Since the mid 1970s, the IRP has investigated and completed remedial actions at 87 percent of the more than 10,000 potential contamination sites identified on Army installations. The MMRP addresses non-operational range lands suspected to or known to contain unexploded ordnance (UXO), discarded military munitions (DMM) or munitions constituent (MC) contamination. The MMRP allows effective Army response to UXO and military munitions waste at areas other than operational ranges. Approximately half of the 1,429 MMRP sites are at Response Complete (RC).
The Army splits responsibility for managing the funds and cleanup work at its sites between three organizations. AEC is responsible for cleanup at active/operating installations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the Army’s Environmental Restoration Program for FUDS. The BRAC Division (BRACD) within the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ASCIM) is the program manager for the Army BRAC Environmental Restoration Program.
In April 2003, the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations and Environment, directed that environmental restoration and compliance-related cleanup be unified under a single Army Environmental Cleanup Strategy. The Army Environmental Cleanup Strategy integrates the DERP for active installations, BRAC, FUDS, overseas remediation, and the compliance cleanup program.
The purpose of this consolidation was to optimize program efficiency, accountability, and consistency by applying common objectives and requirements to all cleanups associated with past and current Army operations in support of installations. The Army measures cleanup progress at IRP sites and munitions response sites (MRSs), against two milestones: Remedy in Place (RIP), which occurs when cleanup systems are constructed and operational; and RC, which occurs when the site finishes cleanup activities (though the Army or a subsequent owner may continue to monitor the remedy).
Each year, DoD submits an Annual Report to Congress (ARC) on its Defense Environmental Programs describing the Department's restoration, conservation, compliance, and pollution prevention program accomplishments for the past year. It shows the current status of the cleanup program including the sites still awaiting cleanup (Total Site Inventory), as well as the number and percentage of sites reaching RIP and RC. In addition the report addresses plans and funding needs for protecting human health, sustaining the resources DoD holds in the public trust, meeting its environmental requirements, and supporting the military mission. The Report also details DoD's efforts for reinforcing environmental programs to ensure the safe and effective use, protection, restoration, and preservation of the Department's natural and cultural assets; and examines DoD's environmental restoration activities at sites on its active installations and former BRAC properties. The Army’s information is included in the DOD’s report.