EIS/OEIS

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What is a Range Complex?

Ranges and operational areas (OPAREAs) are locations where Navy 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 and facilities of the Jacksonville 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. Navy training activities incorporate protective measures as standard operating procedures to promote environmental conservation. The Jacksonville (JAX) Range Complex The Jacksonville Range Complex represents an essential three-dimensional space that provides a realistic and safe training area for Navy personnel. For nearly 65 years, the area has supported Navy training activities, and is now host to a wide range of training every year to ensure our military members are ready for combat.

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The Jacksonville Range Complex is the principal training area for air, surface, and submarine units located in Charleston, SC; Kings Bay, GA; and Jacksonville, FL. In addition to serving as the site for essential Navy training, the Jacksonville Range Complex is host to activities for research, development, testing, and evaluation of emerging maritime and combat technologies.

The geographic scope of this EIS/OEIS is referred to as the Jacksonville Range Complex Study Area (See Figure). The Study Area includes the area from the mean high tide line east (seaward) to the 3- nautical-mile (nm) boundary of the states of North Carolina (southern portion), South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (northern portion). This 3-nm state boundary also serves as the western boundary of the Jacksonville and Charleston OPAREAs, which are the main part of the Study Area. The Jacksonville Study Area also includes two land ranges located south of Jacksonville, FL (Rodman Range and the Jacksonville Range Complex EIS/OEIS Study Area Boundaries Lake George Range).

The chief area analyzed in the Study Area is referred to as the Jacksonville Range Complex, including its defined airspace, sea space, and undersea space. This area includes a large expanse of the Atlantic Ocean offshore from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida eastward to 77° west longitude.

The Jacksonville Range Complex is a three-dimensional training area that includes sea space, land ranges and Special Use Airspace (SUA). The Range Complex also includes facilities and instrumentation areas that support the training conducted there.

Sea Space. Often referred to as an OPAREA, sea space includes areas used on or below the water’s surface. In the Jacksonville Range Complex there are two OPAREAs: Jacksonville and Charleston.

Land Ranges. Land ranges include one or more targets used for a variety of training exercises, such as strike warfare or marksmanship. This EIS /OEIS evaluates activities at two land ranges (Rodman Range and Lake George Range). The nearby Pinecastle Impact Range is not included in the EIS/ OEIS Study Area because an environmental impact statement was recently completed for the land range and it is currently being updated (Department of the Navy, 2003).

Special Use Airspace (SUA). Special use airspace is airspace designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the confinement of certain activities, such as military flight operations. The FAA also may impose limitations on aircraft operations that are not part of the designated activities.

Supporting Infrastructure. The land, sea and airspace training areas are supported by training facilities and instrumentation facilities.

Background

The Jacksonville Range Complex is a combination of land, sea and airspace where Navy training is conducted. The Navy is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/ OEIS) to comprehensively evaluate effects of current and future Navy activities within the Jacksonville Range Complex on the environmental, natural, cultural and socioeconomic resources. This comprehensive evaluation is part of a larger Navy program, the Tactical Training Theater Assessment and Planning (TAP) Program. Under the TAP Program, the Navy will for the first time manage its training areas within broad geographic locations known as range complexes. The Jacksonville Range Complex is one of several range complexes on the east coast.

Why is this needed?

Realistic training is the single greatest asset the military has in preparing and protecting Navy personnel. “Train As We Fight” is not just a phrase - it is a statement of the absolute necessity to realistically train Navy personnel for the conditions in which they may find themselves while protecting our nation.

International events, changes in technology, base closures, and population growth are increasing the challenges the Navy faces in training its personnel to be prepared to defend our nation. To face these challenges and continue to provide combat capable forces that are ready to deploy worldwide, the Navy is comprehensively evaluating and planning activities at the range complex level. The purpose for the proposed action is to:

Achieve and maintain Fleet readiness using the Jacksonville Range Complex to support and conduct current, emerging, and future training operations and Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) operations;

Expand warfare missions supported by the Jacksonville Range Complex; and

Upgrade and modernize existing range capabilities to enhance and sustain Navy training and RDT&E.

The need for the proposed action is to provide range capabilities for the training and equipping of combat-capable naval forces ready to deploy worldwide. In this regard, the Jacksonville Range Complex furthers the Navy’s execution of its Congressionally mandated roles and responsibilities under Title 10 U.S.C. § 5062.

What is proposed?

The Navy proposes to:   

  

Maintain training and RDT&E operations at current levels if the No Action Alternative is selected.

If either Alternative 1 or Alternative 2 is selected, then:

Increase or modify training and RDT&E operations from current levels as necessary in support of the Fleet Readiness Training Plan (FRTP).

Accommodate mission requirements associated with force structure changes, including those resulting from the introduction of new platforms (aircraft and weapons systems).

Implement enhanced range complex capabilities.

What will be evaluated?

The Navy understands and recognizes training activities may have potential effects on the environment, as well as to the community and the stakeholders that rely on these resources. The Navy will analyze several alternatives to determine the effects of potential actions on natural, cultural and socioeconomic resources. Additionally, public input received during the scoping phase and Draft EIS public comment period will be carefully considered in the environmental analysis. Three alternatives have been identified and analyzed:

No Action Alternative:

The No Action Alternative analyzes a variety of training and testing activities that currently occur within the Jacksonville Range Complex. Under the No Action Alternative, training and testing operations would continue at current levels. No new or additional training and testing operations or infrastructure improvements would be implemented. Current operations include surge level operations consistent with the Fleet Readiness Training Plan.

Alternative 1:

No Action Alternative plus: increase operational training, expand warfare missions, accommodate force structure changes (including training resulting from the introduction of new platforms), and implement enhancements, to meet the components of the proposed action. This alternative is composed of all operations currently conducted under the No Action Alternative, with modifications to current training or introduction of new training. These would include:

a)	Using more commercial aircraft to serve as oppositional forces rather than using Navy aircraft for air-to-air missile exercise, surface-to-air gunnery exercises, air intercept control exercises, and detect-toengage exercises;
b)	Incorporating anti-terrorism training into existing training events;
c)	Adjusting training levels to ensure that deployment can be stepped up quickly and at multiple locations in response to world events; and
d)	Conducting new or modified training associated with the introduction of the new MH-60 helicopter variants, and new organic mine countermeasure systems.

Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative) 

Includes implementation of Alternative 1 with additional increases in operations (with the exception of elimination of live bombing at sea). Alternative 2 also includes designation of Mine Warfare Training Areas in the Jacksonville and Charleston OPAREAs for enhanced mine countermeasures and neutralization training during major exercises. The Navy proposes to conduct mine hunting and sweeping operations in the same general area used for other major exercise events. Since water depth there is too deep for routine retrieval of submerged objects, these operations would take place without target mineshapes. The Navy further proposes to conduct mine neutralization operations in the areas currently designated for underwater detonation training. The water depth is suitable in these areas for the placement of expendable inert mineshapes, which are used to simulate a mine threat environment.

Under Alternative 2, the Navy proposes to eliminate all bombing exercise training events that involve dropping explosive (live) ordnance on targets at-sea. The at-sea target in these exercises is usually a flare or smoke float.