4.3 Planning

4.3.1 Environmental Aspects

4.3.2 Legal and Other Requirements

4.3.3 Environmental Objectives and Targets

4.3.4 Environmental Management Programs

Environmental Management Manual

4.3.1 Environmental Aspects
Since PW is responsible for day to day management of the Fort Lewis environmental program, a thorough understanding of the environmental aspects and impacts of PW activities, products and services is a prerequisite for successful environmental management.
Established procedures in Fort Lewis Regulation 200-1 require that all major actions such as construction or deconstruction, brigade and higher level field training exercises, and other actions that could have significant environmental impact be assessed prior to commencement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

On a periodic basis PW reviews its recurring processes, activities, and services, their associated environmental aspects, and identifies those environmental aspects over which it can exercise control or influence. Once identified, the aspects are further analyzed for the significance of their impact on the environment or on the health and safety of personnel (see PW procedure EMS-210, Identification of Environmental Aspects and Impacts, available on the PW Intranet). Aspects and impacts associated with neighbors and tenants who affect PW processes/activities or use PW services are considered during the analysis. For example, wastewater discharges from McChord AFB, the VA Hospital, Camp Murray, Northwest Landing, and old Dupont town all go to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is operated by PW. Under the above-mentioned procedures, a multi-Division Process Analysis Committee updates the list of recurring PW processes, activities, and services. The updated list of processes, activities and services is analyzed by the Chief, Environmental and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and selected ENRD program managers to identify the aspects and potential environmental impacts, both positive and negative. The analysis concludes with a ranking of the aspects in order of potential significance, and a determination of the PW significant aspects. The Chief, ENRD approves the final list. The significant environmental aspects provide input for setting the PW environmental objectives. The PW significant aspects are available to the public, upon request, through the I Corps and Fort Lewis Public Affairs Office.