Unit Operations (Company Level Activities).
Movement of heavy vehicles and systems.
Movement of personnel and light vehicles/systems.
Assembly area activities.
Field maintenance of equipment.
Garrison maintenance of equipment.
Risk Impact Value (Numeric Value). This value represents an estimate of the conditions under which the unit
will operate and is an indicator of the severity of environmental degradation.
Use the following steps for assessing environmental impacts on planned activities:
Identify hazards to the environment: degradation of wetlands, polluting streams, disturbing endangered
species habitat and archeological sites and/or structures, creating oil spills, and improperly handling HW
and HM.
Assess probability of environmental damage/violations using environmental risk-assessment matrices.
Make decisions and develop measures to reduce high risks.
Brief chain of command and installation environmental office, if applicable, on proposed plans and
pertinent high-risk environmental matrices.
Integrate environmental measures into plans, SOPs, training performance standards, and rehearsals.
Supervise and enforce environmental standards. Train to the standards.
PART F - CONTROLS TO REDUCE RISKS
Once the risks are identified, plans must be developed and implemented to control and reduce the risks.
The development of environmental risk controls can come from AARs and environmental risk assessments.
These controls are identified from known and previous risks that have been identified. Some examples of
risk controls that can be implemented are:
Restrict high-risk land areas, if practical, from vehicular operations.
Sensitize personnel on performing maintenance or other tasks involving hazardous materials and
substances near water sources.
Use portable containment systems for field handling of hazardous substances.
Be prepared to correctly respond to spills (have qualified personnel and correct equipment on hand).
Have highly qualified leaders supervise high-risk tasks/operations.
PART G - SUPERVISE AND EVALUATE RISK CONTROLS IMPLEMENTED
As part of environmental risk reduction measures, implementing risk controls involves incorporating them
into mission planning, orders, SOP, training performance standards, rehearsals, and other activities where
environmental considerations should be addressed. The supervision and evaluation of environmental risk
controls can involve the following considerations: the mission, the enemy, terrain and weather, troops and
equipment, and time.
Mission.
Anticipate or assess environmental risks during planning.
Analyze the effects of environmental risks on mission operations.
Simplify scheme of maneuver.
Issue complete and concise orders.
Ensure key leaders track the exercise and render timely reports.
Identify alternative training scenarios or techniques.
Use large-scale battalion or brigade sector sketches for detail.
Send key leaders on objective reconnaissance.
Set the environmental standard within the unit, and ensure soldiers are aware of and comply with that
standard.
Keep the chain of command informed of environmental problems and concerns.
Take immediate, effective action in response to spills and other emergencies.
Enemy (Opposing Forces [OPFOR]).
Ensure the OPFOR commander understands environmental problems and concerns.
Know enemy characteristics and equipment.
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QM 5180
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