U.S. Department of the Navy Naval Sea Systems Command Amphibious Warfare Program Office’s Landing Craft, Utility Program (PMS377)

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) for PMS377: Builder’s and Acceptance Trials for Landing Craft, Utility Vessels

Introduction Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1500-1508) implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA, the Naval Sea Systems Command Amphibious Warfare Program Office’s Landing Craft, Utility Program (PMS377) gives notice that an Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared for PMS377: Builder’s and Acceptance Trials for Landing Craft, Utility Vessels. Based on the EA it has been determined that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required for the Proposed Action.

Purpose and Need The purpose of the Proposed Action is to confirm the design of each new Landing Craft, Utility (LCU; as detailed in craft specification) and evaluate performance of all installed equipment and systems in accordance with the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspection and certification requirements for naval vessels. This includes incorporation of a series of tests and at-sea demonstrations conducted by the builder, Swiftships, to prepare the vessel for final demonstrations with the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair (SUPSHIP) and INSURV. In-water tests and demonstrations would be conducted to demonstrate the vessel was built in accordance with contract specifications and is able to meet mission requirements. The need for the Proposed Action is to ensure builder-constructed LCUs are able to meet Navy operational requirements. LCU vessels make rapid buildup of forces ashore possible by moving troops, vehicles, cargo, and equipment to the shore, along the shore, and back to the amphibious warship. These LCUs are necessary to provide capabilities for training and equipping combat-capable naval forces ready to deploy worldwide. In this regard, the Proposed Action furthers the Navy’s execution of its congressionally-mandated roles and responsibilities under 10 United States Code section 8062.

Description of the Proposed Action The PMS377 LCU Program is proposing to conduct amphibious operation demonstrations, testing, and trials utilizing an LCU vessel constructed at Swiftships facility in Morgan City, Louisiana. LCUs

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used during this Proposed Action are designated as LCU 1700 class. The LCU measuring 139 ft (42.4 m) in length, with a draft of 5.3 ft (1.6 m) is a vessel designed to provide for the rapid buildup of combat power ashore by transporting vehicles, cargo, equipment, and troops to the shore, along the shore, and from the shore back to amphibious warships. It is a heavy lift displacement craft capable of independent transits to support and sustain operations from the sea. Capabilities of the LCU would include carrying a 170-short ton payload at a maximum speed of 11 knots over water. Additionally, the LCU has a bow ramp and stern gate for onload/offload from the sea to the shore. The LCU can hold a crew of 14 members, and can transport two tanks, or up to 400 individuals. There would be approximately 32 LCU 1700 vessels tested. LCUs would conduct a series of tests and demonstrations in the Atchafalaya River, Atchafalaya Bay (i.e., within the channel), and the Swiftships facility pier. Testing as part of the Proposed Action would confirm compliance of each Builder-constructed LCU vessel with underlying contractual specifications/requirements and evaluate performance of all installed equipment and systems (e.g., propulsion, electrical, communication, navigation) in accordance with the INSURV inspection and certification requirements for naval vessels. The Proposed Action would commence in early 2021 starting with the LCU 1700; thereafter, testing for each vessel would take place year-round as vessels are built. LCU testing would be short in duration, with each Builder’s and Acceptance Trial being conducted intermittently over the course of two days (for each trial). The vessel design phase is not yet complete and, as a result, the exact delivery and testing times of each vessel have not been set. Once operational requirements for LCU 1700 are confirmed, the other vessels would be constructed and tested in a similar way to LCU 1700. Vessel testing starts with Production Testing, moves to Builder’s Trials and culminates in Acceptance Trials. All of the testing is conducted by the Builder (i.e., Swiftships) with oversight from the Navy. Builder’s Trials are a dress rehearsal for Acceptance Trials and results are presented to SUPSHIP and PMS377 in order to demonstrate that the vessel meets contract specifications and performance requirements. Acceptance Trials demonstrate to INSURV, an independent Navy certification authority, that the Builder’s delivered vessel is able to conduct operations at-sea and that each vessel has been constructed in accordance with contract specifications. Builder’s Trials and Acceptance Trials are nearly identical and include vessel towing, propulsion plant demonstrations, bollard pull tests, anchor demonstrations, beach landings, and bow ramp operational demonstrations. Swiftships and PMS377 would follow all Coast Guard

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rules and regulations while performing underway testing in the Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Bay.

Alternatives The Proposed Action is to conduct Builder’s and Acceptance Trials for the LCU in Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Bay, Louisiana. To develop and screen alternatives, the Navy used the following criteria: • Proximity to the Swiftships facility in Morgan City, Louisiana for testing of vessel operability upon start up to allow for testing to occur within a single day due to limited berthing on the vessel. • Access to in-water areas for conducting Builder’s and Acceptance Trials and shore areas for beach landing test events. • Ability to complete the entire confirmation process within close proximity to Swiftships in case of vessel failure during Builder’s and Acceptance Trials and reduce unnecessary travel to and from testing sites. Based on these screening criteria, a No Action Alternative and two Action Alternatives were analyzed. Under the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would not occur within the Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Bay proposed action area. The No Action Alternative would not meet the purpose and need for the Proposed Action. This alternative required no analysis of potential consequences to environmental resources as no action would occur. Under Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative), Builder’s and Acceptance Trials would be conducted in the proposed action area, including the Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Bay, Louisiana. Alternative 1 would include a beach landing testing component at any of the four locations along Little Island in the Atchafalaya River, Louisiana. The inclusion of four separate testing locations enables the greatest testing flexibility, since each location is best suited for a certain river stage (e.g., high water and low water stages). Under Alternative 2, the Navy would conduct Builder’s and Acceptance Trials in the proposed action area, including the Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Bay, Louisiana. Under this alternative, the same volume and frequency of beach landing testing would occur as under Alternative 1, but beach landing would only occur along Little Island in the Atchafalaya River at the primary beach landing testing location. The primary beach landing location is the closest in proximity to Swiftships allowing a shorter transit time to the testing site. Testing at the primary beach landing location would restrict the flexibility of testing due to only being able to test during a certain river stage. Testing would be dependent on the river stage and there may be delays in the testing schedule if the river stage was not compatible when each LCU vessel is ready for testing.

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Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The EA evaluated the Proposed Action in terms of stressors and their potential to impact physical, biological, and socioeconomic resources. Stressors associated with the Proposed Action that were analyzed include vessel noise, vessel movement, and bottom and beach disturbance. These stressors were analyzed for potential impacts to the following resources: bottom sediments, aquatic vegetation, invertebrates, amphibians, birds, fish, essential fish habitat, reptiles, marine mammals, commercial shipping, and recreational boating. Resources that were not considered for analysis because the Proposed Action has no potential to affect them include air quality, airspace, floodplains or wetlands, land use, terrestrial environment, water quality, wild and scenic rivers, deep-sea coral and coral reefs, terrestrial wildlife, aesthetics, archaeological and historical resources, environmental justice, infrastructure, and utilities.

As described in the EA, implementation of Alternative 1 would result in no significant impacts to the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments.

Standard Operating Procedures and Protective Measures All bridge watch personnel and Lookouts shall successfully complete the Introduction to the U.S. Navy Afloat Environmental Compliance Training Series and the U.S. Navy Marine Species Awareness Training prior to standing watch or serving as a Lookout. While on watch, personnel shall employ visual search techniques, including the use of binoculars, using a scanning method in accordance with the Lookout Training Handbook. While underway, the LCU shall have two Lookouts with binoculars. This Lookout must be a watchstander fulfilling lookout duties (can be fulfilling all lookout responsibilities, not only marine species mitigation). Lookouts already posted for safety of navigation and man-overboard precautions satisfy this requirement. Visual observations of applicable marine species shall be communicated immediately to the appropriate watch station for information dissemination and appropriate action. While in transit, naval vessels shall be alert at all times, use extreme caution, and proceed at a ‘safe speed’ so that the vessel can take proper and effective action to avoid a collision with any sighted object or disturbance, including any marine mammal or sea turtle, and can be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. Vessels shall avoid approaching marine mammals head on and shall maneuver to maintain a mitigation zone of 500 yards (457 m) around observed whales and 200 yards (183 m) around all other marine mammals (except bow riding dolphins), providing it is safe to do so. No further action is necessary if a non-whale marine mammal continues to close after the vessel has made one course and/or speed change. This mitigation will not be applied if: the vessel’s

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safety is threatened or the vessel is restricted in its ability to maneuver (e.g., during towing activities). Floating weeds, algal mats, Sargassum rafts, clusters of seabirds, and jellyfish are good indicators of sea turtles and marine mammals. Therefore, increased vigilance in watching for sea turtles and marine mammals shall be taken where these are present.

Agency Consultation and Coordination Endangered Species Act: The Navy previously analyzed the impacts of vessel testing to sea turtles in the Ship to Shore Connector Builder’s and Acceptance Trials ESA Section 7 Informal Consultation and determined that propulsion testing and other non-sonar/non-explosive testing was not likely to adversely affect sea turtles in inland areas adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. On August 14, 2020, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Navy agreed that the stressors described in this EA were sufficiently analyzed in the Ship to Shore Connector: Builder’s and Acceptance Trials ESA Section 7 Informal Consultation and no further consultation was necessary. This was because no re- initiation triggers were met. Even though the proposed action area was different between the two projects and a new class of vessels were being tested these criteria were still not met due to the similarity in the Proposed Action, similar environmental consequences, and the same ESA-listed species present in both proposed action areas. The Navy informally consulted with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Louisiana Ecological Services Office, on West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), and shovelnose sturgeon (S. platorynchus). USFWS concurred with Navy’s determination of may affect, but not likely to adversely affect, on October 16, 2020. Coastal Zone Management Act: The Navy submitted a negative determination to the state of Louisiana. The state of Louisiana concurred with the negative determination on August 12, 2020. Area Environmental Coordinator (AEC)/ Regional Environmental Coordinator (REC): Coordination with the REC (NAVFAC South East) and the AEC (United States Fleet Forces) was completed for review and comment on the EA. The REC and AEC signed the technical sufficiency memo January 2021.

Finding After a review of the Builder’s and Acceptance Trials for Landing Craft, Utility Vessels EA, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NEPA and Navy guidance for implementing NEPA (M- 5090.1), the Navy finds that conduct of Builder’s and Acceptance Trials for Landing Craft, Utility Vessels as implemented through Action Alternative 1 will not significantly impact the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environments and per OPNAV M-5090.1 section 10-3.25,e.(3). Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement

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