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Photo of Jeffrey P. Luster
Jeffrey P. Luster
Deputy General Counsel
Picture of SAF/GC Seal


Attorneys in the Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division provide legal advice, counsel, and representation for virtually all matters related to Air Force installations and the environment. These matters include: the acquisition, testing and beddown of new weapon systems; natural resources conservation and management; compliance and remediation requirements and liabilities of federal and state environmental laws and negotiations flowing from them; hazardous waste management and disposal; base closure, realignment and reuse; military construction; real property acquisition, use, management and disposal; and environmental planning, among others. Attorneys of the Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division primarily serve officials at Headquarters Air Force but can advise clients at all organizational levels of the Air Force. The Division also advises the Center of Excellence for Environment, Facilities and Installations, and the Energy Directorate within the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC).

Environmental Planning

Attorneys of the Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division advise clients on matters requiring environmental consideration in planning and operating mission essential activities. This includes:

  • Environmental Planning and Conservation, In General
  • The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments
  • Airspace and Range Management, Acquisition, and Modification
  • Aircraft and Other Mission Realignments
  • Installation Natural Resources Management Plans
  • Environmental Issues Overseas, In General
  • Legislative Initiatives
Environmental, Historic, and Cultural Protection

Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division attorneys provide legal advice and counsel on a wide variety of environmental, historic, and cultural protection issues that includes:

-- Endangered Species
-- Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Preservation
-- Airspace and Range Management, Acquisition, and Modification
-- Native American Issues
-- Coastal Zone, Marine Sanctuaries, and Marine Mammal Protection
-- Legislative Initiatives

Natural Resources

The office advises the Air Force Natural Resources Trustee on trusteeship duties and provides advice with regard to natural resources conservation and management. This includes legal advice on:

-- Natural Resources Trusteeship
-- Massachusetts Military Reservation
-- Natural Resources Conservation and Management
-- Installation Natural Resources Management Plans
-- Endangered Species
-- Legislative Initiatives

Real Estate

Attorneys of the Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division provide legal advice and counsel on all aspects of the acquisition, management, and disposal of real property. This includes:

-- Acquisition, Management and Disposal of Real Property, In General, Including Related Environmental Law Issues
in consultation with AF/JA offices
-- Condemnation
-- Housing, In General, Including Privatization
-- Facilities Privatization, In General
-- Utilities Privatization
-- Air Guard and Reserve Real Property matters
-- Renewable Energy Policy and Project Implementation
-- Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI)
-- Leases, In General, Including Enhanced Use Leases
-- Easements, licenses, rights of entry, and property use permits
-- Real property exchanges
-- Gifts of real property to the Air Force
-- Zoning, Annexation, and Legislative Jurisdiction of Installations
-- Joint-Use of Civil Airports and Military Airfields
-- Cooperative Agreements and Environmental Use Restrictive Easements through the Readiness and Environmental
Protection Initiative (REPI) Program
-- Cable Television (CATV)
-- Commercial Space Launch-related real property outgrants
-- Real property portfolio management
-- Withdrawals and relinquishment of public land
-- Public benefit transfers of Air Force real property
-- Legislative Initiatives affecting the above matters

Facilities

The Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division provides legal advice and counsel on all aspects of Air Force facilities, including maintenance, repair, and military construction. This includes:

-- Interpretation of Military Construction Authorization and Appropriations Acts
-- Military Construction
-- Repair and Maintenance
-- Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentalities (Including MWR and AAFES)
-- Encroachment on the use of ranges and airspace by renewable energy construction
-- Legislative Initiatives
-- Intergovernmental Support Agreements

Energy

The Installations, Energy and Environment Division provides legal advice and counsel, on all aspects of Air Force energy policy, compliance, and transactions, acting in coordination with other specific legal when appropriate.
Base Closure, Realignment, and Reuse
The Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division provides legal advice on all aspects of base closure, realignment, and reuse.

Base Closure, Realignment, and Reuse

The Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division provides legal advice on all aspects of base closure, realignment, and reuse.
tabIslands
The Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division provides legal advice, counsel, and support on issues relating to the Air Force's island jurisdiction (e.g., Wake Island, Johnston Atoll, and Shemya).

Special Interest and Miscellaneous Matters

Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division attorneys provide legal advice and counsel on a number of special interest and miscellaneous matters. This includes:

-- Continuity of Operations
-- Civil Administration of Wake Island
-- Air Force Museum

Hazardous Waste Management and Disposal

Attorneys of the Installations, Energy and Environmental Law Division advise clients on matters relating to the management and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. In addition, the office provides advice and representation with regard to negotiating with environmental regulatory agencies. Legal advice regarding the following areas is provided for by our office:

-- Management and Disposal of Hazardous Materials and Waste, and Pollution Prevention
-- Environmental Cleanup, Restoration, and Compliance
-- Environmental Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)
-- Natural Resources Trusteeship
-- Interagency Negotiations
-- Massachusetts Military Reservation
-- Unexploded Ordinance (UXO)/Ranges
-- Federal Facility Agreement Model Language
-- Legislative Initiatives