Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise

The Environmental and Munitions Mandatory Center of Expertise (EM CX), as part of the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, provides high-quality engineering and scientific support to environmental remediation, munitions response and compliance programs around the world. 

Mission: Our primary mission is to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters, divisions, districts, laboratories, centers and other customers in the performance of their military, civil and work-for-others environmental missions. We achieve this mission by maintaining state-of-the-art technical expertise and competencies for hazardous-waste remediations, radioactive-waste remediations, munitions-response actions, green and sustainable remediation, environmental-compliance activities and explosives-safety requirements.

Vision: We aim to foster trust, innovation, communications, quality and knowledge throughout the Environmental Community of Practice to realize a healthy, secure, safe and sustainable environment for this and future generations.

The EM CX operates with responsibilities and authorities granted from USACE Headquarters. The EM CX is designated a mandatory center of expertise (MCX) with roles and responsibilities outlined in ER 10-1-50.

Primary Functions of the EM CX

  • Engagement with the environmental community of practice on existing and emerging trends in the areas of environmental remediation, munitions response, sustainability and environmental compliance. 
  • Maintenance and development of technical competencies in order to ensure the sustainment of the USACE Environmental Community of Practice.  
  • Mandatory technical reviews for quality assurance of project documents, as well as other requested independent technical reviews. 
  • Technical assistance to include project-planning facilitation and project site visits for USACE Headquarters, divisions, districts, laboratories, centers and other customers.
  • Guidance development to support district execution of the environmental programs. 
  • Training development and instruction to support USACE districts’ environmental programs. 
  • National representation with academia, research and professional organizations to further technical competencies. 
  • Technology transfer of new and existing technologies to further their application on USACE projects.  
  • Strategic communications and analysis supporting USACE environmental programs.

Programs

The EM CX works with our stakeholders to attain solutions that benefit and protect the public and the environment, actively supporting many programs and agencies:

  • Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS)
  • Army Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
  • USACE Civil Works
  • DOD Advanced Geophysical Classification (DAGCP)
  • Deactivated Nuclear Power Plant Program (DNPPP)
  • Defense & State Memorandum of Agreement (DSMOA)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Environmental Quality, which includes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) integrator; the Enterprise Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health-Management Information System (EESOH-MIS); and the Installation Management Command (IMCOM)Training Program
  • Formerly Utilized Site Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP)
  • Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC)
  • Remedial Action Cost Engineering Requirements (RACER)
  • U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC)
  • Support for Others including the USACE Environmental Community of Practice, USACE districts, PFAS support and other special projects not covered by designated programs

EM CX Project Images

Carl Harms, an environmental engineer with the EM CX, conducts a site visit inspection at the former Buxton Naval Facility in North Carolina. (USACE Photo)
An EM CX team collects advanced geophysical classification library data at Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia. (Photo by Elise Goggin)
James Salisbury, a physical scientist with the EM CX, presents on independent technical reviews during a FUDS Program and Legal Review Meeting in November 2023. (USACE Photo)
Jen Apell and Mike Felix with the EM CX document observations during a remediation optimization site visit at a groundwater treatment plant at the former Blaine Naval Ammunition Depot in Hastings, Nebraska. (USACE Photo)
Julie Clements, health physicist, EM CX, performs a radiation survey at the Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada. (USACE Photo)