POINT MUGU SEA RANGE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/ OVERSEAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT
San Diego, CA — The U.S. Navy has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) to assess potential environmental consequences associated with continuing military readiness activities and proposed increases in research, development, acquisition, testing, and evaluation (referred to as “testing”) and training activities in the Point Mugu Sea Range. These activities are consistent with previously analyzed activities and are similar to those that have occurred here for decades. The Navy welcomes public review and substantive comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS.
Due to current federal and state guidance on social distancing in response to COVID-19, the Navy will not hold in-person public meetings to support the Draft EIS/OEIS public review and comment period. If you have questions about the Proposed Action, the draft environmental impact analysis, or the Section 106 process, please email [email protected] or call 888-238-2375.
The Navy welcomes public comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS and potential effects on historic properties. Public comments will be accepted during the 45-day public review and comment period beginning April 24, 2020, through June 8, 2020. Comments must be postmarked or received online by June 8, 2020, for consideration in the Final EIS/OEIS. All comments will become part of the public record and substantive comments will be addressed in the Final EIS/OEIS. Comments may be submitted via the project website at www.pmsr-eis.com
Concurrent with the National Environmental Policy Act public involvement process, the Navy is consulting with interested parties for the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process regarding potential effects of proposed testing and training activities on historic properties. Historic properties include districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Proposed Action:
The Proposed Action is to continue military readiness activities and increase testing and training activities that are the same as or similar to those currently occurring in the Point Mugu Sea Range. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to: Naval Base Ventura County Advisory
Provide modern instrumented airspace, sea space, testing and training areas, testing and training facilities, and range infrastructure to fully support current, emerging, and foreseeable future testing and training requirements.
Ensure the long-term viability of the Point Mugu Sea Range while protecting human health and the environment. The need for the Proposed Action is to allow for continued testing and training in support of military readiness and Department of Defense mission requirements and to provide combat-ready forces.The Draft EIS/OEIS supports the request for federal regulatory permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. The Navy is consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as required. The National Marine Fisheries Service is also a cooperating agency for the preparation of this EIS/OEIS.
The Point Mugu Sea Range is located adjacent to Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and SanLuis Obispo counties along the Pacific Coast of Southern California and includes 36,000 square miles of controlled sea and airspace designated for testing and training activities. Naval Air Warfare CenterWeapons Division Point Mugu meets its mission to conduct state-of-the-art weapons systems testing and evaluation and to maintain operational readiness by providing a safe, realistic, and instrumented testing environment. Vessels, aircraft, and weapons systems must be able to perform in realistic marine environments and operate as intended, thus improving system accuracy and personnel safety.
Public Review and Comment Period and Availability of Draft EIS/OEIS:
Due to current federal and state guidance on social distancing in response to COVID-19, the Navy will not hold in-person public meetings to support the Draft EIS/OEIS public review and comment period. If you have questions about the Proposed Action, the draft environmental impact analysis, or the Section 106 process, please email [email protected] or call 888-238-2375.
The Navy welcomes public comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS and potential effects on historic properties. Public comments will be accepted during the 45-day public review and comment period beginning April 24, 2020, through June 8, 2020. Comments must be postmarked or received online by June 8, 2020, for consideration in the Final EIS/OEIS. All comments will become part of the public record and substantive comments will be addressed in the Final EIS/OEIS. Comments may be submitted via the project website at www.pmsr-eis.com or by mail to:
Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division
Range Sustainability Office
Point Mugu Sea Range, Building 53A, Room 106G, Code EB2R00M
575 I Avenue, Suite 1
Point Mugu, CA 93042-5049
Attention: EIS/OEIS Project Manager
The Draft EIS/OEIS is available for public review on the project website at www.pmsr-eis.com. Copies of the Draft EIS/OEIS are available for public review at the following public libraries, depending on COVID-19 conditions regulating access to public facilities. Please check with the library regarding its hours of operation and the availability of the document.
Camarillo Public Library, 4101 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo, CA 93010
Carpinteria Branch Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, CA 93013
E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001
San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
South Oxnard Branch Library, 4300 Saviers Rd., Oxnard, CA 93033
Downtown Oxnard Main Library, 251 S. A St., Oxnard, CA 93030
For more information, please visit the project website at www.pmsr-eis.com.
– USN –
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