Defense Bill Includes Permeable Pavement in Military Installations

President Joe Biden signed the $768 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law on December 27, 2021, for fiscal year 2022. A portion of section 2803 in the NDAA promoted project priorities and stormwater management with the use of permeable pavement in military installations.

``(c) Project Priorities.--In selecting stormwater management 

projects to be carried out under this section, the Secretary concerned 

shall give a priority to project proposals involving the retrofitting 

of buildings and grounds on a military installation or retrofitting a 

defense access road to reduce stormwater runoff and ponding or standing 

water that includes the combination of stormwater runoff and water 

levels resulting from extreme weather conditions.

    ``(d) Project Activities.--Activities carried out as part of a 

stormwater management project under this section may include, but are 

not limited to, the following:

            ``(1) The installation, expansion, or refurbishment of 

        stormwater ponds and other water-slowing and retention 

        measures.

            ``(2) The installation of permeable pavement in lieu of, or 

        to replace existing, nonpermeable pavement.

            ``(3) The use of planters, tree boxes, cisterns, and rain 

        gardens to reduce stormwater runoff.