[Sample B: Approval/Signature Sheet] - Environmental Security Project

155 Pages·2009·0.97 MB·English

U.S. Environmental Security:
Understanding And Enabling It To Matter

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science at George Mason University

By

Jeremey M. Alcorn
Bachelors of Science
Allegheny College, 1999

Director: Dr. Susan A. Crate, Professor
Environmental Science and Policy

Fall Semester 2008
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Copyright: 2008 Jeremey M. Alcorn
All Rights Reserved
Unlimited Non-Commercial Distribution Authorized

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DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to my very patient and loving wife, Adriana. Without you, I
would not have completed this project, maintained my health, or kept my sense of humor.

This is also dedicated to my family and friends (near or far), without whom I would not
have embarked upon this journey.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to first give my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Susan Crate, Dr. Edward Chris
Parsons, and Dr. Mishkat Al Moumin for their guidance, insights, and support throughout
this research project. Thank you all for your unique contributions to this ambitious
undertaking. I‟d also like to give my thanks to Mr. Steven R. Hearne, Dr. Wendell Chris
King, Dr. Kent Hughes Butts, Dr. Kurt T. Preston, Mr. Isamu Sam Higuchi, Mr. William
Goran, Mr. Shannon Beebe, Mr. Douglas Warnock, Dr. David Belluck, Ms. Sally
Benjamin, Ms. Christina Hudson, Ms. Karen Baker, Dr. Geoffrey Dabelko, Mr. Jerome
C. Glenn, Dr. Rita Floyd, Ms. Sherri Goodman, Dr. Marcus King, Mr. Brent Bankus, and
Dr. Francis Dillon for their encouragement, ideas, expertise, and/or assistance in making
this project happen. To all my project participants and consultants, thank you for your
time, perspectives, and candor, without which this project would not have been possible.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
List of Tables ...…………………………………………………………………………vi
List of Figures ...………………………………………………………………………..vii
List of Abbreviations ...………………………………………………………………..viii
Abstract................................................................................................................……….x
Chapter 1: Introduction .....................................................................................................1
Chapter 2: Environmental Security Academic and Policy Background ...........................5
Chapter 3: Project Goal, Objectives, and Methodology .................................................11
Chapter 4: Federal National and Homeland Security Mission and Functional
Analysis.........................................................................................................22
Chapter 5: Environmental Security Definition and Understanding Survey....................49
Chapter 6: Environmental Security Operationalization and Gap Assessment
Workshop ......................................................................................................93
Chapter 7: Discussion and Moving Forward ................................................................113
Chapter 8: Conclusions .................................................................................................128
Appendix A: Consultant Report Back Comments ……………………………………131
List of References .……………………………………………………………………133

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LIST OF TABLES

Table Page
Table 1: Schools of Environmental Security ............................................................……7
Table 2: Data, Results, and Analysis Outputs.........................................................……20
Table 3: Executive Office / Cabinet Departments with Security Missions ............……32
Table 4: Federal Agencies / Institutions with Security Missions ...........................……38
Table 5: Executive Office / Cabinet Departments with Environmental Missions ..……41
Table 6: Federal Agencies / Institutions with Environmental Missions .....................…42
Table 7: Executive Office / Cabinet Departments with Security and Environmental
Missions ...........................................................................................................45
Table 8: Federal Agencies / Institutions with Security and Environmental Missions …45
Table 9: Federal Agencies / Institutions with Development Missions ...................……47
Table 10: DOD / U.S. Army Participant Identified Issues, Capability Gaps, and
Available Resources.......................................................................................106
Table 11: NASA Participant Identified Issues, Capability Gaps, and Available
Resources .......................................................................................................108
Table 12: Non-Profit / University Participant Identified Issues, Capability Gaps,
and Available Resources ................................................................................110

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page
Figure 1: Project Research Process Flow By Task .....................................................…13
Figure 2: Project Research Task Schedule......................................................................20
Figure 3: The Government of the United States .............................................................25
Figure 4: National Strategy .............................................................................................27
Figure 5: Unified Command Plan Map ...........................................................................34
Figure 6: Strategic and Operational Art ..........................................................................36
Figure 7: National Strategy and the Vertical Continuum of War ...................................36
Figure 8: Comprehensive Strategy..................................................................................37

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Name
AEPI Army Environmental Policy Institute
CEQ Council on Environmental Quality
COCOMs Combatant Commanders
CONUS Contiguous United States
DHS Department of Homeland Security
DNI Director of National Intelligence
DOD Department of Defense
DODD Department of Defense Directive
DOE Department of Energy
DOI Department of the Interior
DOJ Department of Justice
DOL Department of Labor
DOS Department of State
DOT Department of Transportation
DSB Defense Science Board
ECSP Environmental Change and Security Program
EISA Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
ENCOP Environment and Conflict Project
EPAct 2005 Energy Policy Act of 2005
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ESOH Environment Safety and Occupational Health
FEWS NET Famine Early Warning System Network
FOB Foreign Object Debris
FOUO For Official Use Only
GESST Global Environmental Security Survey Teams
GECHS Global Environmental Change and Human Security
GMES Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
GMU George Mason University
GWOT Global War on Terrorism
HAZMAT Hazardous Material
HHS Department of Health and Human Services
HSC Homeland Security Council
HSRB Human Subjects Review Board
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development
JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff
MOOTW Military Operations Other Than War
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MS Microsoft

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NIC National Intelligence Council
NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations
NPSD National Security Presidential Directive
NRP National Response Plan
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
NMS National Military Strategy
NSC National Security Council
NSHS National Strategy for Homeland Security
NSS National Security Strategy
OCONUS Outside Contiguous United States
OSD Office of the Secretary of Defense
OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy
P2 Pollution Prevention
PRIO International Peace Research Institute
QDR Quadrennial Defense Review
S&T Science and Technology
SSTR Stability, Security, Transition, and Reconstruction
UCC Unified Combatant Command
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
U.S. United States
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USAF U.S. Air Force
USAID U.S. Agency for International Development
USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

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ABSTRACT

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY, UNDERSTANDING AND
ENABLING IT TO MATTER

Jeremey M. Alcorn, B.S.

George Mason University, 2008

Thesis Director: Dr. Susan A. Crate

This research project develops new knowledge of how U.S. national security and
homeland security practitioners and policymakers understand, define, and could yield
value from the concept of environmental security to meet their mission, policy, and
operational challenges. The project does so by achieving three primary objectives. First,
it captures U.S. national security and homeland security practitioners‟ and policymakers‟
understandings and definitions of environmental security. Second, based upon those
understandings and definitions, it identifies common attributes that conceptually bridge,
operationalize, and could add value to these groups‟ existing mission, policy, and
operational responsibilities. Finally, based upon these analyses, it develops a better
understanding of current functional capability needs and resources within U.S. national
security and homeland security communities of practice.