The Bremerton National Airport became the first facility of its kind recently to earn a five-star rating in Kitsap County Health District’s EnviroStars program for its environmental stewardship practices.
“No other airport or industrial park has even submitted itself for certification,” said Niels Nicolaisen, EnviroStars program coordinator. “Coming into the EnviroStars program at a 5-star level further illustrates the Port’s leadership on a variety of environmental issues.”
Previously, the Port has earned five-star ratings at both its Port Orchard and Bremerton marinas.
The five-star rating is the highest level of certification in the EnviroStars program, which certifies businesses in five counties — Kitsap, King, Pierce, Jefferson and Whatcom — for practices that reduce hazardous waste and encourage environmental sustainability, Nicolaisen said, explaining both the airport and the nearby Olympic View Industrial Park earned the five-star rating for practices that includes:
• Proper management and handling of hazardous wastes.
• Extensive training and preparation for possible hazardous waste spills.
• Reuse of waste oil to heat the airport and industrial park maintenance shop.
• An energy efficiency study now underway for the Port’s airport terminal and administration building.
• Management and inventory control for chemicals and other potentially toxic supplies.
EnviroStars was designed to give government agencies and businesses incentives for reducing hazardous materials and waste, in order to protect public health, municipal systems and the environment.
Program representatives work with applicants to evaluate and improve hazardous waste management practices that minimize environmental impact, and may also lead to a range of economic benefits.
EnviroStars provides the public with an easy way to identify and support businesses using environmentally responsible practices, based on an objective third party assessment.
For more information about EnviroStars in Kitsap County, contact Nicolaisen at the Kitsap County Health District by calling (360) 337-5604, or via e-mail at nicoln@health.co.kitsap.wa.us.
