Maritime Weapons System Evaluation Program Environmental Assessment

308 Pages·2014·33.7 MB·English

RCS 14-260
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE
Florida

MARITIME WEAPONS SYSTEM
EVALUATION PROGRAM

FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

December 2014

MARITIME WEAPONS SYSTEM
EVALUATION PROGRAM
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA

FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Submitted to:

AFMC 96 CEG/CEIE
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida 32542-6808

Prepared by:

1140 Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, Florida 32579
RCS 14-260
December 2014
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................... iii
List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................................. iii
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. v
1. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION..............................................................................................................1-1
1.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2 Background ...............................................................................................................................................1-1
1.3 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................................1-1
1.4 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ...............................................................................................1-1
1.5 Scope of the Proposed Action ...................................................................................................................1-3
1.6 Decision Description .................................................................................................................................1-3
1.7 Issues .........................................................................................................................................................1-3
1.7.1 Resource Areas Eliminated from Detailed Analysis.....................................................................1-3
1.7.2 Resource Areas Identified for Detailed Analysis ..........................................................................1-6
1.8 Regulatory Compliance .............................................................................................................................1-7
1.8.1 Marine Mammal Protection Act ...................................................................................................1-7
1.8.2 Endangered Species Act ...............................................................................................................1-8
1.8.3 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act .................................................1-8
1.8.4 Coastal Zone Management Act ....................................................................................................1-9
1.8.5 Migratory Bird Treaty Act ............................................................................................................1-9
1.8.6 Clean Water Act ......................................................................................................................... 1-10
1.8.7 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended) ......................................................... 1-10
1.8.8 The Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987 ..................................................................................... 1-10
2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES ...............................................................2-1
2.1 Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................................2-1
2.1.1 Test Methods and Procedures .......................................................................................................2-1
2.1.2 Post-Test .......................................................................................................................................2-7
2.2 Alternatives Considered ............................................................................................................................2-9
2.2.1 Alternative 1: Subsurface Hellfire Missiles ................................................................................ 2-10
2.2.2 No Action Alternative ................................................................................................................ 2-10
2.3 Comparison of Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 2-11
3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .............................................3-1
3.1 Safety/Restricted Access ...........................................................................................................................3-1
3.1.1 Definition ......................................................................................................................................3-1
3.1.2 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................3-1
3.1.3 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................................3-2
3.2 Socioeconomics .........................................................................................................................................3-6
3.2.1 Definition of the Resource ............................................................................................................3-6
3.2.2 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................3-7
3.2.3 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................................... 3-10
3.3 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................................. 3-11
3.3.1 Definition .................................................................................................................................... 3-11
3.3.2 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................ 3-11
3.3.3 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................................... 3-12
3.4 Biological Resources ............................................................................................................................... 3-15
3.4.1 Definition .................................................................................................................................... 3-15
3.4.2 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................ 3-16
3.4.3 Environmental Consequences ..................................................................................................... 3-48
4. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ................................................................................................................................4-1
4.1 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Actions in the ROI ................................................................4-1
4.1.1 Past and Present Actions ...............................................................................................................4-1
4.1.2 Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions .......................................................................................4-5
4.2 Potential Impacts Resulting from Cumulative Actions in the ROI ............................................................4-6
4.3 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources ..........................................................................4-7
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TABLE OF CONTENTS, CONT’D
Page
5. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ..........................................................................................................................5-1
5.1 Regulations, Plans, and Permits ................................................................................................................5-1
5.2 Management Actions .................................................................................................................................5-1
5.2.1 Safety/Restricted Access ..............................................................................................................5-1
5.2.2 Socioeconomics ............................................................................................................................5-2
5.2.3 Physical Resources .......................................................................................................................5-2
5.2.4 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................................5-2
6. LIST OF PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTORS ..............................................................................................6-1
7. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................................7-1

Appendix A Coastal Zone Management Act Consistency Determination ................................................................. A-1
Appendix B Request for Incidental Harassment Authorization of Marine Mammals ............................................... B-1
Appendix C Biological Assessment and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment ............................................................ C-1
Appendix D Public Review ....................................................................................................................................... D-1

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LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 2-1. Proposed Live Munitions and Aircraft .....................................................................................................2-3
Table 2-2. Proposed Action .......................................................................................................................................2-6
Table 2-3. Alternative 1, All Munitions Plus Subsurface Hellfire Missiles ............................................................ 2-10
Table 2-4. Number of Live Detonations for Each Alternative................................................................................. 2-11
Table 2-5. Summary of Potential Impacts for All Alternatives ............................................................................... 2-12
Table 3-1. Annual Estimate of the Number of Angler Trips to the Gulf of Mexico ..................................................3-7
Table 3-2. Angler Trips by Area, 2013 ......................................................................................................................3-8
Table 3-3. Common Fish of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Delineated by Temperature Preference .......................... 3-17
Table 3-4. Fish Species with Federal Listing Status Potentially in the Project Area ............................................... 3-18
Table 3-5. Fish Species and Management Units for Which Essential Fish Habitat Has Been Identified ................ 3-21
Table 3-6. Bird Species Associated with the Gulf of Mexico .................................................................................. 3-22
Table 3-7. Endangered and Threatened Bird Species in the Gulf of Mexico .......................................................... 3-23
Table 3-8. Bottlenose Dolphin Stocks in the North-Central Gulf of Mexico .......................................................... 3-24
Table 3-9. Marine Mammal Density Estimates ....................................................................................................... 3-33
Table 3-10. Sea Turtle Species with Potential Occurrence in the Maritime WSEP Test Area ................................ 3-33
Table 3-11. Sea Turtle Nesting Data, 2013.............................................................................................................. 3-34
Table 3-12. Sea Turtle Density Estimates ............................................................................................................... 3-47
Table 3-13. Depth Distribution for Sea Turtles in the Maritime WSEP Test Area ................................................. 3-48
Table 3-14. Criteria and Thresholds Used for Impact Analyses .............................................................................. 3-57
Table 3-15. Depth Distribution for Marine Mammals in the Maritime WSEP Test Area ....................................... 3-58
Table 3-16. Bottlenose Dolphin and Spotted Dolphin (in parentheses) Winter Threshold Radii for Maritime
WSEP Ordnance for the Proposed Action and Alternative 1 (Subsurface Hellfire Missile) ................ 3-59
Table 3-17. Number of Dolphins Potentially Affected by the Proposed Action ..................................................... 3-60
Table 3-18. Explosive Criteria Used for Estimating Sea Turtle Impacts ................................................................. 3-63
Table 3-19. Proposed Action Winter Threshold Radii (in meters) for Maritime WSEP Ordnance for Sea
Turtles .................................................................................................................................................. 3-63
Table 3-20. Number of Sea Turtles Potentially Affected by the Proposed Action .................................................. 3-64
Table 3-21. Number of Dolphins Potentially Affected by Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative) ............................ 3-65
Table 3-22. Number of Sea Turtles Potentially Affected by Maritime WSEP Test Missions under
Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative) .................................................................................................... 3-66
Table 4-1. Marine Species Potentially Affected by Air-To-Surface Gunnery ...........................................................4-1
Table 4-2. Marine Species Potentially Affected by PSW Missions ...........................................................................4-2
Table 4-3. Marine Species Potentially Affected by NEODS Activities ....................................................................4-3
Table 4-4. Marine Species Potentially Affected by NSWC PCD Sonar and Ordnance Operations ..........................4-4
Table 4-5. Proposed Maritime WSEP 2016-2020 Annual Live Munitions ...............................................................4-5
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1-1. Eglin Air Force Base and Surrounding Region .......................................................................................1-2
Figure 1-2. Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) .......................................................................................1-4
Figure 2-1. Proposed Location for Live Maritime WSEP Tests ................................................................................2-2
Figure 2-2. Intact Small Boat Targets in the EGTTR ................................................................................................2-4
Figure 2-3. Gulf Range Armament Test Vessel (GRATV) .......................................................................................2-4
Figure 2-4. Choctawhatchee Bay Swarm Missions ...................................................................................................2-5
Figure 2-5. Example Monitoring Scenario for a 3,500-m Radius Acoustic Zone of Influence Around Static
Targets ....................................................................................................................................................2-7
Figure 2-6. Target Boat After UXO Disposal with C-4 .............................................................................................2-8
Figure 2-7. Target Vessels and Debris from Previous Maritime Strike Missions .....................................................2-9
Figure 3-1. Artificial Reefs Within the Maritime WSEP Safety Footprint ................................................................3-5
Figure 3-2. Subareas Included in Garrison (2008) ................................................................................................... 3-31
Figure 3-3. Marine Component of Loggerhead Sea Turtle Critical Habitat Designation ........................................ 3-38

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LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

° C degree Celsius
μPa-m micropascal-meter
μPa2-s squared micropascal-second
46 OG/OGMTP 46th Test Wing Precision Strike Division
86 FWS 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron
96 CEG/CEVH 96th Civil Engineer Group/Cultural Resources Branch
96 RANSS 96th Range Support Squadron
AFB Air Force Base
AFMC Air Force Materiel Command
AFSOC U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
AGL above ground level
AGM air-to-ground missile
AIM Air Intercept Missile
BA Biological Assessment
BGEPA Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
BMP Best Management Practices
BO Biological Opinion
CAF Combat Air Force
cal caliber
CATEXed categorically excluded
CBU Cluster Bomb Unit
CCF Central Control Facility
CEQ Council on Environmental Quality
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CO carbon monoxide
CO carbon dioxide
2
CV Coefficient of Variation
CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act
dB decibels
DOI Department of the Interior
DPS Distinct Population Segments
EA Environmental Assessment
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone
EFD Energy flux density
EFH essential fish habitat
EGTTR Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range
EO Executive Order
EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal
ESA Endangered Species Act
FAA Federal Aviation Administration
FDEP Florida Department of Environmental Protection
FMC fishery management councils
FMP Fishery Management Plan
FWS Fighter Weapons Squadron
FY fiscal year
GBU Guided Bomb Unit
GIS geographical information system
GIWW Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
GMFMC Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
GOM Gulf of Mexico
GRATY Gulf Range Armament Test Vessel
GSMFC Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
HAPC Habitat Areas of Particular Concern
HEI high explosive incendiary
HSMST High Speed Marine Surface Target
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LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS, CONT’D

Hz hertz
IHA Incidental Harassment Authorization
In-lb/in2 inch-pounds per square inch
INRMP Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan
J/m2 Joules per square meter
JASSM Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-Off Missile
JDAM joint direct attack munition
kg kilogram
kHz kiloHertz
km kilometers
km2 square kilometers
lb pound
LJDAM laser joint direct attack munition
LOAs letters of authorization
MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act
mm millimeters
MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act
MTS Maritime Transportation System
NAAQS national ambient air quality standards
NDAA National Defense Authorization Act
NEODS Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NEW net explosive weight
NHPA National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
NM nautical miles
NM2 square nautical miles
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOTMAR Notice to Mariners
NRHP National Register of Historic Places
NSWC PCD Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division
NWA Northwest Atlantic
Pa-s Pascal-second
PBR potential biological removal
PGU Projectile Gun Unit
pH hydrogen ion concentration
psi per square inch
psi-msec per square inch per millisecond
PSW precision strike weapon
PTS permanent threshold shift
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RDX Research Department Explosive
ROI region of influence
SDB Small-diameter bomb
SEFSC Southeast Fisheries Science Center
SEL Sound exposure level
SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer
SOPGM Stand-off precision guided munition
SPL sound pressure level
SST Sea Surface Temperature
TEWG Turtle Expert Working Group
TNT trinitrotoluene
TTP tactics, techniques and procedures
TTS Temporary threshold shifts
UAVs Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
U.S. United States
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