Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP
Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP
Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP
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AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT<br />
(out to 1 km from shore); 3) waters off Andersen Air Force Base east of Ritidian Point (out to 1 km from<br />
shore); and 4) Warning Area W-517 (located 7.4 km due south of Cocos Island). Around Tinian, <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Marianas</strong> MRA study area includes nearshore waters (out to 0.4 km from shore) surrounding <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
two-thirds of <strong>the</strong> island. At FDM, <strong>the</strong> study area includes all waters surrounding <strong>the</strong> island out to 10 km<br />
from shore, including all waters within <strong>the</strong> 5 km radius Navy Target Range (Figure 1-1). In addition to <strong>the</strong><br />
current military training areas and ranges found within <strong>the</strong> <strong>Marianas</strong> MRA study area, <strong>the</strong>re are nine<br />
proposed military warning areas that surround <strong>the</strong> Guam and CNMI islands (Figure 1-1). These proposed<br />
warning areas may become active in <strong>the</strong> future if activated by <strong>the</strong> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).<br />
Guam is <strong>the</strong> westernmost U.S. territory and is <strong>the</strong> largest, most populated island in Micronesia, <strong>the</strong> group<br />
of more than 2,000 islands scattered between Hawai’i and <strong>the</strong> Philippines. Guam is a strategic stopping<br />
point <strong>for</strong> ships and aircraft. Apra Harbor is one of <strong>the</strong> largest protected deepwater harbors in <strong>the</strong> central<br />
Pacific Ocean. Given its position with respect to <strong>the</strong> Far East and its recent development, <strong>the</strong> island has<br />
become a political, economic, and military stronghold of national and international significance<br />
(GlobalSecuirty.org 2004a).<br />
Tinian is <strong>the</strong> second most populated island in <strong>the</strong> CNMI and is located 129 km north of Guam. The U.S.<br />
military leases more than two-thirds of <strong>the</strong> island. Training on Tinian occurs within <strong>the</strong> Military Lease Area,<br />
with limited activities in San Jose Harbor. The study area, which surrounds <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn two-thirds of<br />
Tinian, runs from San Jose Harbor on <strong>the</strong> west side of <strong>the</strong> island to <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn boundary of <strong>the</strong><br />
Leaseback Area (LBA) on <strong>the</strong> east side of <strong>the</strong> island (GlobalSecurity.org 2004b).<br />
Ninety percent of <strong>the</strong> CNMI population (62,392 inhabitants in 2000; CNMI Department of Commerce<br />
2001) lives on Saipan, <strong>the</strong> administrative center of <strong>the</strong> CNMI. Saipan is <strong>the</strong> largest island of <strong>the</strong> CNMI (20<br />
km long and 9 km wide). It has a rough topography and its highest point, Mount Tagpochau (474 meters<br />
[m] high), is an extinct volcano. Saipan is located approximately 200 km north of Guam, 5,150 km west of<br />
Hawai’i, and 2,012 km east of Japan. The Port of Saipan inaugurated in 1999 is a world-class commercial<br />
port facility and primary seaport of <strong>the</strong> CNMI that can accommodate deep draft vessels (Romero 1999;<br />
Commonwealth Ports Authority 2004). During 2004, 20 military vessels made a port call in Saipan<br />
including <strong>the</strong> USS Frank Cable (196 m long submarine tender) and USS Blue Ridge (194 m long<br />
Command Ship) (Commonwealth Ports Authority 2004; DoN 2003, 2005). Ships of <strong>the</strong> Military Sealift<br />
Command and Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Three anchor off Saipan (DoN 2004). These ships<br />
are loaded with equipment, supplies, and ammunition to support a <strong>Marine</strong> Expeditionary Brigade of<br />
17,000 during one month (DoN 2003).<br />
FDM is an uninhabited, 81 hectare (ha) island that stands about 85 m above sea level. The island is<br />
currently being leased to <strong>the</strong> U.S. military by <strong>the</strong> CNMI. The lease agreement allows U.S. military use of<br />
<strong>the</strong> island as a target range until 2075. FDM plays a special and unique role in national defense and its<br />
location provides a suitable environment that can support established training requirements. In addition,<br />
<strong>the</strong> air and sea space at FDM provides sufficient room <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> many different attack profiles necessary to<br />
replicate training operations in <strong>the</strong> CNMI. FDM is <strong>the</strong> Pacific Fleet’s only U.S.-controlled range available<br />
<strong>for</strong> live-fire training <strong>for</strong> <strong>for</strong>ward-deployed naval <strong>for</strong>ces. The Pacific Fleet has been conducting military<br />
activities in this range since 1976 (GlobalSecurity.org 2004c).<br />
1.3 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION<br />
The primary environmental laws that govern Navy activities in <strong>the</strong> marine environment include NEPA,<br />
MMPA, ESA, and <strong>the</strong> MSFCMA. In addition to <strong>the</strong>se acts, <strong>the</strong>re are several o<strong>the</strong>r federal mandates and<br />
EOs that deal with resource conservation and management in ocean waters under U.S. jurisdiction.<br />
Following are chronological lists of <strong>the</strong> many laws and regulations that <strong>the</strong> Navy must consider when<br />
conducting maritime operations.<br />
1.3.1 Federal Resource Laws<br />
The Sikes Act of 1960 (16 U.S. Code [U.S.C.] §§ 670a et seq.) provides <strong>for</strong> cooperation by <strong>the</strong><br />
Departments of <strong>the</strong> Interior and Defense with State agencies in planning, development, and<br />
1-3