Groundbreaking for Groundbreaking Treatment Plant

JBLM and local community leaders come together for a ground breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of a $91 million project to upgrade the JBLM's waste water treatment plant.

Puget Sound water quality is a major enviro-nmental concern for the US Enviro- nmental Protection Agency, Washington State, Tribal, local stakeholders, lawmakers and JBLM.  In recent years, most communities near JBLM have upgraded their wastewater treatment processes to comply with stringent state discharge permits or to reclaim their wastewater. The upgraded JBLM Waste Water Treatment Plant building at Solo Point will ensure that JBLM meets current and future water quality requirements for Puget Sound. This plant serves JBLM, Camp Murray and the American Lake VA Center.

JBLM’s upgraded $91 million WWTP will use the most current technologies, ensuring that the plant will meet current and future discharge requirements to protect water quality in Puget Sound.  The plant will be capable of treating effluent to Class A reclaimed water standards, setting the stage for reclaimed water usage in the future.

The new facility’s treatment capabilities are consistent with nearby municipal wastewater treatment plants, which also discharge into Puget Sound. Work on JBLM’s new WWTP should be complete by Summer 2016.

Media interested in attending the ground breaking ceremony should RSVP by contacting the JBLM Public Affairs office at (253) 967-0152.

Continuing Resolution Alleviates Defense Budget

The signing of the Continuing Resolution (CR) for the 2013 budget H.R. 933, has occurred without a great deal of fanfare.

However, it seems to have solved the Army's problems with Overseas Contingency Operations, and pinching too tightly on FY2013 budget options.  The CR is viewed very positively.  A reported $10 billion is allocated for operations and maintenance for installations, but flexibility within H.R. 933 will allow defense leadership to make cuts.

But it doesn't solve sequestration. With House passage earlier, Pentagon officials have delayed furlough notices for defense civilian employees.  They're not off the hook yet, but now some deliberative time is available. 

FY2014 is another story.  The budget cuts may have to come from domestics, but the DoD budget will still need to meet a reduction of $50 billion.

Milcon Report for JBLM

Victor Ramos, MCA Program Manager, Seattle District, USACE, gave his updated milcon report, focusing on JBLM.

The acquisition strategy will use local competitive contracts where possible with small business considerations evaluated on all acquisitions.  The MATOC (Regional Multiple Award Task Order Contracts) will be used on just a few FY13 projects.  It is noted that local MATOCs will be used where it make sense, but are limited to $10 million per Task Order.

Highlights of the report include:

• There are 16 contracts valued at $252 million in design
• There are 11 contracts valued at $138 million in pre-award (corrected)
• Current construction is for $156 million in FY12
• Five facilities will be turned over to JBLM ($55 million) in Oct/Nov 12

Those desiring more information may contact Veronica (Ronni) Kammler, Small Business Officer at 206-316-3990 or Victor Ramos, Army Program Manager at 2096-764-4478.

FORUM: HASC & MILCON

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

  

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, October 10, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Place: La Quinta Inn, Cedar Room

          La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27^th St., Tacoma 98421

Price:  $13.00 pre-paid by Oct. 5, noon

          $15.00 pre-paid after Oct. 5

          $20.00 walk-ins/at the door

Information: Janice Hutchins, (253) 627.2175 X100

RSVP:  DUE 12 noon, Oct. 5 (Friday) ß

REGISTERHERE!

 

Event Speaker:  Congressman Adam Smith

Congressional Update from Congressman Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).  

 

The HASC retains jurisdiction of all subjects listed in clause 1(c) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives and retains exclusive jurisdiction for: defense policy generally, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, joint interoperability, the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Department of Energy nonproliferation programs and detainee affairs and policy.

Event Speaker:  Victor Ramos, USACE, Program Manager Milcon at JBLM.

Victor Ramos, USACE, Program Manager for MILCON at JBLM. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for execution of the Military Construction Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).  The Military Construction Program at JBLM has experienced record years with respect to amount of construction contracts awarded per fiscal year.  Ramos is the Army MILCON Program Manager for Seattle District and JBLM is the installation he supports.  Ramos is responsible for assuring the District executes the projects at JBLM in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM), USACE HQ and JBLM.

Event Speaker:  Julie Anderson, Pierce Co. Auditor

Service members & the 2012 Election 

NEXT MEETING:

November 8:  John Anderson Military Citizen of the Year with Tacoma Rotary Club #8

Official Sequestration Impacts Reported

The impact of Sequestration on defense programs can be distilled to the Office of Management & Budget’s (OMB) report that funding for each defense account would be reduced by 9.4% if sequestration is imposed on Jan. 2, 2013. 

Almost all DoD and military service accounts including military construction and operations and maintenance would be subject to the same uniform reduction.  That’s a $54.7 billion loss in fiscal 2013.

There is no detail on projects, programs and activities.  The exception is military force structure accounts.  But federal civilian employment is not exempt.

HASC Action with Local Impacts

During the Chamber's Washington-to-Washington, D.C. 2012 Conference last week, the House Armed Service Committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013.  This week the NDAA will be considered on the Floor of the House.

Ranking (Minority) Member Congressman Adam Smith reports:

Military Construction Projects

The Committee’s report provides $580.9 million for military construction projects in Washington State, including $289.5 million for the following projects at Joint Base Lewis-McChord:

• Readiness Center                                   $35,000,000
• SOF Battalion Operations Facility          $46,553,000
• SOF Military Working Dog Kennel            $3,967,000
• Army Reserve Center                             $40,000,000
• Battalion Complex                                  $73,000,000
• Waste Water Treatment Plant                $91,000,000

Military Personnel

The legislation authorizes a 1.7% pay increase and extends bonuses and special pay for our men and women in uniform.