The Lemon Juice Solution: Pollution Prevention and Acquisition Reform
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DoD) has a clear duty to clean up after itself and comply with federal environmental laws and regulations. Defense installations cover tens of millions of square miles of American landscape and impact on its populace, land, water, air, and wildlife. The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security is responsible for ensuring that all DoD activities protect the nation's natural resources. On June 29, Secretary of Defense William J. Perry announced a historic change in the way DoD will buy its weapon systems components and supplies. In short, like the Berlin Wall, DoD is tearing down the MILSPECs system, which required its contractors to follow lengthy detailed instructions to make even the most mundane items. Instead, DoD is going to rely on performance and commercial standards. The Berlin Wall analogy is apt because MILSPECs built a wall in the economy, dividing defense contractors from commercial producers and creating two separate unique industrial bases. The MILSPECs often forced defense contractors to do business differently, take more steps, and do more paperwork. This military-unique system raised DoD's costs, a luxury it cannot afford. It also cut DoD off from the commercial market where many of the technological advances that DoD needs to maintain a strong defense and cleaner environment are happening. With commercial and performance specifications, DoD can save time and money, broaden its base of suppliers, and tap emerging technology like the Hughes Aircraft Company's citric acid soldering flux.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA487547
Entities
People
- Sherri W. Goodman