The Navy is responsible for managing sites with legacy hazardous materials (Installation Restoration Program (IRP)). The Navy and Marine Corps first began addressing chemical contamination at facilities in the early 1980s. Since the beginning of the program, the Navy has closed out nearly 3,400 sites, as of early 2012. The IRP remains on track to achieve remedies in place for most sites by 2014.

In 2001, the Department of the Navy began a second phase of the Environmental Restoration Program to address sites with munitions and explosive-related contaminants (excluding operational ranges, where range managers take steps to ensure that such materials do not cross range boundaries). The Munitions Response Program has completed initial surveys to identify sites and is in the process of performing more detailed site investigations to support cleanup decisions. Munitions response sites are on track for completion by 2020.