Wednesday, November 15, 2006
228-5

Tools for Planning and Operating Sustainable Military Ranges.

Robert Lacey, Paul Loechl, Dick Gebhart, Alan Anderson, and Lindamae Peck. U.S. Army Eng. Res. and Dev. Cntr, 2902 Newmark Dr., Champaign, IL 61826-9005

The 15 million acres managed by the Army are critical to the military mission.  They provide the necessary space to conduct maneuver and live-fire training needed to support that mission.  The size, use, and particular facilities and conditions required for these ranges can pose an environmental management challenge for the military land manager and the range operations planner.  In 2003, the U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Center began developing a suite of tools to address four of the more critical issues associated with military range planning, siting, and operations.  The results were four major products that are now being validated for Army use.  These include:  (1) a Range Design Risk Evaluation Model to identify high priority environmental issues that impact range planning and sustainment, (2) Range Design Specifications Incorporating Environmental Compliance that provide improved design elements for erosion control for specific range components, (3) a  Range Carrying Capacity Model and methodology to determine munitions load and assess operational requirements for long term management, and (4) Tools for Monitoring Range Access that provide the capability to meet requirements for range access controls.  This paper will highlight the relevant elements of these tools that support the military land manager in sustaining land resources.

Handout (.pdf format, 11681.0 kb)