Defense Infrastructure: DOD Efforts to Prevent and Mitigate Encroachment at Its Installations

Abstract : DOD reports that it faces challenges in carrying out realistic training because of the cumulative effect of outside influences such as encroachment from urban growththat GAO refers to in this report as incompatible land use. In addition, DOD faces similar challenges at its operating installations. House Report 113-102 accompanying a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 included a provision for GAO to review DOD efforts to prevent and mitigate encroachment at training ranges. This report assesses (1) how DOD considers this issue when making decisions related to stationing units; (2) the extent to which DOD has policies, procedures, and approaches to identify and mitigate incompatible land use; and (3) the extent to which DODs guidance and actions to collaborate with external entities in this area are consistent with key considerations for implementing interagency collaborative mechanisms.