Department of Defense and Department of the Navy Environmental Directives and Instructions

Also available: Federal and State Environmental Laws and Regulations.

Updated: February 6, 2008

Department of Defense

(See: Washington Headquarters Services, Directives and Records Branch for instructions and directives)

• DOD Directive 6050.7 (31 March 1979), Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Department of Defense Actions

  This directive implements Executive Order 12114 and provides policy and procedures to enable DOD officials to take account of environmental considerations when authorizing or approving certain major federal actions that have the potential to do significant harm to the environment beyond the geographic borders of the United States. This requires an environmental assessment that should include consideration of the need for the proposed action and the environmental effect. If the proposed action is determined to significantly harm the environment an environmental impact statement must be prepared. The statement may be a specific statement for the particular action, a generic statement covering the entire class of similar actions, or a program statement. See 32 CFR 187.

• DOD Directive 6050.1 (30 July 1979), Environmental Effects in the United States of Environmental Actions

  This directive implements the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR Sections 1500-1508) implementing Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and provides policy and procedures to enable DOD officials to take into account environmental considerations when considering the authorization or approval of major DOD actions within the United States. The directive requires DOD components to integrate the NEPA process during the initial planning stages of proposed DOD actions to ensure that planning and decisions reflect environmental values, and to preclude potential conflicts. See 32 CFR 188.

• DOD Instruction 4715.9 (03 May 1996), Environmental Planning and Analysis

  This instruction establishes policy and assigns responsibility for integration of environmental considerations into Department of Defense activity and operational planning. It requires integration of environmental considerations into installation master planning and operational planning, and the integration of environmental considerations into acquisition programs. It also requires the heads of Department of Defense components to integrate environmental considerations into their activities and operations and to provide policy and procedures for implementing the instruction.

• DOD Regulation 5000.2R (04 January 2001), Mandatory Procedures for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) and Major Automated Information System (MAIS) Acquisition Programs

  This regulation establishes a framework for MDAPs and MAIS Acquisition Programs, and contains mandatory procedures for MDAPs and MAISs. It requires the integration of environmental, safety, and health considerations into the acquisition systems engineering and planning process. It specifically requires that Program Managers are to comply with NEPA requirements and Executive Order 11514 by analyzing actions proposed to occur in upcoming program phases, and for providing milestones for and the status of each planned NEPA analysis.

Department of the Navy

(See: Department of the Navy Issuances site for unclassified OPNAV and SECNAV instructions and notices)

• Department of the Navy (20 August 1990), Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act

  This regulation (55 FR 33899) supplements Department of Defense regulations (32 CFR part 214) by providing policy and assigning responsibilities to the Navy and Marine Corps for implementing the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) implementing procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act. The policies and responsibility assignments of this part apply to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, the Department of the Navy, and the Navy and Marine Corps operating forces and shore establishments. See 32 CFR 775.

• SECNAVINST 5000.2B (6 December 1996), Implementation of Mandatory Procedures for Major and Non-Major Defense Acquisition Programs and Major and Non-Major Information Technology Acquisition Programs

  This instruction issues mandatory procedures for the Department of the Navy for implementing DOD Directive 5000.1 and DOD Regulation 5000.2-R regarding defense acquisition and defense acquisition programs. It assigns responsibility for the approval of EISs and Records of Decisions on acquisition actions to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN (RD&A)) and assigns review and approval authority for other NEPA documents on acquisition actions.

• SECNAVINST 5090.6A (26 April 2004), Evaluation of Environmental Effects From Department of Navy Actions

  This instruction establishes policy and assigns responsibilities to the Navy and Marine Corps for the evaluation of environmental effects from continuing and future Department of the Navy actions. It addresses actions of the Navy and Marine Corps operating forces and shore establishment with respect to environmental effects both within the United States and abroad to include effects on the global commons.

• SECNAVINST 5090.8 (18 December 2000), Policy for Environmental Protection, Natural Resources, and Cultural Resources Programs

  This instruction establishes policy and assigns responsibilities within the Department of Navy concerning environmental protection, natural resources, and cultural resources programs. It establishes DON policy to integrate environmental protection, natural resources, and cultural resources programs considerations into all DON operations and activities; and to fully comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, Executive Orders, environmental requirements, and international agreements.

• OPNAVINST 5090.1C (30 October 2007), Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual

  This is the primary guidance for the management of the environment and natural resources for all Navy ship and shore activities. It discusses Federal regulations, Department of Defense requirements, Department of the Navy requirements, delineates responsibilities, and issues policy. It requires all Navy activities to comply with all applicable Federal, State and local environmental policies, regulations and requirements. This instruction also addresses the additional requirements imposed on ships and shore activities by State and local governments agencies.

  This instruction is applicable to all Navy commands afloat and ashore. The Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual, while coordinated with the Commandant of the Marine Corps, does not apply to Marine Corps activities. For Marine Corps environmental policy and responsibilities for compliance with both statutory/regulatory requirements and the management of Marine Corps programs, see MCO P5090.2A, Environmental Compliance and Protection Manual, 10 July 1998.