Sustaining the Readiness of North Carolina s Military September 10, 2013 Mark Sutherland Vice President NC s Eastern Region sutherland@nceast.org
Topics Encroachment, readiness and the military value of installations and ranges NC s threat AND opportunity scenario State responses
Encroachment External influences threatening or constraining range or installation activities required for force readiness and testing. Or simply: Competition for scarce resources. Examples Urbanization Air, Land & Sea Space Species Habitat Light Emissions Noise Air & Water Quality Frequency Spectrum Regulatory Impacts Training Artificiality Reduce Usage (times, seasons, etc) Reduce Realism Increased Costs Create Avoidance Areas Limit New Technologies Reduce Range Access Inhibit New Tactics Development
Military Value & BRAC Criteria Military Value (1) The current and future mission capabilities and the impact on operational readiness of the total force of the Department of Defense, including the impact on joint warfighting, training, and readiness. (2) The availability and condition of land, facilities, and associated airspace (including training areas suitable for maneuver by ground, naval, or air forces throughout a diversity of climate and terrain areas and staging areas for the use of the Armed Forces in homeland defense missions) at both existing and potential receiving locations. (3) The ability to accommodate contingency, mobilization, surge, and future total force requirements at both existing and potential receiving locations to support operations and training. (4) The cost of operations and the manpower implications. Other Considerations (5) The extent and timing of potential costs and savings, including the number of years, beginning with the date of completion of the closure or realignment, for the savings to exceed the costs. (6) The economic impact on existing communities in the vicinity of military installations. (7) The ability of the infrastructure of both the existing and potential receiving communities to support forces, missions, and personnel. (8) The environmental impact, including the impact of costs related to potential environmental restoration, waste management, and environmental compliance activities.
Local Issues (Top 3) Fort Bragg High School for Ft. Bragg students Restore MWR fees from the state Off-base habitat restoration MCAS New River MV-22 alternative landing sites Operational partnership Airspace deconfliction MCAS Cherry Point Encroachment Wind Turbine Farms F-35 and land compatibility issues Note: yellow text denotes encroachment / military value issues Camp Lejeune Endangered species habitat / residential development Conservation forums Off-base habitat restoration Seymour Johnson AFB Low-level routes to Dare County range Encroachment Management Action Plan Public/Private Partnership Opportunities Coast Guard Sector NC Wind Turbine Farms In-state tuition for military members/dependents Tax status for retired military members NCNG Installation Strategic Action Plan NCNG Education and Employment Initiatives NCNG Cyber Capability / Force Structure
Shared (statewide) Issues Urbanization / changing demographics Wind Turbine Farms impact on radar Tall structures Training, operations, facility and environmental budget reductions Impact of threatened and endangered species listings Coming Home impact of new training tempo Water security Importance of away spaces Areas that contribute to the military value of bases and ranges but experience little or no economic impact
Need to Fly: Low, Fast & Loud Potential Incompatible Development : Tall Structures Cell Phone, Broadcast, Wind Turbines Loss of Dark Night Sky Loss of Low Density, Open Spaces Increased Noise / Vibration Complaints Loss of Frequency Spectrum Changing Demographics
1940 Settlement Pattern
2000 Settlement Pattern
2030 Growth Forecast
Urbanization: 2050 Forecast A Million More Completion of Super Highways 70 and 17 9 County PlanIt EAST Region: Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Wayne
Wind Turbines Areas of Concern USAF Turbine Effect on Doppler Radar NC Wind Resource Map (USDOE) USMC
Wildlife Habitat Development reduces open spaces Lack of connectivity makes it worse Bases become islands of biodiversity Reduces the utility of the Base or Range
T & E Listed Species On Federal Lands 400 Number of Federally Listed Species Millions of Acres of Land 300 200 100 0 DoD NPS USFWS USFS BLM
Opportunities Strong in-state partnerships Multi-state partnerships Time to address incompatible growth The attention of DoD NC s favorable economic development position as a military growth state BRAC Sequestration / Consolidation
Posturing for the Future Preserving and protecting what we have Working Lands Group / Sentinel Landscapes Conservation Partnering Land Use Compatibility Task Force BRAC working groups (local and state) Encroachment Control Planning / JLUS Process Building / diversifying our defense industry Unmanned Aerial Systems Strategy BRAC Offensive Strategy Defense Logistics Initiative
NC s Unique Approach Working Lands Group Land Use Compatability Task Force Sentinel Landscapes Landowner Preference Survey Sustaining Military Readiness Economic Development DENR Trust Funds NGO s SERPPAS / South Atlantic Alliance NCMBC NCMF Food & Fuel for the Forces Unmanned Systems Initiative Maritime Strategy Defense Logistics Initiative
Big Idea: Sentinel Landscapes Linking working lands, conservation, and national defense North Carolina is the prototype Working lands represent over 90% of the land in the mission footprint Private landowners hold the key to achieving mutual benefit Desired end state: A simple, flexible way to incentivize landowners to keep certain parcels in productive and compatible use Keeping our two largest industrial sectors strong and well positioned for what the future might bring
Sentinel Landscapes College of Natural Resources Linking Conservation, Working Lands and National Defense in Eastern North Carolina
Recap: Statewide Challenges & Responses Challenges: Encroachment & Loss of Military Value Effects of Coming Home Drawdown Increased Training Footprint Family / Community Impacts Sequestration / Drawdown / BRAC Responses: Compatible Land Use Plan Implementation State-Level BRAC Strategy (offense + defense) Joint Statewide Plan for Species / Habitat Defense Logistics Initiative Trust Funds & Encroachment Control
Partnerships Growth Capacity Offensive Strategy Host Communities Away Spaces Defensive Srtategy DoD Support Threats North Carolina America s Most Military Friendly State Opportunities