Fort A. P. Hill Army Compatible Use Buffer Program DoD/EPA/States Region III Environmental Colloquium Terry Banks 31 October 2007

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1 Fort A. P. Hill Army Compatible Use Buffer Program DoD/EPA/States Region III Environmental Colloquium Terry Banks 31 October 2007

2 Fort A.P. Hill Fort A. P. Hill exists to operate a regional center providing realistic joint and combined arms training support focused on developing America s Defense Forces to achieve success on the 21 st Century operational environment.

3 Fort A.P. Hill Where America s Military Sharpens Its Combat Edge 75,794 Acres 2 nd Largest Installation 17 in Northeast 301 Vital Statistics 41 Ranges 31 Tng Areas 36 Artillery points 15 Mortar points 12 Camps 8 Aerial Training Areas 1 River Crossing Site 1 Assault Landing Strip ,000 Acres of Maneuver Area Bowling Green 28,000 Acres of Ranges

4 Fort A. P. Hill (An Island of Biodiversity) 85% forested 6,500 acres of wetlands 13 Conservation Areas Threatened and Endangered Species: - Bald Eagles - Small Whorled Pogonia - Swamp Pink Rare Ecological Communities: - Pine Savanna in Impact Area - Old growth-like forests - Bald cypress grove - Eastern white pine forest

5 Virginia Coastal Zone Needs Assessment

Encroachment Located in the 3 rd fastest growing county in the Virginia Population is projected to double in 10 years Result: restrictions on type, timing, and location of training activities that

6 Encroachment Located in the 3 rd fastest growing county in the Virginia Population is projected to double in 10 years Result: restrictions on type, timing, and location of training activities that can compromise military readiness Urban encroachment: Incompatible land use Conflicts over noise, dust, training activity Habitat loss: Army lands increasingly carry conservation responsibilities for surrounding areas

7 Development Pressure

8 ACUB Involves an agreement between an Army installation and another party (NGO, state or local government) that enables the other party to acquire land or interest in land from a willing private land owner. Army gets reduced encroachment and greater training flexibility. Partner get enhanced mission capability (T&E, Hunting, Agricultural) Costs are typically shared as multiple purposes are served (buffering mission, endangered species, hunting etc). Often involves stakeholder partnerships for decision making. Authorized: FY03 NDAA S 2811

9 Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Objectives Protect and enhance the military training lands and military readiness Conserve and protect natural resources and conservation areas Protect cultural resources Prevent development along boundary

10 Light Pollution

11 Training Noise

12 Mission Priorities

13 ACUB Process In 2004 established a Conservation Consortium Representatives from state agencies, counties, land trusts, and conservation organizations (TNC, TPL, & CF) Defined common areas of interest and priorities Lack of digitized property identification

14 Approved ACUB In early 2005 DA approved ACUB Proposal 3 Cooperative Agreements with TNC, TPL, & CF MOU Signing ceremony First easement acquisition of 1,320 acres

15 Key Points Find existing partnerships - Rappahannock River Valley Refuge Partnership Establish priorities because resources are limited Explore all avenues for other funding such as

16 Ideal Alternate Mitigation Plan No Additional Excavations Historic properties are entirely mitigated through Alternate Mitigation. Purchase of Preservation Easements on Camden Property (ACUB Program) Funds for traditional data recovery are used to procure easements on known, off-site historic properties within proposed ACUB areas.

17 Alternate Mitigation: Some Concerns from Non-Army Archaeologists Concept Introduced to Various Virginia Archaeologists, Including: Chris Egghart, VDEQ Mary Ellen Hodges, VDOT Tony Opperman, VDOT Patrick O Neill, ASV Northern Virginia Chapter President Eric Voigt, Louis Berger Group Dennis Pogue, Mount Vernon Michael Johnson, Fairfax County Cultural Resource Protection Section Barbara Heath, University of Tennessee Primary Concerns Identified: Importance of all eligible sites. Phase II results must be thorough and standardized. Must have a method to compare affected sites with alternate sites. Public and professional involvement required in determining the compatibility of an alternate site with an affected site.

18 Proposed Alternate Mitigation Alternate Mitigation will Combine: Limited additional field investigations. Public outreach, including: Public participation in field investigations. Production of brochures and videos. Historical context development through the existing Oral History Project. Purchase of preservation easements at Camden. Development of Phase II Evaluation Standards Ultimately, specific standards must be established and implemented at all sites where Alternate Mitigation may replace standard data recovery.

19 QUESTIONS?? TERRY BANKS (804)

20 10 U.S.C. 2684a Cooperative Agreement Authority Allows Military Depts. to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to address use or development of property near a military installation to: (1) limit incompatible development (2) preserve habitat Eligible entity is state government or private organization with purpose of land or natural resource conservation Military Dept. and cooperating partner share acquisition costs

January 28, Parcel sale. Proposed Clarks Creek Property Sale. Potential sale of acres 8/27/2015

January 28, Parcel sale. Proposed Clarks Creek Property Sale. Potential sale of acres 8/27/2015 Proposed Clarks Creek Property Sale January 28, 2015 Potential sale of 383.8 acres CRW The Conservation Fund PA Game Commission The Conservation Fund is Fort Indiantown Gap selected partner Using Fort