(a) General. The procedures described elsewhere in Sec. Sec. 644.516 through 644.539 to carry out the continuing responsibility of the Department of the Army to assist and advise the land holder and protect the public from dangerous substances on or in the land after release are equally applicable to public domain lands. Air Force policy and procedures are generally comparable.
(b) Congressional. A provision has been added to several laws enacted by Congress that upon request of the Secretary of the Interior at the time of final termination of the reservation effected by the Act, the Department of the Army shall make safe for nonmilitary uses the land withdrawn and reserved, or such portions thereof as may be specified by the Secretary of the Interior, by neutralizing unexploded ammunition, bombs, artillery projectiles, or other explosive objects and chemical agents. The intent of the provision is explained by a statement of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, in Report No. 279, 87th Congress, 1st Session: The committee concluded that it would be appropriate to amend the bill to designate the Secretary of the Interior to act on behalf of the Federal Government in delineating the areas to be made safe for nonmilitary use when the lands are no longer required for defense purposes. ``It is expected that the Secretary of the Interior will not require the Department of the Army to proceed with expensive cleanup work in areas where there would be no direct benefit. On the other hand, it is anticipated that when potential resources or use values are such as to make dedudding or decontamination advisable, the Secretary of the Interior will identify those resources and values for the Secretary of the Army. This will permit a full and complete justification in the event that a separate appropriation therefor is required.'' Report No. 279 also quoted the following policy statement by the then Bureau of the Budget:
. . . requirement for decontamination should be related to a standard not only of practicability, but also to one of economic feasibility that takes into account the desired future use and value of the land to be decontaminated.
(c) Army. The congressional policy outlined above does not change the existing Army policy. Its principal effect is to make it clear that the Secretary of the Interior has an equal interest with the Secretary of the Army in the final decision on whether it is practicable or feasible to clear lands for return to the public domain, and the extent of clearance. No difficulties in reaching agreement with Interior in these matters are anticipated. Where large expenditures are involved it will usually be necessary to request a special appropriation, leaving the final decision to Congress. In any instance, if difficulty in reaching agreement with officials of the Bureau of Land Management (or the Secretary of the Interior) should occur, it will be reported promptly to DAEN-REM with complete background data for review and instructions.