Composite Training Unit Exercises and Joint Task ... - Govsupport.us

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 44.4 CULTURAL RESOURCESImpacts on cultural resources could result from COMPTUEX/JTFEX training activities. The greatestpotential for adverse effects as a result of implementation of the No Action Alternative or ProposedAction would be to terrestrial archaeological sites. COMPTUEX/JTFEX activities that involve groundimpacts, however, such as those caused by air-to-ground operation (STRIKE) training, occur only onestablished ordnance ranges where ground disturbance has been routine and ongoing for an extendedperiod. Impacts to known or undiscovered submerged archaeological resources, such as shipwrecks, arenot anticipated as a result of normal COMPTUEX/JTFEX activities. Potential impacts on submergedresources are limited to training expendables (sonobuoys, inert bombs, missiles, and other ordnance)falling into the ocean and affecting submerged resources. Potential impacts are not considered significantbecause there are few underwater historic period cultural resources and it is highly unlikely that theseresources would be affected by training expendables because they occur at very low densities and at suchdepths that expendables are unlikely to land on any resources.Structures constituting architectural resources are located within the cantonment areas, and were mostlyconstructed to support the ongoing, routine installation missions. Impacts on architectural resources arealso not anticipated as a result of short-term, occasional use for COMPTUEX/JTFEX training activities.No traditional cultural resources have been identified that would be adversely affected byCOMPTUEX/JTFEX training activities as a result of implementation of the No Action Alternative orProposed Action.Under the Proposed Action, no additional effects on cultural resources have been identified forconducting two major range events concurrently, beyond those effects normally resulting from a singleCOMPTUEX/JTFEX (baseline conditions). Degradation of cultural sites is cumulative and, unlikenatural resources, cultural sites tend not to recover over time. The cultural resources impacts of theProposed Action would thus be indistinguishable from the impacts of the No Action Alternative.4.4.1 Ocean Area (Southern California Operating Area)COMPTUEX/JTFEX training activities in the SOCAL OPAREA will use both ships and aircraft. Noterrestrial cultural resources exist within SOCAL OPAREA that could potentially be affected as a resultof implementation of the No Action Alternative or Proposed Action. As noted above,COMPTUEX/JTFEX activities are of a nature that would not adversely affect submerged shipwrecks orother marine cultural resources. No effect to historic properties would occur. Therefore, implementationof either the No Action Alternative or Proposed Action would not result in significant impacts on culturalresources.4.4.2 Land Areas4.4.2.1 San Clemente IslandSan Clemente Island (SCI) contains hundreds of recorded archaeological sites, most of which date toprehistory. SCI supports COMPTUEX/JTFEX training activities, such as Amphibious Operations, whichland Marines and equipment on the island beaches to maneuver inland. A program of archaeological siteavoidance in place on SCI prevents damage to the archaeological resources. These avoidance measuresinclude posting known site locations and restricting entry to, or training activities in, those areas, asappropriate. COMPTUEX/JTFEX training activities associated with implementation of the No ActionAlternative or Proposed Action will take place on existing training lands in a manner consistent withestablished procedures for protecting terrestrial archaeological resources. No effect to historic properties4-83 February 2007