The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management is a law
and policy research institute based in Denver, Colorado. Part of our work includes
looking at military impacts on indigenous peoples here in the U.S. and in other countries. We
also look at the way other governments are working to protect the environmental,
cultural, and other interests of indigenous peoples. TALISMAN SABER is a biennial Australia/United States
bilateral exercise that takes place in Australia. TALISMAN SABER 2007 be conducted primarily at Shoalwater
Bay Training Area and at various other locations within Queensland, Northern
Territory and the Coral,
Timor and Tasman Seas in June 2007. Here’s
part of the Public Environmental Report prepared for the exercise
Planned Environmental Management
A dedicated
Environmental Management Group (EMG) will provide specialist support to
exercise planners and training control staff. The EMG is a multifaceted
military and civilian team operating in the exercise area, incorporating
Environmental specialists and officers, to ensure effective environmental
management is deployed during the exercise and a systematic review of processes
and procedures to ensure continuous improvement.
Key monitoring and
performance checking by the EMG will include:
• Monitoring of
activities in respect to compliance with environmental guidance and
instructions that are to be followed.
• Monitor and
verify the “no footprint” policy. That is, to leave the sites as
found with all materials, equipment and debris removed and all disturbances
rehabilitated.
• Rapidity of
incident response, corrective action and incident reporting.
• Engaging with
State bodies, NGOs and local communities will occur throughout the planning and
implementation phases as appropriate. All comments or queries will be logged.
Any complaints will be managed appropriately in accordance with a Complaints
Handling Procedure.
• Post exercise
check to verify the efficacy of the mitigation measures, the appropriate implementation
by exercise personnel and any additional rehabilitation works that are
required. The post-activity checks
will help form the basis of a post-exercise report. Any incidents or issues identified
are fed back into the process in order that the environmental management and mitigation
measures can be appropriately updated. The post-activity report will be
provided to the Department of Environment and Heritage.
• A post-exercise
briefing will be held to identify key issues, logistical problems, ease of
application of environmental requirements and lessons learnt. Any key issues,
themes and occurrences are incorporated as part of planning for the next major
military exercise.
The complete report can be found at: http://www.maunsell.com/media/4319.pdf. Anyone interested in working on these
issues should contact Merv Tano at the Institute.
Mervyn
L. Tano
International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management
444 South Emerson
Street
Denver, Colorado 80209-2216
U.S.A.
Phone: 1-303-733-0481; FAX: 1-303-744-9808; Mobile: 1-720-341-4755
E-mail: mervtano@iiirm.org; Website: www.iiirm.org
