Get Involved
The U.S. Navy has been training in the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) Range Complex for
national defense purposes for nearly seven decades. To support continued training in the GOMEX Range Complex, the Navy is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) for current and future training and testing
operational activities in the Range Complex.
Why is the Navy conducting an Environmental Impact Statement?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires federal agencies to examine
the individual and cumulative, or additive, environmental impacts of their activities. An EIS is
a detailed public document that assesses the potential impacts a federal action may have on
the human, natural, or cultural environment. An OEIS is also required under Executive Order
12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions, enacted by President Carter in
1979. This order requires federal agencies to consider the impacts of actions that may affect
the environment outside U.S. territorial waters. Since the GOMEX Range Complex is both
inside and outside US territorial waters, the Navy will address the requirements of NEPA and
EO 12114 in a single document.
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The Navy’s sea ranges in the Gulf of Mexico provide U.S. Service members with the space and
equipment needed to conduct realistic, at-sea training and testing, which is essential for the
safety and readiness of military personnel and the success of the military mission.
The Navy is preparing the GOMEX Range Complex EIS/OEIS to assess the potential effects
of their ongoing and anticipated operations on the environment. The GOMEX Range Complex
EIS/OEIS also allows the Navy the opportunity to review its procedures and ensure that
the benefits of recent scientific and technological advances are applied toward minimizing
environmental effects.
How can the community be involved in the development of this document?
The NEPA process emphasizes the importance of community involvement during the development of an EIS/OEIS. The
diagram on the front page illustrates the steps of the NEPA process, with the highlighted boxes indicating opportunities for
the public and interested stakeholders to provide input.
The Navy held four scoping meetings to inform the public of the proposed action and to seek public comment. At
each scoping meeting, informational poster stations and Navy project team representatives were available to answer
questions about the NEPA process, the proposed action, and the Navy’s environmental stewardship programs and
protective measures. Government agencies, organizations, and the public were
encouraged to submit comments at the
scoping meetings or to provide written comments during the public comment period. The Navy will carefully consider each
of the comments received and address them in the Draft EIS/OEIS.
When and where were the scoping meetings being held?
To encourage public input, the Navy held scoping meetings for the GOMEX Range Complex EIS/OEIS at four
locations along the Gulf Coast.
Panama City, FL
Gulf Coast Community College
5230 W. Highway 98
Monday, Sept 24, 2007
5 pm – 8 pm |
Pensacola, FL
Pensacola Junior College (Warrington Campus) 5555
West Highway 98
Tuesday, Sept 25, 2007
5 pm – 8 pm |
Kenner, LA
Alfred Bonnabel High School
2801 Bruin Drive
Wednesday, Sept 26, 2007
5 pm – 8 pm |
Corpus Christi, TX
Holiday Inn - Emerald Beach Hotel
1102 South Shoreline Blvd.
Friday, Sept 28, 2007
5 pm – 8 pm |
Are project documents available at publicly accessible locations?
In addition to scoping meetings, the Navy has established a user-friendly Web site that makes it easy to find out what
environmental documents are being developed and how to comment on them. The Web site also provides background
information on environmental topics evaluated in these documents for those who want to learn more. Once published,
the Draft EIS/OEIS will be available for public review and comment at the following information repositories:
Bay County Public Library
25 W. Government St.
Panama City, FL 32401
850-872-7500 |
Pensacola Public Library
200 W. Gregory Street Pensacola, FL 32501
850-436-5060 |
East Bank Regional Library 4747 W. Napoleon Ave.
Metairie, LA 70001
504-838-1190
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Central Library
805 Comanche Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-826-7000
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