Ie Shima VIP Helipad LZ Final Environmental Review for Okinawa Rail Basing MV-22 Aircraft at MCAS Futenma and Operating in Japan Bambi Bucket Camp Fuji MCAS Futenma April 2012 MV-22 Osprey How to Use This Document The Marine Corps’ goal is to provide you with a reader-friendly document that presents a thorough, accurate analysis of the current environment and the proposed action and its potential environmental impacts. The organization of this Final Environmental Review, or Final ER, is shown below. Because of their size, the appendices for this document have been included on CD located in the back cover for ease of handling and reference. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Synopsis of Chapters, Purpose and Need, and Proposed Action Summary of Environmental Impacts CHAPTER 1 Purpose and Need CHAPTER 2 Description of Proposed Action and Current Conditions CHAPTER 3 MCAS Futenma CHAPTER 4 Training and Readiness Operations Landing Zones Mainland Japan (Camp Fuji, MCAS Iwakuni, and Navigation Routes) Kadena Air Base CHAPTER 5 List of Preparers CHAPTER 6 References CHAPTER 7 Distribution ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW APPENDICES (located on CD in the back page of this document) Appendix A: Additional Operations Details for MV-22s Appendix B: B1 - Exhaust Technical Memoranda B2 – Downwash Technical Memoranda Appendix C: Aircraft Noise Study for the Basing of MV-22 at Marine Air Station Futenma and Operations at Marine Corps Facilities in Japan Appendix D: Natural Resources Studies for Proposed MV-22 Landing Zones in Okinawa Final Environmental Review for Basing MV-22 at MCAS Futenma and Operating in Japan April 2012 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ˚F degrees Fahrenheit MOE Ministry of the Environment 1st MAW First Marine Aircraft Wing mph miles per hour AB Air Base MSL mean sea level AESO Aircraft Environmental Safety Office MWLK Marine Wing Liaison Kadena AGL above ground level NAV Navigation AICUZ Air Installations Compatible Use Zones NAWCAD Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft APZ Accident Potential Zone Division BASH Bird/Wildlife-Aircraft Strike Hazard NOx nitrous oxides BHC Bird Hazard Condition nm nautical mile CAL Confined Area Landings NTA Northern Training Area Camp Fuji Combined Arms Training Center OPG Okinawan Prefectural Government Camp Fuji OPNAVINST Office of the Chief of Naval Operations CNEL Community Noise Equivalent Level Instruction CNELmr Onset-Rate Adjusted Monthly PM10 particulate matter less than or equal to Community Noise Equivalent Level 10 microns in diameter CO carbon monoxide ppm parts per million CO2e equivalent carbon dioxide RAICUZ Range Air Installations Compatible Use cps cycles per second Zones CTA Central Training Area SC LZ LZs scheduled for construction CZ Clear Zone SEL Sound Exposure Level dB decibel SELr Onset-Rate Adjusted Sound Exposure dBA A-weighted decibel Level dBG G-weighted decibel SO2 sulfur dioxide DNL Day-Night Average Sound Level SUA Special Use Airspace DoD Department of Defense TERF Terrain Flight DoN Department of the Navy UFC Unified Facilities Criteria 3 EQS Environmental Quality Standards μg/m micrograms per cubic meter E.O. Executive Order U.S. United States ER Environmental Review U.S.C. United States Code FAA Federal Aviation Administration USEPA United States Environmental FCLP Field Carrier Landing Practice Protection Agency FY Fiscal Year USFJ United States Forces Japan GHG greenhouse gas USMC United States Marine Corps GoJ Government of Japan VFR Visual Flight Rules HC hydrocarbons VIP Very Important Person Hz hertz VOC volatile organic compound IFR Instrument Flight Rules VTOL vertical take-off and landing ISTF Ie Shima Training Facility WECPNL Weighted Equivalent Continuous JEGS Japan Environmental Governing Perceived Noise Level Standards JGSDF Japan Ground Self-Defense Force JMSDF Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force JWTC Jungle Warfare Training Center Ldnmr Onset Rate-Adjusted Monthly Day- Night Average Sound Level LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LFN low-frequency noise LHA Landing Helicopter Assault LHD Landing Helicopter Dock Lmax Maximum Sound Level LZ Landing Zone MAG Marine Aircraft Group MCAS Marine Corps Air Station MCB Marine Corps Base MCIPAC Marine Corps Installations Pacific MCO Marine Corps Order MEF Marine Expeditionary Force EExxeeccuuttiivvee SSuummmmaarryy Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Marine Corps Installations Pacific (MCIPAC) prepared this Environmental Review (ER) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of basing two MV-22 squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma and operating the MV-22 at United States (U.S.) facilities and areas in Japan. The MV-22 aircraft would replace an equal number of aging CH-46E helicopters currently stationed at MCAS Futenma in Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) anticipates the initial deployment of the MV-22 to Okinawa by the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. However, a final determination on that date has not been made. Two MV-22 squadrons would be based at MCAS Futenma, conduct training at LZs on Okinawa, and deploy to bases on mainland Japan. Environmental Review for MV-22 Basing in Okinawa and Operating in Japan ES-1 Final, April 2012 Executive Summary The MV-22 is a highly-capable aircraft with an excellent operational safety record. The aircraft combines the vertical capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. Its capabilities would significantly strengthen Marine Expeditionary Force’s (III MEF’s) ability to assist in the defense of Japan, perform humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and fulfill other Alliance roles. A major component of training for the MV-22 aircrews would consist of Confined Area Landing (CAL) operations at existing tactical Landing Zones (LZs) located within U.S. facilities and training areas on Okinawa1. These LZs are already used by the CH-46E squadrons. Although the aircraft would be based at MCAS Futenma, portions of a squadron (two to six MV-22s) would deploy monthly for 2 to 3 days to the Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji (Camp Fuji) and MCAS Iwakuni on mainland Japan.2 During these brief deployments, the MV-22 squadrons would conduct training operations within established training areas and airspace over mainland Japan. On occasion, longer deployments could occur as a result of actions such as assisting in the defense of Japan, training exercises, or humanitarian/disaster relief. This ER was prepared to comply Basing the MV-22 at MCAS Futenma and operating it in Japan with Executive Order (E.O.) would not result in significant harm to the environment 12114, Environmental Effects especially because the MV-22: Abroad of Major Federal • Has an excellent safety record with an average of 1.12 mishaps/100,000 flying hours Actions, DoD Directive 6050.7, • Generates less noise during almost all modes of flight Environmental Effects Abroad of except arrivals Major Department of Defense • Would conduct fewer overall airfield and LZ training Actions, and Marine Corps operations on Okinawa • Flies, on average, at a higher altitude than CH-46Es Order (MCO) P5090.2A, Environmental Compliance and Protection Manual, Change 2 (May 2009), which establishes procedures and policy on taking environmental considerations into account for federal actions outside of the U.S. and its territories and possessions. The review also integrates applicable conformance requirements from the Japan Environmental Governing Standards (JEGS) (updated 2010). Important areas that were analyzed during the ER process include: • Aircraft Safety • Aircraft Noise • Natural Resources • Cultural Resources LOCATIONS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION To accomplish basing of the MV-22 and meet training requirements, the proposed action would involve use of installations, training areas, and established Special Use Airspace (SUA) on Okinawa and mainland Japan. For Okinawa, the focus of activity under the proposed action, the MV-22 squadrons would use the following locations: • MCAS Futenma – Situated on the southern third of the island, this air station supports 57 based aircraft as well as transient (not based) aircraft operations. As the base for the CH-46E 1 Okinawa includes Okinawa-honto, or the main island, and the other Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa in this document refers to Okinawa-honto where MCAS Futenma, Northern Training Area, Central Training Area, and Kadena Air Base are located. Ie Shima is one of the Ryukyu Islands and contains the Ie Shima Training Facility. 2 The term “mainland Japan” is used herein not as an official geographic name but rather as a means to distinguish the group of islands mainly Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku from Okinawa. ES-2 Environmental Review for MV-22 Basing in Okinawa and Operating in Japan Final, April 2012 Executive Summary helicopters, MCAS Futenma would form the site for basing the MV-22 squadrons. It would be home to the MV-22 squadrons’ operational, maintenance, and administrative personnel. • Training Areas and LZs – The MV-22 squadrons would conduct training and readiness operations within three existing training areas within Okinawa: Ie Shima Training Facility (ISTF), Northern Training Area (NTA), and Central Training Area (CTA). These training areas support tactical LZs, which the CH-46E squadrons currently use. MV-22 squadrons propose to use a total of 50 tactical LZs for required CAL operations. Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) would continue to occur at the MV-22 aircrews would conduct FCLP simulated “deck” at ISTF operations at the “LHD Deck” on Ie Shima. complex. Additionally, the NTA contains a AV-8B Harriers and helicopters would Terrain Flight (TERF) route along which the continue to train here also. CH-46Es currently fly at low-altitudes (50 to 200 feet above ground level [AGL]). MV-22 squadrons would rarely use this TERF route and only when other options (i.e., simulators) become unavailable. MV-22 operations in the training areas would require transit flights from and to MCAS Futenma. • New LZs Scheduled for Construction (SC) – The Government of Japan (GoJ) currently is constructing six new tactical SC LZs in the NTA that will become part of U.S. facilities when complete.