Operations Environmental Laboratory

This involves the Nonlethal Environmental Evaluation and Remediation (NEER) Center; Environmental Assessments, the Environmental Knowledge and Assessment Tool (EKAT), a web-based program incorporating Decision Tree Software; and Luminescent Capsules in support of the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS). Work in these areas facilitates environmental approvals for technologies advancing through research, design, prototyping, and fielding activities. This area provides the PM, MERS with non-lethal technology oversight and analysis, strategic and tactical planning, and developmental work not found in the Department of Defense (DoD) research and development community. NEER supports these efforts through the Operations Environmental Laboratory (OEL) via life-cycle evaluation, and remediation analysis activities. This infrastructure facilitates continued project-planning, management, and execution services that meet and exceed DoD regulations, while emphasizing the PM, MERS newly emerging requirements.

NEER Center - Environmental Assessments

The NEER Center facilitates project-planning, management, and execution services exceeding DoD regulations, while emphasizing the PM, MERS newly emerging requirements. The environmental assessments (EA) team within the OEL performs life-cycle environmental evaluations and remediation analyses activities, in support of the MERS, that are critical in supporting the development, approval, and utilization of non-lethal and non-traditional technologies for military operations.

EKAT

EKAT is a robust and multi-faceted tool for environmental screening of developmental systems to determine effects of non-lethal and lethal weapon systems on urban and maritime environments, and for use in assessing and mitigating environmental effects of daily base operations. Maintenance of EKAT capabilities will ensure users continue to be able to:

examine federal and state standards for seven states with Marine bases
complete Programmatic Environmental Safety and Health Evaluation (PESHE) evaluations required by DoD Instruction 5000.2
use a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision tree to comply with federal regulations
manage and organize environmental data and information; and collaborate amongst other users.

Currently, work on EKAT focuses primarily on maintenance of the tool. Future efforts shall focus on maintenance of the system and expansion of the user group throughout the Marine Corps.