Integration of Environmental Planning Into the Army Master Planning Process
Abstract
Installation master plan reports are required to address environmental concerns, which are evaluated in an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. Still, the Army can create better, more environmentally sensitive master plans that reduce long-term costs, and environmental assessment documents that fully comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. Army planners face four problems, which often result in ineffective and redundant preparation of separate master planning and environmental reports: (1) the size and complexity of master planning regulations, (2) the need for clarity in master planning regulations regarding the format, content, and timing of environmental components; (3) the need for a stronger policy direction on environmental concerns in master planning regulations; and (4) inconsistencies between Army master planning regulations and environmental impact assessment. This study examined the integration of environmental planning into the Army installation master planning process, emphasizing a proposed revision to the Master Plan regulations (AR 210-20) and improved coordination with the environmental assessment of master plans. The study suggests a comprehensive program-level environmental assessment or Master Environmental Impact Assessment be prepared concurrently with the master plan, with subsequent 'tiered' assessment of more specific actions within the Master Plan program. Automated tools and techniques to help integrate planning are reviewed.... National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA), Environmental planning, Master planning, Environmental assessment, Environmental compliance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA262586
Entities
People
- Catherine Lau
- Elizabeth H. Tyler
- Wes Wheeler
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory