John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E.

John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E.

John Richard Sabol, J.D., P.E. (21 December 1932 – 3 August 2000) was the Chief Environmental & Contracting Programming / Community Planner / Construction Engineer for George Air Force Base, CA from June 1976 to February 1981.

Dr. Sabol Letter # 1

“Dear Frank,

In accordance with our past discussions, this letter should serve to summarize the work that I did at George Air Force Base. My period of employment began in June 1976 and ended in 1981 when transferred to Norton Air Force Base. I became the Chief of Environmental and Contract Programming, a new branch of the Air Force. As such, I did much of the preliminary investigations of hazardous waste sites which have been the subject of many subsequent reports.

Sometime in 1979, I did drilling work in a remote desert wash south of the large base bomb dump south of Air Base Road. Within the S.W. portion of Section 36 T6N, R5W, there was located a radioactive site clearly marked and fenced. Subsequent drilling with a 91/2 auger showed x- ray film, glass, wood, A-C gages and other material stored in 55 gal drums. We also found a large area where hydrocarbons cleared from the bottom of bulk storage tanks had been buried. Because of the remoteness of this site and the fact that hazardous wastes had been disposed of over the years, it is possible that other hazardous material placed there escaped our preliminary investigations.

During this time in 1979, the Air Force program was new and money was hard to come by.

I hope that this will provide you with some helpful information.

Best regards,
John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E.”

Dr. John R. Sabol Letter # 1 – 28 June 1996 – PDF

  • I filed a FOIA request on 20 February 2013 for Dr.Sabol’s investigations as of the 26 January 2014 I have not received the request reports/investigations.  See:  FOI AF Civil Engineer Center Sabol – 20 Feb 2013 – PDF
  • Additionally, I have a statement of facts from Dr.Sabol testifying that he oversaw a search for radioactive contamination at George AFB and located 18 to 20 barrels of radioactive material. 
  • This assessment/investigation of hazardous materials at George AFB predates the official Air Force’s environmental assessment and remediation program.

Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Public Health Assessment of George AFB

I can find no evidence that Dr. Sabol was interviewed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and none of his environmental reports/investigations were reviewed for or referenced in the ATSDR Public Health Assessment of George AFB.


George Air Force Base Administrative Record (AR)

I can find no evidence that Dr. Sabol was interviewed by any of the contractors involved in the Air Force Installation Restoration Program (IRP) and none of his environmental reports/investigations are in the George AFB Administrative Record (AR).

Dr. Sabol was Chief of Environmental and Contract Programming Officer for George Air Force Base, from June 1976 to February 1981 and he conducted numerous environmental assessments at George AFB.  However, his name appears only once in the  Administrative Records for George AFB.

A search of the Administrative Records for George AFB, Norton AFB, and Mach AFB using the search term “Sabol” was conducted on 27 January 2014 with the following results.

  • The first document in the George Air Force Base Administrative Record (AR) is Needed Investigation Of Waste Disposal Sites Having Received Hazardous/Toxic Materials, 10 September 1981.
  • The first environmental study in the George AFB AR is Phase I, Records Search Report, Vol I of II CH2M Hill – 1 January 1982
  • Source accessed on:  9 January 2012

John R. Sabol, J.D., – P.E. Education

  • 1958 Majored in Structural Engineering, Obtained B.S.C.E. from Lafayette College, Easton/ Pennsylvania
  • 1958 – 59 Took various courses in Construction and demolition U. S. Army Engineering School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
  • 1960 – 62 Various graduate courses in Hydraulics and Engineering Management, University of California, Los Angeles
  • 1963 – 64 Various graduate courses in Concrete Design Soils Investigation, San Bernardino, California
  • 1966 – 72 Completed Law School. Obtained Juris Doctor Degree. Western State College of Law, Anaheim, California
  • 1975 Completed courses in environmental law, hazardous waste cleanup, cultural procedures, design
  • 1982 Completed Air War College

John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E. – Professional Qualifications 

  • Registered Professional Engineer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania P.E. 011862E
  • Registered Civil Engineer, State of California 15958
  • Registered Professional Engineer, State of Nevada 3771
  • Registered Professional Engineer, State of Arizona 7558
  • Registered Civil Engineer, State of Colorado 13798
  • Fellow in Society of American Military Engineers

John R. Sabol, J.D., P.E. curriculum vitae (CV)

This is a scanned of a portion of Dr. Sabol’s curriculum vitae (CV) – PDF that was OCR’d and may have some typos. 

JOHN R. SABOL

SSN: xxx-xx-xxx

1979 – 1981     Chief, Environmental and Contract Programming 

George Air Force Ease, California

– Promotion included the provision that I work as Community Planner and Chief for a year.

– Directed the installation’s community, environmental protection, natural resources and contract planners by (a) assigning duties and responsibilities (b) outlining the overall objectives, (3) providing guidance on critical problems and policy changes, (d) reviewing work to ascertain the degree to which assigned objectives are being achieved, and (3) ensuring that work has been adequately coordinated.  Interviewed, selected, and indoctrinated new employees.  Recommended and/or maintained office personnel records.

– Provided overall management as well as executive leadership in the Installation Environmental Planning Process.  Ensured compliance with applicable laws, directives and regulations and all environmental planning matters carried out as part of a coordinated process.  Prepared agendas for, making presentations to and serving as the Executive Secretary of the Installation Facilities Board. Serve as the Executive Secretary of the Installation Environmental protection Committee ensuring that EPC members are appointed on orders, that EPC members have attended or are scheduled to attend the AFIT EPC Members Course and prepares and distributes EPC minutes and agendas.

– Provided overall management as well as executive leadership in the contract planning process.  Prepared and maintained plans and programs for all work done by contract.

– Managed the implementation and maintenance of the Interagency / Intergovernmental

– Coordination for Environmental Planning (IICEP) program, ensuring that all plans, programs and/or activities were properly coordinated with designated agencies. Maintained continuous coordination with counterparts as Air Force Regional Civil Engineers, major command and other DOD installations within the state or region, ensured that environmental planning activities conducted by other governmental agencies in the vicinity of the installation were closely monitored for consistency with Air Force activities and for potential conflicts and that appropriate corrective action is taken.

– Reviewed, coordinated, and assisted in the preparation of all environmental planning and contract planning, programs and documents, such as Base Comprehensive Plan, Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ), 1MB Circular A-91, socioeconomic analysis, airfield and airspace, explosive safety, OMB Circular A-106, air pollution, water pollution, air quality assessments, Air Quality Assessment Model (AQAM), solid waste, noise pollution, fish and wildlife, forest management, outdoor recreation and cultural resources, land management, grazing and agricultural outleasing, landscape development, endangered species, and pesticide use and control (to ensure consistency and compliance), DD Forms 1391/1391C, MAREMIC Report, utilities conservation, and contract funds budget. Ensure that environmental planning factors are adequately considered and that they are consistent with all installation environmental planning requirements operating instructions, regulations, construction programs, operations plans, Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements, budget estimates and funded programs, NPDES applications prepared by the base, environmental protection permits and consent declarations, survey reports, audits, inspection reports, and special requirements from higher headquarters.

1978 – 1980     Community Planner 

George Air Force Base, California

– Functioned as the installation focal point for community, regional, urban, comprehensive and land use planning by: (a) formulating plans and implementation techniques and developing a board base of strategies and procedures necessary to the successful conduct of the installation comprehensive planning process, (b) serving and advisor to the installation commander, base civil engineer and all base elements on the comprehensive planning process, (c) representing the Air Force with authoritative advice and evidence on the comprehensive planning process, (c) representing the Air Force with authoritative advice and evidence on comprehensive planning matters affecting the installation at local  and regional public meetings and hearings, and at other interagency meetings by utilizing knowledge of participatory process, negotiation, planning methodology, federal and state law, local ordinances and principles and practices of city, urban, and regional planning, (d) maintaining continuous coordination with Air Force regional civil engineer, major command, Air Force civil engineering center, Air Force commissary service, and Army, Air Force exchange service and other DOD installation counterparts within the state and/or regions.

– Managed the development, preparation, implementation, and maintenance of the installation comprehensive plan through a participatory process involving all segments of the installation community.

– Managed the development, preparation, implementation and maintenance of the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) program working directly with the installation commander and appropriate staff.

– Managed the implementation of the Interagency / Intergovernmental Coordination for Environmental Planning (IICEP) program.

– Managed the implementation and maintenance of the OMB Circular A-95 program.

– Reviewed and coordinated, as well as assisted in the preparation of the following to ensure that comprehensive planning factors were adequately considered and that they were consistent with the installation’s Comprehensive Plan, the AICUZ, IICEP, and OMB Circular A-95 requirements.

I am not a doctor, Veterans Service Officer (VSO), or attorney; therefore, I cannot provide medical or legal advice.

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