service members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard;
• Civilian employees of the DoD, Coast Guard and non-appropriated fund activities; and
• Surviving spouses of fallen service members and civilian employees.

Potential eligible personnel who have sold a primary home for a loss or are considering selling their home are encouraged to visit the DoD HAP Web site at www.usace.army.mil to check specific program criteria, and if eligible, apply online.

The DoD HAP has been providing financial assistance to military personnel and DoD civilians since 1966, mainly at base realignment and closure (BRAC) sites where government action caused a decrease in market home values. While the HAP expansion is not designed to pay 100 percent of losses or to cover all declines in value, it can help protect eligible applicants from financial catastrophe due to significant losses in their home values.

Supporting military families is one of President Barack Obama administration's highest priorities and includes leadership and engagement by first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joseph Biden

In February 2009, the Congress provided ARRA funding for a temporary expansion of the HAP to address unique economic pressures faced by military personnel who are forced to relocate during these unusually adverse housing market conditions.

After conducting an extensive analysis to determine how best to prioritize the finite funds available while maximizing assistance to as many people as possible, the DoD developed specific eligibility criteria designed to take care of people in the greatest need. These program details have been published in the Federal Register and are now available for public comment.

ARRA funding allows the DoD to temporarily expand HAP to partially reimburse losses from the sale of a primary residence in the following priority order:

1. Homeowners wounded, injured or ill in the line of duty while deployed since Sept. 11, 2001, and relocating in furtherance of medical treatment;
2. Surviving spouse homeowners relocating within two years after the death of their spouse;
3. Homeowners affected by the 2005 BRAC round, without the need (which existed under previous law) to prove that a base closure announcement caused a local housing market decline; and
4. Service member homeowners receiving orders dated on or after Feb. 1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2009, for a permanent change of station move. The orders must specify a report-no-later-than date on or before Feb. 28, 2010, to a new duty station or homeport outside a 50-mile radius of the service member's former duty station. These dates may be extended to Sept. 30, 2012, based on availability of funds.

Each of these general categories has more specific eligibility requirements, which have been updated at the DoD HAP Web site www.usace.army.mil .

Ellen L. Shackelford, president, Connections Access Consulting Services, LLC, based in Hampton, Va., is the guest speaker.

The annual celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month heightens awareness while recognizing the contributions of Americans with disabilities to both our workforce and society. The theme of this year's observance, "Expectation + Opportunity = Full Participation," is designed to capture the vital role that expectations play in our successes as individuals as well as a society.

Ellen L. Shackelford

Ellen L. Shackelford is founder and president of Connections Access Consulting Services, LLC, based in Hampton, Va. She is dedicated to enhancing awareness of unconscious injustice perpetuated against America's aging population and citizens with disabilities.

Shackelford is very active in the Hampton Roads disability community. She is the past vice chairperson of the Hampton Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities and holds various leadership positions in community senior citizen quality of life programs.

Shackelford earned first runner-up in the Ms. Wheelchair Virginia Pageant (2007-2008), held in Fishersville, Va.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division in Iraq, in partnership with the Iraqi government, has undertaken a number of projects throughout Iraq to provide a stable, safe environment so that the rule of law can flourish under Iraq's emerging democracy.

GRD projects, managed by the Gulf Region District's Ramadi Resident Office and the Al Asad Project office, include the construction of two new police stations near Ramadi and security upgrades to two courthouses - one in Al Qa'im and one in the ancient city of Hit.

Legal experts are in consensus that judicial reform is the cornerstone to a stable, peaceful solution for Iraq and its people. And although Iraqis have made huge strides to reign in the lawlessness that followed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, they realize that much more needs to be accomplished to stabilize law enforcement and the judiciary.

"These projects will allow local judges and rule of law advisers to exert the necessary influence into a previous hostile environment without fear of reprisal," said Maj. Arlo Reese, the officer in charge of the Al Asad Project Office.

Engineers from the Al Asad Project Office are managing both courthouse projects that included the construction of entry control points, security lighting upgrades and the installation of backup generators. The Al Qa'im courthouse project also includes the placement of T-walls surrounding the facility. Funding for the $750,000 project was provided by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Fund.

The Iraqi owned Al Mashriq Al Arabee Company is the general contractor for both courthouse projects.

The Muhammadi and Ramadi Highway police stations are of similar design and include the construction of a two-story, 20-meter by 30-meter building that includes office space, a conference room, bathroom and shower facilities, a kitchen and an armory. Force protection measures for the police stations include T-walls surrounding the building, guard towers, a control entry point and security fencing. Both stations will have a complete power generation plant with diesel generators.

Lt. Dalone T. Jenkins, the officer in charge of the Ramadi Resident Office, said the police stations are a vital security link for the Ramadi area.

"These police stations are important because they will provide a platform for Iraq to maintain safety and stability for its citizens," said Jenkins. "This safety and stability extends from major thoroughfares of commercial trade, such as the highways, to the outlying cities, towns and villages. Iraqi's are ready to take control of their country."

The Iraqi-owned Altayf Al-Abiad Company is the general contractor for both police station projects. The total cost for both stations is $4 million with funding provided by the Iraqi Security Force Fund. More than 30 local Iraqis are working on the project, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2010.

The Gulf Region Division has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in partnership with the U.S. government and the government of Iraq. Since 2004, GRD has completed 5,257 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $8.9 billion, and has 361 projects ongoing.

But the sweet smell of success is starting to permeate from the Kirkuk Solid Waste Management Program — at least in a metaphorical sense — thanks in part to the efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here.

The waste management initiative has a two-fold goal, according to Nawza Abdulla Karim from the Kirkuk municipal solid waste management department.

"It is important to keep Kirkuk clean and it is vital for the health of the city's residents since a lot of diseases can accompany trash," he said.

Once regarded as one of Iraq's most beautiful cities, Coalition Forces Brigade Combat Team initiated a sustained solid waste management program in 2005 to deal with Kirkuk's massive garbage problem. The team partnered with Kirkuk local and provincial leaders, the coalition's provincial reconstruction team, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' Gulf Region Division to find an environmentally safe solution to the city's garbage collection and disposal dilemma.

The program centerpiece is an $8.8 million sanitary landfill that meets both the highest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and European Union Landfill Directive standards. This site represents the first environmentally engineered and constructed landfill in Iraq.

The landfill project, funded by the U.S. Commander's Emergency Response Program, was completed by the Irbil-based Zana Group in February 2008. The 48-acre site, located 10 miles south of the city, has an expected lifespan of 10 to 12 years, according to the engineers.

Two solid waste transfer stations are included in the plan; the first opened in December 2007.

Based on the high daily capacity of garbage collected at the station, the program has been nothing short of "phenomenal," said Army Lt. Col. J.B. Chadwick, officer in charge of the USACE Gulf Region Division's Kirkuk office.

Even other entities have pitched in to support the solid waste program.

The Development Group Iraq Trust Fund bought the Kirkuk garbage trucks and the Republic of Korea donated the semi-trailers and loader for the transfer stations. To help Kirkuk catch up with trash pickup after years of neglect, bongo trucks — financed by the U.S. Army and operated by private contractors — also comb the city.

Soon, the collection and processing capacity will double with the opening of the second transfer station north of Kirkuk. USACE engineers have initiated the lessons learned from the first transfer station to make the second site bigger, better and even more efficient, Chadwick said.

The goal of both sites is to provide collection, processing and dumping of more than 600 tons of Kirkuk's garbage every day into the landfill. To help defer the operating costs of the transfer stations and landfill, scales have been installed to allow Kirkuk to charge fees to other municipalities to process their solid waste.

At full capacity, the solid waste sites and landfill will employ more than 700 local workers, adding stable employment and a much-needed boost to the city's local economy. The Kirkuk-based Dalo Company is the general contractor for the transfer station projects.

Army Col. Dan Anninos, commander of the Gulf Region District, recently toured the transfer station and said the project is a major success story in the reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

"This plant is a step in the right direction to provide the citizens of Kirkuk with an effective means to treat solid waste in a sustainable matter that is good for the environment, while all along improving the underlying quality of life of the thousands of residents that this waste management system will service," Anninos said.

The Gulf Region Division has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in partnership with the U.S. and Iraqi governments. Since 2004, the division has completed 5,257 projects throughout Iraq valued at more than $8.9 billion, and has 361 projects ongoing.

(Mike Scheck works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region District public affairs office.)

The NAD quarterly safety award recognizes the district that best develops and executes safety measures.

The award evaluation included organizational involvement, work site analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training, accident prevention and safety initiatives.

"This award designates Norfolk District as a leader in supporting a positive, safe and efficient work environment for employees by reducing accidents and increasing safety awareness," said Oscar Harts, the district occupational safety and health officer. "Safety continues to be a core business objective as we execute the district's diversion missions."

Just one element of the district's safety program are weekly jobsite inspections at district construction sites including ongoing Base Closure and Realignment projects at Fort Lee and Fort Belvoir.

"There have been more than a million hours worked by construction representatives in the past three months, said Rickey Brown, district occupational safety and health specialist. "Considering those numbers, the prime and sub-contractors are doing a superb job at addressing safety at all of our construction sites. Our construction representatives, team leaders and resident engineers also play an integral role as they enforce safety regulations."

In addition to promoting safety at construction sites, the occupational safety and health office also promotes safety awareness at the district headquarters building. The safety committee, comprised of employees from various offices through the district, meets on a monthly basis to discuss safety and health initiatives. By working in conjunction with employees, the safety office identified a need for personal protective equipment and DVDs about office safety.

Each year, the safety office sponsors a weeklong Safety & Health Week. The fifth annual Safety amp; Health Week, held May 18-22 this year, featured activities including a health fair, police and fire department demonstrations, first aid training and water safety demonstrations.

In conjunction with this year's Safety & Health Week, the safety office posted new emergency evacuation procedures throughout Norfolk District headquarters. Other headquarters safety initiatives included training more than 60 employees on the use of automated external defibrillator units and safety orientation for 32 new employees.

"It's nothing less than miraculous, in my opinion," said Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Stafford. "Three thousand acres; 750 acres of that are wetlands. To those of us who care about their natural beauty and water, it's so, so incredibly important."

The celebration, held at Belle Plains Boat Club here, and hosted by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Stafford Board of Supervisors, heralded the final acquisition and founding of Virginia's 54th natural area preserve, Crow's Nest Natural Preserve.

Named for the big, black schooner, "The Crow," which was used by the Daniel family for trans-Atlantic trade in the early 1800s, the peninsula has been virtually uninhabited since Union forces ended their occupation of south Stafford in the 1860s. Today, Crow's Nest is home to 60 Neotropical migratory bird species and more than 700 acres of wetlands, some of which contain the oldest unfragmented mature tree hardwood stands in the state. Crow's Nest is also home to a globally threatened plant community, rare plants and early woodland Native Indian, colonial and Civil War-era history.

The Norfolk District Regulatory Office, led by project manager Nick Konchuba, served as one of several key agencies involved in the review, funding, acquisition and founding of the preserve.

Working closely with the Nature Conservancy, which manages the Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, Konchuba's team helped with approving partial funding that allowed the Trust to generate $4.4 million of the $33.2 million needed to purchase the 2,870-acre preserve.

In December 2008, Stafford County and the Virginia Department of Conservation, using county, state and federal funding, purchased the preserve land in two phases.

Hal Wiggins, a Norfolk District environmental scientist here, has long worked with the Stafford County government, state and federal agencies to identify Crow's Nest peninsula as an ecologically sensitive area.

In 1997, then project manager for the Stafford Regional Airport project, Wiggins facilitated a Corps permit that included a 70-acre wetland/stream mitigation site at Crow's Nest. Today, this site is one of the largest great blue heron colonies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

"This day represents the completion of a process of acquisition of Crow's Nest that is long overdue," said Wiggins. "It is extremely gratifying to have been involved in this project as Crow's Nest peninsula is an ecological treasure worthy of protection by all local, state and federal agencies. We all came together to make this happen."

Sections of the temporary work trailer have arrived and have taken residence on the helicopter pad, which overlooks the Elizabeth River. Meanwhile, Corps contractors busily make their way in and out of Waterfield, tape measures, clipboards and blueprints in hand.

"This project is not unlike getting through the midtown tunnel at rush hour. It will seem slow at first and it will require a lot of yielding to merging traffic. Once we get into the project things will pick up; we will have a lot more capacity and comfort," said Maj. Brent Legreid, project manager for the Waterfield Building renovation project.

The approximately $5 million Waterfield Renovation Project consists of replacing 26-year-old cubicles with new modular work spaces, upgrading some of the infrastructure, installing new furniture and carpet, and sprucing up the interior walls with a fresh coat of paint.

The design of the new cubicles give employees 81 square feet of workspace, allow more natural light through and include more storage opportunities than currently offered in most cubicle setups.

Through October, district employees on the fourth floor will begin the initial relocation by packing up their offices and relocating to the trailer.

"Our immediate task is to get rid of all the excess traffic. Old files should go to long-term storage or be recycled. Old furniture will be removed as part of the contract. Everyone needs to get to know his or her designated office move coordinators. These people will be the ones directing traffic," said Legreid.

The fourth floor begins renovations in mid-October, and employees will relocate to the trailer till their new workspaces are finished. Work is scheduled to last seven to eight weeks per floor. Third floor renovations begin Dec. 13, followed by the first and second floors on Feb. 8, 2010. The first floor will complete the final renovation phase around March 2010.

"For 26 years, we have put our customers first in terms of achieving a high standard of quality and function. We now have an opportunity to renovate our district headquarters to the same level of comfort and professionalism that we have provided our customers," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander.

Employees seeking additional information should contact their office move coordinator. A list of coordinators, as well as frequently asked questions, images of the new office furniture, current project timelines are located at: http://naoportal.usace.army.mil/sites/Waterfield_Reno/default.aspx.

Norfolk District's Keith Lockwood is an example of a good leader. Colonel Peter DeLuca, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division commander, has identified Lockwood as Norfolk District's participant in the division's Executive Leadership Development Program, or ELDP.

ELDP provides civilian employees an opportunity to experience a regional perspective on leadership and participate in senior-level Corps activities within the division's geographical area of responsibility: Norfolk, Europe, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New England and New York districts.

Lockwood, a Virginia Beach native, was selected from among five highly qualified Norfolk District leaders. The program consists of week-long training at the University of Maryland's National Leadership Institute, a four-day USACE Capitol Hill workshop "shadowing" several senior executives, executive level meetings, a team project involving fellow associates, and a four-month developmental assignment.

"I believe the ELDP will be an excellent opportunity to build on the leadership skills I learned during my MBA program. I received very positive feedback from previous ELDP associates about the program, so I am excited to continue my professional development," states Lockwood.

Lockwood has served with the Norfolk District for over seven years, the majority of his time in the Technical Services Division, Operations Branch as an environmental scientist.

Lockwood began his career in the Operations Branch, Geospatial Services Section, where he was responsible for preparing drawings to support various civil works projects using Geographic Information Systems software. He later worked in the branch's Technical Support Section obtaining and managing environmental permits and authorizations for federal navigation projects. In 2007, Lockwood was promoted to chief of the Northern Virginia Regulatory Section in the district's Regulatory Office. After gaining valuable experience in support of the USACE Regulatory Program, Lockwood returned to the Operations Branch as chief of the Technical Support Section.

Lockwood received a bachelor's degree in Fisheries Science from Virginia Tech University, with minors in Business and Biology, an advanced certificate in Geographic Information Science from Old Dominion University and a master's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from ODU. He is a recognized Associate Fisheries Professional by the American Fisheries Society, and recently became an Accredited Professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Lockwood spearheads Norfolk District's integrated internship program, which focuses on active recruitment at area colleges and universities, manager commitment and mentoring.

"Keith has stepped forward since I joined Norfolk District in his efforts to recruit and retain highly qualified interns," said Lt. Col. Michael Darrow, deputy district commander. "His initiative will serve him well as Norfolk District's selection for this year's ELDP program."

NWP 21 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for surface coal mining activities.

In Virginia, The Corps' Norfolk District will conduct its public hearing 7 p.m., Oct. 15, at the Mountain Empire Community College (Goodloe Center) in Big Stone Gap, Va. Registration starts at 6 p.m.

Other Appalachian region states conducting public hearings include Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The first proposal is to modify NWP 21 to prohibit its use in the Appalachian region. In the absence of NWP 21, an applicant would obtain an individual permit for surface coal mining projects. An individual permit includes increased public and agency involvement in the permit review process, including an opportunity for public comment on individual projects.

The second proposal is to suspend NWP 21 while USACE evaluates comments received on the proposed modification of NWP 21. The decision on whether to suspend NWP 21 is made after the public hearings are held and comments received on the proposed suspension are considered. If NWP 21 were suspended during this interim period, an applicant would obtain an individual permit for surface coal mining projects.

The use of NWP 21 for surface coal mining activities in other regions of the country is not affected by these proposals.

In addition to comments received through the scheduled public hearings, written comments on the two proposals will be accepted through Oct. 26, to supplement the hearing records. Written comments may be submitted at the public hearings; online at www.regulations.gov under docket number COE-2009-0032; or mailed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attention: CECW-CO—Ms. Desiree Hann, 441 G Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20314. Email or faxed comments will not be accepted.

In an effort to conserve and eliminate duplication of viewpoints or facts presented, groups with common interests are encouraged to consolidate their comments for presentation by a representative spokesperson, said USACE officials.

"These public hearings are being conducted to ensure that every effort is made to identify and consider all beneficial and adverse effects of the proposals to modify or suspend NWP 21," stressed USACE officials.

For more information regarding location, times, requirements or issues directly associated with the Virginia public hearing, contact Ms. Annette Poore at 276-623-5259, email: Annette.J.Poore@usace.army.mil .

With the removal of more than 2,800 pounds of munitions of concern, 1,210 pounds of bulk TNT, 6,186 pounds of munitions debris and another 20,223 pounds of scrap metals at the Nansemond River beachfront and main burning ground areas, USACE continues to make significant progress in environmental investigation and restoration at the formerly used defense site property.

The Department of Defense is responsible for cleaning up the nation's properties, which were formerly owned, leased, possessed or operated by DoD. USACE is DoD's executive agent for FUDS restoration.

In 1987, FNOD became a matter of public concern when a piece of crystalline TNT was found on the property at the Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth Campus. This initiated extensive historical research, investigations, testing and removal actions. In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed this site on the National Priority List.

Since the first discovery of buried TNT in 1987, USACE has conducted extensive environmental investigation and restoration activities at the 975-acre site, which was used primarily to store and renovate ammunition during World War I and II.

With a fiscal year 2010 projected budget of $3.4 million, said Suresh R. Kikkeri, FNOD project manager, several key actions are planned at the former ordnance depot, including:

• Complete main burning ground remedial investigation
• Complete Horseshoe Pond remedial investigation
• Complete TNT Area data gap investigation for remedial investigation report
• Complete site wide background study
• Complete Military Munitions Response Program site wide investigation
• Initiate Horseshoe Pond feasibility study
• Finalize site inspection reports for other smaller areas of concern

At a Sept. 3 FNOD Restoration Advisory Board meeting in Suffolk, Kikkeri also revealed that there would be a slippage in the 2011 final cleanup forecast because of unexpected findings at the site.

"Our team came across several surprises during munitions cleanup activities in FY 09," said Kikkeri. "At the Nansemond River beachfront, we discovered significant amounts of TNT material. After removal, we completed a critical two-phase major shoreline stabilization of the beachfront area. During our supplemental site characterization at the TNT Area investigation, we again had to address newly discovered munitions. We also had to address the analytical part of the human health and ecological risk factors associated with the Horseshoe Pond and James River beachfront areas. These issues were resolved with our interagency regulatory partners, the EPA and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality."

Kikkeri reiterated that his team remains fully committed to the complete cleanup of FNOD. "We've been working here since 1987, and we're now able to clearly see the finish line," said Kikkeri.

9/9/2009 - HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton Bay Days takes place Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13, in downtown Hampton. Visitors will experience a unique, three-day family festival featuring national recording artists, children's activities, arts and crafts, fireworks and more.

On Saturday, Grammy-winning musicians Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs are the featured performers at the Hampton Bay Days Festival. The two-part, star-filled show begins at 6 p.m. Performances are free and open to the public, and will be followed by a 20-minute fireworks celebration at 10 p.m.

A wide variety of musical artists will also perform on multiple outdoor stages throughout the Hampton Bay Days weekend. For a full schedule of performances and other event activities, visit www.baydays.com.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Friday, Sept. 11, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Sept. 11, the inclement weather date is Saturday, Sept. 12.

Call the Portsmouth Mosquito Hotline, 393-8666, for more details on spray operations.

Multicultural Day will take place on the parade field here inside the moat Sept. 25, beginning at 5 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public.

A Military Appreciation Day football game is scheduled Sept. 26, at Hampton University. Service members, their families, retirees and DoD civilians may purchase tickets for the reduced rate of $10.

To kick off the weekend's festivities, leaders from Monroe and HU will participate in a Partnership Signing Ceremony at the Casemate Museum on Sept. 25, at 2 p.m.

Following the ceremony, an exhibit depicting the lives of the emancipated slaves after they left "Freedom's Fortress" will be unveiled at 3:30 p.m., inside the museum. This collaborative effort will include resources on loan from the Hampton University Museum.

Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers will host an information booth at the fest site and the game and have mission experts on hand to provide information about a future with the Army Corps of Engineers.

"This partnership is part of the Army's Minority College Relations Program and our goal is that it will be enduring," said Stephanie Credle, director of Equal Employment Opportunity here and action officer for the upcoming celebration. "We already involved Norfolk District and Fort Eustis so that even after we close, Hampton University will continue (a relationship) with these and other military (organizations) in the area."

The weekend celebration includes a World Peace Flame ceremony at 5 p.m., on the parade field inside the moat. It will signal unity and the start of the Multicultural Day festivities.

"Multicultural Day emphasizes contributions all cultures bring to the American way of life. It is our opportunity to highlight not just the cultures targeted normally by the Equal Employment Opportunity Office for employment, upward mobility and awareness, but it also includes cultures like those of Irish, Greek, Caribbean and German-Americans. In all, we hope to include at least 14 cultures," Credle said.

Event hosts are currently seeking volunteers to help assemble displays for the various cultures represented. Items like artifacts, posters, books and flags can help show our appreciation for the variety of backgrounds that make up America, Credle noted. Those interested may also display their talents through the arts.

"I think it's important for two reasons. First, it shows the value each of us brings to the American culture. It is important to inspire unity that's not just across cultures, but the unity we have now in the partnership with Hampton University. Our charter for EEO and Equal Opportunity is to create awareness of diversity and the value diversity brings to the workplace," Credle said.

Diversity will be represented in multicultural cuisine, as well.

A Military Appreciation football game at Hampton University's Armstrong Stadium will pit the HU Pirates against the Delaware State University Hornets on Sept. 26, beginning at 6 p.m. A pregame show at 5:30 p.m. is scheduled to include the delivery of the game ball by the Silver Wings, a parachute team from Fort Benning, Ga.

For more information, contact the Fort Monroe EEO team at 788-3500.

The concrete sidewalk, installed in 1983, is 610-feet long, 9.5-feet wide, with a 4-inch depth, said Kristin Mazur, project manager. "Several portions of the exterior edge of the sidewalk have eroded from a combination of normal wave energy action and salt water exposure. While the sidewalk is still traversable," continued Mazur, "a need for the handrail has been expressed to enhance safety."

There is an approximate 7-foot vertical drop from the edge of the western sidewalk to rocks and water below.

"The style of handrail is intended to compliment the historic aesthetics of Fort Norfolk, while providing safety for our employees and the public," said Mazur.

In addition to the sidewalk closure, the small parking area, where the survey skiffs are located out back, will close to all foot traffic and vehicles. Approximately 30 days into the project, the back dock and boat ramp will be accessible by foot only.

The Fort Norfolk Handrail and Sidewalk Repair Project is set for completion in November. For more information on this project, contact Mazur at 201-7257, or Andy Reid, construction representative at 201-7053.

The $78 million design-build military construction project, managed by Norfolk District, is proceeding at a rapid pace. Projected completion is on schedule for late spring 2011. The project is part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure congressional authorization, which closes Fort Monroe, Va., in September 2011, and realigns the TRADOC headquarters from Monroe to Fort Eustis.

Design of pile foundations and pile driving is complete, as well as the design of first floor slab and site work. Design of building layout, structural interior, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and building infrastructure for communications are between 60 and 90 percent complete. The band building foundations are under construction and excavation and backfill for parking areas is under way.

The new TRADOC headquarters, which will house about 1,260 employees, is approximately 263,675 square feet. The new band training facility at 18,800 square feet will accommodate 66 musicians. Work includes command suites, private offices, a special compartmented information facility, a special access programs facility, an emergency operations center, break rooms and kitchenettes, printing and copying areas, conference rooms and an auditorium. The project also includes associated support facilities and site improvements.

The project design and construction will meet the Army's Leadership in Energy Environmental Design, achieving a silver certification.

On June 22, 1813, 2,000 British soldiers and their foreign allies came ashore at Hoffler's Creek, located west of Craney Island near the mouth of the Nansemond River. The British force launched attacks from land and water, but was repelled by American forces.

The Battle of Craney Island represented one of the few American-won battles during the War of 1812. Moreover, Norfolk and Portsmouth's Gosport Navy Yard was spared an attack.

In commemoration of this historic victory, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Portsmouth History Commission's Daughters of the War of 1812 and the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve Foundation joined community members July 20 at the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve to unveil a Virginia Battle of Craney Island historical marker.

Several local and state dignitaries, including Portsmouth Mayor James W. Holley III and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, attended the historic unveiling.

Located just outside the gates of Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in Portsmouth, the Battle of Craney Island historical marker joins markers dedicated by the City of Portsmouth to Craney Island and the Gosport Navy Yard, the nation's old¬est naval ship¬yard.

The Battle of Craney Island historical marker reads, "On the morning of June 22, 1813, during the War of 1812, British naval and marine forces under the command of Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren landed here at Hoffler Creek. American armed militia under the command of Gen. Robert B. Taylor blocked the British advance, brought them under heavy artillery fire and caused them to retreat. Approximately 200 British soldiers were killed, four to five barges were sunk and the "Centipede" was taken along with 22 prisoners. Norfolk, Portsmouth and the Gosport Navy Yard, now the Norfolk Naval Yard, were saved from capture."

Today's Craney Island is a manmade 2,500-acre confined dredged material management disposal site, located in Portsmouth, and built by Norfolk District in 1957, adjacent to the original island.

For more information about the future of Craney Island, visit http://www.craneyisland.info

Beecher, along with three veterans, received the inaugural award at the 5^th Annual National Veterans Small Business Conference in Las Vegas.

In November, Beecher also received the Defense Department's Golden Talon Award during an awards ceremony held at the Pentagon. Beecher joined 19 individuals and companies cited for their work with the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDV) program, and for contributions in advancing the goals and objectives contained in the National Strategic Plan for SDV Businesses.

The article, Veteran salutes 4 'Pillars of the Movement,' highlights Beecher's recent accomplishment. It was written by Ed Dunne, veteran, U.S. Air Force, and published in the September issue of Vetrepreneur Magazine. (Article used with permission)

This meeting, which is always open to the public, is located on the first floor meeting room of the Courtyard by Marriot Hotel, near the corner of Harbour View Boulevard and College Drive, 8060 Harbour View, Suffolk, Va.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Tidewater Community College and J Lakes Investigations
• James River Beach Shoreline, Main Burning Ground Remedial and Horseshoe Pond Investigation
• Nansemond River Beach Stabilization
• Public Involvement Plan

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. At these meetings, the FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members attending the RAB meeting are welcome to ask questions of any of the assembled team members. In 1999, EPA placed FNOD on its National Priorities List.

In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College representative, property owners and FNOD project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Suresh Kikkeri, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager, (410) 962-5618. George Mears of Norfolk District manages daily FNOD operations, (757) 201-7181. Additional project information is located at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/fnod .

Cottrell Contracting of Chesapeake, Va., under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) task order, is dredging the James River Federal Navigation Channel to ensure deep-draft vessels can navigate the river in a safe and unrestricted manner. Work is set for completion in February 2010.

The Cottrell IDIQ is a 3-year services contract to perform periodic maintenance dredging of the James River. The federal government uses an IDIQ contract when it cannot predetermine, above a specified minimum, the precise quantities of services required during the contract period. The IDIQ contract also allows for streamlining of the time it takes to get a dredge to remove a critical shoal, as task orders are issued without the usual lengthy process of contract preparation and procurement.

The James River is the nation's oldest transportation route for commerce. The navigation project provides approximately 85 miles of deep-draft channels, maintained at a depth of 25 feet from Hampton Roads to Richmond, Va. More than five million tons of cargo has been moved annually on the James River in the last five years.

Project Manager Stephen J. Powell is using Recovery Act funds to have Cottrell dredge the most critical of the nine shoals on the James River.

"The project is comprised of nine major shoals, which require dredging from twice annually to less than once every decade," explained Powell. "Recent budget constraints have necessitated that the Corps dredge only the most critical shoals, sometimes requiring other shoaling to go unmaintained, which could one day lead to restrictions on deep-draft shipping along the river. A fully maintained navigation channel will ensure ships are able to move commerce in a safe, efficient and economical manner."

"The Recovery Act funds for civil works enables Norfolk District to complete these types of 'shovel ready' projects that will benefit our state and the nation for years to come," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District's commander.

President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. With more than $14 million in contracts awarded, Norfolk District continues to use Recovery Act funds to meet current Administration initiatives, which will increase job opportunities and spur the recovery of our nation's economy.

Farrow learned about Norfolk district's internship program from ODU's career management center's e-recruiting website. The website is designed to help students search for employment, internship and externship opportunities. After contacting Keith Lockwood, project manager of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) Norfolk district's internship program, Farrow applied for and was accepted a few months later.

As an intern with the district's design section and operation branch from February 2008 to July 2009, Farrow assisted project managers with various tasks, such as updating the dredging information system. In her time with Norfolk District, Farrow's first-hand accounts include site visits to the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area. Craney Island, a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site, provides an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the Hampton Roads harbor.

Farrow also accompanied district engineers aboard dredging vessels for maintenance dredging including the Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach and the maintenance-dredging project at the United States Coast Integrated Support Command in Portsmouth, Va. Whenever possible, the District uses dredged material for beach nourishment, habitat restoration, oyster ground restoration, marsh creation or other beneficial uses.

"The best thing about my internship is that the experience is transferable. I am able to apply some of what I have learned from my classes to my work. I am even able to take what I learned here (Norfolk District) and apply it to my school work," states Farrow.

Farrow, who spent 18 months at the Norfolk District as an intern, said, "One of the highlights was the flexibility to have assignments in different sections. Farrow's interest in dredging and beach nourishment has prompted her to continue her education in pursuit of a master's degree in civil engineering starting this fall at Old Dominion University.

"When I start working on my master's degree in the fall, one of the classes I will be taking is, "Dredging and Beach Engineering," which is great because just from working in my section (at the Norfolk District) I have already learned so much about dredging," she added.

In addition to pursuing a master's degree in civil engineering, Farrow expanded her knowledge of engineering by taking classes offered by the Army Corps. Just recently, she completed a hydrographic survey techniques course in St. Louis.

In July, Farrow's internship ended when she was promoted to civil engineer. Farrow received public recognition for her promotion from an intern in the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) to a civil engineer during a quarterly (Norfolk District) town hall meeting Aug 11. Some of Farrow's new duties as a civil engineer include becoming district project manager for the Tangier Channels Federal Navigation projects and the Tangier Island Section 107 Jetty project.

Farrow's short-term career goal is to become a licensed professional engineer.

For more information on student employment opportunities with Norfolk District, visit http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/student.asp,

Every family should have these items on hand:

• Three days' food that won't spoil, such as canned goods and packaged foods
• Three days' water (one gallon per person per day)
• Battery-powered radio with Weather Band and extra batteries
• Written family emergency plan

Ready Virginia, a public education program that promotes emergency preparedness, seeks to educate Virginians about what it truly means to be ready for disasters and emergencies.

"Every family should sit down together and make a plan," said Cline. "How would you contact each other if phone lines are down? Where would you meet if you couldn't return to your home? Making a plan is free and simple and makes a big difference."

Research shows that most people believe they are ready for emergencies, but 71 percent of Virginians do not have three days' food and water, a battery-powered radio and extra batteries, and a written family plan. Having these items on hand is crucial during the first 72 hours after a disaster.

For more information and worksheets to help Virginians get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and stay informed about emergencies and threats, visit www.ReadyVirginia.gov or call toll-free 1-866-782-3470.

Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen have launched interactive, virtual town hall sessions through the Internet.

The initiatives are part of a broad administration effort to connect more closely with the military, the American public and people overseas. The goal, officials explained, is to provide a forum for people to ask questions or offer suggestions or insights and get direct feedback.

The new Defense Department home page that went live this week features a prominently placed "Ask the Secretary" section. Anyone visiting http://www.defense.gov -- military members, American citizens, people overseas -- can submit a question to Gates.

Questions will be accepted for two weeks, then participants in the town hall will have another two weeks to vote on the questions submitted. The secretary will answer the five to 10 questions that top the list.

Meanwhile, Mullen launched an "Ask the Chairman" venue yesterday that enables anyone to pose a question to him via YouTube. The virtual town hall is open to everyone, whether they're in the military or a military family or simply care about military issues, officials said.

Viewers can ask questions about whatever is on their minds -- the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, what the military is doing for wounded warriors and families, the new Post-9/11 GI Bill or another topic of interest -- by visiting http://www.youtube.com/dodvclips.

"The chairman really wants to have a conversation with the troops akin to the way he does all-hands calls at bases all over the world," Navy Capt. John Kirby, Mullen's public affairs officer, told American Forces Press Service. "He wanted that conversation to be as interactive as possible and reflective of what is on their minds."

Aug. 31 is the deadline to submit video questions. After the deadline, Mullen will watch questions submitted by YouTube viewers, then respond in a podcast, officials said.

Price Floyd, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, said taking advantage of new media tools will enable Pentagon leaders to engage in an important two-way conversation with the public.

"We do live in a democracy, and that feedback from people is important to know what they're thinking, what they believe is important," he said. "It's their national security policy, it's not ours. It's theirs. The president was elected, and he appointed people here at the Defense Department to lead, but it starts with the American people."

The White House is planning a similar interactive venue for President Barack Obama to take questions directly from U.S. troops deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

(If you have questions or comments about this story, contact the reporter at donna.miles@osd.mil.)

Related Sites

• YouTube Clips
• Chairman's YouTube Promotion
• Defense Department Web Site
• Special Report: Social Media

Margaret Dismond Martin, campus director of Hampton University College of Virginia Beach, is the guest speaker.

Congress established August 26 as Women's Equality Day in 1971, with its never-changing theme, "Celebrating Women's Right to Vote. The date commemorates the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The passage of the 19th Amendment was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women, for women, that had its formal beginnings in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, where the world's first women's right convention was held.

• Women's Equality Day History

The Department of Historic Resources is the state agency tasked with developing and implementing a comprehensive preservation plan for Virginia. Periodically that plan must be revised to reflect changes in the state's various preservation goals, challenges, and accomplishments, as well as the views and concerns of Virginia's citizens, communities, local governments, businesses and other groups with an interest in historic preservation.

Recognizing that the most effective preservation planning arises from the ground up, DHR bases the plan on on-going public involvement in DHR programs. Now DHR invites the public to review and comment on the recently revised draft of Virginia's Comprehensive Preservation Plan.

Comments received prior to September 8, 2009, will be most helpful to DHR in fine-tuning the final draft of the plan. However, feedback at any time is welcomed by the department and will be considered as DHR carries out its programs and services.

The 37-page plan, which includes an appendix and a list of preservation organizations around the state, is available from DHR as a print document or online in a downloadable format for reading or printing.

To review the document online, go to the DHR Website at www.dhr.virginia.gov. From the agency's homepage, click on the "What's New" link near the top of the page. On the "What's New" page, visitors will find a link to the comprehensive plan.

Persons interested in a printed version should contact Catherine Slusser, deputy director of DHR, by telephone (804-367-2323, ext. 104) or by email or by mailing their request to DHR, 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221.

The Dwight and Dorothy Humphrey Memorial Scholarship is one of several scholarships administered by the Portsmouth Community Foundation, a nonprofit community corporation created by and for the people of Hampton Roads.

Established in 1965, the Portsmouth Community Foundation helps donors make a positive impact on the Hampton Roads community by making giving easy, flexible and effective. The Foundation's professional staff has an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and resources available that shape the Hampton Roads community, and invests long-term to bring people and organizations together to address local issues and opportunities.

Corps family members seeking the Dwight and Dorothy Humphrey Memorial Scholarship must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.

To apply for a scholarship, visit the Portsmouth Community Foundation, online at www.thepcf.org.

The document signed by Col. Andrew Backus, known as a record of decision, ended an extensive five-year study and confirmed the Corps, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland all agreed on an oyster restoration strategy focused solely on the native Eastern oyster.

The study, known as a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, or PEIS, began when state officials -– facing a native oyster population ravaged by disease, over harvesting, and destruction of habitat -– proposed the introduction of a the non-native, disease-resistant Suminoe oyster, a native of the China Sea, said Craig Seltzer, chief of Norfolk District's environmental analysis section.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the proposal triggered the requirement to assess not only the proposed action, but also a range of options for restoring oysters to the Chesapeake Bay and an evaluation of the potential environmental consequences of those options, Seltzer explained.

The Corps, Maryland and Virginia were the lead agencies for study. Cooperating federal agencies included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission also participated in the PEIS process.

Alternatives considered by the participating agencies and submitted for public comment included taking no action, a harvest moratorium, introducing the non-native oyster, expanded aquaculture efforts, abandoning Eastern oyster efforts, and various combinations of alternatives, said Mark Mansfield, the Norfolk District's planning and policy branch chief and project manager for the oyster PEIS.

"The current state of the science and extensive public discourse made it clear that the use of non-native oysters in Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and the coastal bays and waters of Maryland and Virginia posed unacceptable ecological risks," said Mansfield. "The record of decision reflects a sustainable solution to restoring the oyster in the Chesapeake Bay."

In addition to being a sustainable solution, the record of decision is also consistent with the Army's Chesapeake Bay Strategy and President Obama's Executive Order 13508, Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration, Mansfield said.

"This record of decision is the culmination of years of scientific study and collaboration by the involved federal, state and supporting agencies," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "The lead agencies focused on achieving a consensus document that minimizes environmental risks and best serves the public interest. I'm confident we've achieved those goals and look forward to our continued and future role in native oyster restoration."

The length-of-service awards are part of Norfolk District's incentive awards program that allows supervisors to recognize and encourage outstanding employee performance and superior achievement.

Employees received length-of-service certificates and pins for satisfactory completion of Federal service in 5-year periods. They are:

40 Years
Bruce W. Anderson Jr.

35 Years
Ruby G. Garnett
Helene W. Haluska
Robert J. Hume III
Joseph A. Miller

30 Years
Robert E. Klipfel Jr.
Elmer D. Merryman
Andrew J. Reid
Peter G. Reilly

25 Years
Sharon M. Ballard
Lynda P. Christensen
Timothy S. Craul
David A. Gonzalez
Adriane B. James

20 Years
Dennis M. Barnes
Christa J. Goodman
Lawrence H. Ives

15 Years
Travis S. Davidson
Elaine K. Holley
Eric C. Legaspi
Manuel Magistrado
Alfred L. Young

10 Years
Christian Brumm
Robert H. Cole
Candice L. Filak
Elizabeth R. Gold
Jaime C. Scott

5 Years
Sarah M. Cameron
Karen L. Holden
Tiffany B. Lee
Jennifer A. Spencer
Jeffrey A. Swallow

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres in Portsmouth Saturday, August 15, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Aug. 15, the inclement weather date is Sunday, Aug. 16.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

The concert at Walker Airfield is free and open to the public. Gates open at 5 p.m.

"One of the things that really set The Whispers apart is that their core members (twins Walter and Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell and Leaveil Degree) have stayed together as a group for all these years," said event coordinator Maria Jackson. "When Marcus Hutson passed away in 2000, the others decided never to replace him. It's uncommon to find that kind of loyalty in a band, and based on the incredible outpouring of interest in this concert, it obviously translates to loyalty among the band's followers."

The Whispers were the first artists featured on the Soul Train label. They initially gained national attention with their series of albums in the 1970s, "One For The Money," "Open Up Your Love," and "Headlights." The work produced two singles — "(Let's Go) All the Way" and "(Olivia) Lost and Turned Out" — that graced Billboard's Top 20 R&B Charts.

"Their vocal style harkens back to a more genteel era of crooning," explains their Web site www.thewhispers.com. "They are arguably the most celebrated R&B balladeers of their generation, and they can still make women swoon ..."

The Fort Monroe concert also will include an opening performance by Gator Allmond and the Spice of Life Band.

Coolers, outside food or beverages are prohibited. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Fort Monroe is committed to ensuring all events are accessible to people with disabilities. To arrange for special accommodations, call 788-3500.

Employees who received the medal are:

Antonio Bastidas
Johnnie Saunders
Huong Huynh
Jaime Pastrana Jr.
Lisa Bobotas
Jodelle Ferguson
Sherri Jefferies
Samuel McGee III
Ryan Nagel
Nandy Perillo
Lanny Pricer
Glenn Seay
Christopher Service
Marshall Smith
William Swean

The GWOT Civilian Service Medal is the civilian version of the secretary of defense Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The president established the medal to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the civilian workforce of the Department of Defense in direct support of the armed forces, whose members are engaged in operations to combat terrorism in all forms throughout the world.

The ribbon is similar to that of the military medal, but the medal obverse features a sculpture of the female personification of Freedom in Grecian garb, and the reverse features a compass surrounded by the words "Civilian Support -- Global War on Terrorism."

"It's my goal to create the kind of open, honest dialogue that makes the Norfolk District a better place to work and helps us deliver creative, sustainable solutions to our customers, partners and stakeholders," explained Col. Andrew Backus in his first blog post Monday.

Backus, who assumed command of the Norfolk District in June, envisions a "town square" environment on the blog site "where people exchange ideas and information and debate the hot topics of the day."

If implemented according to the vision, those hot topics will include a mix of issues, some of which may appeal only to employees and others that will interest a larger, public audience, said Mark Haviland, Norfolk District chief of public affairs.

"The bottom line is that employees and the public can engage on any topic of interest," said Haviland. "Whether we ask about a process, project or service, our goal is to get the best, most creative comments and ideas. We're not going to exclude considering something because it comes from the 'wrong' audience segment."

Readers of the blog may post comments anonymously, or by choosing to identify themselves by name or though existing accounts, but the District will moderate comments. It's a responsibility that comes with being a government agency, Haviland said.

"We'll monitor posts to guard against offensive or inappropriate content, but we won't exclude comments just because they might be critical of the District, the Corps or our processes," Haviland said. "We want credible, transparent communication with employees and the public. We want them to know we'll print the good and the bad."

The blog is just one of the District's award-winning social media efforts, but recent changes are significant, Haviland said.

"We've learned some things in the past few months. The site is more accessible, it's easier to post comments, to post anonymously and it's our intent to make content timely and relevant to our employee and public audiences," Haviland said.

The most significant change, Haviland explained, is leadership involvement.

"When the district commander says he wants feedback, he means it."

I'm due to come home this month for a little R&R. See you then!
My motto, "I never let a day go by..."

God Bless, Johnnie

"The library is pretty all-inclusive," said district librarian Lane Killam. "Our biggest resource is the engineering map files, which cover the district's various civil works and military construction projects. These files, in varying sizes and scales, date back to the 1700s."

There are approximately 25 cabinets of these drawings, some of which are original hand-drawn maps on linen which date back several centuries. Other on-site historical documents include annual reports from the chief of engineers dated 1867 and beyond in addition to letters addressed to former district commanders expressing support or opposition to projects.

The library, which is open to the public by appointment, is staffed 7 a.m. until noon Monday through Thursday. Resources such as consumer reports, newspapers, periodicals, topographical maps and legal holdings are available. According to Killam, it is common for subject matter experts to visit the library when compiling research for documents such as environmental impact statements.

The latest arrivals to Norfolk District's library include suggested readings from Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, the Army chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Titles include:

• "America Alone" by Mark Steyn
• "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies" by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras
• "First Break all the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently" by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
• "Good to Great" by Jim Collins
• "The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors That Hold You Back" by Flip Flippen
• "Talent Is Never Enough: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent" by John C. Maxwell

Another useful resource for information is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Electronic Library, which provides more than 4,750 collections and online resources to Corps employees. These resources include journals and printed material from the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Fisheries Society, JSTOR Arts & Sciences Collection, Lexis Nexis, Sanborn Maps Digital Collection and others.

Norfolk District employees can access USACE online libraries by visiting the following sites:
USACE Library Program website - www.usace.army.mil/Library
USACE Library Program Online Catalog - www.corpslibrary.com

Norfolk District has obtained enough Virginia Hurricane Guides for each district employee here and distribution will be made through our mailroom.

New sections of the guide explain staying in place vs. evacuation; the importance of storm surge; and how public shelters are designed to help evacuees. The revised evacuation route section clarifies that I-64 is only one of many evacuation routes, and the guide gives detailed instruction about how to make a family emergency plan, get an emergency supply kit and stay informed during emergencies.

"The new hurricane guide offers information to help any Virginian prepare their family for hurricane season," said Michael Cline, state coordinator for VDEM. "It is important that anyone at risk for either coastal or inland flooding understands what to do when tropical storms threaten their area."

An interactive, Web-based version is also available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

Co-authored by Dave Schulte, a Norfolk District oceanographer and student at the College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, explains how the Corps and its project partners developed a thriving oyster population in Virginia's Great Wicomico River.

Schulte teamed with fellow student Russ Burke, and professor Rom Lipcius to write "Unprecedented Restoration of a Native Oyster Metapopulation."

In the paper, the authors discuss how the 5-year restoration project achieved an estimated oyster population of 184.5 million oysters on 86.5 acres of sanctuary reefs – a population believed to be 57-times larger than the pre-restoration population and which far exceeds the Chesapeake Bay Program's restoration goal of a 10-fold increase of the 1994 baseline by 2010.

Currently posted on the Science Express Web site at http://www.sciencemag.org/, the article will also appear in the printed Science journal later in the year. According to the AAAS, Science is one of the world's most prestigious, peer-reviewed science journals. The journal reaches a subscriber audience of about 130,000 people and a secondary audience of more than one million people.

The waiver applies to day-use fees collected at boat launches and swimming beach facilities. Fees for camping and related services, specialized facilities or special events will not be waived.

"The Corps encourages Americans of all ages to take part in outdoor recreation," said Steve Stockton, the Corps' director of civil works. "Our hope is to encourage increased use during this traditionally low-use period, which will help individuals and local communities economically."

The Corps also has about 2,500 state and local agencies and private partners who independently manage leased recreation facilities on Corps lands. The Corps encourages these entities to waive user fees during this period, but they are not required to comply.

The Corps of Engineers is the nation's largest federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation, hosting more than 350 million visitors per year at more than 400 lakes and river projects. Many of these sites are located close to major metropolitan areas and provide 4,500 miles of trails, 90,000 campsites, and 33 percent of all U.S. freshwater fishing.

To find the nearest Army Corps of Engineers recreation site, visit www.CorpsLakes.us.

The Navy proposes to dredge 4.8 miles of the Elizabeth River from Lambert Point Deperming Station to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard to allow 6 feet of clearance for all Navy carriers at low tide.

The Navy EIS, required by the National Environmental Policy Act, evaluated water quality, fisheries, air quality, hazardous waste, noise, recreation and transportation.

The Final EIS also addressed comments received in February from a public meeting on the Draft EIS and during a 45-day public review and comment period, completed in March.

An electronic version of the Final EIS with appendices for viewing or downloading is available online:

• FEIS Norfolk Harbor Dredging July09
• FEIS Appendix Norfolk Harbor Dredging July09

The Final EIS is also available for review at the following community libraries:

• Norfolk Main Library, 235 East Plume Street, Norfolk, Va.
• Portsmouth Main Library, 601 Court Street, Portsmouth, Va.
• Portsmouth Public Library, Churchland Branch, 3215 Academy Avenue, Portsmouth, Va.
• Chesapeake Public Library System, South Norfolk Memorial Library, 1100 Poindexter Street, Chesapeake, Va.

In accordance with NEPA, the assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and the environment will announce a decision concerning the project after a 30-day waiting period. A notice of Record of Decision will then be published in the Federal Register, The Virginian-Pilot and online at http://www.norfolkdredgingeis.com

For questions or concerns, contact John.Conway@navy.mil

Since its opening four years ago, more than 5,700 Corps employees have out-processed through the center, said Julie Shoemaker, Transatlantic Programs Center public affairs. "Additionally, more than 1,100 Army Materiel Command members have out-processed here since April 2007."

While at the center, employees receive required clothing, protective equipment and complete personnel actions. Other Corps employees, who have deployed previously, also teach common tasks and survival skills.

The one-week pre-deployment course is invaluable in familiarizing Corps members on what lies ahead, said Shoemaker.

Another course gaining increased attention throughout the Defense Department and other federal agencies, such as the FBI, is the Individual Terrorism Awareness Course, or INTAC. The weeklong anti-terrorism course, administered by the Corps' North Atlantic Division and taught in Winchester, compliments the USACE pre-deployment course by teaching at-risk personnel how to become hard targets.

INTAC targets deploying members of DoD and those personnel traveling overseas, and blends military and academia, lecture and intense hands-on training. Course topics cover reducing individual vulnerability to terrorist identification, selection and attack, how to react to a terrorist assault, and survival in a hostage situation.

People who want to know what's going on in the world of terrorism, should take the class, said Sherri Jefferies, who has completed the course prior to each of her three deployments to Afghanistan.

"From simple things like why there are no garbage cans on the public streets of London; to high jacking aircraft; to history from 9-11 back to the earliest known cases of terrorism; to espionage in both foreign and domestic governments ... this class is so interesting it will leave you craving more," Jefferies said. "I can't wait to take it again!"

District employee Nora Batten, currently the executive assistant to the commander at Camp Adder, Iraq, said the class had an immediate impact during her deployment.

"During one of my initial trips outside Camp Adder, our team was involved in a vehicle accident. Because of INTAC, I knew exactly what my personal security team would do to extract us from the vehicle. It certainly brought my stress level down. I strongly recommend INTAC to everyone who's deploying," Batten said.

Along with Jefferies and Batten, deployed district employees Johnnie Saunders, Chuck Copeland, Marshal Tucker Smith, Glenn Seay and Col. Dionysios Anninos, former district commander, have attended the course, said Jim Gorka, security chief here.

The course runs monthly and twice during July and August, said Gorka, and NAD pays for Army course attendees.

أراك لاحقًا
Take care, Nora

Nora Batten is the executive assistant to the commander, Camp Adder, Iraq.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the project's construction phase, which is on an accelerated timeline as mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) authorization. Once completed, the Joint Task Force National Capital Region (Medical) will staff and equip the facility for subsequent operation.

HDR/Dewberry Joint Venture designed the project and the construction contractor is Turner-Gilbane Joint Venture. The 1.275,000 sq. ft. military construction project features a six-level community hospital, including medical administration areas. The design includes 120 in-patient beds, a 10-bed intensive care unit, a 10-bed behavioral health inpatient unit, a cancer center, an emergency department, a pharmacy, an operative services center with 10 operating rooms, diagnostic centers such as pathology and radiology, and modular clinic space dedicated to outpatient services.

Additional space is planned for future outpatient expansion. In addition to the square footage of the facility itself, the project includes two parking garages and surface parking for 3,500 parking spaces, a helipad, ambulance shelter and dedicated central utility plant.

Once opened, the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Soldiers and families.

The hospital is one piece of the BRAC 2005 realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans.

Other important elements of the realignment include a state-of-the-art joint National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and closure of the hospital at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The new facilities will be jointly staffed rather than single service billets with a mix of military medical professionals from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

This unprecedented and transformational decision ushers in a new model for health care delivery in the National Capital Region. While military hospitals have traditionally provided care to beneficiaries from all services, military treatment facilities were never staffed with a representative mix of medical personnel from the service medical departments.

For more information, visit http://www.belvoirnewvision.com/.

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2009 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today it is soliciting public comments on two proposals related to the use of Nationwide Permit 21 in the nation's Appalachian region.

NWP 21 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for surface coal mining activities.

The proposals would affect only the Appalachian region of the following states: Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The use of NWP 21 for surface coal mining activities in other regions of the country would not be affected.

The first proposal is to modify NWP 21 to prohibit its use in the Appalachian region. In the absence of NWP 21, an applicant would be required to obtain an individual permit for surface coal mining projects. An individual permit includes increased public and agency involvement in the permit review process, including an opportunity for public comment on individual projects.

The second proposal is to suspend NWP 21 while the Corps evaluates the comments received during the 30-day comment period, and while the Corps completes the process to modify NWP 21. If NWP 21 is suspended during this interim period, an applicant would be required to obtain an individual permit for surface coal mining projects.

The Corps' decision to issue these proposals is a result of the interagency action plan agreed to on June 11, 2009, as part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Corps, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agencies agreed to work together to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of surface coal mining activities in the Appalachian region. A copy of the MOU is available at: http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/moumoas.aspx.

A public notice on the proposals was published in the July 15, 2009 Federal Register, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-16803.pdf. Written comments should be submitted at the federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number COE-2009-0032; or mailed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CO (Attn: Ms. Desiree Hann), 441 G. Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20314. Comments must be submitted on or before August 14, 2009. E-mail or faxed comments will not be accepted.

Several POD stations were set up so citizens could drive through and pick up needed commodities. The exercise teamed Virginia Beach City and Health Department officials.

Herman Wine is a civil works project manager in the Norfolk District Projects Section. Wine is also an action officer with the district's all-volunteer Commodities Team. Last summer, Wine spent two weeks running a POD in Houston, Texas, during the Hurricane Ike recovery efforts.

David W. Kidd is a junior at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Va. He's working here this summer in the Emergency Management Office.

Jerri Wehrle, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employee for 18 years, is a co-winner of this year's Family Readiness Individual Excellence Award, which recognizes her tireless service as the district's family support coordinator.

"Being a military wife, I know what the home front goes through with being both parents and holding down the fort," said Wehrle. "I could sympathize with families and be there to support them because I have been in the same shoes as them."

Wehrle started the initiative five years ago with encouragement from Glenn Seay, a district facility manager. Seay served in Iraq as a project manager more than $23.6 billion in projects and recognized the district's need for a support program based on his experiences as the district's deployment coordinator in 2003.

As family support coordinator, Wehrle provides support and assistance to deployed personnel and their family members by arranging video conferences, making phone calls, sending emails, purchasing birthday gifts and sending flowers or cards on special occasions.

Wehrle and a group of district employees also collect donations for care packages two to three times each year. With support from district employees and personal contributions from Wehrle, the Family Support Group sent twelve care packages to employees in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait -- just in time for the holidays last November.

Deputy District Commander Michael Darrow commends Jerri on her tireless service saying "Jerri makes herself available at anytime - nights, weekends, holidays - to make sure families at home are doing well and have an outlet if they needed anything. Although she has not personally been deployed, the role she plays as the district's family support coordinator is just as important as other missions here in the district."

Wehrle credits the support of her son and husband as an important factor in the success of the program. She plans to continue to provide support to deployed district employees, family members and friends with the help of Norfolk District's Welfare Council. Wehrle states, "This award belongs to the Norfolk District. Without their generous donations, support and assistance, I could not have achieved this award. I am just the person putting it together and organizing the family support."

Wehrle shares the award with Robert McCoy, who works at the Corps' Walla Walla District in Washington.

In addition to individual awards, the Corps' Alaska District earned Family Readiness Outstanding Team Award.

Corps officials will recognize the contributions of Wehrle, McCoy and the Alaska District at a senior leader conference scheduled for August.

The Corp originally published a Final Environmental Impact Statement, or FEIS, in 2006, concerning the proposed 580-acre expansion and development of a container terminal, and the assistant secretary of the Army issued a record of decision in 2007.

The most recent document, known as an Environmental Assessment Supplement, addresses information that was not known and could not be known when officials finalized the original EIS, said Craig Seltzer, Ecosystem Biologist.

New information available includes:

• A Hydrodynamic/water quality study conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in 2007-2008
• A geotechnical evaluation for sand borrow activities
• Dredged material evaluations for placement in Norfolk Ocean Disposal Site
• A dredged material management plan
• Minor additional wetlands impacts
• A Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determination
• Mitigation plan implementation effects
• Historical and cultural resources investigations

An electronic version of the Environmental Assessment Supplement with all appendices is available online at www.craneyisland.info/EASupplement.html

The Norfolk District accepts public comments until July 27, 2009. Address comments to

Craig Seltzer (Re: Craney Island Environmental Assessment) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510.

"Today, finally, we are able to say the goo is going," said Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, executive director of The Elizabeth River Project.

The "goo" is the result of a 1963 explosion and fire at a nearby wood treatment plant and an additional spill in 1967, which contaminated 19.5 acres at Money Point. The first phase of the project includes the removal of more than 800 cubic yards of contaminated soil and the restoration 5.5 acres of tidal wetlands and forested shoreline.

Additional planned work at the site includes the dredging of toxic contaminants from the river bottom and the construction of an oyster reef. Contaminants in the river at Money Point are "among the highest in the world" and are associated with high rates of cancer in fish, according to information on the Trust's Web site: http://www.elizabethriver.org.

The restoration project is the result of a unique partnership that includes state and federal agencies, business, community and environmental groups. The Living River Trust began in 2004, when the Norfolk District, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and The Elizabeth River Project reached an agreement for developing a mechanism to provide compensatory mitigation for impacts to aquatic resources authorized by Clean Water Act permits issued by the Corps and the Commonwealth.

Col. Andrew Backus, district commander, praised the work of the Elizabeth River Project, the Living River Trust and the various partners who made the project possible.

"This (the Trust) is a model for the nation," said Backus.

Jeff Zoeckler, FNOD project engineer for the Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, presented an overview of shoreline stabilization activities completed at the NRB site in May, and briefed the board on planned construction work, which begins in early July.

The Department of Defense is responsible for cleaning up our nation's Formerly Used Defense Sites, which are properties formerly owned, leased, possessed or operated by the Defense Department. In 1987, FNOD became a matter of public concern when a piece of crystalline TNT was found at the Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth Campus. This initiated extensive historical research, investigations, testing and removal actions. In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed this site on the National Priority List.

Since the first discovery of buried TNT in 1987, the Army Corps of Engineers has conducted environmental investigation and restoration activities at the 975-acre site, which was used primarily to store and renovate ammunition during World War I and II.

The Corps recently completed a munitions removal action along the bluff of the Nansemond River beachfront. In total, over 1,200 pounds of bulk TNT, 1,400 pounds of munitions debris and 482 discarded military munitions items were removed from the NRB site. The initial work also involved reinforcing an existing revetment, designed to provide added shoreline protection and slope stabilization during the munitions removal project.

The second phase of work will provide long-term protection of the unstable shoreline immediately to the west of the removal action area. Two rock spurs and a single breakwater will be installed to break up wave energy during storm events. Additionally, a gently-sloped pocket beach will be formed behind the breakwater to re-establish habitat in the site area.

"We want to ensure this vulnerable portion of NRB shoreline is stabilized early in the 2009 hurricane season," said Zoeckler.

The Suffolk Wetlands Board was pleased with the progress to date and asked about additional site work planned.

There will probably be one other shoreline stabilization project completed under the FNOD environmental restoration program, Zoeckler told the board members. "This will take place in an area along the James River beachfront, where significant erosion is occurring adjacent to a revetment installed by the Corps in 2001," said Zoeckler.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to review exhibits, meet agency representatives and ask questions about the status of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Project, an important component of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) authorization.

The hospital's construction phase, managed by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is scheduled for completion in spring 2011. The facility will then be turned over to the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical to staff and equip for subsequent operation.

Once opened, the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become a part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Soldiers and families. The hospital is one piece of a realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans under the BRAC 2005.

Other elements of the realignment include a state-of-the-art joint National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and closure of the hospital at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The new facilities will be staffed as joint rather than single service billets with a mix of military medical professionals from the Army, Navy and Air Force. This unprecedented and transformational decision ushers in a new model for health care delivery in the National Capital Region. While military hospitals have traditionally provided care to beneficiaries from all services, military treatment facilities have never been staffed with a representative mix of medical personnel from the service medical departments.

Norfolk District selected the Joint Venture of HDR/Dewberry to perform architectural design services for the new hospital at Fort Belvoir. The hospital's conceptual design calls for a 1.2 million square foot, six-level community hospital, including medical administration areas. The design includes 120 in-patient beds, a 10-bed intensive care unit, a 10-bed behavioral health inpatient unit, a cancer center, an emergency department, a pharmacy, an operative services center with 10 operating rooms, diagnostic centers such as pathology and radiology, and modular clinic space dedicated to outpatient services. Additional space is planned for future outpatient expansion. In addition to the square footage of the facility itself, the project includes two parking garages and surface parking for 3,500 parking spaces, a helipad, ambulance shelter and dedicated central utility plant.

For more information, call 1-877-BNV-2424 or visit www.belvoirnewvision.com.

My wife, Charlene and I had just retired for the evening and were settling in for a good night's sleep, or so we thought? Suddenly, a tremendous flash of light erupted, followed by a very loud BANG! A bolt of lightning had struck our house. It sounded like it had struck in our bedroom. When my vision cleared, I realized that the house smoke detectors were screaming in unison and most of the house lights were out. I noticed the nightlight in the hallway on; a few other lights and lamps were still on as well, so I knew we still had power.

I made my way to the garage, checked the circuit panel and discovered that all the GFI circuit breakers had tripped. A few receptacle circuits had tripped as well; however, the main circuit breaker was still on. I re-set the tripped breakers and power to my lights and outlets was restored. I then went on an inspection outside, as I was now aware of how close the lightning strike had been. When I came back inside, I checked all the walls for heat. I didn't want an electrical fire smoldering inside any of the walls.

Very early Saturday morning, I began to take stock of the damage. Nearly all of the satellite TV receivers were inoperable; my garage door opener failed; and worst of all, our new 42-inch plasma TV wouldn't function. Fortunately, we purchased an extended warranty. After my inventory, I determined that any electronic device that was turned "on" and unprotected when the lightning struck was dead. Any system that had been turned "off" was still operational, such as our new laptop and the old, big screen TV. I also discovered that devices equipped with a "surge suppressor," like my router, wireless LAN and one satellite receiver, were working just fine.

This incident taught me that I had been "rolling the dice" for the past 5 years by not providing adequate storm surge protection for all my electrical/electronic equipment.

Today, more everyday household devices are digitally controlled: washers and dryers, microwaves, dishwashers, toaster-ovens, in addition to computer systems, televisions and DVD/DVR devices. Surge suppressor power strips will definitely help protect these type home electronic devices.

The best description I've heard of a storm surge is, "It's a tsunami of current flowing through your electrical systems in a micro-second." A circuit breaker will not react fast enough to clamp the current wave and protect your equipment.

After the lightning strike, I researched lightning power surge protection and there are now whole-house surge suppression devices available for under $100. Attach the device to a two-pole circuit breaker in your power panel (Eaton Model # CHSPmicro, rated at 1920 joules and 120,000 Amps) and it will provide whole-house storm surge suppression for many years.

After purchasing the device, I now enjoy peace of mind.

Editor's Note: Each year in the United States, more than 400 people are struck by lightning. On average, between 55 and 60 people are killed; hundreds of others suffer permanent neurological disabilities. Most of these tragedies can be avoided with a few simple precautions. When thunderstorms threaten, get to a safe place.

The following information and websites will provide you with the knowledge necessary to stay safe during a thunder and lightning event, as well as provide you with homeowner's safety tips that are easy to implement.

Stay safe while inside

Phone use is the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States. Lightning can travel long distances in both phone and electrical wires, particularly in rural areas. Stay away from windows and doors as these can provide the path for a direct strike to enter a home. Do not lie on the concrete floor of a garage as it likely contains a wire mesh. In general, basements are a safe place to go during thunderstorms. However, there are some things to keep in mind. Avoid contact with concrete walls, which may contain metal reinforcing bars. Avoid washers and dryers since they not only have contacts with the plumbing and electrical systems, but also contain an electrical path to the outside through the dryer vent.

Remember your pets

You may want to consider the safety of your family pets during thunderstorms. Doghouses are not lightning-safe. Dogs that are chained to trees or wire runners can easily fall victim to a lightning strike.

Protect your personal property

Lightning also causes significant damage to personal property each year. In addition to direct strikes, lightning generates electrical surges that can damage electronic equipment some distance from the actual strike. Typical surge protectors will NOT protect equipment from a lightning strike. To the extent possible, unplug any appliances or electronic equipment from all conductors well before a thunderstorm threatens. This includes not only the electrical system, but also the reception system. If you plan to be away from your home when thunderstorms are possible, be sure to unplug unneeded equipment before you leave. Do not unplug equipment during a thunderstorm as there is a risk you could be struck.

Summary of lightning safety tips for inside the home

• Stay OFF corded phones. You can use cellular or cordless phones.
• Don't touch electrical equipment or cords. Unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives.
• Avoid plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower or wash dishes.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.

Homeowner's Safety Tips:
http://www.onebeacon.com/content_resources.aspx?mnuid=5.6.1&expand=1&id=170

National Lightning Safety:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/more.htm

WHERE: The Army Logistics Management College

WHEN: Monday, June 22, 9:00 a.m.

ADDITIONAL INFO: With a total cost of $136 million, ALU is the newest and largest completed BRAC project on the installation. ALU resembles an all-inclusive small-college campus situated on 46 acres with more than 300,000 sq. feet. ALU will be responsible for training military students from 63 foreign countries and will house approximately 2,300 students daily.

CONTACT: Media interested in covering this event should contact the Fort Lee Public Affairs Office, (804) 734-7451 to make arrangements no later than 2 p.m. June 19.

The event is free and open to the public, and features weapons demonstrations, tours of the historic fort and portrayals of daily life in the fort during the War of 1812.

The Battle of Craney Island occurred June 22, 1813, when the outnumbered American defenders of the island defeated an early-morning attack by a large British force. The victory saved Norfolk and the Gosport Navy Yard from further attack, though the British responded by burning the City of Hampton.

Fort Norfolk is the last remaining of 19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President George Washington and protected Norfolk's inner-harbor and the USS Constellation during the war of 1812. Today, the fort is under the care of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was housed in fort buildings until moving into a new facility in the early 1980's.

The entrance to Fort Norfolk is located at 803 Front Street, just minutes from downtown Norfolk and the midtown tunnel.

Questions about the reenactment should be directed to the Norfolk Historical Society at (757) 640-1720.

The defective member, discovered during a recent bridge inspection by Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was strengthened immediately with a temporary support.

The South Mills Bridge is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway network, said Joel Scussel, AIWW project manager here.

Motorists wanting to cross the Dismal Swamp Canal during this period should use the U.S. Route 17 bypass bridge, where a detour sign will be posted. Bridge repairs will not affect vessels traveling the canal.

For more information, contact Scussel at (757) 201-7642.

In order to improve the environmental health of the city's largest river system, the City of Virginia Beach and Army Corps conducted a comprehensive evaluation. Measures being considered include:

• Wetland Restoration – this measure is the restoration of either completely destroyed or significantly degraded historic tidal wetland habitat.
• Benthic Habitat Restoration - this measure is the removal of silt and other fine materials over historic hard bottom, to support additional bottom habitat restoration measures, such as Subaquatic Vegetation Habitat, Essential Fish Habitat, and/or Bay Scallop Habitat measures.
• Tidal Estuary Connectivity Restoration - this measure is the partial or full removal of dams/weirs to allow areas that were historically tidal estuarine habitat in the Lynnhaven to be reconnected to the tidal Lynnhaven River ecosystem. This measure would include appropriate restoration efforts to previously impounded areas to ensure proper structure and function of tidal estuarine habitat.
• Subaquatic Vegetation Habitat Restoration – this measure is the restoration of SAV to the Lynnhaven River, where possible. This could include eelgrass as well as more warm-water tolerant SAV that is also present in the Chesapeake Bay.
• Essential Fish Habitat Restoration – this measure is the placement of hard structure in the Lynnhaven (such as reefs, rock or other hard structure) to provide for the life-cycle needs of fish species that use the Lynnhaven River, or would more frequently use the Lynnhaven with increased structure.
• Bay Scallop Habitat Restoration – this measure is the restoration of features to re-establish a Bay Scallop community in the Lynnhaven River.

During the community workshops, the City and Army Corps will provide the public information about the project. Additionally, representatives will be on hand to answer questions and collect feedback from the public.

The public workshop meetings are 7 to 8 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

Since 1989, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, along with Virginians of every stripe, has removed tons of trash from local beaches, shorelines and waterways during the region-wide clean-up effort. With the increasing popularity of the annual campaign, last year Clean the Bay Day expanded beyond Hampton Roads to include eastern Virginia, Richmond and northern Virginia.

The district's 30-member eco-friendly team cleaned approximately 5 miles of Craney Island's shoreline, said Keith Lockwood, chief of the Operations Technical Support Section and clean-up organizer.

Among the volunteers were Col. Dionysios Anninos, district commander, and one of his sons, and Lt. Col. Michael Darrow, deputy district commander, along with his three children.

The Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1946, and constructed from 1956-1958. The federal facility is operated by the Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers and is used by private interests, local municipalities, and federal and Commonwealth of Virginia government agencies for the disposal of dredged material from Norfolk Harbor and its adjacent waterways, including the Elizabeth and Nansemond Rivers.

"The weather was great – in the mid-70s with a nice breeze," said Lockwood. "Our team collected about 2,000 pounds of everyday items like aluminum cans, Styrofoam containers and cups and plastic bottles and bags. We also bagged about 800 pounds of lumber, rope, crab pot floats and miscellaneous construction and fishing debris."

Several unusual items were also found during the clean-up, added Lockwood, including a message in a bottle.

Backus replaces Col. Dionysios "Dan" Anninos, who assumed command of the district in 2006 and will take command of the Corps' Gulf Region Central District, located in Baghdad, Iraq, in July.

Colonel Peter DeLuca, commander of the Corps' North Atlantic Division, will preside over the ceremony.

Backus, a native of the Cambridge, Mass. and Wilton, Maine, areas comes to the Norfolk District from Harvard University, where he recently completed the Army's Leadership and Management National Security fellowship.

Other key assignments for Backus include three tours of duty with the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) at Fort Belvoir, Va., during which he responded to national events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The colonel has also completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As the Norfolk District Commander, Backus will manage the organization's dual military and civil works mission of engineering, construction and water resource management.

The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement addresses a variety of proposed strategies and concludes that a combination of alternatives involving only the native Eastern oyster is the preferred approach for restoring the Bay's oyster population.

Corps' scientists filed the Final PEIS with the Environmental Protection Agency and it will appear in the Federal Register June 12.

The publication of the document begins a 30-day public comment period. Upon conclusion of the comment period, officials with the lead agencies will publish a formal record of decision.

Citizen comments should reference the Final PEIS and be directed to Mark Mansfield at: Mark.T.Mansfield@usace.army.mil, or by mail to:

Department of the Army
Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers
Attn: Mr. Mark Mansfield
Chief, Planning and Policy Branch
803 Front Street Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1096

The Final PEIS documents are available online at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/OysterEIS/homepage.asp, or at the following libraries:

Anne Arundel Community College - Andrew G. Truxal Library – Arnold, Md.
Anne Arundel Co. Public Library – Annapolis, Md.
Calvert Co. Public Library – Prince Frederick, Md.
Central Rappahannock Regional Library – Fredericksburg, Va.
Chesapeake College Library – Wye Mills, Md.
Corbin Memorial Library – Crisfield, Md.
Dorchester Co. Public Library - Cambridge and Hurlock, Md.
Eastern Shore Public Library – Accomac, Va
Enoch Pratt Free Library – Baltimore, Md.
Fairfax Co. Public Library – Fairfax, Va.
Federal Maritime Commission Library – Washington, D.C.
Henrico Co. Public Library – Richmond, Va.
Kent Co. Public Library – Chestertown, Md.
Lewis Egerton Smoot Memorial Library - King George, Va.
Loudoun Co. Public Library – Leesburg, Va.
MD State Law Library – Annapolis, Md.
Norfolk Public Library – Norfolk, Va.
Northumberland Public Library – Heathsville, Va.
Petersburg Public Library – Petersburg, Va.
Queen Anne's Co. Library – Stevensville and Centerville, Md.
Richmond Public Library – Richmond, Va.
Somerset Co. Library – Princess Anne and Ewell, Md.
St. Mary's Co. Memorial Library – Leonardtown, Md.
State Dept. of Legislative Reference Library – Annapolis, Md.
Sudlersville Memorial Library – Sudlersville, Md.
Talbot Co. Free Library - St. Michaels, Easton and Tilghman (Elementary School), Md.
Calvert Co. Library – Twin Beaches Branch - Chesapeake Beach, Md.
Virginia Beach Public Library – Virginia Beach, Va.
Wicomico Co. Free Library – Salisbury, Md.

"They are trying to get a feel for how we do business, gather lessons learned and take them back to Iraq," said Navy Capt. John Rice with Navy Facilities Command Southeast, who accompanied the Iraqi engineers as they visited the different military and civil agencies in Hampton Roads.

While here at the Norfolk District, the engineers received an briefings about the mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and military construction and civil works processes.

Much of the information focused on the processes and how the Corps doesn't just "build and forget," but instead factors in and plans operations and maintenance costs for after the project is completed.

"They were very intuitive, asked a lot of questions and took away good ideas on ways they can implement the processes in projects they are working on in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Michael R. Darrow.

As part of their experience here, the Iraqi engineers boarded the district's survey vessel Adams II to learn about the survey systems team uses and to tour the Norfolk Harbor and the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area.

In addition to the Norfolk District, the visiting engineers will also tour Fort Eustis, Langley Air Force Base and the Navy Facilities Command Mid-Atlantic.

View additional photos on Flickr

The June 10 meeting is 5-8 p.m., at the Sussex Central High School, 21394 Sussex Drive, Sussex, Va. The June 11 meeting is 5-8 p.m., at the Surry High School, 1675 Hollybush Road, Dendron, Va.

Personnel from ODEC will be available 5-6 p.m. to provide information and answer questions regarding the proposed project. Between 6-8 p.m., community members will be assigned to work groups to identify and define specific issues to be addressed in environmental documents required by the National Environmental Policy Act.

Backus, who recently completed the Army's Leadership and Management National Security Fellow at Harvard University, previously served as a human resources manager in the Senior Leader Development Office, Army Staff, the Pentagon. Anninos leaves to serve as the commander, USACE Gulf Region Central District, located in Baghdad, Iraq.

As Norfolk District Commander, Backus will manage the Corps' water resources development and navigable waterways operations for five river basins in the Commonwealth of Virginia: the Rappahannock, York, James and Chowan rivers and the Chesapeake Bay coastal basin. Backus will also be responsible for the Corps' military design and construction projects for Army, Army Reserve, Air Force and Defense Department military installations throughout the Commonwealth. He also will manage the Corps' regulatory, environmental restoration, flood risk management (including hurricane and storm damage reduction) and disaster response activities, as well as provide engineering support to our nation's overseas contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Backus was born in Cambridge, Mass. and raised in Wilton, Maine. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1988 and, in 1999, earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Washington. His other military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and the Command and General Staff College. Backus is a registered Professional Engineer.

Backus' key military assignments include three tours of duty, including command, of the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) — the Army's only prime power engineer unit. His unit conducted continuous operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan to support electrical power for coalition base camps. It also responded to numerous disaster events in the United States, such as the 9/11 terrorist attack and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the U.S. Gulf Coast as part of USACE's role in the nation's emergency response plan.

Colonel Backus' other assignments include command of an engineer unit with 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.; service on a joint task force to restore electrical power to Baghdad, following the Iraq invasion in 2003; and duty as executive officer to the USACE Deputy Commanding General in Washington D.C. He commanded companies in the 249th and 14th Engineer Battalions at Fort Lewis, Wash., where he deployed to fight forest fires in the Pacific Northwest.

Backus began his military career with the 6th Engineer Battalion in Alaska, serving as platoon leader and then company executive officer, with deployments to Japan, the Joint Readiness Training Center and the National Training Center.

His military decorations feature the Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (with five oak leaf clusters); Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster); Army Achievement Medal (with two oak leaf clusters); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal (three awards); the Ranger tab; the Sapper tab; and the Parachutist Badge.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, is located on the first floor meeting room of the Courtyard by Marriot Hotel, near the corner of Harbour View Boulevard and College Drive, 8060 Harbour View, Suffolk, Va.

The majority of the RAB meeting will involve a rare process – the Technical Project Planning (TPP). RAB members will work through the planning process for investigating any remaining FNOD areas believed to pose any potential for munitions, munitions constituents, or munitions debris that have not already been investigated.

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. At these meetings, the FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members attending the RAB meeting are welcome to ask questions of any of the assembled team members. FNOD was placed on EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College representative, property owners and FNOD project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

Additional project information can be found at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/projects/Environmental%20Projects/Nansemond. The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair; (757) 201-7701. Suresh Kikkeri, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager; (410) 962-5618. Daily FNOD operations are managed by George Mears of Norfolk District. He can be reached at (757) 201-7181 or by email: george.h.mears@usace.army.mil.

The vessel, moored at Norfolk District's Waterfield Building, offered employees an opportunity to learn the vessel's capabilities. The crew of the Frank Drew also demonstrated to DeLuca how closely the two federal agencies work together.

After a quick tour of the bridge and discussion with Frank Drew's captain, DeLuca attended a working luncheon with the district's senior leadership.

The $78 million design-build military construction project, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, has a projected completion date of February 2011. The project is part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure congressional authorization, which closes Fort Monroe, Va., in September 2011, and realigns the TRADOC headquarters from Monroe to Fort Eustis.

The new TRADOC headquarters, which will house about 1,260 employees, is approximately 263,675 square feet. The new band-training facility at 18,800 square feet will accommodate 66 musicians. Work includes command suites, private offices, a special compartmented information facility, a special access programs facility, an emergency operations center, break rooms and kitchenettes, printing and copying areas, conference rooms and an auditorium. The project also includes associated support facilities and site improvements.

The design and construction project, awarded by Norfolk District to Tompkins-Turner Government Services, will meet the Army's Leadership in Energy Environmental Design, achieving a silver certification.

Fort Eustis is the home of Army Transportation. With its diverse landscape and easy access to the James River, the post is an excellent area to train service members in transportation, aviation maintenance, logistics and deployment doctrine.

"It is so important that every Virginian treat hurricane season seriously," said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. "Hurricane season is flood season. No part of Virginia is safe from flooding because seasonal heavy rains and slow moving tropical systems can affect any part of the state."

National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 24-30, an excellent opportunity for all Virginia families to take three simple, low-cost steps to get ready: get a kit, make a plan and stay informed.

This year, the Ready Virginia campaign is focusing on teaching families how to make a plan. For hurricane season, families should learn their designated evacuation routes, decide on an evacuation destination and collect emergency contact information. Go to www.readyvirginia.gov for downloadable family plan worksheets.

Virginia's Hurricane Tax Holiday is May 25-31

Residents living in coastal and inland communities will also benefit from Virginia's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, set for May 25-31. During that week, there is no sales tax charged on the purchase of many items used to prepare homes for hurricane and flood season, and to fill emergency supply kits.

Among the exempt items are:

• bottled water; flashlights; batteries including cell phone batteries; food and beverage storage coolers; battery-powered or hand-crank radios, two-way radios, weather band radios and NOAA weather radios; cell phone chargers; carbon monoxide and smoke detectors; fire extinguishers; first aid kits; tarps; plastic sheeting; drop cloths and duct tape; artificial ice; empty gas, propane or diesel fuel tanks or containers; and generators.
  
  
• For a complete list and details go to www.tax.virginia.gov

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Hurricane Camille, which produced torrential rains in the mountains of Virginia. Although Camille was a tropical depression when it hit Virginia, Nelson County recorded 27 inches of rainfall. Flash flooding killed at least 150 people and injured another 100 in the Commonwealth.

"The message for us in Virginia is that even a significantly weakened tropical system can have deadly consequences," said Bill Sammler, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "Fortunately, we now have NOAA Weather Radios, National Weather Service Doppler radar and many other communication tools that did not exist in 1969. But people still need to prepare their families and their homes and businesses because property damage can be severe during hurricane and flood season."

The Design-Build Institute of America or DBIA awarded Sorrentino and Reilly, after both professional engineers passed DBIA's formal examination.

DBIA's designation program seeks to recognize industry professionals who demonstrate a practical level of knowledge and hands-on experience in design-build project delivery.

Sorrentino, chief of the District's engineering, construction and operations division and Reilly, chief of the construction branch, cited their involvement in three Fort Lee, Va., design-build construction projects, all key 2005 Base Realignment and Closure authorizations, as catalysts that prepared them for the DBIA examination.

"Credentials are important in our line of business; a very large part of our military construction program uses the Design-Build procurement method," said Sorrentino, who is also designated as a Program Management Professional. "Being certified by DBIA shows other leaders in the design and construction industry that you understand and have experience with integrated project delivery methods to achieve high performance projects."

Reilly has been involved in design-build procurements since 1982, and has served as a USACE design-build Proponent Sponsored Engineer Corps or PROSPECT instructor since 2000.

"Achieving this DBIA certification demonstrates an expertise both 'inside and outside the fence' for design-build project execution and helps provide critical alignment between USACE and commercial sector practices in design-build," said Reilly.

The examination creates a nationally accepted and recognized educational standard for experienced, professional and knowledgeable practitioners who possess a qualified and measureable level of expertise in design-build.

Successful completion of the exam as well as three years substantial design-build work experience is required to earn the coveted designation. Additionally, candidates must meet DBIA's educational requirements, must have completed its three core courses along with 18 elective credits related directly to project delivery, and must submit three letters of reference.

Those who complete these requirements earn the right to display "DBIA" after their names, identifying them to design-build end-users and the community as experienced professionals in design-build project delivery.

To maintain the designated status, recipients agree to earn a minimum 24 hours of continuing education credit every two years.

Founded in 1993, DBIA responded to the emergence of design-build and integrated project delivery as a significant force in the design and construction industry. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and network of chapters throughout the United States, the Institute provides a forum for all participants in the design-build process, owners and practitioners alike. DBIA is the center of expertise for integrated project delivery, advocating best practices, creating and disseminating educational information and furnishing advice and support to facility owners and users.

To acknowledge Sorrentino and Reilly's DBIA credentials, the Institute added their names to the Designated Design-Build Professional listing, located on DBIA's Website:
http://www.dbia.org/Certification/classof09.htm

Nora Batten, executive assistant to the commander, Camp Adder, Iraq.

Dr. Karen Remley, state health commissioner, declared a Commonwealth Public Health Emergency on April 27. The declaration enhances the Commonwealth's ability to communicate the latest information and guidance to clinicians, hospitals and pharmacists.

VDH opened a Public Inquiry Center (1-877- Call-VDH3) on May 1, to answer questions about the H1N1 outbreak.

VDH makes daily contact with health care providers to give them care and treatment guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

For the latest information about H1N1 in Virginia, visit the VDH Website at www.vdh.virginia.gov .

NORFOLK, Va. — Throughout May, Americans will reflect on and honor the richly diverse and historical accomplishments made by fellow citizens of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, who have shaped the country's history.

This year, Norfolk District employees can reflect on those accomplishments with the assistance of Polly Chong, Hampton Roads attorney and certified mediator, during a presentation 1:30 p.m., May 20, in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

The 2009 national theme, released by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, is "Leadership to Meet the Challenges of a Changing World."

In researching this year's theme, Peter Hemmer, an illustrator with the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick A.F.B., Fl., said his inspiration for the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month poster was very simple – Asian Calligraphy.

"The sculptural figures mimic brush strokes (like in the background). They also represent leadership that inspires, mentors and leads; helping and lifting people up to face the demands of a changing world," explained Hemmer.

Much like Black History Month and Women's History Month celebrations, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month originated in a congressional bill.

In June 1977, Representatives Frank Norton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. The following month, Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both bills passed an on Oct. 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration.

In May 1990, the holiday expanded when President George H.W. Bush designated May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated with community festivals, government-sponsored programs, such as the district's annual observance, and educational activities for students.

Hosted by Lynnhaven River NOW, a local non-profit organization, the symposium is May 11, noon to 6 p.m., at Cape Henry Collegiate School's Dreyfus Auditorium in Virginia Beach, Va.

The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will highlight current scientific research and projects planned and underway to restore the Lynnhaven River.

Mark Mansfield, economist and chief of Planning and Policy Branch here will provide information on what lies ahead for native oyster restoration in the Lynnhaven River. The Lynnhaven River is considered a prime spot for oyster restoration because it is a trap estuary with high salinity, had historically high populations of native oysters and has considerably higher oyster recruitment today than many other sites in the Chesapeake Bay. As part of the district's native oyster restoration efforts, Norfolk District is building acres of new sanctuary oyster reefs in the Lynnhaven River. The reefs are constructed of fossilized oyster shell dredged from the James River. Building on the 30-plus acres of oyster reefs constructed in 2007, the Norfolk District constructed an additional 22 acres of new sanctuary oyster reefs in Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay in 2008. Lynnhaven River NOW will organize additional seeding of reefs this summer.

Karin Dridge, a geographer with the Geospatial Section here will show attendees what the Lynnhaven River looked like in 1937. Using dated photos provided by the city of Virginia Beach, Dridge will compare 1937 aerial imagery with 2005 imagery. Geographic Information Systems, better known as GIS, allows Dridge to convert the dated photos into a digital format using a process called "georeferencing." The digitizing process, which averages one hour per photo, provides a way to compare imagery by viewing physical changes or trends or establishing historical land use.

Gregory Steele, a civil engineer in the Policy and Plans Branch will report on a relatively new joint endeavor of the city of Virginia Beach and Norfolk District to improve water quality, environmental restoration and protection of the Lynnhaven River. As cost-sharing partners of the Corps' Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study, Virginia Beach and Norfolk District identified six possible measures to address problems in the Lynnhaven River, as reported in Lynnhaven River NOW's 2008 State of the River Report. The report, which looks at 16 factors and grades each of them on a scale of A to F, concluded that the Lynnhaven River slightly worsened ecologically because of increased nutrient pollution and a net loss of wetlands.

In addition to Norfolk District, organizations participating in the symposium include the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, city of Norfolk, Virginia Department of Health, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, city of Virginia Beach and the Governor's Commission on Climate Change.

While the symposium is free and open to the public, attendees are asked to pre-register so organizers can ensure adequate refreshments and printed materials are on hand. To register, call the Lynnhaven River NOW office at 757-962-5398, or email Laura Baity at lbaity@lynnhaven2007.com. For more information on the 2009 Lynnhaven River Symposium, visit http://www.lynnhavenrivernow.org.

The patients are an adult male from eastern Virginia and an adult female from central Virginia. Each had traveled to Mexico. Both had mild illnesses and are recovering well. Neither required hospitalization. Neither are students.

Given the size of the state's population, seasonal travel patterns and the ease with which the flu virus is spread, Dr. Remley said that it is likely there will be additional cases in the Commonwealth.

"Our local health districts are working in close collaboration with their community partners in monitoring developments and providing guidance," Dr. Remley said. "We remain in contact with clinicians, hospitals and pharmacists to furnish them with up-to-the-minute care and treatment guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

The current H1N1 influenza outbreak is caused by an influenza A virus not previously detected in humans or animals. Symptoms are similar to those of seasonal flu and typically include fever, cough and sore throat. Additional symptoms may include headache, chills and fatigue. Persons with H1N1 flu are contagious for up to seven days after the onset of illness and possibly longer if they are still symptomatic.

Dr. Remley advised anyone with these symptoms to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors by:

• Stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Before seeking care, call your health care provider or local health department, so that necessary infection control measures can be put in place.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after use.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
• Limit close contact with sick people.
• Prevent the spread of germs by not touching eyes, nose or mouth.

For more information, consult the CDC's Website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu and the Virginia Department of Health Website at http://www.vdh.state.va.us.

Anninos used the forum to update the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Project Delivery Team on the district's current missions, discuss expectations and progress on the Belvoir Hospital project, field questions from team members and praise their exceptional performance throughout this highly visible and complex project.

The Norfolk District commaner also emphasized that the critical focus for the hospital project is on quality.

"While it is important that we come in on time and within budget, the thing that the Soldiers and their families will remember and the thing that will stand out over time is the quality of the construction,"emphasized Anninos. In the end, he added, this is the most important mission. Our Soldiers and their families deserve a world-class facility and you are well on your way toward delivering a truly exceptional hospital.

Anninos is set to relinquish command of Norfolk District June 12. He will next command Gulf Region Central in Iraq.

Construction of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital began Nov. 8, 2007, and is set for completion March 30, 2011. HDR/Dewberry Joint Venture designed the project and the construction contractor is Turner-Gilbane Joint Venture. The $806.9 million, 1.275,000 sq. ft. military construction project features a hospital complex with 120 in-patient beds, primary and specialty care clinics and 3,500 parking spaces.

The National Capitol Area active and retired military service members and their families will be the beneficiaries of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, located just south of Washington D.C.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the project's construction phase, which is on an accelerated timeline as mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) authorization.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Warriors and their families. The hospital is one piece of a BRAC 2005 realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans. Other elements of the health care network include the realignment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the Naval National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Hosted by Lt. Col. Michael R. Darrow, deputy district commander, who has served two tours in Iraq, several interested employees turned out to learn more about the variety of skill sets and job series required to sustain USACE's mission in Afghanistan.

Darrow provided an overview of the current Afghanistan Engineer District (AED) mission and workload and the district's requirement to support five positions there. He fielded questions on work environment, hours, living conditions and other quality of life issues gained from his five-year perspective while working in Iraq, which included three visits to Afghanistan, working with the Joint Task Force Engineer staff.

The AED was established in March 2004, and is part of a larger international engineer community in theater performing a crucial role to facilitate a secure and stable environment in Afghanistan. The district provides quality, responsive engineering and construction services to a variety of customers in Afghanistan. AED is comprised of 72 U.S. military and 229 civilian volunteers and 324 national employees in support of the district. They work at seven area offices, 22 resident offices and six project offices. The district's capabilities include project management, engineering, contracting, construction management, real estate, safety and security. U.S. personnel authorizations are projected to increase to 371.

District employees who are considering volunteering for duty in Afghanistan, can learn more at Norfolk District AED Recruiting.

The legislation, signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, appropriated $4.6 billion to the Corps for its Civil Works program. The $4.6 billion is distributed in the following program accounts:

• Operation and Maintenance $2.075 billion
• Construction - $2 billion
• Mississippi River and Tributaries - $375 million
• Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program - $100 million
• Investigations - $25 million
• Regulatory Program - $25 million

"The Recovery Act funds for Civil Works will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do much good for the nation," said John Paul Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

"In addition to the opportunity to help the nation and her citizens recover from this time of economic hardship," said Woodley, "the Corps will be able to use these funds to accomplish work on water resources projects that will benefit the nation for years to come."

"The Corps is fully committed to ensuring the Recovery Act funds provided for Civil Works are used to achieve the purposes envisioned by the President and Congress for the legislation," said Maj. Gen. Merdith "Bo" Temple, deputy commanding general for Civil and Emergency Operations for the Corps.

"We intend to quickly put these dollars into action to get our fellow citizens to work on Corps projects throughout the nation," said Temple. "At the same time, we will use these funds to build long-term value for the nation in its water resources projects with these funds."

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases listing of Recovery Act-funded Civil Works projects/2-2-2

Economists estimate that Corps Recovery Act projects will create or maintain approximately 57,400 direct construction industry jobs and an additional 64,000 indirect and induced jobs in firms supplying or supporting the construction and the businesses that sell goods and services to these workers and their families.

The Corps' list of Recovery Act-funded Civil Works projects released today includes approximately 178 construction projects, 892 Operation and Maintenance projects, 45 Mississippi River and Tributaries projects, 67 Investigations projects, and nine projects under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). Regulatory Program funds are distributed to Corps districts based upon workload. All projects on the lists have received appropriated funds in prior years' Energy and Water Development Appropriations acts. No project on the lists is a new start.

The projects selected represent a set of productive investments that will contribute to economic development and aquatic ecosystem restoration. Consistent with congressional guidance that the Corps' allocation of Recovery Act funds maximize national benefits, the Corps made its allocation of Recovery Act construction funds based on the economic and environmental return of its ongoing projects.

The projects also meet the five criteria enumerated in the Congressional report accompanying the Recovery Act, namely that the projects:

• Be obligated/executed quickly;
• Result in high, immediate employment;
• Have little schedule risk;
• Be executed by contract or direct hire of temporary labor; and
• Complete a project phase, a project, an element, or will provide a useful service that does not require additional funding.

Recovery Act funds will be used to complete increments of work on previously started projects and in some cases to complete such projects.

The projects released today are distributed very broadly across the United States. The distribution of selected projects spreads the employment and other economic benefits across the nation.

The lists of projects released today and additional information on the Corps' role in the Recovery Act are available on the Web at www.usace.army.mil/recovery.

More Information:

• HQ USACE Recovery Act Site:
  http://www.usace.army.mil/recovery/Pages/default.aspx
• USACE Recovery Act Project Lists
  http://www.usace.army.mil/recovery/Pages/Projects.aspx
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  http://www.usace.army.mil/recovery/Pages/FAQ.aspx

Dr. Karen Remley, the state's health commissioner, is declaring a public health emergency, which will give her more tools to coordinate any necessary response, including access to the state's database for all licensed healthcare providers so that information is communicated effectively. The state is also extending and enhancing its seasonal flu-tracking program to ensure that any confirmed cases is promptly reported and tracked.

"We have been planning for a situation like this for many years," Governor Kaine said. "We have a surveillance system in place that is closely tracking reports of influenza-type illnesses. Our state laboratory is prepared to quickly conduct and report tests on suspected cases. We currently have some 770,000 courses of antiviral medication in our stockpile and will be receiving an additional 280,000 courses from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control within a week."

Since 2006, the state has conducted six exercises to test its emergency preparedness plan for pandemic flu outbreaks.

"I share the concerns of health officials at home and abroad regarding swine influenza," said Governor Kaine. "Virginia is working in close partnership with the CDC and other federal agencies as well as other states, including those in the National Capitol Region. Our 35 health districts across the state, which have been active participants in our planning exercises, are working closely with their local communities."

Dr. Remley said that the current swine influenza outbreak is caused by a virus not previously seen in humans or animals. "Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and typically include fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose. Additional symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, headache, chills and fatigue," Dr. Remley said.

Persons with swine flu are contagious for up to seven days after the onset of illness and possibly longer if they are still symptomatic. The CDC and the scientific community are still learning more about this new virus.

"Many Virginians have travelled to Mexico this spring. If you have been back in the United States for at least a week and are not already ill, it is very unlikely that you will develop swine flu from that exposure. If you have symptoms of flu and have travelled to this and other areas where swine flu has been identified stay home and call your local healthcare provider or health department," Dr. Remley said.

Virginians can monitor any developments regarding the swine flu on the websites of the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health .

The governor advised anyone with influenza-like illness to protect themselves, their families and their fellow Virginians by following these standard guidelines:

• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• If you feel you need medical attention, call ahead first so health care providers can take necessary infection control measures.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the spread of germs.

Stephen Decker and Nancy Hankins of Norfolk District's Regulatory Office were on hand to provide information about the Regulatory Office's efforts to "go green" by sharing large files, such as permits and manuals, electronically.

Other Regulatory table topics included tips and information for employees to adopt sustainable practices at home and in their respective offices. Several dozen district employees signed up to receive additional information via email from the Regulatory Branch relating to the aquatic environment, gardening and a host of other topics.

Clint Deardorff and Dianna "Bumper" Hancock, commercial sales specialists from Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, offered expert advice about energy efficiency, including lighting options, fireplace dampers and doors, insulation, air filters, weather-stripping and energy efficient appliances.

In addition to the table topics, Norfolk is Beautiful and the City of Virginia Beach Department of Public Works provided printed materials and giveaways for attendees. More than 50 district employees entered a raffle contest to win a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse gift card by sharing a random fact that they learned from the symposium. Economist Laura Schreiber was presented the gift card on behalf of the Public Affairs Office.

For more about Earth Day activities around the Corps of Engineers, visit
https://environment.usace.army.mil/?contentRegion=Item&id=57015

"Going Green" Facts and Tips from Norfolk District's Earth Day Symposium

• Norfolk District is in the process of "going green". A project delivery team has been established at the district to facilitate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) renovations to the Waterfield Building.
• Homeowners can use rain barrels to collect and redistribute rain water for when they need it most – during periods of drought -- to water plants, wash cars, or to top a swimming pool. It provides an ample supply of free "soft water" to homeowners, containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flowerpots and window washing.
• A healthy buffer consists of trees, shrubs, and ground cover that slows down and filters storm water runoff to protect water quality.
• Fats, oils, and grease are bad for plumbing systems. Never pour grease or cooking oil down the sink drain or into the toilet. Instead, pour grease and oil into a can. You can store the can in the freezer until it is full. Then, just toss it in the trash. Opened soup or vegetable cans work well for storage purposes.
• Don't put grease and food scraps down the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal. Scrape grease and food scraps from pots, pans, and plates into the trash for disposal. Put a basket or strainer in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids; empty the contents of the basket or strainer into the trash.
• Pet waste contains bacteria and parasites. Pet waste is a significant contributor to bacterial contamination in area waterways after a storm.
• ENERGY STAR qualified washing machines use about half the water and 50 percent less energy to run.
• Use cold water wash and rinse cycles on your washing machine whenever possible.
• An inexpensive method of weatherizing windows involves attaching thin, clear plastic film to the window trim inside of the house using two-sided tape.
• Home air filters should be changed on a monthly basis. To remember this, homeowners can schedule their filter changes with another regular household activity, such as paying a monthly utility bill.

The $78 million design-build military construction project, managed by Norfolk District, has a projected completion date of February 2011. The project is part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure authorization, which closes Fort Monroe, Va., in September 2011, and realigns the TRADOC headquarters from Monroe to Fort Eustis.

The new TRADOC headquarters is approximately 263,000 square feet with the band facility at 18,800 square feet. Work includes command suites, private offices, a special compartmented information facility, a special access programs facility, an emergency operations center, break rooms and kitchenettes, printing and copying areas, conference rooms and an auditorium. Work also includes associated support facilities and site improvements.

The project will be designed to meet the Army Standards for Echelons above Brigade Command and Control Facilities, prescribed security standards, as well as meet the Army's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED certification.

A groundbreaking ceremony is set for June.

RICHMOND, Va.—Hurricane season begins June 1, and now is the time for Virginians to consider protecting their property with flood insurance – it takes 30 days for a new flood insurance policy to take effect. The National Flood Insurance Program has created materials that can help citizens decide if obtaining flood insurance is the right move.

• Hurricane Flooding Fact Sheet: Storm surge, heavy rains and inland flooding can cause significant flooding in areas not commonly considered to be at risk for hurricane damage. This fact sheet provides the reality of risks for hurricane season flooding:
  http://www.hostingimagesemail.com/fema/2009/may/hurricane_season_floodseason.pdf
  
• 30-Day Wait Fact Sheet: These tips and messages help residents understand why they need to think ahead about flood preparations:
  http://www.hostingimagesemail.com/fema/2009/may/30_days_fact_sheet.pdf
  
• Video Testimonial: Sometimes the best way to learn is by example. Frank Billingsley of Houston, will share his hurricane story and talk about the close call that convinced him to get covered by flood insurance:
  http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/365

DeLuca assumed command from Brig. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, who will next command the Army Corps of Engineer's South Atlantic Division in Atlanta, Ga.

NAD is one of eight permanent Army Corps of Engineers regions providing engineering and construction services to the nation. It is the Corps' regional business center in the Northeast and more than 100 other countries, with district offices in Concord, Mass., New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Va. and Wiesbaden, Germany.

As Division Commander, DeLuca oversees the planning, design and construction of projects to support the military, protect America's water resources and restore and enhance the environment within an 180,000 square mile area along the Atlantic Coast. This includes more than $7 billion in work to support the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 authorization.

He is also responsible for a variety of division engineering and construction activities for international, federal, state and local governments and agencies in the United States and overseas, including Europe and Africa.

While commanding the 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) (Airborne) at Fort Bragg and in Iraq from June 2006 through December 2008, DeLuca led the brigade through an extremely busy and challenging period in its history. It supported the deployment of two airborne combat engineer battalions to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, as well as the deployments of the 19th Engineer Battalion to OEF and 326th Engineer Battalion to Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

DeLuca gained his commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps or ROTC program at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983, after earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Mechanical Engineering. Before serving with the 20th Engineer Brigade, he held a senior service college fellowship at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He served as assistant chief of Staff, engineer (CJ-7) at Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, from June 2004 to June 2005, where he led a $3 billion construction program to support the creation and effectiveness of the emerging Iraqi Security Forces. He also commanded the 326th Engineer Battalion (Airborne-Assault) during its participation in Kosovo peacekeeping operations, Noble Eagle security operations in the United States and in the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns.

DeLuca has two previous tours at Fort Bragg. He is also a Eurasian foreign area officer and a graduate of the Defense Language Institute's Russian course, the Columbia University's Master of International Affairs program and was a Senior Fellow at the George C. Marshall Center for European Security in Germany.

His decorations include the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Combat Action Badge.

Today, the Atlantic sturgeon, once dined on by American settlers, colonists and generations of Americans, is extinct in much of its original habitats and could end up on the nation's endangered species list.

The Atlantic sturgeon -- Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrhynchus -- is a member of the Acipenseridae family and is among one of the oldest fish species in the world. Its range extends from New Brunswick, Canada to the eastern coast of Florida. The fish can reach 60 years of age, 15 feet in length and weigh over 800 pounds. Rather than having true scales, the Atlantic sturgeon has five rows of bony plates known as scutes. Its coloration ranges from bluish-black and olive green on its back to white on its underside. It has a longer snout than other sturgeons and has four barbels at the side of its mouth.

Scientists suspect multiple reasons for the decline of the ancient fish, including overfishing, loss of suitable spawning habitat in the upper portions of river basins and incidental mortality from devices such as large fishing nets.

For decades, there have been concerns that dredging operations within river and estuary environments could negatively impact the sturgeon. These concerns stem from the impacts dredging has on the river bottom environment.

As part of dredging permit compliance, the Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers has joined with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Virginia Commonwealth University and the James River Association, to study the Atlantic sturgeon to determine how they interact with ship traffic and dredging activities.

The goal of the study is to find out if sturgeon behavior is influenced by dredging operations.

As part of the supervised study, sturgeons were caught in nets and brought on board a research vessel. After being surgically implanted with a radio frequency tracking device, they were set free.

"We released them up river, near the dredge and then down river to see if the dredging operation would affect their behavior," said Sarah Cameron an environmental scientist in the district's Operations Branch.

This study phase lasted two weeks and employed both passive and active array sensing technology. Passive array sensors are stationary and set up in multiple locations along the river. It only records data when a fish comes near. Active array sensors constantly tracks and is used on a vessel to follow the sturgeons every move.

Even though the ancient fish date back at least 70 million years, not a lot is known about their behavior or reproductive cycle.

"Although there have been a wide array of studies conducted on the Atlantic sturgeon, small sample size and funding constraints have hindered research efforts," said Cameron.

Scientists here are forging ahead with their multi-year study, hoping to unlock some of the mysteries surrounding the ancient fish, including the impact dredging operations has on its habitat.

The Corps' takes serious its primary mission to maintain navigation in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way, stressed Cameron.

From January through March, USACE and its contractor, Shaw Environmental, Inc., completed a 123-acre shoreline surface sweep from the top of the sand dune to the low tide line, to identify and remove surficial material potentially posing an explosive hazard. Some 263 Jet-Assisted Takeoff (JATO) rockets were recovered along with occasional bomb and rocket parts. The only items found during the surface sweep, containing energetic material, were six JATO rockets. These were disposed of by detonation.

Additionally, eight tons of munitions debris, primarily consisting of empty JATO rocket bodies, was demilitarized on site, certified as hazard-free and transported to nearby Messick Point for temporary storage pending disposal.

Phase 1 work included geophysical investigation of a pre-planned percentage of 2,000 acres of the northern interior of Plum Tree Island, using sub-surface metal detecting. All subsurface anomalies potentially representing munitions were excavated as part of the investigation. Munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) located in the sample areas included 13 World War I-era MK 1, 50-pound demolition bombs/fuses. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment, Langley A.F.B., Va., worked with Shaw Environmental during munitions detonations.

"Our Phase 1 work went extremely well in large part to the outstanding support received from our key partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the city of Poquoson and the U.S. Coast Guard," said George Follett, project manager.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge was formerly known as the Plum Tree Island Range and was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice from 1917 through the late 1950s. The former bombing range, which consisted of approximately 3,200 acres, was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972. With the exception of waterfowl hunting on Cow Island, which was not part of the bombing range, the refuge is closed to all public use due to the potential for encountering unexploded ordnance.

The Phase 2 investigation, which could begin as early as this fall, will focus on MEC on the southern portion of the island, as well as testing the soil, sediment and water for munitions constituents.

For more information on future fieldwork at Plum Tree Island, visit the Norfolk District Plum Tree Island web site.

The Executive Committee includes the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the secretaries of natural resources for the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia, working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission.

"Based on the current state of the science and extensive public review, the use of non-native oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries and the coastal bays and waters of Maryland and Virginia poses ecological risks. Therefore, it is prudent for us to adopt a native oyster alternative, while allowing for scientific research for improving our understanding of non-native oyster ecology and restoration implications. This is critical since the PEIS was inclusive whether the native oyster can make a full comeback Bay wide," said Col. Dionysios "Dan" Anninos, Norfolk District commander, during a media teleconference.

In reaching the agreement, Anninos praised the role of Virginia and Maryland, as well as the federal and non-federal partners in the almost five-year study.

The governors of Maryland and Virginia also praised the teamwork and cooperation:

"Over the past two years, the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia have built an unprecedented partnership to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its living resources," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "I am extremely pleased that, together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we have reached an agreement on a preferred oyster restoration alternative, one that will not threaten the Bay's already stressed ecosystem. We look forward to finalizing this process over the next few months, and to collaborating with our partners in Virginia to use new science developed through this extraordinary study to support both the ecological restoration of our native oyster and the revitalization of our oyster industry with emphasis on new aquaculture opportunities."

"Virginia has long been committed to finding solutions that address the decline in oysters in the Chesapeake Bay and we're proud of the collaborative progress we've made through a strong regional partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland, and federal agencies," said Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine. "While we have seen certain promise in c. ariakensis aquaculture from the Virginia Seafood Council trials over the past seven years, we agree-based on the recommendations of our Virginia Institute of Marine Science-that moving forward we should focus primarily on restoring the Bay's native oyster. We're pleased the Corps will allow for possible continued c. ariakensis experiments under tightly-controlled conditions so that we can continue answering scientific questions in the future."

A 30-day public comment period will follow publication of the final PEIS, with a formal Record of Decision expected to be published in late June/early July.

The shoal is particularly dangerous to boaters trying to get in and out of the inlet because the once 10–foot channel now only six feet deep.

"We ran though our options quickly and we responded quickly," said Gregg Williams, a Norfolk District project manager.

Williams placed a call to the Wilmington District March 18 and two days later the dredge Fry was en route to Rudee Inlet. This quick response by the Wilmington District doesn't surprise the veteran project manager.

"I've come to expect this high level of service from them, they are a great district to work with," said Williams

Rudee Inlet is constantly maintained by both the City of Virginia Beach and the Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District; however, this dredge action marks one of the first times a sidecasting dredge is being employed.

With a sidecasting dredge, the material, beach-quality sand, will continue to remain in the local eco system with some of it expected to wash ashore along the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

The dredging operations are expected to last about a month.

In a letter to the entire Army Corps of Engineers, the Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp congratulated Semonite on the move and praised his achievements while at the North Atlantic Division.

Semonite will assume command of the South Atlantic Division on May 1.

Almost since the facility was first constructed, Craney Island has been considered a prime spot for a new marine state-owned port facility, to compliment terminals in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News. In 2006, the Corps concluded a nearly 10-year study with the Port of Virginia that called for construction of a fourth, 580-acre dredged material cell, to be located on the eastern side of the facility. The cell will then be turned over to the Commonwealth of Virginia for construction of a new marine terminal.

Norfolk District, along with the Virginia Port Authority and Craney Island Design Partners, will host two Community Open Houses in April to provide the public with information about the Craney Island Eastward Expansion. These events will include an interactive project presentation covering economic benefits, transportation, environmental mitigation, funding and other topics. Additionally, representatives from the Army Corps and Virginia Port Authority will be on hand to answer questions and collect feedback from the public.

Find out more information about the Craney Island Eastward Expansion at

http://craneyisland.info/Index.html

If the civilian workforce disappeared, the Army would shrink by almost 250,000 positions: 250,000 analysts, leaders, managers, scientists, technicians and workers would disappear...

Read the full story.

Read the full story.

Kellie Jones, a mechanical engineer in the district, has worked closely with the project delivery team, especially Al Young, construction representative. Together, they are ensuring that this massive, 120,000 square foot facility has all the right heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) to keep several hundred computers humming and operators comfortably working at the proper temperature.

The DCGS-1 project is the largest of four similar systems under construction across the Air Force that will consolidate information from multiple intelligence-gathering platforms and distribute it to various Defense Department users, said Air Force officials.

Jones said she likes to work on projects like the DCGS-1.

"Working with the construction field offices is what I enjoy most about my position," said Jones. They do a great job, often faced with many challenges. I am glad that I have the opportunity to assist them in getting the job done and assuring that the customer gets a good quality facility."

The "village" concept was in full operation long before DCGS-1 construction began in June 2007. Corps contracting officers was involved early in verifying design and construction needs while experts in our engineering branch worked critical site preparation requirements.

The project received considerable quality assistance support from Charles White, structural engineer and Eddie Carr, electrical engineer. These experts shared years of experience and knowledge at critical times to complement the resident office team.

"We follow the three-phase quality assurance model on a daily basis like all other district projects," said Young. "However, sometimes we require added help from the district on specific features like HVAC, electrical or structural design."

Closing out the DCGS-1 project may likely extend after the grand-opening ribbon has been cut. There is a lot of paperwork and documentation remaining before signing the project over to the Air Force, but Toni Hoag, resident team administrative assistant, is well on her way toward having the DCGS-1 ready for delivery.

DCGS-1 project team members also include Pat Devereux and Oscar Aujero, both civil engineers. Kate Field is the administrating contract officer and resident engineer.

The recruiters accepted the keys to their offices March 24, a month short of the one-year anniversary of the April 28, 2008 twister, which injured more than 200 people and caused about $30 million in damages.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Rose Marsh, whose recruiters were inside the Freedom Plaza location when the storm struck, said the day is marked with anticipation and anxiety.

"I think it is awesome, I can't wait to move in but some of my recruiters are a little nervous," said Marsh. ‘Do you realize we are moving back in the month that storm struck,' they asked.

Other team members were thankful to have a new office.

"Can't wait to move in," said Marine Sgt. David Smith, "I am ready to get out of the closet I'm working in and back into this office."

Project construction began last November, and completed March 13. Freedom Plaza owner Scott Marlowe said the past year has been a roller coaster ride.

"It has been a very busy year, coordinating with everybody and dealing with the insurance company," said Marlowe. "Everything just came along at the end and we are very grateful."

District's roll

Al Blevins and Fayette Alston, Norfolk District realty specialists, lead the recruiting office-leasing effort. Blevins and Alston successfully relocated the recruiters from their destroyed offices 72 hours after the storm. They also worked with Marlowe to ensure the recruiters were the first tenants to move back into the facility once completed.

Marlowe plans to have a grand opening ceremony May 2.The event will be open to the public and local officials will be among the invited guests.

In January 2004, the Gulf Region Division was activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In addition to our Warfighter-Soldiers, we have Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civilian employees deployed and supporting the peoples and governments of Iraq and Afghanistan in the following areas:

• Reconstruction and restoration of Iraqi oil and electricity
• Military construction
• Support to coalition military operations
• Bed down and base operations facilities
• Afghan National Army training
• Infrastructure repair and construction
• Construct roads, bridges, dams, schools, medical clinics, and provide technical assistance to develop irrigation systems.

Read full story at http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/03/06/17901-first-female-4-star-credits-diversity-for-strength-of-army/.

FORT NORFOLK, Va. — Residents of Poquoson, Yorktown, Hampton and Langley Air Force Base may hear or feel explosions on March 25, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its contractor Shaw Environmental, Inc. conduct an on-site munitions detonation at Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The munitions detonation, originally scheduled for March 24, is delayed to Wednesday, March 25, due to forecasted high winds.

The USACE project manager and contractor will coordinate the establishment of a temporary 1,500-yard exclusion zone with the U.S. Coast Guard, Langley Air Force Base and local emergency responders prior to the detonation. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, will be offshore to enforce the exclusion zone.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will publish a Broadcast Notice to Mariners to inform the maritime community of this and future detonations. The on-scene coordinator will monitor VHF channel 16 and 13 and marine broadcasts will air every 15 minutes, one hour prior to closing an area and throughout the detonation sequence. The on-scene coordinator may also expand or reduce the overall size of the exclusion zone as conditions warrant.

This on-site detonation is part of the USACE two-year, two-phase Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the former aerial bombing range.

The first phase of USACE fieldwork began Jan. 19 and runs through early April. The fieldwork consists of limited shoreline munitions clearance so the team can safely access and collect geophysical information within the interior of the site, using sub-surface metal detecting. This process will help identify areas that may require future cleanup work.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is formerly known as the Plum Tree Island Range and was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice from 1917 through the late 1950s. The former bombing range, which consisted of approximately 3,200 acres, was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972. With the exception of waterfowl hunting on Cow Island, which was not part of the bombing range, the refuge is closed to all public use due to the potential for encountering unexploded ordnance.

For more information on ongoing fieldwork at Plum Tree Island, visit the Norfolk District Plum Tree Island web site.

Geren was accompanied by Keith Eastin, assistant secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment, as the pair visited sites of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital on main post, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency New Campus East at the Engineer Proving Ground, and the Department of Defense (DoD) BRAC 133 project in Alexandria, Va.

After a quick visit to each of the sites, Geren praised the monumental efforts of the Army Corps of Engineers, the garrison and surrounding communities to ensure success as the projects continue moving forward.

"The scale of this is truly extraordinary — great work by the Corps," he said. "We've seen great cooperation between the garrison, Fort Belvoir, the Corps, county and state officials and city officials in this region."

"The Secretary of the Army's on-site visit to the major Fort Belvoir BRAC projects is in itself a show of the great collaborative effort going on here between the Army's senior leadership, the Corps, and Fort Belvoir's staff," said Col. Jerry L. Blixt, post commander. "It was very important to me that he was able to be here and see first-hand what the largest overall BRAC program in DoD looks like."

The secretary said tough issues had to be addressed, and many things taken into consideration to make sure the new facilities meet the needs of Fort Belvoir, the organizations that will use them, military personnel and their families, and the citizens of northern Virginia. "Investments like this affect everything in the region," he said. "My hat's off to the leadership of the Corps and the leadership of the Garrison for their work, as well as (local and state) officials."

In addition, Geren noted the environmental considerations during design and construction of the new facilities. All three projects are working to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver ratings, under the LEED Green Building Rating System by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Geren said it's critical for the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Army as a whole, to continue responsible management of the environment, no matter the project. "Whether managing 17 million acres of range that we have across the country, or the many environmental projects the Corps undertakes all over the world, or work on construction like this, we do everything we can to protect the environment and be good stewards of the resources taxpayers entrust to us," he said.

While citing the progress on all of the projects, the secretary said he was very impressed with cooperation of the Corps and its contractors on the community hospital, noting the facility's impact on the quality of life for service members and their families. "The new hospital is going to bring top quality healthcare to this entire region," he explained. "It's going to be a joint hospital, and all services are going to cooperate in providing quality health care for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in this region, as well as their families. It's a facility that will be state of the art, and one of the most outstanding hospitals in America."

The Army Corps of Engineers' Norfolk District is managing construction of the community hospital, while Baltimore District manages NGA New Campus East, and New York District manages BRAC 133 construction in Alexandria. All three districts are part of the North Atlantic Division, headquartered in New York. The division is leveraging its resources to meet construction requirements for more than $4 billion in projects — all projects at Fort Belvoir — by regionalizing the workload here among four districts.

Construction of the hospital, NGA and BRAC 133 buildings began as a result of BRAC 2005, and the three are the largest BRAC projects at Fort Belvoir. They are scheduled for completion by September 2011, to comply with BRAC 2005 law.

Locke discussed the history of women in politics, and their role in the "green" movement, citing such leaders as Lois Gibbs who was at the forefront of the Love Canal environmental cleanup in New York.

Locke focused on all levels of activism, from local and regional to national and international. All of her examples showed how the tenacity and drive of the women affected their communities and the world for a greener future.

Women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the general public consciousness as recently as the 1970s. To address this historical oversight, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, Calif. Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration for 1978.

International Women's Day, celebrated the week of March 8, was chosen as the focal point of the observance. The activities held were met with enthusiastic response, and within a few years dozens of American schools planned special programs for Women's History Week.

The efforts of many women paid off in 1981, as a congressional resolution declared a "National Women's History Week." Senator Orrin Hatch and Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored the first joint congressional resolution.

In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Each year, programs and activities in schools, workplaces and communities become more extensive as information and program ideas are developed and shared.

Improvements to the entrance will not only provide better security for the Norfolk District, but also better public access for those who want to visit the historic grounds, said Jim Gorka, the district's chief of security.

According to the Norfolk Historical Society's Web site, Fort Norfolk is the last of nineteen harbor forts authorized by President George Washington in 1794. The fort protected the city during the War of 1812, and served as a naval ordnance depot and prison during the Civil War.

The historic landmark has been home to the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, since 1923.

"People who want to visit the fort will have a better experience," said Gorka, who noted that, in addition to weekday access, the new entrance facilities will allow the fort to be open to the public weekends and holidays.

Visitors to historic Fort Norfolk must present a picture I.D. for access. Admission to the fort is free.

Residents of Poquoson, Yorktown, Hampton and Langley Air Force Base may hear or feel explosions on March 24, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its contractor Shaw Environmental, Inc. conduct an on-site munitions detonation at Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The USACE project manager and contractor will coordinate the establishment of a temporary 1,500-yard exclusion zone with the U.S. Coast Guard, Langley Air Force Base and local emergency responders prior to the detonation. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, will be offshore to enforce the exclusion zone.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will publish a Broadcast Notice to Mariners to inform the maritime community of this and future detonations. The on-scene coordinator will monitor VHF channel 16 and 13 and marine broadcasts will air every 15 minutes, one hour prior to closing an area and throughout the detonation sequence. The on-scene coordinator may also expand or reduce the overall size of the exclusion zone as conditions warrant.

This on-site detonation is part of the USACE two-year, two-phase Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the former aerial bombing range.

The first phase of USACE fieldwork began Jan. 19 and runs through early April. The fieldwork consists of limited shoreline munitions clearance so the team can safely access and collect geophysical information within the interior of the site, using sub-surface metal detecting. This process will help identify areas that may require future cleanup work.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is formerly known as the Plum Tree Island Range and was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice from 1917 through the late 1950s. The former bombing range, which consisted of approximately 3,200 acres, was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972. With the exception of waterfowl hunting on Cow Island, which was not part of the bombing range, the refuge is closed to all public use due to the potential for encountering unexploded ordnance.

For more information on ongoing fieldwork at Plum Tree Island, visit the Norfolk District Plum Tree Island web site.

Throughout March, Americans will reflect on and honor the diverse and historical accomplishments made by women in shaping the country's history.

This year, Norfolk District employees can reflect on those accomplishments with the assistance of noted author, educator and Virginia state senator Dr. Mamie E. Locke during a presentation 1:30 p.m., March 18, in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

The 2009 national theme is "Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet."

In researching this year's theme, illustrator Peter Hemmer of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute visualized "a woman lifting up our beautiful planet Earth with a green environment surrounding her, accentuated with bright rays of pure sunshine."

"It's a way of highlighting the efforts of all women who daily take the lead to save our planet," said Hemmer. "The woman wears a coverall uniform and work boots, signifying that many women work tirelessly day in and day out to save our planet for future generations to enjoy."

Women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the general public consciousness as recently as the 1970s. To address this historical oversight, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, Calif. Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration for 1978.

International Women's Day, celebrated the week of March 8, was chosen as the focal point of the observance. The activities held were met with enthusiastic response, and within a few years dozens of American schools planned special programs for Women's History Week.

The efforts of many women paid off in 1981, as a congressional resolution declared a "National Women's History Week." Senator Orrin Hatch and Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored the first joint congressional resolution.

In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Each year, programs and activities in schools, workplaces and communities become more extensive as information and program ideas are developed and shared.

Dr. Mamie E. Locke

Dr. Mamie E. Locke graduated summa cum laude from Tougaloo College, Tougaloo Miss., with a BA in history and political science. She received her MA and PhD in political science from Atlanta (Clark, Atlanta) University. She also has certificates in management development from Harvard University and archives administration from Emory University. Locke studied Middle Eastern history at the American University in Cairo through the Fulbright Scholarship program.

Dr. Locke has participated on numerous panels of political science and women's studies organizations as a guest speaker, addressing various political issues and topics on race and gender. She has also served as a speaker for various community organizations. Locke was a panel member for the session, "Women Doing Politics," at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists; keynote speaker for the annual meeting of the local chapter of the National Council of Negro Women; and Black History Month speaker for a program sponsored by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women.

Dr. Locke has a number of publications on race and gender. She is the co-editor of two books: "African American Politics: The Struggle for Liberation" and "Urban Politics: A Planning Perspective". Locke was recognized for her dual service as a university administrator and elected official by "Black Issues in Higher Education." Dr. Locke currently serves as dean of the School of Liberal Arts and professor of political science at Hampton University.

With her re-election to the Virginia Senate in November 2007, Senator Locke has become a member of the Education and Health Committee, Local Government Committee (chair of subcommittee on charters), Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, Rules Committee, and chair of the General Laws and Technology Committee. Locke is also a member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus (Secretary), Virginia Housing Commission (Chair), Martin Luther King Memorial Commission, Fort Monroe Federal Areas Development Authority (Secretary-Treasurer), Joint Commission on Science and Technology (Vice Chair), Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, Start Strong Council, Military Advisory Council and Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, will be held in the first floor meeting room of the Courtyard by Marriot Hotel, located near the corner of Harbour View Boulevard and College Drive at 8060 Harbour View, Suffolk, Va.

Meeting topics will include:

• Military Munitions Response Program Update
• Results of Expanded Investigations at TCC and J Lakes
• Revised Main Burning Ground Remedial Investigation Initial Findings
• Nansemond River Beach Stabilization Update
• Results of Historical JRB Shoreline Analysis

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main forum for discussing the Corps of Engineers remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located in the vicinity of the Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus with members of the public. At these meetings the FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts

to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Any member of the public in attendance is also welcome to ask questions of any of the assembled team members. FNOD was placed on EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Background on the Restoration Advisory Board – The FNOD RAB was established in 1997. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of the Corps, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College representative, other property owners, and FNOD project team members from the Corps, VDEQ and the EPA. Additional project information at: www.nao.usace.army.mil/fnod . RAB membership application is open to the public.

Since 1775, the U.S. Army has set apart its noncommissioned officers from other enlisted Soldiers by distinctive insignia of grade.

With more than 200 years of service, the U.S. Army's NCO Corps has distinguished itself as one of the world's most accomplished group of military professionals. Historical and daily accounts of "life as an NCO" are exemplified by acts of courage, and a dedication and a willingness to do "whatever it takes" to complete the mission. NCOs have been celebrated for decorated service in military events ranging from Valley Forge to Gettysburg, to charges on Omaha Beach and battles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, to current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In recognition of the commitment to service and willingness to make great sacrifice on behalf of our nation, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren established 2009 as the "Year of the NCO."

Officials at Fort Eustis, Va., recognized those contributions Feb. 24, as they spotlighted a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers construction project aimed at taking care of those who are the "backbone of the American Army." Post Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Carolyn Johnson tore down the first slab of concrete and glass of an old, dilapidated Soldier facility to make way for a new 21st century Soldier barracks.

When completed in February 2010, the construction project will provide 336 rooms at Fort Eustis, said Jon Jones, the Norfolk District project manager responsible for the design-build project.

The Corps awarded the contract in August 2008 through a joint venture between W.M. Jordan/Versar of Newport News, Va.

The new barracks – officially known as unaccompanied enlisted personnel housing -- is part of the "Grow the Army" initiative designed to increase the Army's force by almost 75,000 Soldiers by 2013. The barracks project includes a company operations facility and battalion headquarters that will house portions of the 7th Sustainment Brigade.

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the Grow the Army project is set for March 25.

The Soldier barracks complex will feature one-plus-one standard design suites, which provide Soldiers an individual room with a shared kitchen and bath, along with a spacious common area. The entire complex will be built to Silver LEED environmental standards, and 75 percent of the four demolished structures will be recycled.

The total cost for the battalion complex is $27.5 million.

During his tenure here, Perkins directed Norfolk District in accomplishment of military construction on various Army and Air Force installations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as a wide range of civil works projects of state and national importance.

This period was also fraught with uncertainty for the entire U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as a major Clinton administration initiative to reduce the federal budget sought to consolidate or redistribute USACE districts, Perkins said. "The professionalism and teamwork displayed by my fellow team members during that tumultuous period of stop and go was superb," said Perkins, who today is the assistant vice chancellor for facilities and engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C. "Their tenacious dedication to duty, in the face of mounting uncertainty, was exceptional. From the senior executive officers down to the staff at Craney Island, our people stuck together and remained innovative, focused and determined to perform their everyday duties."

Norfolk District survived the USACE reorganization. In fact, said Perkins, the district would proceed to double its mission and size. "Our people really stepped up to the plate; remarkably pivoting from an uncertain existence to adapting and performing our new and robust workload in an exceptional manner," said Perkins.

Beyond the projects executed during his command, Jim Thomasson, deputy district engineer for project management, also remembers the colonel's enthusiastic leadership in two community programs focused on bringing minorities into the engineering fields. "He encouraged the district to develop a relationship that still exists with Hampton University under the umbrella of the Advancing Minorities Interest in Engineering (AMIE) organization," said Thomasson. "I fondly remember attending with Col. Perkins the 10th anniversary banquet for the Cooperating Hampton Roads Organizations for Minorities in Engineering, or CHROME. His leadership on the CHROME board of directors opened doors."

Recalling his most memorable moment here, Perkins said he was particularly proud of the Richmond, Va. Local Flood Damage Reduction Project, completed in 1994, noting that the $135 million project, (still) the largest civil works project in Norfolk District's history, came in "within cost and on time."

As a testament to that engineering achievement, Richmond City officials have repeatedly praised Norfolk District for the project's design and construction, as well as the hundreds of million dollars saved over the years in flood-damage cost avoidance.

After retiring, Perkins and family settled in Greensboro, though he says his home and heart will always be in Hampton Roads. "I tried to get on at Hampton University, but no jobs in my field were available," Perkins said. "I have no regrets. North Carolina A&T is a great Historically Black College and University, and here we have a unique opportunity to look into the future and determine a strategic, systematic approach to improve the quality of life for our students, staff and faculty."

Colonel Perkins' Army career.

A native of Hampton, Va., Col. Andrew M. Perkins Jr. retired from the U.S. Army in 1997, after serving 29 years. He is a 1967 architecture graduate of Hampton University and holds a Master of Science degree in architecture from the University of Wisconsin. Perkins is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advance courses, the Armed Forces Staff College, the National War College and a member of the Society of Military Engineers.

During his career, Perkins has served two overseas tours: a year in Vietnam as a company commander in 1969; and from 1979-81, in Saudi Arabia as the area engineer, where he directed a diversified engineering staff in administering construction contracts valued at $500 million.

Prior to joining the Norfolk District, Perkins served as assistant director of civil works, Pacific Region, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D.C. In that assignment, he acted on behalf of the director to ensure coordination between Congress, private citizens, special interest groups and other federal agencies. That buy-in from key stakeholders was the catalyst that led to successful development and maintenance of our nation's water and related environmental resources, and construction and operation projects for navigation, flood control and shore and beach restoration and protection throughout 18 states.

Perkins' notable military construction and civil works achievements include:

• VIP Villa complex for the King of Saudi Arabia
• 10 firing ranges and roadway projects for the Royal Saudi Army
• Sewage Treatment Plant and Wastewater Irrigation System for King Khalid Military City, Saudi Arabia
• San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf breakwaters
• Operation and maintenance dredging of 11 ports throughout Northern California, including San Francisco Bay
• Renovation, Kenner Army Community Hospital (later named McDonald), Fort Eustis, Va.
• Richmond, Va. Local Flood Damage Reduction Project, constructed in 1994

Brown, a media personality, author, educator, psychologist, motivational speaker, consultant and coach, visited Norfolk as part of the district's African American/Black History Month program.

The theme for February 2009 is, "The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas," and it highlights the struggle to create and maintain equal citizenship for all peoples of the Americas.

During his presentation, Brown used the analogy of having two towering structures with a line strung between each and people using wheel barrels to go between the buildings.. He then used the characteristics of his own children to display the different range of intellect and personality traits and asked the crowd, "Do you have room for this type of person in your wheel barrel?"

Employees in attendance seemed impressed with the speaker's message and its applications to their personal and professional lives.

The public affairs staff earned a first-place unit award for outstanding initiatives in new media and first- and second-place individual awards in single or stand-alone photo and the new media individual achievement category.

"Great job," said Lt. Col. Michael Darrow, the district's deputy commander. "It's well deserved and I am extremely proud their efforts were recognized amongst the best in USACE."

The first place award in outstanding initiatives in new media recognizes the team's effort to establish and populate a district presence on social media sites such as MySpace, Flickr, YouTube!, Facebook and Twitter.

"Technology is constantly changing how people share and consume information." said Mark Haviland, the district's chief of public affairs, "We want to make sure we are out there with them and providing information that's relevant to their interests."

Patrick Bloodgood received the first place award for single or stand-alone photo for the picture he took of Oceanographer Dave Schulte holding a cluster of oysters that were brought up from the district's sanctuary reefs in the Great Wicomico River.

The second place finish in the outstanding initiatives in new media individual achievement category recognized the work done on a life raft training video that is currently shown on the district's YouTube! channel.

First place winners of the 2008 Herbert A. Kassner Journalism Contest go on to compete in the Department of the Army's Keith L. Ware Journalism Competition.

Military & Federal Construction Co., Inc. of Jacksonville, N.C. was awarded a $14,524,514 firm fixed price contract consisting of the site design and construction of an approximately 68,470 square foot, two-story, facility, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011.

Deborah Gray, a Norfolk District contracting specialist, played an integral role in awarding the contract for the general instruction buildings project. Gray is one member of a 13 person team that goes through the process of reviewing and rating potential contractors and subcontractors once a solicitation is received.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses a relatively new Web-based system, called FedTeDS, to safeguard acquisition-related information for all Federal agencies. Prospective contractors, subcontractors, plan rooms, printing companies and suppliers can register with FedTeDS at https://www.fedteds.gov in order to download information about contracting opportunities with Norfolk District.

All that remains is delivery and placement of the new Engineer Pier floodgate and satisfactory establishment of surrounding grass turf, Hegge said.

"Our contractor Waterfront Marine and their subcontractors overcame many obstacles to complete this project so successfully," said Hegge, "in fact, the entire project delivery team worked well together. A project of this scope required close coordination between the Fort Monroe Department of Public Works, Waterfront Marine and the staff of the Corps' Fort Monroe Field Office."

The $20 million military construction project began in the winter of 2003, immediately following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Isabel, but was suspended by the U.S. Army in July 2005, after Fort Monroe was included in the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation. The secretary of defense reauthorized the project in November 2006.

The new seawall is being built in front of the existing structure to a uniform 9.5 foot elevation from its current average 7.5 foot elevation. The project repairs deficiencies and improves flood protection for Fort Monroe from its current 5-year level – a storm that has a 20 percent chance of occurring in any given year – to a 25-year level, a storm with a four percent annual occurrence rate. Hurricane Isabel was approximately a 40-year to 50-year event. Its peak storm surge elevation at nearby Sewells Point was measured at 6.25 feet.

The approximately 3,369-feet long seawall extends from the existing concrete pier west of the Chamberlin Hotel to just beyond the Fishing Pier, located behind Battery Parrott on Fenwick Drive. The Seawall project includes a new coated-steel sheet-pile seawall, with reinforced concrete cap on the waterside of the existing seawall. Additional stone protection at the toe of the new seawall protects it from wave erosion. Other features include new sidewalks, drainage improvements, a terminal groin, a coastal engineering structure designed to prevent beach erosion, four breakwaters or jetties and sand beach nourishment from the Fishing Pier northward to about 1,850 feet.

Norfolk District is set to celebrate Black History Month, with its national theme: "Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas," 1:30 p.m., Feb. 12, in the Multipurpose Room, Waterfield Building Headquarters. Program guest speaker is Dr. Adolph Brown III, a popular media personality, noted author, award-winning educator, psychologist, columnist, business consultant and coach, and motivational speaker. Dr. Brown is founder of the Wellness Group.

American educator and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), considered a pioneer in the study of African-American history, is given much of the credit for Black History Month, and has been called the "Father of Black History." The son of former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood in New Canton, Va., working in coalmines and quarries.

He received his education during the four-month term that was customary for black schools at the time. At 19, having taught himself English fundamentals and arithmetic, Woodson entered high school, where he completed a four-year curriculum in two years. He went on to receive his Master's degree in history from the University of Chicago, and he eventually earned a Ph.D from Harvard University.

Disturbed that history textbooks largely ignored America's black population, Woodson took on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. To do this, Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. He also founded the group's widely respected publication, the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he developed Negro History Week.

Woodson believed that America "should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice."

Woodson chose the second week of February for the celebration because it marks the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the black American population:

• Frederick Douglass (February 14), an escaped slave who became one of the foremost black abolitionists and civil rights leaders in the nation
• President Abraham Lincoln (February 12), who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in America's confederate states

In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month. The month is also sometimes referred to as African-American Heritage Month.

This year also marks the centennial of the establishment of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. A century ago, an interracial group of Americans formed the NAACP. Two generations after emancipation, a tide of racism had betrayed the promise of first-class citizenship. In the South, whites had stripped blacks of the right to vote and constructed a society based on racial segregation. In the North, African Americans confronted myriad forms of discrimination that thwarted their aspirations. The U.S. Supreme Court ignored the denigration of American citizenship taking place across the land and in the government itself.

The story of the NAACP is the story of struggle to create and maintain equal citizenship for all Americans. Through exposing the horrors of lynching, keeping the issue of equality before the courts, and organizing branches throughout the country, the NAACP drew a national following and inspired others to form organizations for civil rights change. The NAACP's work gave hope not only to blacks in the North, but also to men and women in the South like Rosa Parks and Medgar Evers.

The centennial celebration of the NAACP is an occasion to highlight the problem of race and citizenship in American history, from the experiences of free blacks in a land of slavery to the political aspirations of African Americans today. The centennial also provides an opportunity to explore the history of other nation's in the Americas, where former slaves also sought the fruits of citizenship.

For more information on the black experience in America, visit these websites:

Presidential Proclamation
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/NationalAfricanAmericanHistoryMonth2009/

Black History Month
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhm1.html

Black History Month (interactive: Coloring and Activities; Craft Ideas; E-Cards; and Lesson Plans)
http://www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_id=162&year=2009

U.S. Army Center of Military History/African Americans in the Army
http://www.history.army.mil/html/topics/afam/index.html

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
http://www.naacp.org/

WVEC TV Norfolk (ABC 13) reporter Mike Gooding interviews Norfolk District's LTC Darrow about the rebuilding in Iraq.

For their efforts, Norfolk District Commander Col. Dionysios Anninos recently presented plaques to the Lynnhaven Dive Center in Virginia Beach, Va. and to Vernon Harrison of USA Services in Norfolk, Va.

Lynnhaven Dive Center allowed the district to use its indoor heated pool so employees here could experience mounting and dismounting of a life raft. Harrison demonstrated how the life rafts work, what is included in the survival kits, and showed employees how to patch a leaky raft while in use.

The groundbreaking marks the first phase of a two-phase military construction project for the RTI, the Virginia Guard's primary training unit. Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers manages the $25 million construction project and its contractor is Barton Malow Company of Charlottesville, Va. Phase 1 has a 22-month design-build schedule with expected completion in August 2010.

Since 2005, Norfolk District has managed the completion of several key Virginia National Guard training facilities and infrastructure on Fort Pickett, including replacing six vehicle transport bridges, the Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site and the Infantry Platoon Battle Course.

The key features of the Phase 1 RTI construction project are:

• Approximately 8,000 square foot regimental headquarters building that will house offices, administrative workspace and a conference room for the command group, operations and staff sections and the headquarters company.
• Approximately 61,500 square foot education building with administrative and office space for the RTI's three training battalions, classrooms, a library, learning center, maintenance classroom, medical aid station, supply area and fitness center.
• Approximately 9,700 square foot Officer Candidate School building, with offices, administrative workspace, conference room, classrooms and counseling areas.
• Approximately 4,900 square foot, 250-seat auditorium and stage.

"We are under contract for Phase 1 right now, and hoping to receive congressional appropriation for Phase 2 in Fiscal Year 2010," said Maj. Christopher S. Dunn, the construction project manager for the Virginia National Guard.

Dunn said Congress has not appropriated Phase 2 funding, but plans include a regimental dining hall and three 124,000 square foot barracks buildings. The estimated cost of Phase 2 construction is $32 million, and with funds approval the projected completion date is October 2012.

The Virginia RTI consistently gets feedback from Guard Bureau, Department of the Army and most importantly, our students, that our training and trainers are truly outstanding, but that our classroom and billeting facilities are lacking and antiquated, said Lt. Col. Walt Mercer, commander of the RTI.

"This new, modern facility will resolve this and allow RTI to take our training to the next level of professionalism," Mercer said. "This project reflects our focus on investing in Fort Pickett as a long-term goal of increasing our ability to train more Soldiers here."

Mercer said the RTI expects to see a trend of training more active component Soldiers, adding o the Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers the organization trains.

Pinkston addressed approximately 100 district employees during the annual celebration and remembrance of King's birthday Jan. 7, with the message of a dream dreamt and a dream realized.

Pinkston said, we need to stop fighting one another and start listening to one another in order to bridge the divisiveness that still exists today.

The civil rights freedom fighter recounted his time with Dr. King and discussed the 50-mile march that ended in Selma, Ala., where he was locked arm and arm with other civil rights leaders.

The cannon ball dates back to the late 1800s, and was discovered while Corps contractors were working to remove discarded munitions from the Formerly Used Defense Site property.

This project is a first of many to be completed before September 2011, when all BRAC authorizations must be in place across the U.S. military. Fort Lee's planning for this facility began in 2005 when the 2005 BRAC process earmarked the post to gain significantly in missions and personnel. The first wave of personnel to occupy the building will begin in March.

The SCOE is a multi-functional center overseeing all logistics, human resources, finance training and combat developments for the U.S. Army. Expertise in supply, services, maintenance, munitions and transportation will be located on a single installation, making the SCOE the lifeblood of Army logistics.

The SCOE consolidates logistics schools from three installations onto Fort Lee -- the U.S. Army Transportation Center and School from Fort Eustis, Va.; the U.S. Army Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School from Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.; and the U.S. Army Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School from Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

The $49 million, 218, 579-square-foot facility encompasses 11 acres and was completed on time and on budget. Interior lighting is controlled by central software and infrared motion sensors to conserve energy. Approximately 50 percent of the exterior of the building is blue glass, which is engineered to let in an abundant amount of natural light while blocking harmful UV rays and reflecting heat. More than 1,300 tons of steel was used during construction.

The Dredge McFarland is one of only four oceangoing hopper dredges in the Army Corps' Minimum Dredging Fleet. It is also the only dredge in the world with triple capability for direct pump out, bottom discharge and sidecasting of material. The vessel, and its crew of 60, has two missions: (1) emergency and national defense dredging worldwide, and (2) planned dredging in commercial waterways, mainly federal navigation projects along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. In a typical year, the McFarland removes about seven million cubic yards of dredged material.

Like a vacuum cleaner, the McFarland scoops out navigation channels to make them deeper, then either discharges the material in deep water, sidecasts it aside the channel, pumps it to an upland disposal area where some of it can later be used for construction, or pumps it directly onto a beach or coastal wetland needing renourishment. The McFarland can dredge around the clock in any environment, and can handle a variety of materials including silt, sand, clay and shells.

To view photos of Norfolk District vessels, go to our Flickr page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/armyengineersnorfolk/sets/72157606809945221/

SOURCE: Global Security Online - http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/dredge-hopper.htm

NORFOLK, Va. — Employees of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers embraced 2008 as the "Year of Military Construction," as $645 million in 2005 Base Realignment and Closure authorizations dominated the lion's share of mission execution.

This work came on the heels of last year's unprecedented $1.16 billion in military construction contracts, the majority of which were also 2005 BRAC authorizations.

Critical military construction realignment to Fort Lee, Va., included the construction start-up of the Army Ordnance Center and School, currently located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and the Air Force Culinary and Transportation Management Schools, which are moving from San Antonio, Texas.

Additionally, the construction of the Joint-Use Intelligence Analysis Facility at Rivanna Station, Va. will collocate Defense Intelligence Agency analysts from Northern Virginia with the National Ground Intelligence Center at nearby Charlottesville, Va.

Finally, district employees have construction management of the $806.9 million Fort Belvoir Community Hospital project that is tracking well toward full operation in spring 2011. The hospital is one piece of a BRAC 2005 realignment that will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded warriors and their families.

"We began the year clearing and grubbing the site, and ended it with most of the structural steel erected on the four out-patient clinic buildings, as well as foundations completed for the start of structural steel in the main hospital in early January 2009," said Project Manager Philip Federle. "While 2008 was truly a monumental year in our design management and construction, we expect to surpass our efforts next year when all of our buildings become weather-tight and the first of the clinics are ready for medical equipment."

Global War on Terror/Emergency Response

Across other lines of operations, Norfolk District continued its record of service, with Lourdes S. Pastrana, Jaime Pastrana (mother and son) and Huong Huynh deployed to Afghanistan and Jerry Swean, Lt. Col. Michael R. Darrow and Antonio Bastidas deployed to Iraq. While serving overseas, district employees supported reconstruction efforts as part of the nation's global war on terror. Darrow, Norfolk District's deputy commander, who recently returned from his second tour in Iraq, said he has seen "real progress during the past five years."

Closer to home, 20 members of the district's Commodities Planning and Response Team deployed to Texas in support of Hurricane Ike response operations. The Norfolk team assisted Seattle District's commodities team with the reception and distribution of water and ice to the citizens of Texas — 21,906,000 liters of bottled water and 42,840,000 pounds of ice.

"The Corps' role during natural disasters and our commodities team participation with FEMA are extremely vital," said Col. Dionysios Anninos, Norfolk District commander. "I'm very proud of our people here who volunteer to help fellow citizens. Something tragic happened to our homeland, but we all came together to do what was necessary to take care of our citizens and get them back on their feet."

Centers of Standardization

As a center of standardization with programming, design and construction expertise for military dining facilities, Norfolk awarded more than $100 million in regional task order contracts for dining facilities at eight different military installations across the United States. Norfolk's dedicated architects and engineers remain fully engaged in its seven COS facilities types worldwide through cooperation with USACE geographic districts and other centers of standardization.

Regulatory

For the second consecutive year, Norfolk District regulators, stressing public service and customer focus, ranked amongst the top three USACE districts in the number of jurisdictional determinations issued, pre-application meetings held, and overall efficiency.

"New regulations, new guidance, and lots of new faces made 2008 another year of change for the regulatory office," said Bob Hume, Regulatory Office chief. "Executing our heavy workload was a big challenge for us, but our staff rose to it."

Real Estate

Norfolk's Residential Communities Initiatives team continued its vital support of the Army's multi-billion dollar Soldier and Family Housing privatization initiatives as the RCI team privatized two more projects (1,674 housing units) this year totaling 89,537 units. The team began the Unaccompanied Personnel Housing program by privatizing 538 apartment units for Soldiers, staff sergeant and above. The RCI team also supported the Privatizing of Army Lodging, an initiative that will include more than 4,400 new and renovated rooms at 11 installations in its first phase, set to close in 2009.

Recognized for outstanding public service this year, the RCI team garnered the USACE Real Estate Achievement Award. Just in, the Office of Personnel Management named the Army's Residential Communities Initiative program as one of four winners for the 2008 President's Quality Award. The Army RCI program and team, which includes Norfolk's Dillard Horton, Todd Waldman, Kathleen Germano, Phillip Hakey, Caroline McCown and Mary J. Davis, displayed innovative and exemplary performance in the area of Competitive Sourcing.

Operations and Maintenance

With a significant role in the economic prosperity of the Commonwealth's maritime industry, Norfolk District grew its highly successful maritime partnerships through the James River Partnership and Hampton Roads Summit. A number of initiatives to improve navigation were also successful, while Norfolk continued unrestricted navigation on all regularly maintained federal channels. The operations and maintenance team also designed and provided contract oversight for dredging at the Coast Guard Base at Chincoteague, Va., performed engineering and design for a Navy deepening project in Norfolk Harbor, and provided engineering and environmental support to the Virginia Port Authority for the Craney Island Eastward Expansion project.

Civil Works

In the civil works arena, Norfolk District successfully addressed a number of significant water resources challenges in the environmental, flood risk management and navigation business lines that led to the District's highest customer satisfaction surveys in its peer group. Of note were:

• Environmental: Constructed more than 50 acres of medium relief oyster reefs in the Eastern Branch, Broad Bay and Linkhorn Bay elements of the Lynnhaven River estuary, in Virginia Beach, Va. Monitoring of the restored oyster reefs in the Great Wicomico River also showed an increase in the native oyster population there by approximately 50-fold from a 1994 baseline. That increase exceeded the Chesapeake Bay program goal by a factor of five times (200 million oysters).
• Completed the draft Chesapeake Bay Oyster Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, including stakeholder coordination and public review and comment. The EIS is the basis for sound public policy decision-making within the nation's largest estuary, home to over 17 million residents.
• Norfolk District, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, completed the second phase of a submerged aquatic vegetation restoration project in the coastal embayment of Virginia's Eastern Shore. This project is the first in the nation under the Estuary Habitat Restoration Program and is part of the largest SAV restoration initiative in the world.
• Flood Risk Management: Provided technical assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and project requirements for the Flood Map Modernization Program and the National Hurricane Program. Continued work on the Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Restudy.
• In collaboration with the National Weather Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Commonwealth of Virginia and seven localities within the Chowan River Basin, Norfolk initiated a non-structural evaluation of flood-risk management tools beginning with the identification of an effective systems-based network of rainfall, stream and water quality gauges for the Blackwater, Meherrin and Nottoway Rivers. This evaluation will provide the basis of an early warning system for a watershed that has experienced six of the top 10 historical high-water marks since 1998.
• Norfolk continued efforts to provide structural and non-structural improvements to protect historic Jamestown Island. USACE constructed the existing seawall between 1894 and 1901.
• Navigation: The $712 million eastward expansion of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area in Portsmouth, Va. would provide additional dredged material capacity, create land for a new port facility and enhance economic growth of national transportation infrastructure and the Hampton Roads region. The Virginia Port Authority is the non-federal sponsor of the 800-acre expansion.

Finally, Norfolk District's Small Business Program, under the nationally recognized leadership of Jack Beecher, achieved record-breaking results across the majority of its six USACE small business categories as the district awarded $229 million in small business contracts, including a Corps-leading $101 million to Service-Disabled Veteran Small Businesses.

"Our leadership here, in fact our entire organization is so committed to the success of small businesses," said Beecher, "that I come to work every day with a glad heart because of their commitment."

BUILDING STRONG^SM

The Norfolk District choral group, The Corpsaleers, are delivering the gifts and performing Christmas carols for the children, continuing a tradition that began in 1988.

The district's Angel Tree program allows the employees of Norfolk District to give back to the community and ensure that the kids at Saint Mary's receive gifts this holiday season.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is an Army command that employees about 400 people throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The district is responsible for overseeing and building military construction projects on eight military installations, and constructing civil works projects in four river watersheds and coastal basins of Virginia, as well as overseeing the protection and mitigation of wetlands throughout the entire commonwealth.

He pointed out the big change is that Iraqis are now making decisions and allocating their own resources to improve essential services for local residents. In 2003, he had a 6-person Forward Engineer Support Team Advance (FEST-A) and was responsible for making assessments and immediate renovations to get key ministry facilities back up and functioning in Iraq's four southern provinces. During that assignment, he hired the first Iraqi engineers in southern Iraq — a total of 12. "Most are still employed by Gulf Region Division South District which oversees projects in Iraq's nine southern provinces and now has a total of 140 Iraqi engineers on its staff," he noted.

A memorable moment during Darrow's second tour came on his first day at GRS headquarters when he met one of the Iraqi engineers he hired in 2003. "I knew the first tour had made a difference and that I had an opportunity this time to build on those efforts," he said."This has been a great tour, integrating our 50 Iraqi engineers and 20 U.S. military and civilian employees into operations in five very different provinces in center-south Iraq."

Darrow, who serves as deputy commander of the Corps' Norfolk District Office, has played a central role over two tours in incorporating Iraqi engineers into USACE's Iraq reconstruction efforts and expanding their presence and the scope of their duties.

During his current tour, Darrow and his staff developed a plan and handbook fleshing out a way ahead to fully empower USACE's Iraqi engineers and promoted the idea of creating an overarching body at the national level for the Corps' current employees to fall under—something similar to an Iraqi Corps of Engineers. He set up the first GRS all-Iraqi Resident Office in North Babil, and hired more full-time Iraqi engineers in Qadisiyah and Wasit offices.

Maj. Gen. Michael Eyre, commander of USACE's Gulf Region Division, has set up a team led by Mark Mazzanti, GRD's deputy director for business management, to develop the Iraqi Corps of Engineers-like concept, Darrow related. He said the team met recently at GRD headquarters to plot the way forward to more fully use Iraqi engineers in the districts and to create an overarching organization at the Ministry level.

Darrow, who will return to the Norfolk District when he completes his six-month tour in December, is married and the father of three children. A native of Cleveland, N.Y., he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson University and a Masters Degree in environmental engineering from Cornell University.

While upbeat about progress in Iraq, Darrow acknowledges that formidable challenges remain. These include assuring the operations and maintenance of completed projects. "We build it, but there are few trained individuals and limited Iraqi funds set aside to do the routine maintenance to sustain things like water treatment plants," he said.

As head of the Forat Area Office, Darrow oversees projects in Babil, Karbala, Najaf, Qadisiyah, and Wasit Provinces. His staff is responsible for 58 active construction projects valued at $175 million with an additional $142 million worth of projects either in the pipeline or in the "concept" stage.

Planned projects include four "ICERP" water compact units, costing $1.4 million each, in Babil Province. What's notable here is that the I in ICERP signifies Iraqi funding for the Commander's Emergency Response Program so the government is now allocating its own resources to improve essential services throughout the country.

Among other projects underway is a $25 million 132kV electrical substation in Qadisiyah Province and a job at Kufa University in Najaf that includes the completion of electrical and mechanical engineering buildings that were under construction at the beginning of the war.

Darrow counts the rehabilitation of the Iskandariyah Vocational-Technical School as among the most noteworthy projects with which he has been involved. The job is renovating seven dorms, a classroom building and an auditorium at a cost of $4.3 million. "The contractor massed efforts, had over 200 workers per day on the site, and is set to finish three-to-four months ahead of schedule—a feat unheard of with the typical Iraqi contractor," Darrow said. Most importantly, the contractor has hired over 50 Votech graduates to help with the work, building on their new skills and shrinking the unemployed ranks from which the insurgency might draw. When the renovations began, the school was offering only a couple classes for an enrollment of 30 students -- next year Iskandariyah Votech is expected to train 4000 students in a variety of occupational specialties including masonry, electrical, carpentry, welding, computers, and auto mechanics.

On the basis of his two tours in Iraq, Darrow has concluded that considerable benefits can be gained by USACE civilians serving in Iraq. "I would recommend that every USACE civilian do at least a six-month tour," he said. "It allows everyone to be challenged, learn new things, and professionally develop. People leaving here know they've made a difference."

Note: John Connor is a public affairs specialist for the Gulf Region South district, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq. For more information, contact public affairs by phone at 540- 665-1233, by e-mail to CEGRD.PAO@tac01.usace.army.mil, or visit www.grd.usace.army.mil.

Note: For high resolution photos see www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/index.asp

Gary Szymanski, Chief of Cost Engineering for the Norfolk District Technical Services Division, is a recipient of the 2008 Department of the Army's Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award. Each year the Secretary of the Army, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, schedules the Individuals with Disabilities Program Award which recognizes the achievements of outstanding employees with disabilities who have made significant contributions to the Army's mission.

In his 27-year tenure with Norfolk District, Szymanski has successfully dealt with his disability and injuries as a result of a 1977 accident that occurred when his car collided with a train. As a Civil Engineer, Szymanski works as a Team Leader with responsibilities that entail the production of engineering documents, including plans, specifications, studies, reports, calculations, and analysis. He is directly responsible for site and civil engineering aspects of projects, which include utilities, pavements, landscaping and drainage. In addition, he has been the Design Team Leader on numerous major projects, most notably the Channelization Flood Control Project and the Second Access Road at Fort Eustis, to name a few.

Szymanski is an integral part of the Base Realignment Commission (BRAC) support team at the district. He has been responsible for Civil Engineering design aspects of major BRAC program activities at Fort Lee. His other specialties include stormwater management, grading and drainage, and sediment and erosion control design. In addition to his Civil Engineering duties, Mr. Szymanski, on his own initiative, has received special training in Anti-terrorism and Force Protection, as well as becoming one of two LEED Accredited Professionals within the Norfolk District.

Szymanski has been able to overcome challenges and obstacles at construction sites by relying on video and photography in order to examine field conditions and construction problems he cannot easily access. Additionally, improvements in virtual engineering and design will help to improve the opportunities for other disabled engineers to be actively engaged in the construction process in addition to design desk duties.

Since 2006, Szymanski has served as a member of Norfolk District Commander's Special Emphasis Program as the Manager for Programs for Individuals with Disabilities. In this capacity, he serves as a staunch advocate for equal employment opportunity rights, concerns and issues affecting employees with disabilities. He works with the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, supervisors, managers, and senior leaders to ensure employees with disabilities are fully represented within the district. He also strives to ensure they receive equal and fair treatment in the hiring, advancement, training and treatment of disabled employees within the Norfolk District.

On December 9, Szymanski will be presented his award by the Secretary of the Army or his designee in Arlington, VA. As a recipient of the 2008 Department of the Army's Outstanding Employee with a Disability, Szymanski is eligible and will compete for the Department of Defense Outstanding Employee with a Disability Award, which will also be held on December 9, 2008 in Bethesda, MD.

The event including holiday caroling by the district singing group, The Corpsaleers, and a visit by two children from Norfolk's Saint Mary's Home for Disabled Children.

The tree, located in the lobby of the district's Waterfield Building, is decorated with numbered paper angel tags with the first name, age, gender and holiday wishes of a child from Saint Mary's. Contributors remove one or more tags from the tree and purchase appropriate gifts for the child described on the tags.

The Corpsaleers are scheduled to deliver the gifts and perform for the children Dec. 19. The deadline for donating a gift is Dec. 17.

The Moving Exclusion Zone is for use during detonation and removal of munitions of concern (MEC) and survey and characterization of munitions constituents (MC) by USACE Remedial Investigation (RI) teams between Jan. 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010. During a detonation event, a 1,500-yard temporary exclusion zone is established around the suspected MEC. Mariners are not allowed to operate within this exclusionary zone for any reason. This exclusion zone is in effect only for the length of time it takes to render the MEC harmless.

Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard will establish a Broadcast Notice to Mariners to inform the maritime community of planned detonations. The on-scene coordinator or commander will monitor VHF channel 16 and 13. Security broadcasts will air every 15 minutes, one hour prior to closing an area and throughout the MEC detonation sequence. The on-scene coordinator or commander will expand or reduce the overall size of the exclusion zone as conditions warrant.

Enforcement of the exclusion zone is authorized by any federal agency, state, local or county law enforcement agency or private security firm in the employment of USACE or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, so long as the entity undertaking enforcement action has the legal authority to do so under appropriate federal, state or local laws.

USACE and their contractor, Shaw Environmental, Inc., will conduct the Remedial Investigation fieldwork in two phases over two years during a January through April timeframe to avoid bird-nesting season on the Refuge.

The first phase of USACE fieldwork, planned for January through April 2009, will consist of a shoreline clearance and collection of geophysical information (sub-surface metal detecting). The shoreline clearance will remove MEC that pose a safety concern for the RI teams accessing the Refuge to determine the type and extent of MEC present along the shore. Geophysical investigation will then be conducted within the interior of the site to determine the extent of the refuge area that has been impacted by past bombing range training. This process will help identify the footprint of areas that may require cleanup work.

The second phase of fieldwork, January through April 2010, will consist of surveying selected areas to determine where MEC items are present in the subsurface and collecting environmental samples to determine if chemical contaminants or MC has entered the environment.

USACE designated the area around Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge a Temporary Danger Zone in July 2004. The initial regulatory action prohibited all navigational access to the refuge, a formerly used Defense Department Site property (FUDS), and the shallow water surrounding it.

In March 2005, federal officials met with Poquoson watermen who were concerned with the danger zone, saying they needed access to the water. On April 1, USACE, after close consultation with its federal, state and local partners, revised the Plum Tree Island Temporary Danger Zone regulations to state that no activity shall be conducted within the designated area that disturbs the sub-aqueous soil. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to anchoring, clamming with rakes, shovels or hoes, dredging, prop dredging, the intentional/unintentional beaching or grounding of vessels, or walking on the bottom. To address the watermen's concerns, the revised regulations further stated that the setting/hauling of crab pots, gill nets and purse seining are exempt from these regulations.

The Danger Zone covers the southern part of the old bombing range where unexploded ordnance exists. Heavy erosion has exposed old style aerial bombs and Jet Assisted Takeoff (JATO) bottles in the shallow water surrounding the refuge. USACE installed more than 200 Danger/No Trespassing signs and nautical day marks to designate the restricted area.

These efforts were needed to restrict public access in the shallow water around Plum Tree Island to eliminate exposure of the public to MEC items remaining at the former military bombing range. Findings from the recently completed Site Investigation concluded that hazards likely exist both below and above the sub-aqueous bottom.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, formerly Plum Tree Island Range, was used for aerial bombardment and gunnery practice from 1917 to the late 1950s. It is located in the Chesapeake Bay and consists of approximately 3,482 acres of low dunes and marsh, interspersed with small circular ponds and waterways. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service acquired the original 3,276 acres in 1972, and has since acquired two tracts, totaling 226 acres, which were not part of the former bombing range.

There is no public access on any part of the former bombing range.

For more information on the upcoming USACE Site Investigation work, contact George Follett, Army Corps of Engineers, at (410)-962-6743, or Joe McCauley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at (804) 333-1470.

Based on the tremendous outpouring of support this holiday season, the Family Support Group was able to send 12 care packages to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait just in time for the holidays. Deployed Norfolk District employees as well as deployed family and friends of the district will receive boxes filled to the brim with a Christmas tree and decorations, toiletries, games, books and snacks. Each box contains a little something from home to bring the holiday spirit to their home overseas. The Family Support Group convenes three times a year to send packages, but this particular shipment has a deeper meaning for families separated during the holiday season.

Family Support Group Coordinator Jerri Wehrle started the initiative four years ago after being approached by Glenn Seay, a Norfolk District employee who served in Iraq as a project manager overseeing $23.6 billion in projects.

"Being a military wife, I know what the home front goes through with being both parents and holding down the fort. I could sympathize with families and be there to support them because I have been in the same shoes as them," said Wehrle.

Wehrle draws on her experience as she provides support to military families by making phone calls, sending flowers on special occasions, sending cards and staying in touch through emails.

For more information on the district's GWOT recruiting efforts, see www.youtube.com/armyengineersnorfolk.

Norfolk District employees deployed over the holidays:

• Antonio Bastidas
• Lieutenant Colonel Michael Darrow
• Huong Huynh
• Jamie Pastrana
• Johnnie Saunders
• William "Jerry" Swean

Martin performed extensive research, provided essential information on mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs and did an outstanding job in developing and presenting multi-agency options for the Compensatory Mitigation Regulation.

Colonel Anninos used the forum to update the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Project Delivery Team on the district's current missions, discuss progress on the Belvoir Hospital project, field questions from team members, and officially recognize the PDT for individual and team achievements.

Construction of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital began on Nov. 8, 2007, and is set for completion August 2010. The facility, designed by HDR/Dewberry Joint Venture and construction contractor, Turner-Gilbane Joint Venture, will be fully operational in spring 2011. The $806.9 million, 1.275,000 sq ft military construction project, features a hospital complex with 120 in-patient beds, primary and specialty care clinics and 3,500 parking spaces.

The National Capitol Area active and retired military service members and their families will be the beneficiaries of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, located just south of Washington D.C. The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the project's construction phase, which is on an accelerated timeline as mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) authorization. The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Soldiers and their families. The hospital is one piece of a BRAC 2005 realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans. Other elements of the health care network include the realignment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the Naval National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

The project boasts $103.5 million in bonds at an all-in interest rate of 7.05%, and consists of 610 new homes as well as 240 additional renovated and repaired homes.

"It is a great success that the project was able to close with the desired scope for the Soldiers and families of Fort Jackson," said Todd Hunter, a transaction manager for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Energy and Privatization, Installation and Environment), in an e-mail sent to the RCI team.

Residential Communities Initiative or RCI is the Army's multi-billion dollar privatization program that, since 2001, has profoundly changed the face of Army Family Housing.

Balfour Beatty plc and the RCI team at Fort Jackson will hold a meeting with the post garrison commander to discuss the way forward and officially begin the 50-year partnership.

Watch the Norfolk District Video (YouTube)

In the past 100 years, the population of the native Virginia oyster (c. Virginica) has fallen dramatically, due to over-harvesting, disease and poor water quality. The Lynnhaven River is considered a prime spot for oyster restoration because it is a trap estuary with high salinity, had historically high populations of native oysters and has considerably higher oyster recruitment today than many other sites in the Chesapeake Bay. The project combines the latest techniques in restoration science with information gathered more than 100 years ago – Corps scientists used such tools as hydrodynamic modeling and maps and historical records of productive oyster grounds to determine the best sites for reef construction.

The Corps mission is ecosystem restoration. A successful project will enhance commercial oyster production on areas, public or private, that could be fished. While Corps constructed reefs will become sanctuaries where no oyster harvesting will be permitted, other types of activities, such as crabbing and fishing, will be allowed on the reefs. Locations and heights of the constructed reefs are not expected to interfere with navigation in the Lynnhaven River.

For more information on the Corps' oyster restoration efforts, visit www.nao.usace.army.mil/oysters.

The Virginia Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are partners in the construction of the Craney Island Eastward Expansion project.

The sediment samples, collected in the Elizabeth River, used the sonic drilling method. Boart Longyear is an industry leader in this technique that essentially uses ultrasonic vibration combined with more traditional rotary drilling. Testing will determine the sediment's ecological compatibility with marine organisms in the ocean disposal area.

"We drilled at the site of the proposed East Dike that will form a new dredged material management cell, which will be the location of the new Virginia Port Authority marine terminal," said David M. Sayre, S&ME environmental services manager. "The sediment under the Elizabeth River is so soft that it will have to be removed to build the dike to contain dredge spoils. The water is about 15 feet deep in this area and the existing mud will be removed to an elevation of about 125 feet to support the dike. The upper 10 feet of sediment will be managed at the Corps' Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, while ocean disposal is planned for the remaining material."

The Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area or CIDMMA, was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1946 and constructed from 1956-1958. The federal facility is operated by the Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers and is used by private interests, local municipalities, and federal and Commonwealth of Virginia government agencies for the disposal of dredged material from Norfolk Harbor and its adjacent waterways, including the Elizabeth and Nansemond Rivers.

Originally designed for a 20-year life span, The Corps began studying ways to extend the life of CIDMMA in the 1970s. Advancements in engineering and management have allowed the Corps to extend the life of CIDMMA; however, in the early 1990s the Corps recognized that other options needed to be considered for long-term disposal of dredge material in Norfolk Harbor.

Meanwhile, the Virginia Port Authority recognized that a fourth state-owned marine terminal would be required to meet long-term cargo handling needs in Hampton Roads.

In 1997, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure authorized the Corps to prepare a Feasibility Study to determine if Craney Island could be expanded into the east, and to consider rapid filling of the new dredge material site to provide an area for a new marine terminal.

The Feasibility Study determined that the existing CIDMMA would reach capacity in 2025 and the VPA would run out of cargo handling capacity in 2011. The objectives of the study were then focused on providing a solution that could address both of these capacity shortfalls.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps evaluated all reasonable alternatives to avoid and reduce impacts to the environment. The Corps evaluated 51 alternatives for dredged material placement and 25 port alternatives for container handling capacity. An eastward expansion emerged as the best solution to increase the capacity of CIDMMA for dredged material, and provide an area to construct the fourth marine terminal. The final Feasibility Study recommended an eastward expansion, with a future project planned to strengthen the western dikes. The study, along with the Environmental Impact Statement was approved by the Army Corps' Chief of Engineers in October 2006.

Construction of the eastward expansion is scheduled to begin in 2009, and the first phase of the marine terminal is planned for operation by 2017. VPA officials said the project would generate $6 billion in national economic development benefits over its 50-year life span.

Gilbertson's presentation included information about mental, developmental and intellectual disabilities such as Autism, Soldier's Heart, depression and substance abuse. Gilbertson noted that at some point in their lifetime, nearly 30 million or one in ten families are affected by a person with intellectual disabilities. She left attendees with a list of ways to recognize the talents, skills, and dedication of disabled Americans who are a vital part of our workforce. Gilbertson encouraged attendees to increase awareness of disabilities, eliminate barriers, treat people with disabilities as equals and refrain from using negative words to describe disabled people.

In her closing remarks remarks, acting deputy commander Cheryl Fromme discussed the importance of the mental and physical health of district employees stating that, "Norfolk District has a huge workload right now, but the mental and physical health of our employees is just as, if not more, important as our many projects."

This October marks the 61st year that our country celebrates employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The locks and drawbridges at US Route 17 will be operating at 8:30 AM, 11:00AM, 1:30PM and 3:30 PM seven days a week. Mariners should expect delays in the opening, as they will be coordinated with the adjacent locks. The lock operator also serves as bridge operator, therefore the bridge will not be manned when the lock is being operated and vice versa.

Boaters can anchor or moor overnight in the canal; limited tie-up facilities are located along the canal. The canal is maintained to a depth of 6 feet, however, boaters should verify the latest channel conditions.

The normal operating schedule is subject to change during droughts or adverse weather conditions. Boaters are encouraged to check out the Norfolk District website at www.nao.usace.army.mil for the most current information on conditions at the canal. Boaters may also contact the District at 757 201-7500 and press option 3 for Dismal Swamp Canal information.

Did you know?

The Dismal Swamp Canal was inspired by George Washington, who as a surveyor of rural lands, made his first visit to the Great Dismal Swamp in May 1763. Washington, along with other prominent Virginians and North Carolinians, suggested draining the swamp and digging a north-south canal through it to connect the waters of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. In 1805, after 12 years of back-breaking construction, the 22 mile long Dismal Swamp Canal was finally completed.

The purpose of the HQ TRADOC military construction project at Fort Eustis is to comply with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation that returns Fort Monroe to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The U.S. Army, including HQ TRADOC, will depart Fort Monroe before October 2011, as part of that process. Approximately 1,500 employees in HQ TRADOC will relocate to nearby Fort Eustis, with additional Army personnel relocations to other installations at approximately the same time.

The project encompasses two new structures, significant interior alterations to an existing structure, utility development and site work, as well as smaller, but important work on existing communications buildings. The new structures are the TRADOC headquarters building at 263,676 square feet and a new band training facility at 18,841 square feet. In order to make maximum use of existing resources, part of the TRADOC Headquarters organization will move into the existing building 661. Building 661, which houses the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, will undergo interior alterations to provide an efficient operational facility.

Traditional building construction is only part of the requirement for this complex project. A relocation of this magnitude requires coordination and cooperation with numerous Army, federal and state agencies, and private enterprises. Headquarters TRADOC is planning, budgeting and scheduling relocation of people, computers, historical records, and all the requirements of modern knowledge-based operations.

The Forts Monroe and Eustis Directorates of Information Management (DOIMs) continue to work towards a smooth transition of communication capacity from Monroe to Eustis; a critical requirement for the modern Army. Several private utility companies will provide capacity and connection points for water, electric power, sanitary sewers and other related infrastructure. Some re-alignment of existing roads will also be required as well as drainage improvements. Individuals, private firms, offices of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as federal agencies have already contributed to environmental assessments, provided constructive comments and developed resolution of potential issues. Hundreds of people, if not thousands, will have contributed to this project's success before one person moves into the new TRADOC Headquarters.

Building 36 served the District well over the years as a short and long-term multi-use facility, housing employees and equipment. I fondly remember working out on fitness equipment at Building 36, said several employees here.

Homeland Contracting Corporation, a small, woman-owned, disadvantaged business located in Virginia Beach, Va., is within budget and on schedule to complete the $750,000 project in December. "Traffic flow on Front Street will continue to be unchanged throughout the project," said Norfolk District Project Manager Craig Jones. "Some disruption will occur to parking lot areas to allow contractor to install utilities and create new parking spaces, but employees will receive advance notice prior to disruptions."

McRae spoke to those in attendance about the Hispanic culture and how the family dynamics of Hispanics work. McRae discussed the definition of Hispanic and the contributions Hispanics have made to America. She also stressed the importance of diversity and highlighted that Hispanics would become the majority in 2050.

In his opening remarks Equal Employment Opportunity Manager Gregory Headen discussed the history of Hispanic Heritage Month, and he informed the crowd it was created in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan approved Public Law 100-402, which expanded Hispanic Heritage Week that was started in 1968.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year on Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, which also honors the time frame that five Latin American Countries, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua declared their independence from Spain. Two other countries, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and 18.

The Elizabeth crew deployed the smart buoy at milepost 0, the original nautical starting point of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, which provides pleasure boaters and commercial shippers with a protected inland channel between Norfolk and Miami.

As part of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System, or CBIBS, the smart buoy collects weather, oceanographic and water-quality observations and transmits this data – along with historical and cultural information about the Bay – wirelessly in near-real time. "These smart buoys are an example of NOAA's advancements in Earth-observing systems," said Mary Glackin, deputy under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. "NOAA is working to improve our understanding of dynamic coastal areas like the Chesapeake Bay and how areas like the Bay are affected by changes in the global system."

CBIBS is the only operational buoy system in the Bay dedicated to maintaining the broad range of measurements necessary to track Bay restoration progress. These measurements include weather information, wind, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, water quality, salinity dissolved oxygen concentration, turbidity, the amount of sediment in the water and chlorophyll. These water quality measurements include current speed and direction, at the surface, and all the way to the bottom.

This is the third of six smart buoys NOAA has launched with the help of the Corps' Elizabeth crew -- Captain Richard Bruton, Dennis Barnes, Stan Caldwell, Glen Boykin, Pete Jeffers and Erik Sherer. "We've had a great partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers in deploying these buoys…we couldn't do this without the Corps contribution," said Doug Wilson, program manager of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office's Integrated Coastal Observations Program. "They've got the vessels, they've got a professional crew and everything just goes really smoothly whenever we use them."

Last spring, the crew teamed with NOAA on its maiden launch of the first CBIBS buoy in the James River, near historic Jamestown, Va., as part of the 400^th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement. On July 19, the Elizabeth crew deployed the fourth smart buoy at the mouth of the Rappahannock River off Stingray Point in Deltaville, Va. The placement marked the 400^th anniversary of Captain John Smith's exploration of the region. In July 1608, while using a sword to fish in shallow waters near the mouth of the Rappahannock River, Smith nearly died from the sting of a stingray. The peninsula where this incident occurred is Stingray Point.

The Elizabeth River smart buoy is the southernmost in the CBIBS network, which marks the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, America's first national water trail. The 3,000-mile trail migrates through parts of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The trail transits routes taken by Captain John Smith in 1607 and 1608 to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. The trail highlights the natural history of the Bay and provides new opportunities for recreation, education and tourism in the Chesapeake Bay region, and encourages stewardship of this national treasure.

Before the Elizabeth River deployment, local, state and federal officials christened the smart buoy at a ceremony at Nauticus, the downtown maritime museum that is a partner in the science research project. Nauticus also unveiled a new interpretive kiosk on its front deck that allows museum visitors to access the buoy's real-time data. "This is the first CBIBS buoy to be funded through a partnership with a museum," said Peyton Robertson, director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. "It will enhance our observations of the changing conditions of the Chesapeake Bay, provide real-time information for mariners and mark a significant spot in Captain Smith's remarkable exploration of the New World."

Nauticus Deputy Director Rolf Johnson said the kiosk represented the first link in the museum's long-term "digital seaport" initiative, which will provide opportunities for the public to access and explore interconnected information on various parts of the harbor, including historic, environmental and scientific content.

Measurements, as well as historical and cultural information on the CBIBS network are at www.buoybay.org and by phone at 877-BUOY-BAY (877-286-9229). Online educational resources are also available at www.noaa.gov.

More than 45 area residents attended the workshop, held at the Mary P. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library in Ocean View, including Archie Walpole, a staff member from Congresswoman Thelma Drake's office.

Following introductory remarks by Corps and Norfolk City officials, including a brief history of the study area, Walpole announced that Congresswoman Drake was successful in getting $400,000 placed in the Fiscal Year 2009 House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee report. The House and Senate Conference Committee will next take up approval of the proposed project funds.

Corps Technical Team Leader, Jeff Strahan, followed with a detailed presentation explaining the project's genesis and the way ahead.

Congress authorized the 1983 Corps feasibility study in 1986. In the early 1990s, the City of Norfolk, working with the U.S. Navy, eliminated the need for the federal project by using sand from Navy dredging projects to complete two major beach nourishment efforts along the project area shoreline. From late 1990s to early 2000s, Norfolk, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, also constructed a series of offshore breakwaters that proved effective protective measures in reducing the rate of shoreline recession.

In 2005, at the request of Norfolk and by direction of Congress, the Corps began to reevaluate the 1983 federal coastal storm damage reduction project to provide a comprehensive plan of protection.

"We are seeking to reduce coastal storm damages along Willoughby Spit and Ocean View," explained Strahan. "The damage comes in the form of wave attack, where the waves actually beat against residents' homes; inundation, where water rises and floods homes; and erosion, where the storm erodes the land out, around or underneath homes. Erosion is the most common problem in this study area.

"We will evaluate different alternatives in the coming months to determine how best to solve this problem. Our evaluation will include the study of potential structural measures, such as beach fill; groins; offshore breakwaters; revetments; bulkheads; and seawall; and non-structural measures – flood plain regulations; permanent relocation; flood proofing; flood warning system; and the National Flood Insurance Program. These various structural and non-structural measures could collectively be used or in combination to reduce the risk of coastal storm damage and losses."

Strahan's presentation gave way to a lively question and answer session. Well-informed citizens, many second-generation residents of the Willoughby Spit and Ocean View shoreline study area, surfaced a wide variety of project questions and offered just as many potential remedies.

• How will the beach sand distribution work, since not all areas have the same needs?
• Will the fill sand match the existing sand? Several people commented that they didn't want sand that was predominantly shell hash.
• To prevent sand from accumulating at the tip of Willoughby Spit, can you construct a terminal groin/jetty and redistribute the sand eastward to keep it out of the adjacent channels that boaters use?
• Will the project address existing dunes and future dune construction?
• Is there a berm width target profile for the beach?
• Will the Corps study preclude Norfolk City interim action?
• How would this federal project affect existing storm water drainpipes?
• Can you address individual beak waters that are making some areas erode faster?

Strahan and Corps Project Manager, Robert Pretlow, along with Norfolk officials, Lee Rosenberg and James D. White, listened attentively to each citizens' question and provided measured, thoughtful answers while assuring residents that their ideas and recommendations would be considered.

With a federal-City of Norfolk cost-share of 75, 25 respectively, the study is set for completion in 2010, subject to availability of federal funds. In addition, Norfolk's Lee Rosenberg informed residents that the city continues to provide appropriate shoreline protection measures. Currently, said Rosenberg, the city will undertake beach renourishment in East Ocean View, and will construct five additional offshore breakwaters in the Oaks II community of East Ocean View.

For more information on the Willoughby Spit and Ocean View Shoreline Protection study, contact Corps Project Manager Robert Pretlow, at 757-201-7385; Lee Rosenberg of Norfolk, at 757-664-4373.

These 16 employees are volunteer members of the Norfolk District Commodities' Team, a specialized Corps team that helps the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials coordinate the purchase, transportation and distribution of water and ice during times of federal emergencies.

The team initially pre-positioned to the San Antonio area, said Gregg Williams, the commodities team leader, and geared up to provide basic commodities of water and ice to the people in need directly after Hurricane Ike's impact. The team moved to Houston shortly after Ike made landfall.

"The 16 team members are providing direct support to the Corps' Seattle District Commodities Team, the lead Corps team for this mission," said Norfolk District Emergency Manager Stan Ballard. "They are working at various FEMA Points of Distribution (POD) commodities sites throughout the impacted region."

According to information compiled daily in the Corps Emergency Response Situation Reports, as of Sept. 16, 840,000 pounds of ice and 424,800 liters of water has reached citizens in need.

The Norfolk District team is one of 40 specially trained Corps response teams used to support national missions such as the Hurricane Ike rescue and recovery efforts. These teams are trained, equipped and stand ready to perform debris removal, commodities procurement and delivery, as well as provide temporary emergency power, temporary housing, temporary roofing, infrastructure assessment, quality assurance inspections, and support to urban search and rescue missions, as assigned by FEMA.

The Army Corps of Engineers is a major part of FEMA's federal assets and, to date has provided the following support in response to recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ike:

• Nearly 1,000 Corps employees are actively supporting emergency response and recovery throughout Texas and Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
• One of the Corps' highest priorities is to survey Houston's channels and ports to restore the nation's second largest port to full commercial capacity. The Corps has a rigorous schedule set up to conduct hydrographic and side scan sonar surveys of the Houston/Galveston Bay complex, the Sabine Neches Waterway Freeport, Matagorda, the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, the Victoria Barge Channel, and Chocolate Bayou.
• The Corps is conducting power assessments and providing generators for critical public facilities, such as hospitals, police stations, and water treatment facilities.
• The Corps is coordinating the efforts of the Interagency Debris Task Force that is comprised of local, state and federal agencies that will rapidly assess the debris management needs across effected areas of Texas.

"The role of the Corps during natural disasters and our commodities team participation with FEMA are extremely vital," said Norfolk District Commander, Col. Dionysios Anninos. "I'm extremely proud of our people here who are volunteering to help fellow citizens. Something tragic has happened to our homeland, but we are all coming together to do what is necessary to take care of our citizens and get them back on their feet."

The Norfolk District Commodities' Team deployed to the extreme southern portions of Texas in July, in the wake of Hurricane Dolly. To stay current on the Corps' response to Hurricane Ike, log onto www.usace.army.mil.

MEDIA ADVISORY: The Norfolk District Commander, Col. Dionysios Anninos and Emergency Management Chief, Stan Ballard, are available to discuss the district's emergency response mission and the mission of the Norfolk District Commodities Team. Additionally, telephone interviews with deployed members of the commodities team may be available as the situation allows. Media representatives interested in these availabilities should contact the Norfolk District public affairs officer at (757) 201-7673.

The $90,000 project will allow the Corps to "develop the components of an effective early warning program through an integrated system of rainfall, stream, and water quality gages," said Mark Mansfield, the Norfolk District's chief planning and policy.

The cities of Franklin and Emporia, and the counties of Southampton, Greensville, Sussex, Surry and Isle of Wight provided $45,000 for the effort. Federal funding paid for the balance of the project.

"This is a significant first step in protecting the great citizens of these cities, counties and towns, said Col. Dionysios Anninos, Norfolk District commander.

The effort initiated this month is only a "first look" at the basin, said Anninos and Mansfield, and the district is ready to undertake a comprehensive study of the basin.

"This current initiative only provides early warning and data," said Anninos. "Much more work is required to identify the 'root cause' and develop a series of solutions to mitigate the risk of future flooding."

The U.S. House of Representatives authorized a comprehensive study in 2007 at the urging of Congressman J. Randy Forbes. Forbes and Senator Jim Webb maintain an active interest in and are supportive of the Chowan River Basin efforts, Anninos said.

The Chowan River Basin, which includes the Blackwater, Meherrin and Nottoway rivers and is home to more than 200,000 residents, often suffers from unpredictable and devastating flooding. In September 1999, the National Weather Service at Wakefield, Va., reported that the Blackwater River, swollen by Hurricane Floyd's torrential rainfall, left a large portion of Franklin under 12 feet of water. Franklin and other areas in the basin have suffered record-level flooding five times since 1999.

The proposed comprehensive evaluation and risk assessment will address flood risk management, erosion, navigation and environmental needs within the watershed, explained Mansfield.

"The dorm is one of five Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) projects for the $91.5M Air Force/Navy relocation program to Fort Lee," said Norfolk District Project Manager Suzanne Spence.

The design-build construction project includes a furniture option with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2010.

Omaha District awarded a $5.6 million contract to HUBZone certified small business Sheets T.A. Mechanical Contractor Inc. of Norfolk, Va., on Aug. 28, to build a 17,900 square-foot chapel at Fort Lee, Va. Omaha District, an Army "Center of Standardization" expert for chapels, designed the facility, while the Norfolk District is managing construction completion.

The facility is not part of the 2005 BRAC authorization. Instead, it falls under General Military Construction and meets a need for increased worship space at Fort Lee.

The project includes the demolition of Building 36 and the construction of a parking lot, a new guardhouse and security fencing designed to enhance force protection conditions for the Waterfield Building, said Cheryl Drum, the district's chief of contracting.

Homeland Contracting Corporation, a small, woman-owned, disadvantaged business located in Virginia Beach, Va., will complete the $750,000 project.

A temporary security fence will separate the construction area from the remainder of Fort Norfolk, said Norfolk District Project Manager Craig Jones.

"Traffic flow on Front Street will be unchanged during construction," Jones said. ‘Some disruption will occur to parking lot areas to allow contractor to install utilities and create new parking spaces, but employees will receive advance notice prior to disruptions."

December is target date for construction completion.

The $38.7 million military construction project is the largest of four similar systems under construction across the Air Force that will consolidate information from multiple intelligence-gathering platforms and distribute it to various Defense Department users, said Air Force officials.

Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers is managing the 120,000-square-foot, multi-building campus project. S.B. Ballard Construction of Virginia Beach, Va., is the project's prime contractor with a fine record of building diverse facilities for the Army Corps of Engineers.

The evolutionary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system, known as DCGS-1, is a globally dispersed, wide area network of fixed and mobile ground processing systems that collect data from high-flying manned and unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites, of which the Predator, Global Hawk and U-2 are the most familiar. The main function of the system is to receive intelligence feeds from multiple sources at a common ground station. The data is then processed, stored, correlated, exploited and disseminated to Air Operations Centers to enable time-critical strikes.

The 480th Intelligence Wing of the Air Combat Command here will operate the new DCGS-1. The campus will feature 350-person intelligence and support element, permanent installation of multiple ISR ground sensor platforms, and all the associated command and control and redundant utility systems required for continuous operations under any contingency.

From the Notice to Proceed in June 2007, the project has remained on schedule despite a couple unique site preparation issues. Initially, the Langley Resident office of Norfolk District had to work through issues of displacing wetlands and dynamically compacting of the ground. However, a team of teams has surmounted these issues and other smaller problems. That team consists of the Corps, the project designer and contractor, key stakeholders and interested parties, and of course our customer, the U.S. Air Force.

Because the DCGS-1 is such a large project, many members of the Langley office have been involved to keep this project on track and within budget. At the team's core are Patrick Devereux and Al Young. Add to that Erika Field, a summer intern, Oscar Aujero, Maj. Coby Short, who spent a year on the project, and additional Corps support as required. Virtually everyone in the Langley office has lent some of their expertise to the unique considerations of this project, including Christian Brumm, our resident engineer and administering contract officer for this and all Langley projects.

Co-Project Engineer Devereux said the project is on schedule because the entire team communicates well. "We have real-life, face-to-face discussions. This results in good relationships with everyone pulling in the same direction. And we have fun," said Devereux.

The 1991 mechanical engineering graduate from Old Dominion University will attend a one-week course at the University of Maryland, shadow executive leaders in Washington D.C., and serve a four-month developmental assignment as part of the program.

"It's a big deal. Candidates must submit their resume, an essay and make an oral presentation to the selection panel," said Matt Byrne, the district's coordinator for the program. "Ultimately a single individual is chosen from a pool of highly qualified candidates."

The program, which begins in October, develops high-potential employees for leadership at senior levels.

Many ELDP participants build upon the experience gained in the program and advance to senior leader positions in the Corps, said Byrne.

Cheryl Fromme, the district's 2006 participant and acting deputy director, said the program exposes participants to a variety leadership styles. "It's a wonderful program -- I loved it," said Fromme. "The program gives participants an opportunity to learn from others, build leadership skills and professional networks, and sets them up for future success."

For Massenburg, who has been with the district for more than 16 years, the goal is bring back a regional perspective of mission requirements and help mold the future vision of civilian and military leadership. "I look forward to learning and leading, and I am excited by the prospect of future challenges," said Massenburg.

The $61 million design-build military construction project, awarded to Archer Western Contractors of Chicago, Ill., on April 1, is under the management of the Corps' Norfolk District.

The 170,000 square-foot facility, a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure authorization, is set for completion in spring of 2010. The facility will merge intelligence operations -- approximately 800 people from DIA and 200 from the Army National Ground Intelligence Center -- provide enhanced command and control, promote acquisition, assimilation, and analysis of real-time intelligence, and enhance organizational productivity, inter-agency connectivity and inter-operability.

Colonel Steve Hood, commander of NGIC, said his organization will not compete with the new JUIAF, but that the two facilities will work in tandem to solve military-related problems through information-sharing and joint-intelligence analysis. "We will see increased collaboration," said Hood.

The Defense Department estimates this BRAC action will bring 1,500 additional long-term jobs to the Charlottesville, Va. vicinity.

Eleven members of the all-volunteer Army Corps of Engineers PRT traveled to the National Logistics Staging Area in Edinburgh, Texas, to support the commodities mission while the team's other two members deployed to the Texas State Operations Center in Austin, to coordinate, advise and assist state officials with expertise and support of the commodities mission.

Unlike previous deployments, the commodities team activated the day Hurricane Dolly made landfall versus several days prior, which meant the team had to hit the ground running, said Greggory Williams, Norfolk's commodities team leader. Team members quickly became a sought-after resource for their operational expertise and willingness to help.

This became evident when Texas officials asked for technical assistance in setting up a new staging area after the current area filled with tractor trailers, said Williams.

"Team members met with contractor and state representatives to discuss the current operations efficiency and the best way to integrate the new area into the commodities flow," Williams said. "The result was a seamless expansion of operations that eventually allowed the state to receive and distribute more than 2.6 million liters of water and 6.9 million pounds of ice."

Team members returned to Norfolk July 31.

The 32-member Norfolk District team is one of seven Corps teams whose mission is to coordinate, receive and deliver bagged ice and bottled and bulk water to disaster areas in the United States and its territories. The commodities PRT mission is performed under Emergency Support Function #3, Public Works and Engineering, which is part of the National Response Framework, an all-hazards plan managed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Hurricane Dolly, a tropical cyclone that made landfall in extreme southern Texas, was the fourth tropical cyclone and second hurricane to form during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm, packing 100 mph winds, made U.S. landfall July 23 at South Padre Island, Texas. The storm caused 122,800 customers to lose power in Texas, and caused property damage estimated at $1.2 billion.

Positions are currently available on the Norfolk District Commodities team and interested District employees, with supervisor's approval, can contact the Emergency Management office for more details.

Construction is due to be completed by February 2009 with the new part of the hospital scheduled to open in the summer of 2009 after all the proper equipment has been moved in.

The new construction will double the size of the hospital and include many upgrades such as evidence based design. "Evidence based design is when you're trying to create a healing environment within the hospital, for example lots of sunlight when you walk in, controlling the room temperature, quality features; it's trying to create an atmosphere of healing and make the patients more comfortable," said Col. Dionysios Anninos, Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District commander. "That's what we're doing with this hospital; you'll see a lot of those features incorporated."

The new part of the hospital will include an intensive care unit, state-of-the-art fully digitally integrated operating rooms with high definition monitors and voice-command and remote-controlled equipment. The urgent care center will also convert back to a full emergency room. "Right now we have what's called an intermediate care ward," said Col. John Degoes, 1st Medical Group commander. "A few patients that would otherwise have to be transferred to local civilian hospitals or Naval Medical Center Portsmouth will be able to stay here. The new intensive care unit will enable us to increase the services we deliver."

For the Langley community, the 1st Medical Group hopes to provide extended hours, weekend clinics, less referrals and more manning authorizations to increase the staffing, Colonel Degoes said.

Although construction is taking place the hospital has remained fully operational.

"The good news is we have had no disruption in service and we anticipate no disruption in service," said Colonel Anninos.

Although the Army Corps of Engineers manages the construction of the hospital, the 1st Civil Engineer Squadron is in charge of making sure that the project meets the Air Force's needs.

"Working a project like the hospital is great for us as Air Force civil engineers," said Lt. Col. Jeffery Ullmann, 1st Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "We build many mission facilities, runways, office complexes and civil engineer compounds, but the opportunity to help the Langley community by more than doubling the size of the current hospital and the health care benefits that it's going to bring has really been a great experience. We're looking forward to getting finished and seeing the patients come in to use the new facilities."

As part of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System, or CBIBS, the smart buoy collects weather, oceanographic and water-quality observations and transmits this data—along with historical and cultural information about the Bay—wirelessly in near-real time.

CBIBS is the only operational buoy system in the Bay dedicated to maintaining the broad range of measurements necessary to track Bay restoration progress.

"These smart buoys are an example of NOAA's advancements in Earth-observing systems," said Mary Glackin, deputy under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. "NOAA is working to improve our understanding of dynamic coastal areas like the Chesapeake Bay and how areas like the Bay are affected by changes in the global ocean."

This is the fourth smart buoy NOAA has launched to mark the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, America's first national water trail. The 3,000 mile trail migrates through parts of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The trail transits routes taken by Captain John Smith in 1607 and 1608 to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. The trail highlights the natural history of the Bay and provides new opportunities for recreation, education, and tourism in the Chesapeake Bay region, and encourages stewardship of this national treasure.

Last spring, the Corps' Elizabeth crew also teamed with NOAA on its maiden launch of the first CBIBS buoy in the James River, near historic Jamestown, Va., as part of the 400th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Jamestowne Settlement.

During the first smart buoy launching, the Elizabeth's crew used the vessel's huge crane to position the two-ton buoy within five feet of the predetermined global coordinates.

"I don't know if we are going to be able to find another crew for the other buoys, with as much knowledge and professionalism that this one on the Elizabeth has," said Doug Wilson, program manager of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office's Integrated Coastal Observations Program.

This fourth buoy deployment off Stingray Point in Deltaville, Va., also went without a hitch; the Elizabeth crew positioned the buoy right on top of NOAA's global coordinates.

The placement also marked the 400th anniversary of Captain John Smith's exploration of the region. In July 1608, while using a sword to fish in shallow waters near the mouth of the Rappahannock River , Smith was stung by a stingray and nearly died. The peninsula where this incident occurred was later named Stingray Point.

During the Stingray Point smart buoy launching, Director of the NOAA Chesapeake Office, Peyton Robertson, joined Rep. Robert Wittman and other officials on a nearby observation boat.

"Our partners, the Army Corps of Engineers, once again played a critical role in launching these smart buoys on time and on target. We appreciate their support of the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System," remarked Robertson.

The Elizabeth's Captain, Richard Bruton, said he felt privileged to team with NOAA on a project that will help restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

"After seeing the public's positive response for this project, it makes our job of supporting the boating community on a daily basis feel much more appreciated," said Bruton. "We look forward to launching the rest of the buoys."

The Elizabeth crew: Bruton, Dennis Barnes, Stan Caldwell, Glen Boykin, Pete Jeffers and Erik Sherer are set to team with NOAA to launch a fifth smart buoy on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Va., in September.

These buoy measurements can be publicly accessed at www.buoybay.org and by phone at 877-BUOY-BAY (877-286-9229).

The boardwalk is one part of the $120 million Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection Project, which was designed to help reduce the impact coastal storms have on the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Completed in 2002, the hurricane protection project was Virginia's most expensive civil works improvement and includes an integrated seawall and boardwalk with a bicycle and pedestrian path, landscaping and architectural treatments, a wider and higher beach berm, an enhanced vegetated dune system, interior drainage improvements and two storm-water pump stations.

The project protects more than six miles of prime beachfront with the boardwalk section stretching for three miles.

The project's effectiveness was tested shortly after its completion when Hurricane Isabel struck the Commonwealth in 2003. Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia Beach officials estimated the hurricane protection project prevented approximately $82 million in damages to the oceanfront resort area.

For more information, please visit the Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection Project webpage.

The event marked the start of vertical construction on the 1.2 million-square-foot facility, which is part of the Base Realignment and Closure 2005.

"This is an exciting day for not only JTF CapMed, the DeWitt Health Care Network and our partners, but for our beneficiaries as we all come together as one world-class team to support them," said Col. Daniel Gall, deputy commander for administration at DeWitt Army Community Hospital. "Our success depends on the contributions of our active, Reserve, civilian and contract personnel and their families, and we are committed to providing the best medical treatment possible to our beneficiaries. The new hospital embodies that effort."

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division Commander Brig. Gen. Todd Semonite echoed those sentiments when he told attendees that the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital construction effort is a "team effort."

"It will take everyone working together to build this hospital," the general said.

Semonite manages five engineer districts in the North Atlantic region, four of which are executing nearly $4 Billion of BRAC 2005 projects at Fort Belvoir.

"We must never forget that we are building this hospital for our heroes, our Soldiers," said Col. Dan Anninos, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District commander. "It's all about taking care of our Soldiers and making sure our heroes have the highest quality of medical care we can give them."

Norfolk District is the Corps entity managing the hospital project at Fort Belvoir.

The new hospital and its 120 inpatient beds will replace the 50-year-old DeWitt ACH and its 45 beds. Congress appropriated additional funds to accelerate construction of the facility in December. Groundbreaking took place Nov. 8, and construction officials expect to be finished by late summer 2010.

The new facility will be part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical care to service members, veterans, and military families, and includes the realignment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Naval National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Using a combined "design-bid-build" process for the hospital, the Army Corps of Engineers is accelerating design and construction while keeping costs and schedules under control, according to Corps officials.

A joint venture of architectural engineering firms HDR of Alexandria and Dewberry of Fairfax is overseeing design, costs and scheduling. In turn, the joint venture hired the Arlington County office of Turner Construction Co., along with Gilbane Building Co. of Providence, R.I., to perform actual construction.

The project is part of about $4 billion worth of various projects coming to Belvoir as a direct result of BRAC. $152 million is for new roads, bridges, utilities and other infrastructure.

The two largest projects are the new hospital and the $1.7 billion NGS campus headquarters that will encompass 2.4 million square feet at EPG. It will involve an estimated 3,000 construction personnel at the height of its construction, according to Col. Michael Rossi, director of Ft. Belvoir's Integration Office.

Throughout the years, LEED has become the premier design concept for military construction projects worldwide.

To begin the LEED process, the project has to be certified, which is done by submitting an application for the project, along with the LEED registered project checklist.

According to the USGBC Web site, LEED's rating system addresses six major areas — sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and the innovation and design process. Each area is evaluated on a point system and the accumulation of those points determines if the project will be LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold or LEED Platinum.

Including the specified areas and the point system, there are nine LEED categories — new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, core and shell, schools, retail, healthcare, homes and neighborhood development. Each category is targeted towards particular customers and promotes the design and construction for that project.

Beginning in fiscal 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers required all vertical construction projects with climate-controlled facilities to achieve a LEED-New Construction Silver rating. The District currently uses LEED-NC for many of its projects.

District projects using LEED not only promote integrated and whole building design practices, but they also create healthier work and living environments and improve employees' health and comfort. "It's great that we are taking a broader approach and looking at the health and well-being of the occupants," said Eidsmore. "LEED will help maximize the workers' safety."

Another District project capitalizing on the LEED concept is the Fort Meade Technology Center at Fort Meade, Md. This facility will feature green building construction and will be certified as LEED Silver.

LEED has become the building standard and is used with state and local governments and federal agencies. "There has to be a stewardship issue with how we use the environment," said Eidsmore. "It is great that we are taking a leading role." ]]> Katisha Draughn, Baltimore District Public Affairs News - District News Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Advisory%20and%20Administrative/Public%20Affairs/WebStories/LEED-Sustainability.asp CAMP KALSU, IRAQ – He was among the first helping rebuild key facilities in southern Iraq shortly after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled. This month, Army Lt. Col. Michael Darrow returned to Iraq on another U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission... ]]> Norris Jones, Special to American Forces Press Service News - Gulf Region Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50218