![During a First Class Petty Officer Association Adopt-a-Highway cleanup in January, 10 First Class Petty Officer volunteers walked a 2-mile highway stretch in Milton and collected 150 pounds of trash. [Special to the Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-4c4ab0ca-b913-4d56-e053-0100007fd734-53224a5d.jpeg)
MILTON — Naval Air Station Whiting Field's environmental and energy management teams have been named one of 30 recipients of recognition under the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Awards program.
The awards annually honor exceptional achievements in environmental stewardship among nominated ships, installations and individuals. NAS Whiting Field took honors in the Sustainability, Non-Industrial category. Awards are presented in 10 categories.
Numerous elements of the Environmental Program received special mention in the nomination package. They included the team’s efforts toward protecting endangered or species of concern during the preliminary work on NOLF Holley’s Photovoltaic (solar) farm and implementation of sustainable processes for treatment of base drinking water. NAS Whiting Field was also praised for its sustainable and efficient design features in the Paraloft facility and the energy and water savings generated by continuous improvements throughout the base.
The team also highlighted its participation and outreach with the local community through more than a dozen different boards and environmentally related events. These included: the Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA program; Blackwater River Liaison Panel; the Clean Marina Program; The Gulf Coast Plains Ecosystem Partnership; Division of Forestry Smoke Management; and many others.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: NAS Whiting Field earns environmental award