LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 1 of October 2006 Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program Information, Status and New Initiatives LTC Joe Knott ACUB Program Manager 13 October 2006

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 2 of October 2006 What is an ACUB? Protects current installation land for training and testing Important element of long-term range sustainability Involves an agreement between an installation and partner(s) to address land use or development around the installation –Partners include state or local government or private conservation organization –Installation contributes funds towards partner acquiring land or interest in land from a willing private land owner Involves significant cooperation with stakeholders Cooperative Agreement obligates funds

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 3 of October 2006 What ACUB is Not Not a program to purchase additional Army lands Not a program to acquire additional training or testing areas Not the entire solution, but an important tool to assist in mitigating the impacts of encroachment on the installation’s ability to “train as we fight”

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 4 of October 2006 ACUB Details Proposals prepared locally, reviewed for approval up through HQDA Three-part process: −Proposal approval (evaluated for benefit to training) −Priority (according to strategic training importance and ability to affect encroachment) −Funding (dependent on priority, partner participation, level of cost- sharing and cooperation with other Services) Centrally managed and O&M funded Cooperating partner and willing seller are essential Cooperative Agreement through RDECOM, USAMRAA or NGB PARC obligates funds to partner

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 5 of October 2006 Land Protection Mechanisms Conservation easement: −Landowner retains ownership and rights to use land for limited purposes as specified in agreement −Some land or habitat management responsibilities in accordance with agreement Purchase of development rights: −Landowner retains title to land but with limited development potential Fee-simple purchase: −Purchase of property rights and title; most costly option

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 6 of October 2006 Fort Carson, CO Fort Sill, OK Fort Stewart, GA Camp Blanding, FL US Army Garrison, HI Camp Ripley, MN Approved ACUB Proposals Fort Lewis, WA Fort AP Hill, VA Fort Bragg, NC Fort Campbell, KY Fort Hood, TX Fort Riley, KS Camp San Luis Obispo, CA Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD Fort Polk, LA Fort Benning, GA Fort Custer, MI Camp Shelby, MS Pending ACUB Proposals Fort Knox, KY White Sands Missile Range, NM Fort Huachuca, AZ Fort Bliss, TX Fort Pickett, VA Fort Drum, NY Fort Devens, MA Current ACUB Status Proposal status: 16 installations with approved ACUB proposals 9 additional proposals expected for FY07 review/approval

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 7 of October 2006 ACUB Program Funding Status FY05 (5 Installations): $6.5M from OSD, $12.5M in ACSIM end-of-year funding FY06 (16 Installations): $19.1M from OSD, $5.15M in ACSIM end-of-year funding FY07 (20 installations): $66M requirement

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 8 of October 2006 FY05-06 ACUB Accomplishments Reducing the impacts of encroachment on our Installations: –Number of approved ACUB proposals increased fivefold to 16 at the end of FY06 Supporting our Installations’ ability to train Soldiers: –Over 54,000 acres of buffer area protected around our Installations to date Leveraging Army O&M funds: –FY05/06 ($17.1M) to receive over $25M in DoD buffer funds –Average 2:1 ratio in partner contributions

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 9 of October 2006 ACUB Program Initiatives ACUB Program Guidance Document under development –Outline roles and responsibilities –Articulate evolving guidance and policy G3 encroachment matrix and priorities under review HQ level outreach, partnerships and MOUs with Ducks Unlimited and NRCS Multiple benefit ACUB pilot (wetlands banking or conservation credits) Broad-based sustainability tool-set for comprehensive approach to sustaining military land and air capabilities into the future

LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program 10 of October 2006 ACUB Program Opportunities Capitalize on cooperative conservation momentum Demonstrate continued success and results to Congress for increased REPI funding Multiply leveraging opportunities Support Army Strategy for Environment and national environmental ethic