Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Final EIS/OEIS September 2018 Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ______________________________ 2-1 2.1 Description of the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area ................................2-1 2.1.1 Northeast Range Complexes .................................................................................. 2-5 2.1.1.1 Airspace ................................................................................................. 2-5 2.1.1.2 Sea and Undersea Space ........................................................................ 2-5 2.1.2 Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport Testing Range ...................... 2-5 2.1.2.1 Airspace ................................................................................................. 2-5 2.1.2.2 Sea and Undersea Space ........................................................................ 2-5 2.1.3 Virginia Capes Range Complex ............................................................................... 2-6 2.1.3.1 Airspace ................................................................................................. 2-6 2.1.3.2 Sea and Undersea Space ........................................................................ 2-6 2.1.4 Navy Cherry Point Range Complex ........................................................................ 2-6 2.1.4.1 Airspace ................................................................................................. 2-6 2.1.4.2 Sea and Undersea Space ........................................................................ 2-6 2.1.5 Jacksonville Range Complex................................................................................. 2-13 2.1.5.1 Airspace ............................................................................................... 2-13 2.1.5.2 Sea and Undersea Space ...................................................................... 2-13 2.1.6 Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility Testing Range ........................................................ 2-13 2.1.6.1 Airspace ............................................................................................... 2-13 2.1.6.2 Sea and Undersea Space ...................................................................... 2-13 2.1.7 Key West Range Complex .................................................................................... 2-14 2.1.7.1 Airspace ............................................................................................... 2-14 2.1.7.2 Sea and Undersea Space ...................................................................... 2-14 2.1.8 Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division Testing Range .................. 2-14 2.1.8.1 Airspace ............................................................................................... 2-14 2.1.8.2 Sea and Undersea Space ...................................................................... 2-14 2.1.9 Gulf of Mexico Range Complex ............................................................................ 2-14 2.1.9.1 Airspace ............................................................................................... 2-14 2.1.9.2 Sea and Undersea Space ...................................................................... 2-15 2.1.10 Inshore locations .................................................................................................. 2-15 i Table of Contents Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Final EIS/OEIS September 2018 2.1.10.1 Pierside Locations ................................................................................ 2-15 2.1.10.2 Bays, Harbors, and Inshore Waterways ............................................... 2-15 2.1.10.3 Civilian Ports ........................................................................................ 2-16 2.2 Primary Mission Areas ............................................................................................. 2-16 2.2.1 Air Warfare ........................................................................................................... 2-16 2.2.2 Amphibious Warfare ............................................................................................ 2-19 2.2.3 Anti-Submarine Warfare ...................................................................................... 2-19 2.2.4 Electronic Warfare ............................................................................................... 2-19 2.2.5 Expeditionary Warfare ......................................................................................... 2-20 2.2.6 Mine Warfare ....................................................................................................... 2-20 2.2.7 Surface Warfare ................................................................................................... 2-21 2.3 Proposed Activities .................................................................................................. 2-21 2.3.1 Proposed Training Activities ................................................................................ 2-21 2.3.2 Proposed Testing Activities .................................................................................. 2-27 2.3.2.1 Naval Air Systems Command Testing Activities ................................... 2-27 2.3.2.2 Naval Sea Systems Command Testing Activities.................................. 2-30 2.3.2.3 Office of Naval Research Testing Activities ......................................... 2-33 2.3.3 Standard Operating Procedures .......................................................................... 2-33 2.3.3.1 Sea Space and Airspace Deconfliction ................................................. 2-34 2.3.3.2 Vessel Safety ........................................................................................ 2-34 2.3.3.3 Aircraft Safety ...................................................................................... 2-35 2.3.3.4 High-Energy Laser Safety ..................................................................... 2-35 2.3.3.5 Weapons Firing Safety ......................................................................... 2-36 2.3.3.6 Target Deployment and Retrieval Safety ............................................. 2-36 2.3.3.7 Swimmer Defense Activity Safety ........................................................ 2-37 2.3.3.8 Pierside Testing Safety ......................................................................... 2-37 2.3.3.9 Underwater Detonation Safety ........................................................... 2-37 2.3.3.10 Sonic Booms ......................................................................................... 2-38 2.3.3.11 Unmanned Aerial System, Surface Vehicle, and Underwater Vehicle Safety ................................................................................................... 2-38 2.3.3.12 Towed In-Water Device Safety ............................................................ 2-38 2.3.3.13 Ship Shock Trial Safety ......................................................................... 2-38 2.3.3.14 Pile Driving Safety ................................................................................ 2-41 2.3.3.15 Sinking Exercise Safety ......................................................................... 2-41 2.3.3.16 Coastal Zone ........................................................................................ 2-41 2.3.4 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................ 2-44 2.4 Action Alternative Development .............................................................................. 2-47 2.4.1 Training ................................................................................................................ 2-48 ii Table of Contents Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Final EIS/OEIS September 2018 2.4.2 Testing .................................................................................................................. 2-49 2.4.3 Alternatives Eliminated from Further Consideration .......................................... 2-49 2.4.3.1 Alternative Training and Testing Locations ......................................... 2-49 2.4.3.2 Simulated Training and Testing Only ................................................... 2-50 2.4.3.3 Training and Testing Without the Use of Active Sonar ....................... 2-52 2.4.3.4 Alternatives Including Geographic Mitigation Measures Within the Study Area ........................................................................................... 2-52 2.5 Alternatives Carried Forward ................................................................................... 2-52 2.5.1 No Action Alternative ........................................................................................... 2-53 2.5.2 Alternative 1 ......................................................................................................... 2-54 2.5.2.1 Training ................................................................................................ 2-54 2.5.2.2 Testing .................................................................................................. 2-55 2.5.2.3 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................ 2-55 2.5.3 Alternative 2 ........................................................................................................