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NEWS | April 29, 2016

JBSA attends Earth Day Texas 2016

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Representatives from Joint Base San Antonio joined environmental organizations, academic institutions and businesses on the list of exhibitors at Earth Day Texas 2016 in Dallas April 22-24.

Earth Day Texas is an annual event that supports environmental conservation and education. With over 700 exhibitors, the event covers every major environmental issue and several geographic locations worldwide. This is the first year JBSA has participated since the event started in 2011.

Meg Reyes, director of JBSA installation encroachment and compatible development, Lt. Col. Emil Bliss, 12th Flying Training Wing Community Initiatives director, Bryan Hummel, JBSA pollution prevention manager and aquifer recharge specialist, Amber Lamm, JBSA community planner, and Monte Cox, a contracted community planning liaison, spoke with Earth Day attendees about JBSA’s sustainability and the different ways each location is becoming more environmentally-conscious.

The group presented data from Air Installation Compatible Use Zone, Joint Land Use and similar studies at each JBSA location to show how each area’s recent developments affect the local environment and the ability to continue the military mission.

“Not only does being here allow us to educate people on how JBSA cares for the environment, but it’s also a chance to meet other organizations with overlapping goals,” Bliss said. “Development around San Antonio has the potential to impact both the environment and the military missions at every JBSA location.  Working with conservation groups is a win-win situation: preservation of the military mission, and more importantly in the long term, preservation of the environment.”

2016 is the second year military organizations significantly participated in Earth Day Texas. Attendees appreciate seeing the military taking strides towards sustainability. Their presence strongly resonates with people, said Jillian Mock, an Earth Day Texas communications associate.

“Large problems, like environmental issues, require large scale problem solving. Therefore, we all must be responsible for our environment. We are all stewards,” Mock said.