What's the Big Problem?

hat are the most important environmental problems facing the military? The answer depends on who you ask. For military commanders and trainers, the answer is dealing with the Endangered Species Act and other requirements that affect training, weapons testing and military readiness. "Oil spills and air pollution are problems that cost a lot of money, but they don't affect our operations," says Col. Larry Hagenauer, vice commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Col. Homer Jones, assistant chief of staff for operations and training at the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton in California, agrees, but bristles at the bureaucratic procedures required to comply with what seem like ever-changing Fish and Wildlife Service, DoD and state wildlife regulations. "It costs us time and money and effort, but it's a fact of life," he says.

To Lt. Col. Mark Maiers, a squadron commander in the 3rd Armored Brigade at Fort Carson, Colo., the biggest challenge is educating officers and troops. "Our problem is to get every soldier to do what they have to do to protect the environment," Maiers says. "We brief everyone now on what requirements and restrictions they have to follow."

But DoD officials in Washington have a somewhat different view. To Col. James Dries, the Army's director of environmental programs, cleaning up contaminated soils and water is the service's biggest environmental problem because of the cost.

For his part, Gary Vest, assistant deputy undersecretary of Defense for environmental security, answers the question with a list. First comes dealing with hazardous materials, then maintaining clean water and reducing air emissions and, finally, protecting endangered wildlife and cultural resources.