Travis AFB Sustainability Study Report Final Background Report | Page 96
Partners in Flight Program
individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic
system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need a NPDES permit, but
industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their
discharges go directly to surface waters.
The DOD has implemented a program entitled Partners in Flight that
sustains and enhances the military testing, training, and safety mission
through habitat‐based management strategies. The program assists natural
resource managers in monitoring, inventory, research, and management of
birds and their habitats. As part of the Partners in Flight program, a strategic
plan is created that can be incorporated into a Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike
Hazard (BASH) plan. This program reaches beyond the boundaries of the
installation to facilitate community partnerships and determine the current
status of bird populations to prevent the further endangerment of birds.
Noise Control Act of 1972
The Noise Control Act of 1972 identified that noise not adequately
controlled has the potential of endangering the health and welfare of
people. It states that all Americans are entitled to an environment free from
noise that can jeopardize their general health and quality of life. Along with
state, local, and territorial governments, actions from the federal
government were needed to ensure that the objectives of the Act were met.
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the main federal law that ensures the
quality of drinking water in the United States. The SDWA authorizes the EPA
to set national health‐based drinking water standards to protect against
both naturally‐occurring and man‐made water contaminants. The SDWA
applies to every public water system in the US.
Concurrently, military installations were experiencing the impacts from
encroaching urban development located adjacent to the installation and the
resulting complaints regarding noise from military flight operations. In 1973,
the DOD responded by establishing the AICUZ program.
The Noise Control Act and the AICUZ program are important because
encroaching development and increased population near military
installations often creates compatibility concerns. As communities grow, it
is important that the military installation, developers, and the communities
work together to mitigate the issue of noise and develop ways to coexist
compatibly.
The Sikes Act
The Sikes Act requires the DOD to develop and implement Integrated
Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs) for military installations.
The INRMPs are prepared in cooperation with the USFWS and state fish and
wildlife agencies to ensure proper consideration of fish, wildlife, and habitat
needs. The Sikes Act requires INRMPs to be reviewed at least every five
years by the military and the states. Air Force Instruction 32‐7064,
Integrated Natural Resources Management, guides the Air Force
implementation of the Sikes Act.
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 requires federal
agencies to consider the effects of a proposed project on properties listed
in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places. Because
no specific action is being proposed as part of this planning process, the
review of cultural resources is focused on the identification of existing
resources and not potential effects that would result from a specific
proposed action.
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Existing Compatibility Tools