Skip to main content

Natural Resources: Defense and Interior Can Better Manage Land Withdrawn for Military Use

NSIAD-94-87 Published: Apr 26, 1994. Publicly Released: May 26, 1994.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) and federal resource agencies' management of six legislatively withdrawn lands, focusing on: (1) the extent to which resource management activities and military operations have affected each other; and (2) whether opportunities exist to improve resource management programs at the six locations.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense To develop a more cooperative relationship and strengthen DOD resource management, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy to improve liaison activities with Interior agencies to ensure that local BLM and Fish and Wildlife Service officials have reasonable access to withdrawn lands and military managers.
Closed – Implemented
Since the GAO report was issued, DOD and Interior have been extensively involved in liaison actions regarding the development of the Mojave Ecosystem management initiative in support of the 1995 California Desert Protection Act. Defense planning guidance requires the military departments to complete baseline inventories of natural and cultural resources on a timeline that is consistent with the National Biological Survey. Recent testimony given by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environment refers to DOD actions to coordinate with Interior and Fish and Wildlife Service, such as DOD's land conservation efforts known as "islands of Nature," at Eglin AFB and Camp Pendleton, and the bird conservation program known as the Air Force Bird Strike Hazard (BASH) program at Elmendorf AFB.
Department of Defense To develop a more cooperative relationship and strengthen DOD resource management, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Air Force, Army, and Navy to develop improved baseline data to assess the cumulative effects of current and proposed military operations on range natural resource conditions.
Closed – Implemented
The Defense Planning Guidance (DPG) requires integrated natural resource management plans to be prepared and implemented to provide for the effective management of natural resources and the protection of threatened and endangered species, wetlands, and biodiversity. Installation commanders have ultimate responsibility for implementing these plans in coordination with local and field offices. The military departments must report annually to the Secretary of Defense (OSD) on their progress in implementing DPG requirements. To assist in monitoring those efforts, OSD has developed specific measures of merit to track the progress made. In addition, DOD is continuing to work toward establishment of baseline data for possible use in assessing the cumulative effects of military operations, as required under the environmental impact statement process of Public Law 99-606.
Department of the Interior To strengthen Interior's management under the act, the Secretary of the Interior should direct the Director, BLM, to improve internal controls over military range programs by: (1) establishing schedules and milestones for implementing actions called for in resource management plans; and (2) more closely monitoring implementation milestones and actions accomplished.
Closed – Implemented
DPG requires integrated natural resource management plans to be prepared and implemented to provide for the effective management of natural resources and the protection of threatened and endangered species, wetlands, and biodiversity. Installation commanders have ultimate responsibility for implementing these plans in coordination with local and field offices. The military departments must report annually to the OSD on their progress in implementing DPG requirements. To assist in monitoring those efforts, OSD has developed specific measures of merit to track the progress made. In addition, the DOD is continuing to work toward establishment of baseline data for possible use in assessing the cumulative effects of military operations, as required under the environmental impact statement process of Public Law 99-606.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Combat readinessConservationEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental policiesInteragency relationsLand managementMilitary operationsMilitary trainingNatural resourcesTesting