Keeping the Environment Safe at Fort Knox

In honor of this upcoming Earth Day, we wanted to discuss how The Ginn Group takes steps to protect the environment. We spoke with Jessica Kenny, our Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental (QHSE) Manager for our Ft. Knox project to find out what is involved with staying eco-friendly at Ft. Knox.

At Ft. Knox, we comply with the Environmental Management Division (EMD), which deals with a variety of things that involve protecting the environment such as erosion prevention, air pollution, and stormwater. TGG monitors and maintains compliance for each of these categories.

TGG maintains compliance with each of these categories in a variety of ways. One way is by only using materials and chemicals that are approved by the EMD. Those materials and chemicals are then given a hazardous material sticker that tracks them. There are also regulations that we must comply with when it comes to disposal.

When it comes to stormwater, building exteriors are pressure washed periodically to remove mold and mildew, which requires chemicals. To ensure that these chemicals don’t end up in storm drains, we implement Best Management Practices (BMP) plans that are approved by the EMD before performing the job. The plan outlines the steps that will be taken to protect the waterways and storm drain. The plan typically involves putting booms around the drains that filter and extract contaminants while allowing the filtered water to pass through.

To cut down on pollution from vehicles and heavy equipment, maintenance is performed regularly. We also encourage technicians to ride in pairs to reduce our carbon footprint. 

TGG doesn’t just take steps to protect the flora around Ft. Knox, we want to protect the wildlife as well. We do everything in our power to consider the impact that road work might have on them. During the winter months when salt is applied to the roads, we report to the EMD how much salt is used so it can be monitored to ensure that we aren’t putting any wildlife in danger.

Conservation is another key aspect that TGG considers when keeping the environment safe. Ft. Knox not only has its own recycling center, but we are implementing LED lights, motion sensor lights, and taking items such as paint, aerosols, and chemicals that are not empty to the EMD’s “Free Issue Conex”. The “Free Issue Conex” takes hazardous materials that are still within the shelf life and issues them to anyone that needs them. This cuts down on the hazardous waste that could end up in a landfill or shipped out.

TGG is proud to be able to help find effective solutions for our clients, while also protecting the environment. To learn more about how TGG goes green, contact us today!

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