An evaluation of Endangered Species Act exemptions in the department of defense and the U.S. Air Force

The 2004 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) granted relief to the Department of Defense (DOD) on compliance with certain provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Specifically, the Secretary of the Interior was mandated to exempt DOD from critical habitat designation on military installations provided that the installation had an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP), as required by the Sikes Act, and the resources to effectively implement the plan. DOD viewed this legislative relief as an important step in addressing one element of general encroachment concerns on military lands. This article reviews the background of the critical habitat issue on military lands and the steps that led to the provisions included in the 2004 NDAA. To determine the status and degree of implementation of the ESA provisions of the 2004 NDAA in the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the principal author conducted a survey of USAF range natural resources managers. The results of that survey indicate that the USAF is meeting the requirements of the 2004 NDAA by having valid INRMPs for its installations and by providing adequate funding for their implementation. However, the survey results suggested several areas where improvement was needed, particularly in educating natural resources managers about documenting the impacts of critical species on training ranges, partnering with outside groups to leverage manpower and financial resources, and improving public education and awareness of USAF training range environmental programs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.