EIS/OEIS
What is a Range Complex?
A “range complex” is
an organized and designated set of specifically bounded geographic areas
which can encompass a landmass, body of water (above or below the surface),
and/or airspace. Range complexes are used to conduct operations, training,
research, and development and test and evaluate military hardware,
personnel, tactics, munitions, explosives, or electronic combat systems.
Ranges and operational areas
(OPAREAs) are locations where U.S. military personnel train to accomplish
their mission of national defense. The Navy has geographically grouped its
ranges and OPAREAs to form range complexes, which are organized and managed
to optimize training opportunities in a safe and controlled environment. The
ranges, facilities, and installations of the Mariana Islands Range Complex
are unique and provide training opportunities essential for the safety and
readiness of military personnel and the success of the military mission. The
protection of natural and cultural resources is also an integral component
of this training. Training activities incorporate protective measures as
standard operating procedure to promote environmental conservation.
Mariana Islands Range Complex
The U.S. Military has been training in the Mariana Islands Range Complex for national defense purposes
for decades. The Mariana
Islands Range Complex
encompasses the onshore, nearshore, and offshore areas on and adjacent to
the islands of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
It includes multiple ranges varying from small arms to maneuver areas to Farallon de Medinilla (FDM), the only U.S.-controlled live air-to-ground
range in the Western Pacific.
Collectively, the components of the Mariana
Islands Range Complex provide the space and resources needed to execute
training events across the training continuum, from individual skills
training to complex joint exercises. The mission of the Mariana Islands
Range Complex is to support training of the U.S. Military Services by
maintaining and operating range facilities and by providing range services
and support to the Pacific Fleet, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and
other forces and military activities. The Commander, Fleet Forces Command
and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet are responsible for operations,
maintenance, training, and support of this national training asset.
Background
The training areas on
Guam and the Marianas are known as “ranges” and are present on land, sea and
air spaces in the region. To optimize the use of these vital training
ranges, the Navy is managing training at a range complex-wide level. In line
with range complex-wide management practices, the Navy is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS)
to comprehensively evaluate the effects of current and future activities of
the Department of Defense within the range complex on the environmental,
natural, cultural and socioeconomic resources.
Why is the proposal needed?
U.S. military
transformation initiatives determine current, emerging, and future
requirements for training access to the Mariana Islands Range Complex.
Moreover, recent world events have placed the U.S. military on
heightened alert in the defense of the U.S., and in defense of allied
nations. At this time, the U.S. military is actively engaged in
anti-terrorism efforts around the globe. Title 10 of the United States
Code directs each of the Services to organize, train, and equip forces
for combat so that they are capable of winning wars, deterring
aggression, and maintaining freedom. To achieve this level of readiness,
the U.S. military must have access to ranges, operating areas (OPAREAs),
and airspace where they can develop and maintain skills for wartime
missions and conduct RDT&E of weapons systems. As such, Department of
Defense ranges, OPAREAs, and airspace must be maintained and/or enhanced
to accommodate necessary training and testing activities in support of
national security objectives.
What is proposed?
The
proposed action, therefore, responds to the U.S. military’s need to:
(1) maintain baseline operations at current levels.
(2) accommodate future
increases in operational training tempo in the Mariana Islands Range Complex
as necessary to support the deployment of military forces.
(3) achieve and
sustain readiness so that the U.S. military can quickly provide significant
combat power in the event of a national crisis or contingency operation and
consistent with the Department of Defense’s Training Transformation
processes.
(4) support the
acquisition, testing, training, and introduction of advanced
platforms and weapons systems.
(5) enhance
investments to optimize range capabilities required to adequately support
required training.
The U.S. military will
meet these needs and maintain the long-term viability of the Mariana Islands
Range Complex, while protecting human health and minimizing the effects to
the environment.
What Will be evaluated?
The U.S. military and
the Navy understand and recognize the potential effects training activities
may have on the environment, for surrounding community, and the many
businesses that rely on the environmental, natural, cultural and
socioeconomic resources available. Therefore, public input received
during the scoping phase of the process will be carefully considered as
alternatives are refined and analyzed. Currently, the following three alternatives
are refined and analyzed:
The No Action
Alternative is comprised of baseline operations and support of existing
range capabilities.
Alternative 1 is
comprised of the No Action Alternative plus additional operations on upgraded/modernized existing ranges.
Alternative 2 is
comprised of Alternative 1 plus new ranges, new dedicated capabilities, additional increased tempo (beyond
Alternative 1) to optimize training in support of future contingencies.
The analysis will
address potentially significant direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts.