EIS/OEIS

Gulf of Mexico Range Complex

The Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) Range Complex represents an essential combination of air, land, and sea space that provides realistic training areas for Navy personnel. For nearly seven decades the area has supported Navy training activities, and is now host to a wide range of training every year to ensure the nation’s military is fully prepared when in harm’s way. The GOMEX Range Complex (see Figure) includes air, land and offshore areas of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The GOMEX Range Complex is also host to activities for research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) of emerging maritime combat technologies.

Map of the GOMEX Range Complex

The GOMEX Range Complex (see map) is a training area that includes sea space, Special Use Airspace (SUA), and land ranges. The range complex also includes facilities and instrumentation areas that support training or research activities.

Background

The Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) Range Complex is a combination of sea and airspace where Navy and Marine Corps training is conducted. The Navy is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) to comprehensively evaluate effects of current and future Naval activities within the GOMEX Range Complex on the natural, cultural, and socioeconomic resources. This comprehensive evaluation is part of a larger Navy program, the Tactical Training Theater Assessment and Planning (TAP) Program. Under the TAP Program, the Navy will for the first time manage its training areas within broad geographic locations known as range complexes. The GOMEX Range Complex is one of 17 U.S. Navy range complexes around the world.

Why is this needed?

Realistic training is the single greatest asset the Navy has in preparing and protecting its personnel. “Train As We Fight” is not just a phrase - it is a statement of the absolute necessity to realistically train Naval personnel for the conditions in which they may find themselves while protecting the nation.

International events, changes in naval strategy, base closures, and population growth are increasing the challenges the Navy faces in training their personnel to be prepared to defend the nation. To face these challenges and continue to provide combat capable forces that are ready to deploy worldwide, the Navy is comprehensively evaluating and planning activities at the range complex level. The purpose of this EIS/OEIS includes:

Preserving the ability to train the nation’s sailors in the GOMEX Range Complex, which provides unique conditions and an ideal setting for realistic training.
Meeting the requirements of Title 10 U.S.C. §5062, in which the Chief of Naval Operations is directed to organize, train, and equip all Navy forces for combat.
Accommodating future increases in training activities to fully prepare for rapid deployment of naval units.
Supporting training needs for new vessels, aircraft, and weapons systems.
Ensuring the long-term viability of range assets while protecting human health and the environment.

What is proposed?

The Navy proposes to:   

  

Support the current training. The Navy currently trains throughout the Range Complex and must preserve that ability.

Increase some training from current levels as necessary. This ensures units are “surge ready,” meaning they can deploy on short notice if required.

Accommodate new missions. The Navy’s training needs are constantly evolving and we need to be responsive to changing global demands. Additionally, the Navy needs to train with new vessels, aircraft, and weapons systems as they are introduced in the GOMEX Range Complex.

Implement enhanced range complex capabilities. New technologies are emerging and improving the way we train. The Navy must be able to make full use of these technologies to continue to ensure the best trained and equipped military in the world. Upgrades and modernization of existing range capabilities and facilities are necessary to enhance and sustain Navy training in the GOMEX Range Complex.

 

What will be evaluated?

The Navy understands and recognizes that training activities may have potential effects on the environment, as well as to the community and the stakeholders that rely on these resources. The Navy will analyze several alternatives to determine the effects of potential actions on natural, cultural and socioeconomic resources. Additionally, public input received during the scoping phase of the process will be carefully considered as alternatives are refined and analyzed. Currently, three alternatives have been identified to be analyzed:

No Action Alternative:

The No Action Alternative analyzes the variety of training and testing activities that currently occur within the GOMEX Range Complex. Under the No Action Alternative, training and testing operations would continue at current levels. No new or additional training or testing operations or infrastructure improvements would be implemented.

Alternative 1:

This alternative incorporates the activities included in the No Action Alternative, and provides for vital increased operations and additional or enhanced capabilities to satisfy training needs of new missions, aircraft, vessels and weapons systems. Specifically, this alternative will include evaluations of several proposals, including:

A short-term increase in the number of major fleet training exercises when necessary to respond to national emergencies.
Anti-terrorism, anti-piracy and maritime interdiction training for newly-configured surface strike groups.
Anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare training for Maritime Multi-mission Aircraft.
Unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
Upgrading the mine countermeasures systems for helicopters and surface ships.
Upgrading instrumentation for electronic combat, and aircraft and large-scale exercise tracking.
Increasing commercial aircraft availability as an opposition force for fleet training.
Increased underwater detonations.

Alternative 2

This alternative incorporates all the activities included in the No Action Alternative and Alternative 1, plus:

Increased operations tempo, and an increase in post Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) gulf-based (F-18 and E-2), and transient, Navy unit participation in joint training opportunities afforded by proximity to the Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and its Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) infrastructure.