Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities Supplemental Draft EIS/OEIS

652 Pages·2014·12.36 MB·English

Gulf Alaska
of
Navy Training Activities
SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/
OVERSEAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
N a v y T r a i n i n g A c t i v i t i e s E I S / O E I S
August 2014
Unclassified

Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Overseas Environmental Impact Statement

August 2014

GOA Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, EV21.AB
1101 Tautog Circle
Silverdale, WA 98315

SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/OVERSEAS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT for GULF OF ALASKA NAVY TRAINING
ACTIVITIES
Lead Agency: United States Department of the Navy
Cooperating Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service
Title of the Proposed Action: Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities
Designation: Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement
Abstract
The United States (U.S.) Department of the Navy (Navy) prepared this Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas EIS (OEIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S. Code §4321 et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations [C.F.R.] §§1500 et
seq.); Navy Procedures for Implementing NEPA (32 C.F.R. §775); and Executive Order (EO) 12114,
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions. The Navy identified its need to continue to
support and conduct current, emerging, and future training activities in the Gulf of Alaska in order to
support U.S. Pacific Command, Northern Command and Joint Task Force commander training
requirements to achieve and maintain Fleet readiness, as required by Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
The Navy is not substantially changing the proposed action alternative selected in the May 2011 Record
of Decision. The purpose of this Supplemental EIS/OEIS is to supplement the environmental information
and analysis contained in the 2011 GOA Final EIS/OEIS with the best available scientific data and analysis
techniques. Subsequently, the alternatives analyzed in this Supplemental EIS/OEIS are the same
alternatives analyzed in the 2011 GOA Final EIS/OEIS, as follows:
• The No Action Alternative is to continue baseline training activities of the types and levels of
training intensity conducted prior to 2011, which did not include Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW)
training activities involving the use of active sonar.
• Alternative 1 includes adjustments to the types and levels of activities from the baseline, as
necessary, to support current and planned Navy training requirements, including:
All training activities addressed in the No Action Alternative and an increase in training
o
activities
Conducting one large-scale carrier strike group (CSG) exercise, plus ASW training activities
o
and the use of active sonar, occurring over a maximum time period of up to 21 consecutive
days during the April–October timeframe.
Training required by force structure changes for new weapons systems, instrumentation,
o
and technology as well as new classes of ships, submarines, and types of aircraft
Development and use of the portable undersea tracking range
o
• Alternative 2 includes all elements of Alternative 1 plus one additional CSG exercise during the
summer months (April–October). Additionally, Alternative 2 includes conducting one sinking
exercise per CSG exercise for a total of two per year.
In this Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the Navy analyzes potential environmental impacts that result or could
result from activities occurring in the Temporary Maritime Activities Area under the Proposed Action.
Resource areas of marine mammals and threatened and endangered species are addressed in this
supplement due to new information and analytical methods relevant to the potential effects upon those
resources. The following resources were considered, but not carried forward for alternatives re-analysis
because there were no new circumstances or information relevant to those environmental concerns
from the 2011 GOA Final EIS/OEIS that would require re-analysis in this Supplemental EIS/OEIS: air
quality, expended materials, water resources, acoustic environment (airborne), marine plants and
invertebrates, fish, sea turtles, birds, cultural resources, transportation and circulation, socioeconomics,
environmental justice and protection of children, and public safety.
Prepared by: United States Department of the Navy
Point of Contact: Amy Burt, Environmental Planner
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, EV21.AB
1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315 | [phone]
Executive Summary

GOA NAVY TRAINING ACTIVITIES SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS/OEIS AUGUST 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................. ES-1
ES.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... ES-1
ES.2 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR PROPOSED MILITARY READINESS TRAINING ACTIVITIES ............................... ES-1
ES.3 SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/OVERSEAS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ................................................................................................... ES-3
ES.4 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .............................................................................................................. ES-3
ES.4.1 SCOPING PROCESS .......................................................................................................................... ES-3
ES.4.2 DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/OVERSEAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT .................................................................................................................................... ES-4
ES.4.3 FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/OVERSEAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT/RECORD OF DECISION..................................................................................................... ES-4
ES.5 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................ ES-4
ES.6 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ...................................................................................... ES-5
ES.7 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ............................................................................................................. ES-5
ES.8 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, MITIGATION, MONITORING, AND REPORTING .............................. ES-7
ES.8.1 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES ................................................................................................. ES-7
ES.8.2 MITIGATION .................................................................................................................................. ES-7
ES.8.3 MONITORING ................................................................................................................................. ES-8
ES.8.4 REPORTING .................................................................................................................................... ES-8
ES.8.5 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................. ES-8
ES.8.5.1 Consistency with Other Federal, State, and Local Plans, Policies and Regulations ................ ES-8
ES.8.5.2 Relationship Between Short-Term Use of the Environment and Maintenance and
Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity ............................................................................... ES-8
ES.8.5.3 Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ......................................................... ES-8
ES.8.5.4 Energy Requirements and Conservation Potential of Alternatives and Mitigation Measures ......
................................................................................................................................................. ES-9

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE ES-1: SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION .................................................................. ES-6

LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE ES-1: GULF OF ALASKA TEMPORARY MARITIME ACTIVITIES AREA ................................................................................ ES-2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i
GOA NAVY TRAINING ACTIVITIES SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT EIS/OEIS AUGUST 2014
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii