Wing dedicates new de-icing pad, an important environmental step

  • Published
  • By Maj. Ann Todd
  • 133rd Airlift Wing
St. Paul, Minn. --  The St. Paul-based 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new aircraft de-icing pad on June 30, 2011. Minnesota's Fifth District Congressman Keith Ellison joined the 133rd AW for the ceremony.

Rep. Ellison recognized the service of the men and women of the Minnesota Air Guard and said the Airmen should be proud of the contributions they make towards keeping America secure and being environmentally responsible.

"I am proud to stand and work together with you," said Ellison.

"This is a step forward in our 'Greening with Meaning' campaign," said Air Force Col. Greg Haase, 133rd Airlift Wing commander.

"In this, the 90th anniversary year of the Wing, it is particularly poignant the strides to conduct missions in the most environmentally friendly ways are on the forefront of this Wing's positioning for the future," said Haase.

"Congressman Ellison was instrumental in procuring the funding for this project and we appreciate his partnership," Haase added.

The Wing typically uses 2,500 gallons of deicing fluid per year, said Air Force Maj. Georg Fischer, environmental manager. Without the de-ice pad, the glycol used in this process is free to run into the storm water system and eventually into our receiving waters, which depletes oxygen levels in the streams and rivers where it is found. This project diverts all deicing fluid impacted water to a 5,000 gallon underground storage tank, where it will be sampled and either recycled or sent for treatment, allowing for control of the fluid that is vital for keeping our Wing mission ready during the harshest of Minnesota winters.

This project allows the 133rd to perform its mission and be environmentally friendly, said Fischer.

Barbara O'Brien, the 133rd AW Senior Engineering Specialist Architect said the project was made possible because of great teamwork that included many agencies and Rep. Ellison's staff.