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23 September 1970 



(c) Through the Air Force Weapons 

 Laboratory, conducts research and develops 

 exploratory and advanced environmental 

 pollution controls. The laboratory develops 

 methods and techniques for detecting, con- 

 trolling, and abating environmental pollution 

 and continuously exchanges information 

 with HQ AFLC. Joint evaluation and collab- 

 oration with the tJSAF may be necessary to 

 solve, or determine approaches to, particu- 

 larly difficult problems. 



(d) Conducts environmental pollu- 

 tion toxicology studies to help develop realis- 

 tic standards and criteria for chemical com- 

 pounds of special interest or peculiar to the 

 Air Force. 



(e) Prepares, for the Surgeon Gen- 

 eral, HQ USAF, manuals, regulations, 

 pamphlets, and other documents on environ- 

 mental pollution abatement and control in 

 Air Force systems operation and systems 

 support functions. 



5. Criteria and Standards. Normally, Air 

 Force activities must comply with the quality 

 standards and related implementing plans, 

 including emission standards, adopted and 

 approved by Federal regulatory agencies. 

 Issued criteria and standards apply to all 

 facilities (buildings, installations, struc- 

 tures, public works, equipment, aircraft, 

 vessels, and other vehicles and property) 

 owned by, or constructed or manufactured 

 for lease to, the Federal government. 



a. If no air or water quality standards are 

 in force for a particular geographic area or 

 if more stringent requirements are consid- 

 ered advisable for Federal facilities, use 

 Federal standards issued by regulatory au- 

 thority under section 4b, Executive Order 

 11507, 5 Feb 70. 



b. From time to time facilities may be 

 identified that should, in the interest of na- 

 tional security or the nation, be exempted 

 from complying with approved environ- 

 mental control standards. To exempt the 

 facility, the installation must apply for a 

 waiver through command channels to HQ 

 USAF/SGP, Wash DC 20330. Send an in- 

 formation copy of the request to HQ USAF/ 

 PRE or HQ USAF/RD, as appropriate. The 

 application must explain why the waiver is 

 requested, justify the waiver, and include 

 the comments or recommendations of the 

 State or local pollution control agency or the 

 regional office of the Department of Interior. 



c. Standards in the Code of Federal Regu- 

 lations, title 42, chapter I, subchapter F, 

 part 76, "Prevention, Control, and Abate- 

 ment of Air Pollution from Federal Govern- 



AFR 161-22 



ment Activities, Performance Standards, and 

 Techniques of Measurement" (published in 

 the Federal Register, volume 13, No. 107, 

 June 3, 1966) apply to Air Force installa- 

 tions and facilities. 



d. Do not discharge into waters or the 

 atmosphere any waste that contains any sub- 

 stance in concentrations that are hazardous 

 to the health of people; that can result in 

 substantial harm to domestic animals, fish, 

 shellfish, or wild life ; or that may cause eco- 

 nomic loss through damage to plants or 

 crops. 



e. Do install facilities or establish proced- 

 ures to prevent cooling water from increas- 

 ing stream temperatures above acceptable 

 limits. 



f . Store and handle gasoline, jet fuels, and 

 other volatile petroleum distillates or organic 

 liquids in a way to minimize vapor emission. 

 For storage, use pressure tanks or reservoirs 

 or containers equipped with floating roofs or 

 vapor recovery, vapor emission control de- 

 vices or systems to control loss of vapor to 

 the atmosphere. 



g. Avoid or minimize the creation of 

 wastes throughout the complete cycle of 

 operations of each facility. 



h. Preferably, use municipal or regional 

 waste collection or disposal systems to dis- 

 pose of wastes from Air Force facilities. 

 When use of such a system is not feasible or 

 appropriate, do whatever is necessary to sat- 

 isfactorily dispose of such wastes, including 

 the following: 



( 1 ) When appropriate, install and oper- 

 ate waste treatment and disposal facilities. 



(2) Provide trained manpower, labora- 

 tories, and other supporting facilities, as 

 appropriate, to meet the requirements of 

 issued standards. 



(3) Require operators of Air Force pol- 

 lution control facilities to meet levels of pro- 

 ficiency consistent with the operator certifi- 

 cation requirements of the State in which 

 the facility is located. If the State has no re- 

 quirements, use the guidelines on operator 

 qualifications and performance issued by the 

 Secretary of HEW or Interior. 



i. Insure that all materials (including 

 solid fuels, ashes, petroleum products, and 

 other chemical and biological agents) are 

 used, stored, and handled to avoid or mini- 

 mize the possibilities of water and air pollu- 

 tion. 



j. Provide the engineering safeguards 

 (such as dikes, catchment areas, relief ves- 



