The report released this month has revealed successful conduct and good practices by participants in the biannual joint exercise conducted by Australian and US forces, held last year.
Good practices such as briefings, pre and post-exercise surveys, quick action to fix issues and an overall commitment from Australia and the US to promote a strong culture of sustainable environmental management led to a ‘light' footprint.
Chief of Joint Operations LTGEN Mark Evans said the report was a good indication of Defence's commitment to upholding environment and heritage principles.
"The measures taken by the ADF to limit the footprint by exercise participants has been successful.
"This report details how our commitment to protecting the environment and meeting capability objectives can be achieved simultaneously."
An Environmental Management Group (EMG) was established to monitor compliance and provide advice to commanders during the conduct of TS09.
More than 600 pre and post-exercise site inspections were reviewed by the EMG.
The report found that environmental breaches were attended to immediately.
The incidents recorded during TS09 were all minor in nature and have not resulted in any permanent environmental damage.
TS09 was held from 6 to 25 July 2009 across six Defence training areas in Central and Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, with Maritime Forces exercising in the Coral, Timor and Arafura seas.
More than 27,000 personnel from the US and Australia participated in TS09.