Sustaining DOD ranges: A national environmental challenge

Abstract

Over the last 30 years, the Department of Defense's (DOD's) Environmental Program has evolved through three distinct phases: planning, cleanup, and compliance. Increased concerns by regulators and the public over environmental and safety issues have recently brought increased attention to munitions and range management. Munitions management and western land withdrawals have been the DOD's range focus for the last five years in order to meet congressional mandates. Munitions management emphasis has yielded such direction as the Military Munitions Rule, DOD Directives 4715.11 “Environmental and Explosive Safety Management on Department of Defense Active and Inactive Ranges,” AF Instruction 13–212, and the developing Munitions Action Plan (MAP) and draft Range Rule. While munitions safety and environmental impact on our ranges are very important, they are only the most publicized of the numerous interrelated range challenges, such as noise and encroachment. DOD rangeland withdrawals have introduced new range management requirements. Numerous DOD ranges have come under attack with some actually being shut down. Attempts to establish new ranges have faced stiff opposition resulting in significant changes, decreased capabilities, and greatly increased costs. New weapon systems are being developed with increased range and autonomy that drive the need for expanded range capabilities. These events all highlight the fundamental role comprehensive range planning must fill to support sustainable ranges within DOD. This article proposes an overarching companion document to the draft MAP: a Range and Airspace Action Plan (RAAP). Three keys to the RAAP comprehensive sustainable range planning are presented: defining ranges comprehensively, documenting current range environmental impacts through National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and comprehensive planning for a sustainable future.