Environmental Impact Study

Abstract : The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (ARPA) Environmental Impact Program is directed toward identifying those scientific and technical areas necessary to achieve satisfactory evaluation and abatement of the environmental impacts of Department of Defense (DoD) activities. The report discusses research from this program and involves high technology problems for which there are current voids not being adequately addressed by others and for which the environmental evaluations require considerable inter-service and inter-agency participation. Presented are recommendations for new facilities and techniques. These include: An Environmental Impact Prediction Facility to assist in evaluating impact on the environment and to provide a data base; Implementation of a model base facility in which all the environmental factors and natural resources could be well controlled; Development of sensor and instrumentation techniques for environmental monitoring; Study of critical materials to assure a DoD supply; Environmental management so that DoD's pollution efforts will be recognized by the civilian community; and Pilot project to achieve insight and know-how prior to the start of the actual Environmental Impact Prediction Facility. Also described is an effort toward identifying research needed to support future environmental impact statements. Assessment and evaluation of current impact statements were used to determine potential difficulties.