Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Draft EIS/OEIS June 2017 Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....................................... 3.0-1 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3.0-1 3.0.1 Navy Compiled and Generated Data .................................................................. 3.0-1 3.0.1.1 Marine Species Monitoring and Research Programs ......................... 3.0-1 3.0.1.2 Marine Species Density Database....................................................... 3.0-2 3.0.1.3 Developing Acoustic and Explosive Criteria and Thresholds .............. 3.0-3 3.0.1.4 Aquatic Habitats Database ................................................................. 3.0-4 3.0.2 Ecological Characterization of the Study Area .................................................... 3.0-4 3.0.2.1 Biogeographic Classifications.............................................................. 3.0-4 3.0.2.2 Bathymetry ....................................................................................... 3.0-12 3.0.2.3 Currents, Circulation Patterns, and Water Masses .......................... 3.0-14 3.0.2.4 Ocean Fronts ..................................................................................... 3.0-27 3.0.2.5 Abiotic Substrate .............................................................................. 3.0-27 3.0.3 Overall Approach to Analysis ............................................................................ 3.0-28 3.0.3.1 Resources and Issues Evaluated ....................................................... 3.0-31 3.0.3.2 Resources and Issues Eliminated from Further Consideration ......... 3.0-31 3.0.3.3 Identifying Stressors for Analysis ...................................................... 3.0-31 3.0.3.4 Resource-Specific Impacts Analysis for Individual Stressors .......... 3.0-104 3.0.3.5 Resource-Specific Impacts Analysis for Multiple Stressors ............ 3.0-105 3.0.3.6 Biological Resource Methods ......................................................... 3.0-106 List of Figures Figure 3.0-1: The Study Area with Large Marine Ecosystems and Open Ocean Areas ........................... 3.0-7 Figure 3.0-2: Three-Dimensional Representation of the Intertidal Zone (shoreline), Continental Margin, Abyssal Zone, and Water Column Zones ........................................ 3.0-13 Figure 3.0-3: Bathymetry of the Entire Study Area............................................................................... 3.0-15 Figure 3.0-4: Bathymetry of the Northeast Portion of the Study Area................................................. 3.0-17 Figure 3.0-5: Bathymetry of the Southeast and Caribbean Portions of the Study Area....................... 3.0-19 Figure 3.0-6: Bathymetry of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea Portions of the Study Area .................................................................................................................................. 3.0-21 Figure 3.0-7: Major Currents in the Study Area .................................................................................... 3.0-25 Figure 3.0-8: Average Sea Surface Temperature in the Study Area (2011–2015) ................................ 3.0-29 i Table of Contents Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Draft EIS/OEIS June 2017 Figure 3.0-9: Traffic and Broadband Radiated Noise During a Composite Training Unit Exercise in the Southern California Range Complex ........................................................ 3.0-47 Figure 3.0-10: Relative Distribution of Commercial Vessel Traffic in Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Areas .................................................................................................. 3.0-49 Figure 3.0-11: Relative Distribution of U.S. Navy Vessel Traffic in Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Areas ......................................................................................................... 3.0-50 Figure 3.0-12: Gun Blast and Projectile from a 5-in./54 Navy Gun....................................................... 3.0-55 Figure 3.0-13: Sonobuoy Launch Depicting the Relative Size of a Parachute ...................................... 3.0-97 Figure 3.0-14: Flow Chart of the Evaluation Process of Sound-Producing Activities ......................... 3.0-109 Figure 3.0-15: Two Hypothetical Threshold Shifts .............................................................................. 3.0-112 List of Tables Table 3.0-1: Summary of Current Patterns in Areas Located Outside the Range Complexes .............. 3.0-23 Table 3.0-2: Sonar and Transducer Sources Quantitatively Analyzed .................................................. 3.0-36 Table 3.0-3: Training and Testing Air Gun Sources Quantitatively Analyzed in the Study Area ........... 3.0-43 Table 3.0-4: Sonar and Transducers Qualitatively Analyzed................................................................. 3.0-44 Table 3.0-5: Elevated Causeway System Pile Driving and Removal Underwater Sound Levels ........... 3.0-45 Table 3.0-6: Summary of Pile Driving and Removal Activities per 24-Hour Period .............................. 3.0-46 Table 3.0-7: Estimated Vessel Presence (Hours) in Study Area ............................................................ 3.0-46 Table 3.0-8: Representative Aircraft Sound Characteristics ................................................................. 3.0-51 Table 3.0-9: Sonic Boom Underwater Sound Levels Modeled for F/A-18 Hornet Supersonic Flight ................................................................................................................................ 3.0-53 Table 3.0-10: Examples of Weapons Noise ........................................................................................... 3.0-54 Table 3.0-11: Explosive Sources Quantitatively Analyzed that Could Be Used Underwater or at the Water Surface ........................................................................................................ 3.0-58 Table 3.0-12: Typical Air Explosive Munitions During Navy Activities .................................................. 3.0-59 Table 3.0-13: Number and Location of Activities Including In-Water Electromagnetic Devices .......... 3.0-60 Table 3.0-14: Number and Location of Activities in Inland Waters Including In-Water Electromagnetic Devices .................................................................................................. 3.0-61 Table 3.0-15: Activities Including High-Energy Lasers .......................................................................... 3.0-64 Table 3.0-16: Representative Vessel Types, Lengths, and Speeds ....................................................... 3.0-65 Table 3.0-17: Number and Location of Activities Including Vessels ..................................................... 3.0-66 Table 3.0-18: Number and Location of Activities in Inland Waters Including Vessels .......................... 3.0-67 Table 3.0-19: Number of High Speed Vessel Hours for Small Crafts Associated with Training Activities in Inland Waters of the Study Area .................................................................. 3.0-68 Table 3.0-20: Representative Types, Sizes, and Speeds of In-Water Devices....................................... 3.0-69 Table 3.0-21: Number and Location of Activities Including In-Water Devices ..................................... 3.0-69 ii Table of Contents Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Draft EIS/OEIS June 2017 Table 3.0-22: Number and Location of Activities in Inland Waters Including In-Water Devices ............................................................................................................................. 3.0-70 Table 3.0-23: Number and Location of Non-Explosive Practice Munitions Expended During Training Activities............................................................................................................. 3.0-71 Table 3.0-24: Number and Location of Non-Explosive Practice Munitions Expended During Training Activities in Inland Waters ................................................................................. 3.0-72 Table 3.0-25: Number and Location of Non-Explosive Practice Munitions Expended During Testing Activities .............................................................................................................. 3.0-73 Table 3.0-26: Number and Location of Explosives that May Result in Fragments Used During Training Activities............................................................................................................. 3.0-75 Table 3.0-27: Number and Location of Explosives that May Result in Fragments Used During Testing Activities .............................................................................................................. 3.0-77 Table 3.0-28: Number and Location of Targets Used or Expended During Training Activities ............ 3.0-79 Table 3.0-29: Number and Location of Targets Used or Expended During Training Activities in Inland Waters ............................................................................................................... 3.0-80 Table 3.0-30: Number and Location of Targets Used or Expended During Testing Activities .............. 3.0-80 Table 3.0-31: Number and Location of Other Military Materials Used or Expended During Training Activities............................................................................................................