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

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 4Both the Tanner and Cortes Banks and the nearshore and offshore areas west and south of SCI areproductive commercial fishing areas. These areas’ relatively shallow waters make them more productivefor a number of harvested fish and invertebrate species than deeper offshore waters nearby. Averageannual Tuna (all species) catch within California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) statistical blockscontribute substantially to the overall catch in SCI waters. Catches of pacific mackerel, pacific sardine,squid and sea urchin are higher immediately south of SCI than in most of the other CDFG statisticalblocks in and around the SCIRC. Seasonally, the overall fish catch is heavily biased towards the springand summer months, while invertebrate catches are largest in the fall and winter. Economic impactscould result if commercial fishermen’s access to these areas were reduced by Navy activities. However,the Navy cannot and will not close offshore waters to other users. To help manage competing demandsand maintain public access in SCIRC offshore areas, the Navy plans to conduct its offshore operations ina manner that will minimize access restrictions to commercial fishermen. Long-range advance notice ofscheduled operations times and areas to be used within the SCIRC are made available to the public andthe commercial fishing community via the worldwide web, NOTAMs and NOTMARs. These providecommercial fishermen, recreational boaters and other SCI area users notice that the military will beoperating in a specific area, and will allow them to plan their own activities accordingly. Schedules willbe updated when changes occur up until the date of the operation. If operations are cancelled at any time,this information will be posted and the area will again be identified as clear for public use. If fishingvessels are within a scheduled area at the time of a scheduled operation, the operation will avoid them if itis feasible to do so. If avoidance is not feasible, the military units participating in the operation will eitherrelocate or delay the start of the operation to ensure there are no conflicts. In selected instances wheresafety requires exclusive use of a specific area, fishermen may be asked to relocate to a safer area nearbyfor the duration of the exercise.Therefore, no significant socioeconomic impacts would occur as a result of implementation of the NoAction Alternative or Proposed Action.4.6.2 Land Areas4.6.2.1 San Clemente IslandCOMPTUEX/JTFEX activities do not impact population centers at SCI. COMPTUEX/JTFEX activitieswould have no impact on jobs, housing, or infrastructure needs at SCI. No changes in the number ofpermanent or transient military and civilian personnel involved in COMPTUEX/JTFEX would occur as aresult of implementation of the No Action Alternative or Proposed Action. Therefore, no significantsocioeconomic impacts would occur as a result of implementation of the No Action Alternative orProposed Action.4.6.2.2 Naval Base Coronado - SSTCCOMPTUEX/JTFEX training currently occurs in the NB Coronado. COMPTUEX/JTFEX activities donot impact population centers in and around NB Coronado. COMPTUEX/JTFEX activities would haveno impact on jobs, housing, or infrastructure needs in San Diego County. No changes in the number ofpermanent or transient military and civilian personnel involved in COMPTUEX/JTFEX would occur as aresult of implementation of the No Action Alternative or Proposed Action. Therefore, no significantsocioeconomic impacts would occur as a result of implementation of the No Action Alternative orProposed Action.4-87 February 2007