Environmental Management

hands holding baby tortoise

AFCEC is responsible for managing the Air Force compliance, restoration, sustainability and National Environmental Policy Act programs.  Organized into five divisions: Operations, Compliance, Restoration, Technical Support, and Legislative and Regulatory Engagement, the directorate also provides environmental technical assistance and advice to Air Force installations, major commands, higher headquarters and interagency partners. The directorate develops execution strategies for environmental and sustainability issues, as well as projects and programs based on best practices garnered from experience and research.

The directorate has subject matter experts and program managers in various fields and specialties related to environmental operations, including regulatory compliance, environmental restoration, hazardous waste management, pollution prevention and environmental assessments.                    

Environmental Operations

Operations Division graphic

The Operations Division provides direct installation support and leads enterprise initiatives. The division is regionally organized into four Regional Support Branches (RSB) – East, Midwest, West, and Alaska – plus, the Wildland Fire Branch. Installation Support Sections under each RSB serve as installation advocates and provide regulatory and technical support; address regional issues; provide planning, programming and execution of the environmental compliance and restoration program; oversee management of plans and permits; interact with regulators and base leadership; and provide community engagement.

The Air Force Wildland Fire Branch focuses on reducing wildfire threats to installations and resources, providing wildland fire execution guidance, training to Air Force and Space Force personnel, and communicating key wildland fire data to decision-makers. The branch also provides strategic, logistical, and wildland fire reach back support to Department of the Air Force installations through 14 Wildland Support Modules.

Additionally, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Detachments, Det 2 and Det 4, serve as the liaison and on-site support between the MAJCOMs where they are located and the AFIMSC enterprise.

Environmental Compliance

Compliance Division graphicProvides Air Force headquarters, major commands and installations with environmental compliance support. The division delivers the compliance programming and execution expertise, core knowledge and leadership required to ensure Air Force installations comply with regulatory programs related to air emissions, water quality, wastewater discharges, hazardous waste generation, and natural and cultural resource management. The division also serves as the central point for collection and analysis of environmental data in various program areas.

Environmental Restoration

Restoration GraphicProvides Air Force headquarters, major commands, and installations (Air Force Active Duty, United States Space Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard) with environmental remediation support. The division provides the restoration project planning, programming, budgeting and execution expertise, core knowledge and leadership required to transform Air Force environmental cleanup liabilities into operational assets. Initiatives include remedial process optimization, performance-based contract management and technology transfer.

Technical Support

Technical Support Division graphicContains the Air Force technical and regulatory subject matter experts for most Air Force environmental programs. It offers technical expertise and consultation services in environmental chemistry, hydrogeology, risk assessment, toxicology, remedial engineering, air and water program compliance, natural and cultural resource management, and regulatory criteria. For more information, visit the Technical Support page.

Legal/Regulatory support

Provides Regional Environmental Coordinators (RECs), media experts and Environmental Law and Litigation Division, Operations and International Law Directorate support for the Air Force and Department of Defense REC program. As part of their duties, the staff review and engage on state legislative and regulatory actions, assess mission impacts and coordinate responses, and conduct meetings/outreach with DOD components, federal, regional, state and other stakeholders.