Direct Line: NAS Sigonella Public Works Officer Cmdr. Michael Jarosz

Sig Citizens,

As your Public Works Officer, I have two important items that I would like to discuss with you; first, the status of the NAS II gate construction and second, the publishing of our annual water quality reports.

I apologize that the NAS II entry control facility (the main gate) did not open June 14 as advertised. The asphalt pavement placed on the roadways throughout the facility did not meet our quality standards and will require significant re-work. Note that while the new roadway is not expected to hold up for its intended 30-year design life, it is perfectly safe and usable in the near term. Therefore, since all other aspects of the entry control facility have been inspected and accepted by the government, the NAS Sigonella Security Department will be opening the gate sometime soon while the Public Works Department makes preparations for asphalt repairs at a later time.

Because it becomes increasingly difficult to place quality asphalt when temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, delaying the repairs until temperatures cool off will better enable a satisfactory and lasting solution. While at some point, additional closures will be required, opening the gate now will reduce the overall closure duration by several weeks because the repair plan design can be developed while the gate is temporarily operational.

Once temperatures drop and we are ready to move forward, Public Works will work with the Security Department and base leadership to minimize impacts as much as possible. Please be prepared for a gate closure of up to several weeks while we finish the job. Upon completion of the road repairs and construction of the Visitor Control Center—on schedule for delivery this fall—we will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of this new and improved capability for the Sigonella community. Again, I am very sorry for the inconvenience and greatly appreciate your understanding.

On a separate and unrelated note, I am proud to announce that our annual water quality reports (formally known as the consumer confidence reports) will be published July 1. These reports are required by Navy Policy Environmental Protection Agency regulations and include general information to educate our community about our water sources, treatment processes, standard requirements, and other details to assure you that your water is fit for human consumption. They include calendar year 2018 monitoring data from each of our water systems including NAS I, NAS II, Marinai, and Niscemi. These reports are available on the official NAS Sigonella web site in both English and Italian. The reports can be accessed after July 1 via the following link: http://cnic.navy.mil/ regions/cnreurafswa/ installations/nas_sigonella/om/ environmental_support.html

Again, thank you for your continued support and patience with the gate construction projects. Ultimately, the delivery of both improved entry control facilities this year will better serve and protect all Sigonella personnel.