Navy Announces LID Policy

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Navy News | December 07, 2007

Washington D.C. -- On Dec. 4, Donald Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment), announced the Department of the Navy's adoption of a pioneering Low-Impact Development, or LID policy.

The announcement was made at the Chesapeake Bay Observation System (CBOS) User Forum in Norfolk, Va. The CBOS is a network of observing stations that collects data on the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding waterways, and helps users better understand how healthy the bay is, and where environmental improvements can help.

"The Department of the Navy's LID policy is an important step forward in the ongoing efforts by Federal, state, private, and non-governmental organizations to preserve and protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay, one of our nation's most valuable natural resources," said Schregardus in remarks to the CBOS group.

The goal of the policy is "no net increase" in the amount of stormwater that escapes into the ecosystems surrounding Navy and Marine Corps facilities and installations nationwide. The use of LID in construction and renovation projects is essential to meeting that goal.

LID is a design technology that makes use of innovative methods to capture stormwater that would otherwise flow into nearby watersheds. Reducing stormwater runoff from Navy installations helps reduce the level of contaminants such as metals and nutrients that end up downstream, resulting in a cleaner, safer environment, and improved water quality.

LID represents a cost-effective method of reducing the environmental footprint of Navy and Marine Corps installations and activities, using a combination of retention devices and vegetation to allow stormwater to be retained and managed at the source, rather than relying on downstream efforts to control the flow of water and contaminants.

Alex Beehler, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, also commented on the policy.

"I commend the Navy for leaning forward and adopting LID as an integral part of its future construction and renovation projects, not only in the Chesapeake Bay, but nationwide. I will be working with the other DoD components to promote a similar approach," said Beehler.

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