PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii –
When hazardous waste storage at the Consolidated Storage Facility in Guam recently reached a critical point, one Defense Logistics Agency environmental protection specialist’s initiative helped turn a complex challenge into a streamlined, cost-effective success.
DLA Disposition Services Guam’s Steven Bucher led efforts to implement a new ISO tank petroleum, oil, and lubricant pumping operation that addressed a pressing storage issue and saved the government more than $19,000 on the first task order alone.
Dealing with nearly 320 drums of non-regulated POL waste totaling over 130,000 pounds by using standard disposal methods based on weight would have cost upwards of $212,000. Bucher proposed a more efficient and cost-effective approach: pump the waste directly on-site into truck-mounted ISO tanks and process the material based on volume. This innovative solution reduced disposal costs to $192,325 and expedited the removal process. The savings were immediate, and the benefits extend far beyond the bottom line.
Bucher was supported by his counterpart, DLA Environmental Technician Peter Contreras, who played a key role in coordinating logistics and ensuring operational continuity throughout the process. Contreras’ was instrumental in aligning day-to-day execution with overall project objectives, further solidifying the operation’s success.
Area leadership said the project required seamless coordination among multiple entities, including Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Marianas and a local logistics contractor. Jessie Crawford, the environmental compliance officer with NAVFAC Marianas, confirmed that the operation could proceed safely after a site visit and assessment. The area designated for pumping was flat, free of storm drains, and stocked with necessary spill containment supplies. With the green light in place, the contractor began removing drums and transferring contents into ISO tanks, all within the same day – a process designed to prevent accumulation and reduce environmental risk.
Beyond solving the immediate backlog, Bucher’s initiative laid the foundation for a more sustainable and scalable waste management process. By recommending the use of single document tracking identifiers for volume-based waste turn-ins, the administrative workload was simplified, and future operations can be executed more quickly. With more drums of POL waste expected to arrive from Diego Garcia in the coming months, the long-term cost savings and operational efficiencies are expected to grow.
James Coombs, area manager for DLA Disposition Services Guam, praised Bucher’s leadership and foresight, calling the project a model for responsible and resource-conscious waste handling. Faron Cordrey, director of the DLA Disposition Services Indo-Pacific region, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that Bucher’s work exemplifies the organization’s commitment to mission readiness, environmental stewardship, and fiscal accountability.
What began as a routine operational challenge became a standout example of how innovative thinking, interagency collaboration, and decisive action can yield lasting impact. In today’s demanding logistics environment, efforts like these prove that mission success and responsible resource management are not only compatible – they go hand in hand.