Goals 11 and 12:
Training Lands and
Buffer Zones
Five-Year Plan
Training Lands and Buffer Zones Goal
The original long term goal for this Five-Year
Plan was to ensure that training ranges are capable of supporting current
and future military training to standard by 2029, and to buffer Fort Carson
and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) 100 percent from encroachment. The
desired end state is proactive monitoring of training lands, mitigation of
archaeological sites, zero environmental and safety impacts (from expended
munitions), and minimal training restrictions due to encroachment or endangered
species.
Background
This goal is the result of the combination of two
goals from the Sep 2002 sustainability conference. The revised, final goal
is: “Training Ranges (land and associated air space used for live fire ranges,
maneuver, testing and that urban development designated for Military Operations
in Urban Terrain [MOUT] training) capable of supporting current and future
military training to standard. The original goals were:
Training ranges (firing
ranges, air space, and maneuver lands) capable of supporting current and
future military training to standard.
An installation (Fort
Carson and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site) buffered from external encroachment.
The intent of these goals is to:
Coordinate better between Army and non-governmental
organizations.
Increase the intrinsic value of the Installation
to the community.
Prevent the degradation of live-fire facilities.
Prevent urban encroachment as much as possible
through coordination with surrounding communities.
Ease the burden of threatened and endangered species
protection on the Installation.
Address conflicting issues of population growth
and training.
Ease limitations on organic mountain training sites.
Provide the training area to suit the mission.
Address projected requirements at PCMS.
Address future weapon capabilities.
Address the ability of PCMS to support Post Mobilization
Maneuver Training Center (PMMTC).
Limit “workarounds” caused by environmental restrictions.
Allow training of Mission Essential Task List to
standard.
Minimize maneuver damage by training troops.
Apply land management that best supports tactical
use/need of training land.
Establish buffer zones to reduce training restrictions.
The Training Lands and Buffer Zone team established
assumptions to the Five-Year Plan. These are:
The initial five-year goal period for Goal #11
runs FY 2004-2009.
In order for Goal #11 to be achieved, approved
annual funding will not be diverted.
The term “Training Ranges” translates into land
and associated air space used for live fire ranges, maneuver, testing and
that urban development designated for MOUT training.
The Division of Range Management and the DECAM
will work closely together each year in order to achieve successful execution
of the Training Ranges Program. Combined quarterly reviews will be introduced
as the key management tool for
these two organizations.
PCMS may expand sufficiently to allow for an evolving
operational doctrine, such as the 100x100 kilometer maneuver box, the area
currently identified for Objective Force maneuver.
The term “buffer” translates into acquisition (purchase
and/or lease) of sufficient land adjacent to Fort Carson/PCMS to preclude
encroachment (this includes endangered species management and National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) mandates).
Current federal statutory requirements do not offer relief from either NHPA
or NEPA requirements within conservation lease/easement opportunities.
DA Civilian salaries are not included in the attached
matrix objective/initiative cost figures, except for range improvement/construction
projects.
As the Army transforms over the next 25 years,
the systems and missions of Fort Carson are liable to change. Training range
requirements for the Interim and Objective Forces may far surpass that of
the current Legacy Force. For example, more lethal future weapons systems
will most likely function at greater distances than today’s systems. Future
maneuver doctrine will most likely call for coverage over far greater distances.
Future operational doctrine might call for the preponderance of fighting
and consequently training to be done at night. All this points to the need
for further evaluation of current and future land use requirements and potential
rearrangement of current range capabilities.
Land conditions directly affect the ability of
Fort Carson’s units to conduct and sustain realistic readiness training over
time and to conserve and enhance ecosystem health. Environmental concerns
include erosion control, vegetation management, sediment movement, runoff,
water quality and wildlife habitat management. Sustaining Fort Carson’s land
in a high-quality condition is of paramount importance, and may require land
to be placed in a temporary rest condition in order to provide long-term
training service. Programs for these conditions will have to be funded and
executed annually in order to provide viable training ranges out 25 years.
An expanding Colorado Springs and Pueblo surround
Fort Carson. Close proximity of civilian lands generates noise complaints.
Resolution of such complaints requires community education on the importance
of Army training and the role of Fort Carson units in the Army’s strategic
plans; this in addition to common sense training plans designed to alleviate
some civilian nuisance concerns.
Fort Carson must continue to work with local communities
to influence local land use management in order to minimize the following:
impacts of adjacent community growth on readiness training and training land
sustainment; impacts that Army activities may have on adjacent communities.
The lease and/or purchase of conservation easements on adjacent lands can
expand species habitats, reduce restrictions on training, and create buffers
between Army activities and the desirable growth of surrounding communities.
In addition, realistic community zoning and real estate transactions should
reflect and minimize the impacts of Fort Carson’s training mission.
Fort Carson must manage, repair and sustain training
ranges in order to minimize training impacts on surface water and ground
water quality. This includes reducing sediment movement and removing munitions
and metal contaminants from water sources; this within the parameters of
safety considerations.
Fort Carson must manage, repair and sustain training
lands to minimize training impacts on cultural resources and to balance preservation
and conservation with training requirements. The main restriction to training
is digging within the boundaries of protected archaeological sites. Cultural
resource staff must work closely with training staff, continually evaluating,
protecting and mitigating sites while supporting training requirements and
priority work projects.
The Natural Step System Conditions
Special Challenges (and Barriers)
Fort Carson cannot control public land planning
El Paso County is one of the fastest growing counties
in the U.S.
Some legal requirements impede sustainability goals
Ever changing Army requirements
Ever changing Army operational concepts
Strategies
Develop and implement measuring/monitoring plans
Include funding for training, upgrades, environmental
projects and ITAM into budget
Develop a plan to mitigate/identify all archaeological
sites
Develop and execute a plan to proactively address
future land use requirements for mission accomplishment
Education/awareness programs
Finalize buffer zone and easement agreements
Areas of Overlap
Partnerships
Training and Awareness
Master Planning
Objectives, Initiatives, Steps and Resources
Objective 11.1: Provide the capability for units
training on Fort Carson and PCMS to train to standard and sustain that level
of performance consistently over time.
Initiatives: See attached spreadsheet.
Objective 11.2: Maintain an Unfinanced Requirement
Plan identifying needed upgrades to support facilities and infrastructure.
Initiatives: See attached spreadsheet.
Objective 11.3: Provide environmental monitoring
and maintenance of training lands and biodiversity.
Initiatives: See attached spreadsheet.
Objective 11.4: Conduct a Land Use Requirements
Study and Alternatives Analysis.
Initiatives: See attached spreadsheet.
Objective 11.5: Ensure no significant environmental
and safety impacts of expended munitions, to include Unexploded Ordnance
(UXO).
Initiatives: See attached spreadsheet.
Objective 11.6: Mitigation of archaeological
sites to open training lands where appropriate and feasible.
Initiative 11.6.1: Conduct archaeological
Phase I inventories and annual surveys.
Lead: DECAM
Action Agent: DECAM
Steps Resources Needed
Time/Cost
|
Complete 100% of Phase
I inventories of all land at Fort Carson Military Reservation (FCMR)
|
Funding
|
$2.5M
|
|
Complete 100% of Phase I inventories of all land
at PCMS
|
Funding
|
$3.0M
|
|
Complete 100% of Phase I inventories of all land
at PCMS
|
Funding
|
$17.0M
|
Measure: Number of acres surveyed
on trainable lands by 2009.
Initiative 11.6.2: Complete Phase II testing
on 10% of all eligible sites in training lands each year between FY03 and
FY07.
Lead: DECAM
Action Agent: DECAM
Steps Resources Needed
Time/Cost
|
Archaeological Phase II
testing projects for FCMR
|
Funding
|
$2,000,000
|
|
Archaeological Phase II testing projects for FCMR
|
Funding
|
$2,500,000
|
|
Archaeological Phase II testing projects for FCMR
|
Funding
|
$1,500,000
|
Measure: Number of acres opened
for unrestricted training by 2009.
Objective 11.7: Ensure ranges are buffered from
external encroachment where appropriate and feasible.
Initiative 11.7.1: Develop key buffer zones
adjoining Fort Carson and PCMS.
Lead: DECAM and DPW
Action Agent: DECAM and DPW
Steps Resources Needed
Time/Cost
|
Acquire easements/leases
that preclude development
|
Implement 2 year interim conservation lease on
Walker Easement
|
Done
|
|
Develop fee title acquisition plan
|
Time to develop draft conservation easement and
long term lease
|
$12,000,000
|
|
Partner with key local agencies (Conservation Districts,
Municipalities and counties)
|
Funding to implement easement/lease
|
$200,000
|
|
Partner for local zoning opportunities
|
Funding for development of Walker #2 easement
|
$17,000,000
|
Measures: Acres acquired, land
use conflicts reduced, and environmental management opportunities increased
by 2009.
SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT
PAGE
PAGE 113
1. Nature is not subject to systematically increasing
concentrations of substances extracted from the earth’s crust.
2. Nature is not subject to systematically increasing
concentrations of substances produced by society.
3. Nature is not subject to increasing degradation
by physical means.
4. Human needs are met worldwide.
Measures:
10% ecosystem component surveys at FCMR
33% available training acreage soil/ecological
site surveyed.
101,000 acres FCMR trainable
225,000 acres PCMS trainable
Statistical trend analysis for encroachment that
shows flat line.
Statistical trend analysis for HAP/VOC that shows
decrease.
All wetlands surveyed and in National Wetland Inventory
(NWI)
Target 5-25 years
All needed funding identified for upgrades and safety
needs
Target 5-25 years
100% restoration of installation lands to sustainable,
native ecosystems
Zero percent encroachment maintained
Decrease or no significant difference in sedimentation
and erosion
Damaging wildfires eliminated; fire used to meet
ecological needs
Target 2-5 years
90% Reduction of noxious weeds
Zero percent further encroachment
50% reduction of HAP/VOC at FCMR and PCMS
Decrease or no significant difference in sedimentation.
No net gains in erosion.
10% of trainable acres treated annually for fire
hazard reduction.
Target 2-5 years
UFRs in place and funding identified
UFR Plan for long-term needs
:
Baseline 2002
Firing
trails, latrines, asphalt and crossings needed that do not have a UFR in
place
Measures:
UFR Plan in place
Initiatives:
Surveys and Monitoring
Baseline Studies
Inventories
Better Management Systems
Goal 11
– Sustainable Training Lands and Buffer Zones: Ensure that training ranges are
capable of supporting current and future military training standard by 2029.
Objective 11.2:
Maintain an Unfinanced
Requirement (UFR) Plan identifying needed upgrades to support facilities
and infrastructure.
Baseline 2002
Encroachment Growing
Adequate Environmental Monitoring
No long range Plan
Initiatives:
Identify needed upgrades
Identify construction needed to provide further
safety measures
Goal 11
– Sustainable Training Lands and Buffer Zones: Ensure that training ranges are
capable of supporting current and future military training standard by 2029.
Objective 11.3: Provide environmental
monitoring and maintenance of training lands and biodiversity.
Measures:
Less than 10% maneuver acreage bare at any given
time
Reduction of training accidents
100% GIS data current
Digital Ortho-Photography (DOP) aerial imagery
completed for PCMS and Fort Carson
INRMP and ICRMP updates complete
Land Use Regional Study (LURS) completed
Sustainability and environmental considerations
in all decisions
Initiatives:
ITAM Program
Purchase GIS data
Purchase DOP
Update ICRMP and the INRMP
LURS
Environmental documentation for emerging requirements,
missions, plans, and projects
Target 5-25 years
Continuing ITAM education
Long-range plan for erosion control, reseeding,
crossings, signage, and maps implemented
DOP of PCMS purchased every 5 years
Ranges and training lands buffered from encroachment
Target 2-5 years
Cross-trained and qualified ITAM personnel
Long range plan for erosion control, reseeding,
crossings, signage, maps
DOP of PCMS purchased
Environmental documentation completed for LURS
and emerging mission requirements
Goal 11
– Sustainable Training Lands and Buffer Zones: Ensure that training ranges are
capable of supporting current and future military training standard by 2029.
Objective 11.1:
Provide the capability
for units training on Fort Carson and PCMS to train to standard and sustain
that level of performance consistently over time.
Goal 11
– Sustainable Training Lands and Buffer Zones: Ensure that training ranges are
capable of supporting current and future military training standard by 2029.
Objective 11.4: Plan, program, and
allocate sufficient resources annually to support unit training to standard.
This includes funding for unit training, range maintenance/upgrade, environmental
projects and ITAM.
Baseline 2002
Adequate ITAM Execution
No Long Term Plan
No Current Digital Ortho-Photography of PCMS
Target 5-25 years
100% use of green munitions
Land cleared of UXO, expended munitions
Munitions reliability/accountability increased
to no UXO
Target 2-5 years
Lead migration project complete
Green ammunition being tested
Acceptable land use controls in place
Background soil and ground water chemistry used
to determine levels of contamination
25% land cleared of UXO, expended munitions
:
Baseline 2002:
Current
Minimal Monitoring: no Long Range Plan
No UXO
Remediation or Restoration Plan
Initiatives:
Soil and ground water contamination monitoring
and control; annual review
Research green ammunition
Use of Ecorisk evaluation
Development of acceptable land use controls criteria
with CDPHE
Background groundwater and soil modules complete
Incorporate cleanup procedures in Range Management
Plan
Measures:
Yearly inspections and reviews of impact show
no further impacts of expended munitions compared to 2002 baseline with 25%
of range areas cleaned up to CDPHE requirements based on Acceptable Land
Use Plan
.
Goal 11
– Sustainable Training Lands and Buffer Zones: Ensure that training ranges are
capable of supporting current and future military training standard by 2029.
Objective 11.5: Ensure no significant
environmental and safety impacts of expended munitions, to include UXO.
Initiatives:
Archaeological Phase I inventories with annual
surveys.
Archaeological Phase II testing projects with annual
projects.
Target 5-25 years
100% of Phase I survey and inventory of all training
lands, with the need for documentation only – no trend, no action.
Completion of Phase II testing on eligible sites
in training lands with need for documentation only, no trend, no action.
Target 2-5 years
75% completion of Phase I survey and inventory
of all training lands.
Complete Phase II testing on 10% of eligible sites
in training lands per year.
:
Baseline 2002
Mitigation of archaeological sites as discovered
during training
No long term survey/mitigation plan
Measures:
Number of acres surveyed on trainable lands.
Number of acres opened for unrestricted training.
Goal 11
– Sustainable Training Lands and Buffer Zones: Ensure that training ranges are
capable of supporting current and future military training standard by 2029.
Objective 11.6: Mitigation of archaeological
sites to open training lands as appropriate and feasible.
Initiatives:
Acquisition of easements or leases that preclude
development.
Fee title acquisition.
Partnerships with key local agencies.
Eco-regional management initiative.
Target 5-25 years
Long-term acquisition plan for Fort
Carson and PCMS developed
Zero conflicts/complaints
Development of sustainable eco-regional management
plans
Target 2-5 years
FCMR:
2 Year Interim Conservation Lease on Walker Easement
Complete Walker Number 2 Easement
PCMS:
Conservation, easement, fee title, and other relevant
plans
Plan Schedule implemented
:
Baseline 2002
