Announcements

Notice of Availability

Navy Conventional Prompt Strike Weapon System Flight Tests
Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment

The Department of the Navy, Strategic Systems Programs, has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)/Overseas Environmental Assessment (OEA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of proposed Navy Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) Weapon System Flight Tests to meet requirements of the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Navy announces the availability of the Draft EA/OEA and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Finding of No Significant Harm (FONSH) and invites public review and comments on the Draft EA/OEA.

As described in the Draft EA/OEA, the Proposed Action consists of conducting Navy CPS weapon system (missile) flight tests in both Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions. Testing would involve up to eight flight test launches per year from various sea-based launch locations conducted over a 10-year period. All flight tests would be at-sea missile tests launched from existing naval vessels operating in Pacific and Atlantic broad ocean areas. After launch, flight test activities would include vehicle flight over the Pacific and/or Atlantic Oceans and would involve splashdown of spent boosters and fairings in Pacific and Atlantic broad ocean areas. Navy CPS flight test payloads would impact at target sites in the broad ocean area and at U.S. Army test sites at Kwajalein Atoll within the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The Draft EA/OEA evaluates the potential impacts to the human and natural environment from implementing the proposed CPS weapon system flight test program. The No Action Alternative is also evaluated as a requirement of NEPA to serve as a baseline from which to analyze the effects of not implementing the test program. Supported by the information and environmental analysis presented in this document, the Navy will decide whether to conduct up to eight CPS flight tests annually over a 10-year period or to select the No Action Alternative. The Draft EA/OEA evaluates several environmental/resource categories within the affected environment that potentially could be impacted to provide Navy decision makers with sufficient information to plan and make informed decisions on the proposed CPS flight test program. The Navy has determined that the activities associated with the Proposed Action would not result in significant impacts to the human and natural environment and has also drafted a FONSI/FONSH.

The Draft EA/OEA and Draft FONSI/FONSH are available on the Current Projects page of the Navy’s NEPA Projects website at https://www.nepa.navy.mil/CPSSea-Based. The Draft EA/OEA is also available at the following local public libraries:

• Anchorage Public Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503
• Cape Canaveral Public Library, 201 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
• City of San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101
• Grace Sherwood Library, Kwajalein Island, Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Hawai’i State Library, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
• Jacksonville Public Library, 303 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
• Kitsap Regional Library, 700 Northeast Lincoln Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370
• Oxnard Downtown Main Library, 251 South A Street, Oxnard, CA 93030
• Roi-Namur Library, Roi Namur, Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
• Slover Memorial Main Library, 235 East Plume Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

The 30-day public comment period will begin June 3, 2024 and end July 3, 2024. Comments may be submitted either online on the project website at https://www.nepa.navy.mil/CPSSea-Based or by mail to:

Comments must be submitted or postmarked by July 3, 2024. All comments submitted during the 30-day public comment period will be part of the public record and substantive comments will be addressed in the Final EA/OEA.

For additional information regarding the EA/OEA and media queries, please contact the Conventional Prompt Strike Public Affairs Officer at 202-451-4412, or email to: amy.smith@ssp.navy.mil