Pine Bluff Arsenal: Compatibility Issues Exercise

Exercise Instructions

The following questions present the compatibility issues that have been identified and assessed as part of the Pine Bluff Arsenal Compatible Use Study (CUS). The compatibility issues were developed based on input from the CUS Policy Committee and Technical Working Group, the first public workshop, and from the technical evaluation that was conducted by the project consultant as part of the CUS process. 

Please Provide Your Opinion
For each compatibility issue, provide your input on the timing to address each issue. Input received will be used to assist in the development of compatibility recommendations to address each issue. Indicate the timeframe to address each issue by selecting one of the following:

Near-term – The issue is an immediate concern and should be addressed as soon as possible (1-3 years)

Long-term – This issue is a long-term concern and may require additional resources to address (3 years and beyond)

On-going – This issue will require on-going measures to address

No Opinion – You do not have enough information to determine the timeframe
1.Pine Bluff Arsenal does not maintain formalized communication processes with surrounding communities and organizations.

Although Pine Bluff Arsenal maintains mutual aid agreements and memoranda of understanding with local agencies for services such as fire protection, law enforcement, and medical, it does not have formal communication processes in place with local communities (cities and counties), the Southeast Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, and the Economic Alliance of Jefferson County to coordinate on items such as future development plans and land use items within the communities and future development or operational changes within Pine Bluff Arsenal.  This could lead to future incompatible uses in or around Pine Bluff Arsenal.
2.The Southeast Arkansas Regional Planning Commission and the communities have a lack of information and resources for land use decision making.
The Southeast Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (SEARPC) provides planning and support services for the communities in Jefferson County. In this capacity, the SEARPC maintains a repository of community planning documents. Some of the communities have planning or guidance documents that are not shared in full with the SEARPC, or they do not have associated digital mapping data or GIS that the SEARPC can use. This can create a disconnect among the SEARPC and communities when the documentation is not fully available for coordination and planning purposes.
3.Public-private partnerships that support the mission at the Arsenal are not being fully utilized for opportunities to attract additional businesses and jobs to the area.
Public-private partnerships can be used to form synergies between a military installation and private entities that conduct business that would support or be supported by what occurs at the military installation. These partnerships can also be formed to allow private entities to make use of available land on an installation that is unused by the military. Pine Bluff Arsenal currently has two private-partnerships and has opportunities to expand public-private partnership opportunities that relate to the mission at the installation. This could be supported by enhanced emphasis from Army Material Command to better promote public-private partnerships.
4.The bridge on Hoadley Road (Highway 256) leading to Pine Bluff Arsenal’s Plainview Gate has been designated on the National Register of Historic Places, which limits the ability to structurally change the bridge to enhance its vehicle capacity in the future.
The Pine Bluff Arsenal Access Road Bridge #2280 over Caney Bayou on Hoadley Road was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 24, 2019. This designation established limitations on modifications that can be made to the bridge to maintain its historic characteristics. These limitations include modifications to widen the bridge that would provide increase vehicle access to Pine Bluff Arsenal and enhancements to the bridge to better protect it and the road from a 100-year flood event that could limit vehicle access to Pine Bluff Arsenal’s gate.
5.The Army is considering divesting the existing 5 housing units on Pine Bluff Arsenal that house the Commander and medical staff on post to provide a quick response for emergencies.
There are five existing housing units on Pine Bluff Arsenal where key military personnel live, including the Garrison Commander and medical staff. The divesting of these homes would require these staff to find housing in the local community.
6.There have been incidences of public trespassing onto Pine Bluff Arsenal that pose safety and security concerns.
Most trespassing occurs on the southeast portion of the arsenal through barbed wire fencing.
7.An increase in air emission permits in the region around Pine Bluff Arsenal may impact the Arsenal’s future air permit requirements to support its mission.
Pine Bluff Arsenal’s mission and the products that are manufactured at the installation address more than 80 air permitted sources under the Arsenal’s Title V Permit with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. The Arsenal also maintains Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste permits with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support its manufacturing mission. Future issue of air quality permits and RCRA permits for other users in the region around Pine Bluff Arsenal should be coordinated at a regional level so as to not impact the Arsenal’s ability to maintain its permits unimpeded.
8.Portions of Pine Bluff Arsenal could be affected by regional large-scale flooding events from the Arkansas River.
Pine Bluff Arsenal’s location along the Arkansas River makes it susceptible to flooding during regional heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events. Flooding from the River is not a concern for the entire installation, and past flooding events have not had significant impacts on the developed portions of the installation.
9.Pine Bluff Arsenal does not have redundant a water system.
Pine Bluff Arsenal should secure enhanced water system capacity to support the installation for an extended period of time in the event that its supply is impacted. This includes a need for additional backup energy generation capabilities and redundant water resources.
10.The use of civilian unmanned aerial systems (drones) could pose security concerns for Pine Bluff Arsenal.
The use of unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, are not regulated in the communities surrounding Pine Bluff Arsenal. Drones could be used to intentionally (e.g., someone operating a drone for surveillance purposes) or unintentionally (e.g., someone using a drone for recreation and agricultural purposes) fly over Pine Bluff Arsenal, which could generate security concerns for personnel at the installation.
11.Due to the lack of zoning and future land use plans for the land adjacent to the Arsenal, there is potential incompatible development to occur thus impacting their mission and the public safety, health and welfare.
Much of the land surrounding Pine Bluff Arsenal is currently undeveloped. Development of land within the incorporated communities is guided by zoning regulations, but Jefferson County does not maintain zoning regulations for unincorporated land. The majority of the land adjacent to Pine Bluff Arsenal, including land surrounding Plainview Gate, is within unincorporated Jefferson County. There are concerns that future development could encroach upon Pine Bluff Arsenal if planning guidance is not developed for these areas. Planning guidance should take into consideration the relationship between Pine Bluff Arsenal’s mission needs and future land development outside the installation.
12.Commercial traffic entering Pine Bluff Arsenal at Dexter Gate causes traffic backups onto local roads during peak traffic hours.
Dexter Gate serves as the commercial truck entrance at Pine Bluff Arsenal. All commercial trucks entering the installation must enter at that gate. There is no bridge over the railroad outside Dexter Gate. Consequently, when trains are passing by the gate, commercial traffic sometimes overflows onto the local roads. Additionally, the facilities at the gate can only handle a limited number of commercial trucks at a time, with a limited staging area for trucks to wait until they can be inspected. Existing egress and ingress infrastructure is not adequate at Dexter Gate especially at times of increased force protection levels at the installation, when inspection times per commercial vehicle may increase. If manufacturing production levels at Pine Bluff Arsenal increase in the future, as projected for the production of textile components, there will be an increase in commercial trucks entering the installation that will increase traffic congestion entering at Dexter Gate. This gate does not meet AT/FP requirements.
13.Recent approval for aboveground magazines to store munitions on Pine Bluff Arsenal could close the access road that is used by the National Center for Toxicological Research personnel who use the road to get to work.
The recent approval for nine aboveground magazines and one Explosives Operating Location by the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board at Pine Bluff Arsenal generates associated explosive safety arcs that impact the road on the installation that connects from Stark Gate to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) National Center for Toxicological Research facility. This would present safety and security issues for employees of the FDA facility and PBA as they traverse the road.
14.Commercial trucks transporting hazardous materials to Pine Bluff Arsenal travel through neighborhoods adjacent to Dexter Gate.
Commercial trucks that transport materials, including certain types of hazardous materials and components for munitions, to Pine Bluff Arsenal travel along Dollarway Road (Highway 365) to enter the installation at Dexter Gate. There are residential areas and schools along this road that could be put at risk in the event of an accident. The City of Pine Bluff has designated hazardous materials routes, but the City of White Hall does not.
15.Trains transporting hazardous materials passing by Dexter Gate can cause safety concerns for commercial trucks and neighborhoods due to potential derailments.
Wise Road does not have a bridge or separated access across the railroad tracks to Dexter Gate. When trains pass along the railroad, there are safety concerns for commercial trucks accessing Dexter Gate since there is no separation of traffic from the railroad. Additionally, traffic can back up while trucks are waiting for the trains to pass and cause safety concerns if the backups go to Highway 365. Additionally, trains at times transport hazardous materials, which may cause safety concerns.
16.There are safety concerns for commercial truck traffic at the intersection of Highway 365 and Wise Road to access the Dexter Gate due to high speed limits, no turn lanes, and narrow roads.
The speed limit on Highway 365 is 55 miles per hour. Due to the length of commercial trucks that transport materials to and from Pine Bluff Arsenal, it can be unsafe at times for trucks turning onto or off of Wise Road at Highway 365 to access or exit Pine Bluff Arsenal. Wise Road is a two-lane road and it is difficult for commercial trucks to turn onto it from Highway 365 if there is another vehicle in the opposite lane. Additionally, there are no turning or middle lanes on Highway 365 to provide safe places for commercial trucks to turn when entering or leaving Wise Road.
17.Are there any additional compatibility issues between Pine Bluff Arsenal and your community that you would like to be considered as part of this project?
Current Progress,
0 of 17 answered