Army Compatible Use Buffers (ACUB) Program Region IV DoD/EPA/States Environmental Conference Janmichael Graine 29 June 2005 Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 1 of 26 24JUN2005
Agenda Encroachment problem Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program Authorities and program intent ACUB example Ft. Bragg Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 2 of 26 24JUN2005
Military lands become refuges of biodiversity California Gnatchatcher 51,000 acres critical habitat Los Angeles Cam p P endleto n 13,000 acres critical habitat 0 5 10 20 Miles San Diego fairy shrimp San Diego Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 3 of 26 24JUN2005
Firing Ranges Ft. Bragg, NC Installation Boundary Suburban Sprawl Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 4 of 26 24JUN2005
Urban Growth at Fort Carson Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 5 of 26 24JUN2005
Impact of Encroachment Installations impact neighbors Noise Smoke / dust Neighbors impact installations Complaints Light pollution (night ops) Training Restrictions (type, timing, and location) Habitat loss (increased conservation burden) Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 6 of 26 24JUN2005
Solution Purchase the lands surrounding military installations Problem Requires congressional authorization (10 U.S.C. 2676 and 2662) Expensive Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 7 of 26 24JUN2005
Another Solution Army Compatible Use Buffers Cooperative agreement between military and partner (NGO, State or Local Gov) Land purchased from willing sellers by partner Military and partner cost share purchase Partner officially holds land title or easement Partner manages land Military may use land for light training and/or to meet ESA responsibility Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 8 of 26 24JUN2005
ACUB Authorities Authority Codified at 10 USC 2684a Agreements to limit encroachments and other constraints on military training, testing, and operations Guidance Memorandum 19 May 2003 Army Range and Training Land Acquisitions and Army Compatible Use Buffers Army Publication 11 Feb 2004 Army Range and Training Lands Strategy Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 9 of 26 24JUN2005
Objectives met through ACUB Prevent boundary development Increase available maneuver space Reduce training restrictions Meet ESA recovery responsibility Protect current and future T & E species listings Reduce Army s time and financial investment in natural resource management Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 10 of 26 24JUN2005
Fort Bragg: an example of successful ACUB implementation Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 11 of 26 24JUN2005
Ft Bragg Background 1991 USFWS Jeopardy Opinion & Range Closure due to RCW a federally protected Endangered Species. 1992 Sandhills dialogue with Army and USFWS. 1995 AEC Establishes Agreements with TNC & USFWS PRIVATE LANDS INITIATIVE BORN. 2000 Sandhills Conservation Partnership formally established. 2003 Defense Authorization Act encourages Ft. Bragg Approach to encroachment prevention. Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 12 of 26 24JUN2005
Ft Bragg Encroachment Issues Training restrictions due to Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) RCW habitat degradation on private lands increases Ft Bragg recovery responsibility. Inadequate land size to recover RCW. Rapid incompatible growth has resulted in high density communities immediately adjacent to training areas. Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 13 of 26 24JUN2005
Examples Fort Bragg RCW Recovery Training Restrictions Reduced on 82,000 Acres OLD, 1994 NEW, 1996-2003 FUTURE Objective Objective Objective Road/Trail Road/Trail Protection @ 200 ft buffer Maneuver outside 50 Ft. radius Cavity Trees Protected Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 14 of 26 24JUN2005
Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 15 of 26 24JUN2005
Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 16 of 26 24JUN2005
The Gap Fort Bragg Camp Mackall Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 17 of 26 24JUN2005
ESA Recovery RCW Populations Connected RCW subpopulation 2 RCW subpopulation 1 + = Fort Bragg Camp Mackall Recovered RCW population Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 18 of 26 24JUN2005
1982 1993 2000 Military Boundary Line Reilly Road New elementary school and residential development Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 19 of 26 24JUN2005
Fort Bragg Red cockaded woodpecker ~ 9000 acres protected Sprawl ~ 7 linear miles of buffer Protected training = 9,390 acres (38 km 2 ) Protected training Targeted buffer areas High population density Moderately high population density Moderate population density Moderately low population density Low population density 0 5 10 20 Kilometers Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 20 of 26 24JUN2005
Prevent Boundary development Military Boundary Line Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 21 of 26 24JUN2005
Protect current and future Threatened and Endangered Species Northern pine snake St. Francis satyr Rough-leaved loosestrife Carolina crawfish frog Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 22 of 26 24JUN2005
PARTNERS Sandhills Ecological Institute Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 23 of 26 24JUN2005
Leverage Funds Fort Bragg USFWS Section 6 funding - provided under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act for habitat acquisition. Natural Heritage Trust Fund and Clean Water Management Trust Fund - funded by the State of North Carolina. NCDOT Endangered Species Mitigation funding - provided to mitigate for the loss of RCW habitat in future highway projects. CoPs funds - Certificates of Participation (bonds) issued by the state of North Carolina for land acquisition around important military installations. EEP - The Ecosystem Enhancement Program of NCDOT/NCDENR to purchase lands or conservation easements as mitigation for future highway projects. Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 24 of 26 24JUN2005
Army Compatible Use Buffers NGO and military working in cooperation Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 25 of 26 24JUN2005
Questions Private Development Military Installation Janmichael Graine / SFIM-AEC-TSR / 410-436-1579 / DSN 584-1579 / janmichael.graine@us.army.mil 26 of 26 24JUN2005