Consideration of Off-Base Conditions in Installation Master Planning Bob Barnes The Nature Conservancy

Question One: What is the Nature Conservancy and what is it all about?

The Nature Conservancy The Mission of the Nature Conservancy is to conserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive

The Nature Conservancy Work in 33 countries & 50 states 3500 staff in 430 offices Own 1,500 nature preserves in US totaling 2 million acres Have protected 15 million acres in US, 101 million acres overseas Science-based organization Voluntary actions with partners We are NOT an environmental advocacy group - we DO NOT sue folks to compel or prevent actions

Question Two: WHY THE HECK AM I HERE, ANYWAY? The answer to that is straightforward….. –We share common problems –We have overlapping objectives Keep DoD test & training ranges open and operating now and in the future –Why does TNC care about that? Permanently preserve open space and natural areas –Why does DoD care about that? And we now have a powerful new way to work together - the “buffer authority”

DoD and Land Use Planning DoD has engaged local officials in land use issues in the immediate vicinity of military installations for many years Range and Air Installation Compatible Use Zones (RAICUZ/AICUZ) Joint Land Use Studies (JLUS) Current programs have focused on military airfields and near-in incompatible development in clear zones, APZs, explosive safety fans, and high noise/dust areas

So What’s New? Recognition that planning alone is not enough Recognition that compatibility of near-in development, while essential, is insufficient - need to look at all areas of military concern - habitat, flight paths, MOAs, SUA, etc, even if hundreds of miles from the nearest installation Recognition that DoD has a legitimate role as an active participant in civilian land use planning Specific authority in FY 03 NDAA to expend DoD funds to protect off-base lands - to include lands not adjacent to installations

The Paradigm Shift For test and training bases and ranges, the concept of “Installation Master Planning” is outmoded –Absolutely perfect planning addressing only actions inside the fenceline will not result in success Must view the area for required planning more broadly in space and more extended in time –DoD-owned or controlled land is just a part of the broader concept of planning for “areas of DoD concern” - which can be hundreds of miles away –Successful DoD master planning now requires convincing others outside of DoD to do what you want them to do with their land Lead times are very long, but reaction times can be very short - must be able to move quickly

Crisis Reaction vs Crisis Avoidance If you wait until you have a problem, you are about ten years late You must be able to project at least ten years into the future and determine the following: –The full geographic range of “lands of DoD concern” Must be based on projected (not current) mission, tactics, techniques, and systems –The conditions you need those off-base lands to be in –The conditions those lands will likely be in if you don’t intervene You must be willing to disclose the above to local and state governments, other federal agencies, and private sector partners and landowners - even if you aren’t sure - best guesses are required

Working with TNC - The Process Compare mission-essential land use objectives –DoD (current AND projected) –TNC Example: GIS overlay of critical airspace with TNC conservation objectives, find matching goals –Form partnership to pursue coincident objectives –Bring other private and public stakeholders on board –Form action plan –Secure funding –Implement Evaluate results, adjust, run through cycle again

The TNC Approach: Identification of the Portfolio

Joint Gulf Range Complex Navy Air Force

Joint Use Regional Airspace Extends to Jacksonville & connects with Camp Blanding Restricted Airspace

Potential DoD Corridors with Florida Forever and Managed Lands The Nature Conservancy Florida Department of Environmental Protection Okaloosa Economic Development Council Air Armament Center

“Buffer” Projects Now and in the Future Current projects are mostly concentrated on land training bases and Naval Air Stations - HQ USAF just beginning to participate in REPI Over time, ALL military bases and land/air ranges will have buffers - the only issue is which side of the fenceline those buffers will be on The real challenge will be protection of air and land corridors and airspace

The “White Space” Problem Services beginning to address current problems in the “near vicinity” of installations and ranges Tougher issues are range complexes, MTRs and other air corridors and airspace –Who does what to whom: who decides priorities, who plans, who funds, and who has the rose to implement? Joint National Training Capability, integration of test and training on ranges, and return of forces from OCONUS will greatly increase stress on ranges and installations and will make this program even more vital

Some Other Key Issues Active DoD participation in land use planning by other federal agencies Designation of new Wilderness Areas –Continuaton of DoD overflights? Active DoD participation in state and regional land use (including transportation) planning –Working with local governments is essential, but insufficient –Who in DoD should do this? Distributed training and protection of land maneuver corridors between ranges

Some Observations From The Peanut Gallery The buffer program is new, and is about two years into about a five year maturation process To date, action has been largely driven by local initiatives reacting to problems rather than a rigorous DoD-wide, requirements-based approach designed to avoid problems Need to internalize the concept of planning for action “inside the fenceline” as only a subset of “installation” master planning DoD must be willing to disclose possibilities and projections about future requirements, not just certainties and decisions

The Way Forward Fully integrate this program into DoD long range requirements, planning, and budgeting processes –Incorporate the “paradigm shift” in internal DoD master planning regulations and budget formulations Develop a comprehensive and rigorous process to identify required future conditions in non-DoD areas, with a central data repository Establish an OSD level or inter-Service process to comprehensively address “white space” issues and to engage in state and regional planning Re-establish a comprehensive program to coordinate land use with other federal agencies