From large-scale conflict response to maritime security to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen must be prepared to perform duties at any time.
PROPOSED ACTION
The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard propose to continue conducting and testing activities in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Study Area. Proposed activities would continue training and testing with active sonar and explosives. Training Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and testing new technologies is necessary to ensure they are prepared to accomplish their mission.
EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES
NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate a range of action alternatives - or other ways of accomplishing the purpose and need of the project. NEPA also requires evaluation of a no action alternative.
Alternative 1 (Action Proponent Preferred Alternative & Environmentally Preferred Alternative)
• Conduct training and testing activities needed to meet current and future readiness requirements
• Includes new activities at an intensity based on changing world events, advances in technology, and tactical and strategic priorities
• Reflects a representative level of annual training and testing
Alternative 2
• Completion of unit-level active sonar training requirements would be achieved independent of other events
• Adds a Composite Training Unit Exercise in the Gulf of Mexico
• Increases number of Composite Training Unit Exercises over a seven-year period
• Provides higher levels of annual anti-submarine warfare and mine warfare systems testing
No Action Alternative
• Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard would not conduct proposed training and testing activities in the AFTT Study Area
• Marine Mammal Protection Act permit would not be issued
• Would fail to meet the purpose and need for the Proposed Action
The following range complexes fall within the AFTT Study Area:
- Northeast Range Complexes;
- Virginia Capes (VACAPES) Range Complex;
- Navy Cherry Point Range Complex;
- Jacksonville (JAX) Range Complex;
- Key West Range Complex; and
- Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) Range Complex.
Testing ranges in the AFTT Study Area include:
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport Testing Range;
- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division Testing Range; and
- Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility Testing Range.
While most military readiness activities will take place in open ocean operating and warning areas, some activities, such as sonar maintenance and gunnery exercises, are conducted concurrent with normal transits and occur outside of these areas, but still within the Study Area.
The pierside testing locations and associated port transit channels are located at the following Navy ports and naval shipyards:
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine;
- Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut;
- Naval Station Newport, Newport, Rhode Island;
- Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia;
- Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia;
- Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia;
- Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Kings Bay, Georgia;
- Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida; and
- Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
In addition, Navy-contractor pierside testing locations in the following cities, along with their associated port transit channels and inshore waters (such as bays and rivers) are in the AFTT Study Area:
- Bath, Maine;
- Groton, Connecticut;
- Newport News, Virginia;
- Pascagoula, Mississippi;
- North Bay, Florida;
- New Orleans, Louisiana; and
- Mobile, Alabama.
For decades, the Navy has been conducting military readiness activities in the AFTT Study Area. During this time, the tempo and types of military readiness activities in the Study Area have evolved due to changing requirements, the introduction of new technologies, the dynamic nature of international events, advances in warfighting doctrine and procedures, and force structure changes.