1) Prevent environmental damage from current activities

The government should establish goals and strategies to ensure current activities in the military, industrial, agricultural and other sectors are conducted in a manner that does not place persons at risk or have any adverse environmental consequences. Goals and strategies tend to control the manner in which a hazardous material is handled, stored, used or disposed. They also mandate treatment processes that reduce the toxic levels in both air emissions and effluents to acceptable levels.

2) Reduce environmental damage from future activities

The government should also establish goals and strategies that encourage and mandate the adoption of practices and materials that do not present a risk to the environment. In some countries, recycling programs have been required in communities. This has also been accomplished by prohibiting the use of hazardous materials, or by imposing such a high tax on hazardous material that a factory owner is motivated to seek an alternative material.

3) Repair environmental damage from past activities

The government should also establish goals and strategies for the cleanup of contamination that presents a risk to public health or the environment. In some countries, the government has held the original polluter responsible for the cleanup even though the activity was accomplished in accordance with the laws in effect at the time. When the original polluter cannot be found, or is fiscally unable to clean up the contamination, the government must initiate action to clean up the contamination. In many countries, the government does not have sufficient resources to clean up all identified contaminated sites. Accordingly, these governments have devised methods of prioritizing work based upon the risk posed to human health. In some instances, when technologies for cleanup are not available or are too expensive, governments have not initiated any cleanup of contaminated areas. Instead, they have isolated those sites from any public access or development until cleanup is technologically and/or fiscally practical. 

The relationship between the Military Sector and the Environment 1) The military mission The main task of a country's armed forces is to protect the sovereignty of the nation. In order to meet this responsibility, the military sector must have weapons and train members of the armed forces to use them effectively. By necessity, these actions to equip and train the armed forces will have an impact on the environment. 2) The military sector as an environmental leader The military sector should, to the extent practical without affecting its ability to protect the country, comply with the environmental policies and laws established for the rest of society. By acting in an environmentally responsible manner, the military sector is able to exert significant influence on the rest of society to do likewise. The military sector is uniquely positioned to influence environmental activities throughout the country. As the manager of vast quantities of land to support testing and training, the military sector can set the example for wise ecological practices and can, in some circumstances, be the catalyst for developing a regional land management program. As operator of industrial complexes on many installations and the consumer of vast quantities of products, the military sector can change the marketplace throughout the country and sometimes the world. In some countries, the military sector has been the genesis for the development of regional land use plans. Through military leadership, community leaders and other major land owners have been motivated to develop plans that support responsible industrial and community growth, but prevent encroachment on vital natural resources and on those lands necessary for military activities. The quality of life in the region is thereby preserved and, most importantly, the ability to perform the military mission is protected. As an operator of industrial plants and the purchaser of enormous quantities of materials and equipment, the military sector is able to influence the marketplace. If the military sector insists on purchasing only environmentally preferred products, the manufacturers are motivated to adjust their product line if they want to sell products to the military sector. In some countries, governments attempt to stimulate the growth of industries that manufacture environmentally preferred products by mandating that government agencies purchase only these products. With its significant purchasing power, the military sector makes these focused procurement programs effective. 3) Incorporation of environmental considerations into military activities The military sector should, to the extent consistent with the primary mission, follow the same environmental rules as the rest of society. In most instances, this can be done without compromising the mission. The military sector can, in most circumstances, comply with the requirement, common in many countries, to analyze the potential environmental effects of proposed and alternative actions before making a decision. The analysis can assist senior military officials in selecting the option that meets the military requirements, but with a minimum impact on the environment. With careful planning, the military sector can meet mission requirements on the ranges without significantly affecting the natural and cultural resources. Training and testing activities can be planned to avoid intrusion into sensitive areas or can be timed to permit full recovery of the vegetation or to minimize affects on wildlife during mating or birthing seasons. Environmental requirements that are imposed upon industrial processes for non-military goods, can generally be applied to the processes for military goods, without affecting military critical performance. For example, many of the environmentally sound maintenance practices adopted for commercial aircraft are equally acceptable for high performance military aircraft. 4) Environmental protection improves military performance Attention to environmental considerations contributes to mission readiness and, in some instances, improves mission performance or capability. This is attributed to more realistic training opportunities, more efficient or effective materials or processes, or a more supportive general public. The careful management of natural resources on a military training range contributes directly to the realism and, therefore, the effectiveness of the training. Such management ensures that each mock battle or exercise is conducted on terrain that resembles the area where the armed forces may expect to be deployed. Lands that are barren of vegetation through poor management practices are of little value for military exercises. Changes in manufacturing or maintenance practices, spurred by environmental considerations, sometimes improve mission performance. New processes that do not require the use of hazardous materials are sometimes more effective and efficient. In many countries, the military sectors' ability to operate on an installation or range is subject to the support of the local population. If the military sector behaves in an environmentally responsible manner, the local population is more likely to accept the noise and other irritants associated with testing and training. Alternatively, if the military sector is perceived to behave in an irresponsible manner, the local population may attempt to convince government officials and the legislature to curtail or even halt military activities.