Environmental branch improves air quality

  • Published
  • By Dwayne Ray
  • 721st Civil Engineer Squadron
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, Colo. (AFPN) --  The potential harmful effects of breathing diesel fumes came into focus when the Clean Air Task Force released a report estimating that diesel fumes kill about 21,000 Americans each year.

According to the report, diesel exhaust exceeds the national ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particle matter.

“The 721st Environmental Branch has a long-term goal of achieving near-zero exhaust emissions within Cheyenne Mountain and is taking a proactive four-phased approach to help reduce air quality health hazards without impacting operational status,” said Dino Bonaldo, 721st Operations Branch chief.

The first phase, already under way, improves air quality in the North American Aerospace Defense Operations by reducing diesel exhaust emitted from buses used to bring people in and out of the complex.

Basically, a high-tech filter is placed in an exhaust system to remove pollutants, with no loss of fuel economy or vehicle performance, said Monte McVay, Air Force Space Command pollution prevention program manager.

“The system is capable of achieving at least a 50-percent reduction in air pollution,” he said.

The second part of the first phase focuses on replacing all diesel-fueled maintenance vehicles operated inside the complex with electric vehicles.

“Funding has been secured to purchase seven (electric vechicles) that will be used to transport personnel, supplies and equipment inside the Cheyenne Mountain complex,” Mr. McVay said. “Some of the fundamental benefits of using (the vehicles) are that they produce no tailpipe or evaporative emissions, so they do not (affect) indoor air quality. Compared to conventional vehicles, (electrical vehicles) are also extremely quiet, reduce noise pollution and create a safer work environment. Much of the maintenance associated with operating a conventional vehicle, for example, fluid and filter changes, is also eliminated.”

The second phase will require a procedural change to reach the goal of near-zero exhaust emissions inside the mountain. Currently, there is no base policy that addresses exhaust emissions in the NORAD complex. A policy is being drafted and is anticipated to be finalized this December.

Challenges to the draft policy include modifying existing contracts, allowing a grace period for process changes and implementation, and eliminating use of diesel-fueled equipment inside the mountain. The new policy will also address emergency response and other government-vehicle use.

The 721st Fire Department has also helped indoor air quality by installing a “No Smoke” diesel filtration system.

“The system removes all visible smoke from response vehicles’ exhaust for an adjustable time period of 10 to 99 seconds after the vehicle starts,” said Donald Skalsky, 721st FD fire chief. “This provides time to start the vehicle and move outside the complex.”

The third phase involves conducting feasibility studies for using biodiesel with the electric generators and converting the shuttle buses to biodiesel from petroleum-based diesel fuel to further reduce emissions. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. . It is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics that contribute to air quality degradation.

A blend of 20 percent (by volume) biodiesel with 80 percent (by volume) petroleum diesel, has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a nominal increase in fuel costs for fleet operations. It can be used in many engines with little or no modifications

The fourth phase addresses funding issues and life-cycle cost effects.

“To meet the long-term goal of near-zero exhaust emissions inside Cheyenne Mountain, the recently retrofitted diesel buses … may eventually need to be replaced with pure electric, hybrid or fuel-cell buses,” Mr. McVay said.

The near-zero emission goal supports the overall unit mission.

“None of this can be achieved without clean, high-quality air to breathe inside our underground facility,” Mr. Bonaldo said. (Courtesy of AFSPC News Service)