SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ACTIONS TO PROTECT INSTALLATIONS, RANGES, AND MILITARY AIRSPACE FROM ENCROACHMENT.

SEC. 2828. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ACTIONS TO PROTECT INSTALLATIONS, RANGES, AND MILITARY AIRSPACE FROM ENCROACHMENT.(a) Findings.—In light of the initial report of the Department of Defense submitted pursuant to section 2684a(g) of title 10, United States Code, and of the RAND Corporation report entitled “The Thin Green Line: An Assessment of DoD’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative to Buffer Installation Encroachment”, Congress makes the following findings:(1) Development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of, or in areas ecologically related to, military installations, ranges, and airspace pose a continuing and significant threat to the readiness of the Armed Forces.(2) The Range Sustainability Program (RSP) of the Department of Defense, and in particular the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) involving agreements pursuant to section 2684a of title 10, United States Code, have been effective in addressing this threat to readiness with regard to a number of important installations, ranges, and airspace.(3) The opportunities to take effective action to protect installations, ranges, and airspace from encroachment is in many cases transient, and delay in taking action will result in either higher costs or permanent loss of the opportunity effectively to address encroachment.(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense should—(1) develop additional policy guidance on the further implementation of the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI), to include additional emphasis on protecting biodiversity and on further refining procedures;(2) give greater emphasis to effective cooperation and collaboration on matters of mutual concern with other Federal agencies charged with managing Federal land; and(3) ensure that each military department takes full advantage of the authorities provided by section 2684a of title 10, United States Code, in addressing encroachment adversely affecting, or threatening to adversely affect, the installations, ranges, and military airspace of the department.(c) Reporting Requirement.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 122 STAT. 548 shall review Chapter 6 of the initial report submitted to Congress under section 2684a(g) of title 10, United States Code, and report to the congressional defense committees on the specific steps, if any, that the Secretary plans to take, or recommends that Congress take, to address the issues raised in such chapter.