[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 240 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 240

To require an Air Force study on the threats to, and sustainability of, 
              the test and training range infrastructure.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 31, 2011

  Mr. Ensign (for himself, Mr. Begich, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. 
  Reid, and Mr. Risch) introduced the following bill; which was read 
         twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require an Air Force study on the threats to, and sustainability of, 
              the test and training range infrastructure.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY ON AIR FORCE TEST AND TRAINING RANGE INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
        conduct a study on the ability of the major air test and 
        training range infrastructure, including major military 
        operating area airspace and special use airspace, to support 
        the full spectrum of Air Force operations. The Secretary shall 
        incorporate the results of the study into a master plan for 
        requirements and proposed investments to meet Air Force 
        training and test needs through 2025. The study and the master 
        plan shall be known as the ``2025 Air Test and Training Range 
        Enhancement Plan''.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall, in 
        conducting the study required under paragraph (1), consult with 
        the Secretaries of the other military departments to determine 
        opportunities for joint use and training of the ranges, and to 
        assess the requirements needed to support combined arms 
        training on the ranges. The Secretary shall also consult with 
        the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, 
        the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Energy 
        Regulation Commission, and the Department of Energy to assess 
        the need for transfers of administrative control of certain 
        parcels of airspace and land to the Department of Defense to 
        protect the missions and control of the ranges.
            (3) Continuation of range infrastructure improvements.--The 
        Secretary of the Air Force shall proceed with all ongoing and 
        scheduled range infrastructure improvements while conducting 
        the study required under paragraph (1).
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall 
        submit to the congressional defense committees (as that term is 
        defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) interim 
        reports and a final report on the plan to meet the requirements 
        under subsection (a) not later than 240 days, 330 days, and 730 
        days, respectively, after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act. In addition, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit 
        to the congressional defense committees progress reports at 180 
        day intervals between the second such interim report and the 
        final report.
            (2) Content.--The plan submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) document the current condition and adequacy of 
                the major Air Force test and training range 
                infrastructure in the United States to meet test and 
                training requirements;
                    (B) identify potential areas of concern for 
                maintaining the physical safety, security, and current 
                operating environment of such infrastructure;
                    (C) identify potential issues and threats related 
                to the sustainability of the test and training 
                infrastructure, including electromagnetic spectrum 
                encroachment, overall bandwidth availability, and 
                protection of classified information;
                    (D) assess coordination among ranges and local, 
                state, regional, and Federal entities involved in land 
                use planning, and develop recommendations on how to 
                improve communication and coordination of such 
                entities;
                    (E) propose remedies and actions to manage economic 
                development on private lands on or surrounding the test 
                and training infrastructure to preserve current 
                capabilities;
                    (F) identify critical parcels of land not currently 
                under the control of the Air Force for acquisition of 
                deed or restrictive easements in order to protect 
                current operations, access and egress corridors, and 
                range boundaries, or to expand the capability of the 
                air test and training ranges;
                    (G) identify which parcels identified pursuant to 
                subparagraph (F) could, through the acquisition of 
                conservation easements, serve military interests while 
                also preserving recreational access to public and 
                private lands, protecting wildlife habitat, or 
                preserving opportunities for energy development and 
                energy transmission;
                    (H) prioritize improvements and modernization of 
                the facilities, equipment, and technology supporting 
                the infrastructure in order to provide a test and 
                training environment that accurately simulates and or 
                portrays the full spectrum of threats and targets of 
                likely United States adversaries in 2025;
                    (I) incorporate emerging requirements generated by 
                requirements for virtual training and new weapon 
                systems, including the F-22, the F-35, space and cyber 
                systems, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft;
                    (J) assess the value of State and local legislative 
                initiatives to protect Air Force test and training 
                range infrastructure;
                    (K) identify parcels with no value to future 
                military operations; and
                    (L) propose a list of prioritized projects, 
                easements, acquisitions, or other actions, including 
                estimated costs required to upgrade the test and 
                training range infrastructure, taking into 
                consideration the criteria set forth in this paragraph.
            (3) Form.--Each report required under this subsection shall 
        be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
        annex as necessary.
            (4) Rule of construction.--The reports submitted under this 
        section shall not be construed as meeting the requirements of 
        section 2815(d) of the Military Construction Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65; 113 Stat. 852).
                                 <all>