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 VACAPES 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 procedure to promote environmental conservation. The VACAPES Range Complex represents an essential three-dimensional space that provides a realistic and safe training area for Navy personnel. For nearly a century 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. VACAPES Range Complex

The geographic scope of this EIS/OEIS is

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referred to as the VACAPES Study Area (See Figure). The VACAPES Study Area does not include any dry land. However, it does include the area from the mean high tide line east (seaward) to the 3-nautical-mile (nm) boundary of the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. This 3-nm state boundary also serves as the western boundary of the VACAPES OPAREA. The VACAPES Study Area also includes 420 nm2 of the lower Chesapeake Bay, where proposed Mine Warfare training would occur.

VACAPES Range Complex EIS/OEIS Study Area Boundaries the chief area analyzed in the Study Area is referred to as the VACAPES Range Complex, including its defined airspace, sea space, and undersea space. This area includes offshore areas of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. This area extends 155 nautical miles into the Atlantic Ocean.

The VACAPES 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.

Land Ranges. Land ranges include one or more targets used for a variety of training exercises, such as strike warfare or marksmanship. Land ranges can also include gun firing positions or target launching areas. The VACAPES air-to-ground training range (Navy Dare County Bombing Range) is not included in the EIS/OEIS Study Area because an environmental assessment was recently completed for the land range (United States Fleet Forces, 2008).

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.

The VACAPES Range Complex is the principal training area for air, surface and submarine units located in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The VACAPES Range Complex is also the primary homeport of the Atlantic Fleet. The Hampton Roads area includes more than 80,000 active duty Navy personnel. In addition to serving as the site for essential Navy training, the VACAPES Range Complex is host to activities for the research, development, test and evaluation of emerging technologies.

Background

The Virginia Capes (VACAPES) 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 VACAPES 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 VACAPES Range Complex is one of several range complexes on the east coast.

Why is this needed now?

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 the 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 the 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 VACAPES Range Complex to support and conduct current, emerging, and future training operations and RDT&E operations;

Expand warfare missions supported by the VACAPES Range Complex; and

Upgrade and modernize existing range capabilities to enhance and sustain Navy training and Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (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 VACAPES 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 Response 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 many businesses 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 of the process 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 VACAPES 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 Response 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-to-engage 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, and new organic mine countermeasure systems.

Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative): Alternative 1 plus: certain additional increases in operations. It also includes implementation of additional enhancements to enable the range complex to meet foreseeable needs. This alternative is composed of all operations, force structure changes, and enhancements proposed for Alternative 1, along with the designation of a mine warfare training area in the lower Chesapeake Bay and along the Virginia coast to maximize mine warfare training value.

Under Alternative 2, the Navy also proposes to reduce the number of Bombing Exercises (BOMBEX ) training events that involve dropping high-explosive (live) ordnance on targets at-sea. The at-sea target in these exercises is usually a flare or smoke float. Live BOMBEX events would be reduced to 5 events per year (1 event = 4 MK-83 bombs).