Tinker project receives EPA Brownfields Phoenix Award Published June 14, 2013 By Brion Ockenfels Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented the Brownfields Phoenix Award to Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn at Tinker's Bldg. 9001 June 6, recognizing the collaborative transformation success of the former automobile plant to an aerospace complex as one of the nation's top environmental redevelopment projects. In 2012, TAC 9001 was the first former industrial site facility in the U.S. Air Force that received a Brownfields certificate, making it a strong candidate for the Phoenix Award, one of the more distinguished environmental redevelopment awards in the country. The occasion brought together base, federal, state and county officials to witness the presentation of the iconic Phoenix Award from EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus to Commissioner Vaughn. Tinker's project was one of two Phoenix Awards garnered at the National Brownfields Conference in May for EPA's Region Six. Both awards were for projects in Oklahoma City, with the second recognizing the Devon Energy Center Development Project. "This is as much a celebration as it is recognition, recognition of the hard work and greatness of this Brownfield Project," said Mr. Stanislaus. Praising local leaders who saw a vision in the crisis of the closure of the GM Plant, Mr. Stanislaus said, "These are leaders who recognized that while there was a crisis, there was also a need to serve the workers in the community and to use this space to connect with future opportunities. "It began with the vision of local leaders, the Oklahoma City Chamber, Oklahoma County, the hard work of the state, DEQ and the AF that saw an opportunity." Mr. Stanislaus said in studies around the country, "Projects like this continue to stimulate local economies, land use increases, they stimulate other projects. These projects stimulate environmental benefits too, including improved air quality, improve storm water impacts and continue to stimulate long lasting effects of the synergy of local partnerships." He went on to thank the people for their success and all they have achieved. "Continue to collaborate with the Air Force, the state and local leaders, I want to thank you for that," he said. Commissioner Vaughn said, "I can literally say everyone from the City of Oklahoma City, the City of Midwest City, Oklahoma County, the state, numerous agencies throughout the state, the Governor's office, the secretary of commerce, up through the Air Force, the Pentagon, from every level of government we had everyone participating in this project." Commissioner Vaughn said when he presented the story of this project in Atlanta three weeks ago, audience members asked, "You mean your elected officials talk to each other?" "I answered them, 'Yes, we work together and we like each other.' That is why these kinds of projects are possible and that is the way it ought to be, a collaborative effort between various entities," he said. "This is a fantastic example of the great teamwork that's gone forth to create and enable the Air Force depot maintenance process here at Tinker AFB," said Col. Stephen Wood, 72nd Air Base Wing vice commander. "Of course, before this recognition could happen, there was a lot of work on the environmental side that led to the initial Brownfield recognition and ultimately the Phoenix Award here today." Colonel Wood said there are a lot of savings here. "One that is especially important to me is energy," he said. "We linked all the aspects of improvement together in this facility, we took that clean slate that has enabled us to perform program depot maintenance more cost effectively and in a quicker manner for the warfighter." He said the partnerships with the community and the state were critical in making this project happen and "we are proud to be part of this team." "The residents of this county are absolutely supportive of this base, which is the largest single site employer in the state and provides a great amount of our economy," said Commissioner Vaughn. The journey from the 2005 closure announcement of the automobile plant to handing the Air Force the keys to TAC in October 2008 required enormous innovation, collaboration, determination and patience. The Bldg. 9001 Brownfields Phoenix Award submission is available at http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/en/Page/158/Phoenix_Award_Winners.