ltc joe knott/daim-ed/(703) 601-1596/[email protected] army compatible use buffer (acub)...

13 October 2006LTC Joe Knott/DAIM-ED/(703) 601-1596/[email protected]

Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program

1 of 10


Information, Status and New Initiatives

LTC Joe Knott

ACUB Program Manager13 October 2006



2 of 10

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



3 of 10

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”



4 of 10

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



5 of 10

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



6 of 10

Fort Carson, COFort 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, NCFort Campbell, KY

Fort Hood, TX

Fort Riley, KSCamp 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, AZFort 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



7 of 10

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



8 of 10

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



9 of 10

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



10 of 10

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

ltc joe knott/daim-ed/(703) 601-1596/[email protected] army compatible use buffer (acub)...

Documents