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

COMPTUEX/JTFEX COASTAL CONSISTENCY DETERMINATION 25 OCTOBER 20061.2 PROPOSED ACTIONNominally, the U.S. Navy (Navy) conducts seven COMPTUEXs and seven JTFEXs per 2-yearperiod throughout existing major ranges and facilities in the southwestern United States andoffshore Southern California (Table 1-1 and Figure 1-1). Dependent on national tasking, anaverage of three ESG COMPTUEXs, four CSG COMPTUEXs, three ESG JTFEXs, and fourCSG JTFEXs, would be conducted over a 2-year period (fourteen total exercises). BeginningJanuary 2007, the Navy proposes to conduct some of these major range events concurrently.The overall number, type, frequency, and location of these major range events would notchange from current baseline operations. Southern California (SOCAL) land, sea and airranges have supported major Fleet training dating back before the 1920’s. San ClementeIsland (SCI) has served as a dedicated Fleet training asset since it was transferred over to theDepartment of the Navy (DON) in 1934. As early as 1935, naval gunfire and bombing, and U.S.Fleet Landing exercises have occurred in the SCI Shore Bombardment Area (SHOBA) andthroughout the island, respectively.Table 1-1. Training Locations Evaluated in the Coastal Consistency DeterminationTRAININGAREASouthernCaliforniaOperatingAreaSan ClementeIsland RangeComplexSilver StrandTrainingComplexMarine CorpsBase CampPendletonDESCRIPTION OF COASTAL AREAThe SOCAL Operating Area (OPAREA) is located in waters adjacent to SouthernCalifornia from Santa Barbara to Baja California. Warning Area's 289, 290 and 291 (W-289, W-290, W-291) are associated with the SOCAL OPAREA. It parallels the coast tothe south of Los Angeles for approximately 288 nautical miles (nm) (533 kilometers [km])and extends seaward for up to 800 nm (1,482 km). A small portion of the SOCALOPAREA lies within the coastal zone (CZ).San Clemente Island Range Complex (SCIRC) includes more than 80 range andoperational areas covering approximately 2,620 square miles (mi 2 ) (6,718 squarekilometers (km 2 ). Portions of the SCIRC from the mean high water to 3 nm (5.6 km) liewithin the CZ. SCI is Federal property. Access is controlled by the Navy. Some offshoreoperating areas around SCI are designated by Federal regulations as Security, Danger,Restricted, or Safety Zones. These designations have been in place for many years andwould not change under the Proposed Action.Silver Strand Training Complex (SSTC) is located on a narrow, sandy isthmus separatingSan Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean in San Diego County. SSTC consists of landareas, which are part of Naval Base Coronado, adjacent ocean areas, and areas withinSan Diego Bay. Access to SSTC is controlled by DON, and is restricted to militarypersonnel and their family members, Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, andauthorized contractors. An amphibious assault-landing course extends two miles into thePacific Ocean. Other SSTC special-purpose ranges are located in San Diego Bay. TheNavy leases the ocean beaches along SSTC from the State of California.Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP), located along the coast about 38 mi (61km) north of San Diego, occupies more than 125,000 acres (ac) (49,213 hectares [ha]) ofland. The adjacent Camp Pendleton Amphibious Assault Area (CPAAA) occupies about294 mi 2 (754 km 2 ) of ocean. Less than 10 mi (16 km) of coastline is normally used fortraining. Portions of CPAAA lie within the CZ.PAGE 2