NMFS Biological Opinion on U.S. Navy training ... - Govsupport.us

FINAL PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL OPINION ON U.S. NAVY ACTIVITIES IN THE HAWAII RANGE COMPLEX 2008-2013
The vessels used as targets are selected from a list of destroyers, tenders, cutters, frigates, cruisers, tugs, and
transports that has been approved for that use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In Hawai'i, SINKEX
events take place within PMRF Warning Area W-188. Examples of missiles that could be fired at the targets include
AGM-142 from a B-52 bomber, Walleye AGM -62 from FA-18 aircraft, and a Harpoon from a P-3C aircraft. Surface
ships and submarines may use either torpedoes or Harpoons, surface-to-air missiles in the surface-to-surface mode,
and guns. Other weapons and ordnance could include, but are not limited to, bombs, Mavericks, Penguins, and
Hellfire. SINKEX vessels can number from one to six per RIMPAC. The proposed RIMPAC exercise will 4 SINKEXs,
each lasting from 3 to 8 hours.
Live fire exercises which are designed to provide ground troops with live-fire training and combined arms live-fire
exercises training, including aerial gunnery and artillery firing. This benefits ground personnel by receiving semirealistic
training. These exercises can include platoon troop movements through numerous target objectives with
various weapons. Aerial gunnery exercises and artillery and mortar exercises are also conducted as part of combined
and separate exercises. Live fire and inert rounds are used. Blanks are used outside of defined impact areas. Each
exercise generally lasts 1 to 24 hours.
Humanitarian assistance operation/non-combatant evacuation operations are designed to provide training in
implementing humanitarian assistance in an increasingly hostile setting, ultimately requiring evacuation of personnel
and troops. These training exercises involve approximately 150 personnel and troops and specialists who initially
provide assistance to civilians and then evacuate the civilians when necessary. This scenario could also be used to
simulate a prisoner-of-war camp or place where people are interned. Direct action is also included in the exercise
because it involves a similar number of troops. The direct action exercise is much quicker and involves about 50
personnel and 150 troops who gain access to an area by boat or helicopter, storm the location, recover the mission
target, and return to their units.
Electronic Combat Operations which consist of air-, land-, and sea-based emitters that simulate enemy systems and
activating air, surface and submarine electronic support measures and electronic countermeasures systems (the seabased
emitters do not transmit signals underwater). Aircraft that are configured appropriately fly threat profiles
against the ships so that crews can be trained to detect electronic signatures of various threat aircraft, or so that ship
crews can be trained to detect counter jamming of their own electronic equipment by the simulated threat.
Special warfare operations which are designed to provide covert insertion and reconnaissance training for small
Special Warfare units. This exercise is performed by the U.S. Navy and foreign forces. Activities include special
reconnaissance, Combat Search and Rescue, and Direct Action Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel. Special
Reconaissance and Surveillance units consist of small special warfare units and use helicopters, submarines, and
combat rubber raiding craft to gain covert access to military assets, gather intelligence, stage raids, and return to their
host units. Reconnaissance inserts and beach surveys are often conducted before large-scale amphibious landings
and can involve several units gaining covert access using a boat.
Amphibious insertions would be conducted at PMRF, Niihau, and Kahuku Beach, Marine Corps Training Area
Bellows/Bellows Air Force Station, Oahu and K-Pier, Hawai’i. Insertions from helicopters would take place at
Bradshaw Army Airfield, Makua Military Reservation, and Kahuku Military Training Area, Dillingham Military
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