CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTIONS

Transcription

1 Guam and CNMI Military Relcatin Final EIS (July 2010) CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTIONS 1.1 INTRODUCTION Vlume 3 fcuses n develpment f live-fire training ranges t Chapter 1: supprt training and peratins that wuld ccur n Tinian in the Cmmnwealth f the Nrthern Mariana Islands (CNMI) 1.1 Intrductin assciated with the prpsed United States (U.S.) Marine Crps 1.2 Purpse and Need relcatin t Guam. Training is prpsed t ccur n Guam but nt all training can be accmmdated there. The existing training capabilities n Tinian wuld be expanded t supprt up t tw cmpanies ( persnnel). The training activities, alternatives, affected envirnment, and envirnmental cnsequences presented in this Vlume are distinct frm thse described n Guam. The main cmpnents f the prpsed actin in Vlume 3 are as fllws: Develpment f Live-Fire Training Ranges: a Platn (42 persnnel) Battle Curse, Autmated Cmbat Pistl/Military Plice (MP) Firearms Qualificatin Curse, Rifle Knwn Distance (KD) range, and Field Firing Range. Airspace use: there is n requirement fr Special Use Airspace (SUA) assciated with the prpsed firing ranges and there wuld be n changes t designated airspace verlying the prpsed firing. These prpsed training cmpnents cmplement the existing grund training practices undertaken n Tinian and in the CNMI as described in the Mariana Islands Range Cmplex (MIRC) Envirnmental Impact Statement/Overseas Envirnmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) (DN 2010). This Vlume is rganized as fllws: Chapter 1: Purpse f and Need fr Actins. States the purpse f and need fr the prpsed actin and presents backgrund infrmatin abut the prpsed actin. Chapter 2: Prpsed Actin and Alternatives. Describes the siting criteria and the screening prcess t evaluate and identify the reasnable alternatives, the prpsed actin and reasnable alternatives, and the n-actin alternative. Chapters 3-19: Resurce Sectins. Describes existing cnditins and identifies ptential impacts t the respective resurces: Chapter 3: Gelgical and Sil Resurces Chapter 4: Water Resurces Chapter 5: Air Quality Chapter 6: Nise Chapter 7: Airspace Chapter 8: Land and Submerged Lands Use Chapter 9: Recreatinal Resurces Chapter 10: Terrestrial Bilgical Resurces Chapter 11: Marine Bilgical Resurces Chapter 12: Cultural Resurces VOLUME 3: MARINE CORPS TINIAN 1-1 Purpse f and Need fr Actins

2 Guam and CNMI Military Relcatin Final EIS (July 2010) Chapter 13: Visual Resurces Chapter 14: Transprtatin This chapter cvers marine transprtatin. Vlume 6 cvers radway transprtatin. Chapter 15: Utilities Chapter 16: Sciecnmics and General Services Chapter 17: Hazardus Materials and Waste Chapter 18: Public Health and Safety Chapter 19: Envirnmental Justice and the Prtectin f Children Chapter 20: References VOLUME 3: MARINE CORPS TINIAN 1-2 Purpse f and Need fr Actins

3 Guam and CNMI Military Relcatin Final EIS (July 2010) 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED As discussed in Vlume 1, Chapter 1, Sectin 1.3.1, the Chapter 1: verarching purpse fr the prpsed actins is t lcate U.S. 1.1 Intrductin military frces t meet internatinal agreement and treaty requirements and t fulfill U.S. natinal security plicy 1.2 Purpse and Need requirements t prvide mutual defense, deter aggressin, and dissuade cercin in the Western Pacific Regin. The need fr the prpsed actins is t meet the fllwing criteria based n U.S. plicy, internatinal agreements, and treaties: Psitin U.S. frces t defend the hmeland, including the U.S. Pacific territries Lcatin within a timely respnse range Maintain reginal stability, peace, and security Maintain flexibility t respnd t reginal threats Prvide pwerful U.S. presence in the Pacific regin Increase aircraft carrier presence in the Western Pacific Defend U.S., Japan, and ther allies interests Prvide capabilities that enhance glbal mbility t meet cntingencies arund the wrld Have a strng lcal cmmand and cntrl structure Vlume 1 prvides detailed infrmatin regarding the internatinal cntext fr the purpse and need fr the prpsed actin. Vlume 2 describes the purpse and need fr basing and training f Marines n Guam. The need fr Marine training and peratins is clsely dependent n the relcatin. Marines can nly be readily and rapidly deplyable if they are able t meet training and readiness requirements. Units require reliable access and maximum pprtunity t realistically train with their weapns and equipment while minimizing dwn time lst when travelling t training lcatins. The purpse f increasing training and peratinal capabilities n Guam wuld be t prvide the mst efficient means t supprt present training requirements fr the Marine frces relcating frm Okinawa t Guam pursuant t the Radmap Agreement with Japan. The fllwing utlines the prcess that evaluated ptential training lcatins, including Tinian. The key reasns that Tinian is the prpsed lcatin fr the prpsed training are: Department f Defense (DD) prperty is available fr access t these training resurces because f the existing land lease agreement between the CNMI and the DD Prximity t U.S. military frces n Guam Availability As the U.S. analyzed where the Marine relcatin wuld be, it als studied where the Marines wuld be able t train and maintain their readiness. Emphasis was placed n maximizing use f existing DD prperties. Guam and Tinian pssessed the mst available DD prperties fr exclusive military use within the Marianas, and therefre were cnsidered fr maximum utilizatin. Other islands in the Marianas such as Pagan, Saipan, and Rta d nt have existing DD prperties f sufficient size. Nt all Marine Crps training requirements culd be met n Guam. The DD then cnsidered whether additinal training culd ccur n the nrthern tw-thirds f Tinian that is leased t the DD. Cmpany and battalin level nn live-fire training areas exist within the lease area. Hwever, this land culd be develped t als accmmdate live-fire ranges. VOLUME 3: MARINE CORPS TINIAN 1-3 Purpse f and Need fr Actins

4 Guam and CNMI Military Relcatin Final EIS (July 2010) Prximity Tinian wuld prvide a training range apprximately 100 miles (160 kilmeters [km]) frm Guam and wuld be the largest (apprximately 15,400 acres [ac], 6,232 hectares [ha]) range lcated cmpletely n DD-leased prperty within the MIRC (discussed in Sectin 1.2.4). Guam-based Marines and ther military persnnel transiting frm Guam wuld be able t quickly and rutinely access these training capabilities thrugh use f bth tactical aviatin and surface transprtatin assets and facilities. A training range n Tinian wuld be required in additin t training ranges n Guam. Marine Crps training is built alng a cntinuum that is well-defined and structured t prvide cmbat-ready Marines, Marine Crps units, and Marine Air Grund Task Frces. The training cntinuum begins at the individual level and prgresses t cmmn skills, skills prgressin, and finally unit cllective training. The ranges planned n Guam supprt individual and cmmn skills live-fire training. Fr skills prgressin and unit cllective training, ranges f greater cmplexity and size than thse fund n Guam are required. These advanced live-fire ranges wuld be lcated n Tinian and wuld allw Marines t meet the higher level requirements f the training cntinuum. Table presents ptentially available lift (air and sea) ptins and their crrespnding speed and range capabilities. With the relatively shrt travel times t Tinian, the required training wuld be accmplished fr Marines within a 1-week perid, 12 times per year. A similar level f training at any ther lcatin wuld require mre than a 1-week training evlutin, and time spent in travel is nt available fr meeting ther training requirements such as classrm training. Lss f time due t travel wuld impact the verall ability t achieve training requirements. Table U.S. Lift Optins and Crrespnding Capacities Speed Distance Capacity Ptential Lift (Rtary and Fixed Wing) (knts [kph]) (nm [km]) CH-53 (Tactical) 170 (315) 312 (579) MV-22 (Tactical) 278 (515) 751 (1,392) C/KC-130 (Tactical) 278 (515) 2,172 (4,023) C-17 (Strategic) 448 (829) 2,420 (4,482) C-5 (Strategic) 470 (871) 5,161 (9,560) Cmmercial 478 (885) N/A Ptential Lift (Ocean Vessels) Speed Distance Capacity Amphibius Ships (Strategic) 20 (39) 4,344 (8,047) Cmmercial 20 (39) 4,344 (8,047) Legend: kph = kilmeters per hur, nm=nautical miles, knts = nautical miles per hur. Surces: Navy 2001, 2004; Air Frce Reliability f Access t Training Resurces The nrthern tw-thirds f Tinian cntain tw adjacent and cnnected training ranges within the DD Military Lease Area (MLA): the Exclusive Military Use Area (EMUA) and the Leaseback Area (LBA). The EMUA includes landing beaches, expeditinary airfield, bivuac areas (i.e., temprary camps set up during training), maneuver areas, live-fire sniper areas, and areas designated fr pyrtechnics and hazardus activities. The LBA, a jint military and civilian use area, is used primarily fr lgistics, maneuver and ther nnintrusive training requirements cmpatible with its jint civilian agricultural uses. Time spent n crdinatin and scheduling with lcal authrities limits timely accessibility t the LBA fr sme activities. Terminatin f the LBA agreement, which prvides full unfettered access t the LBA fr military training, is pssible with apprpriate ntificatin t the CNMI gvernment. The military use f this area, subject t ther applicable laws and agreements, is (by cnditins f the lease) flexible and VOLUME 3: MARINE CORPS TINIAN 1-4 Purpse f and Need fr Actins

5 Guam and CNMI Military Relcatin Final EIS (July 2010) assured within specified limits. Tinian is the nly island within the CNMI that the DD has a training use agreement that wuld allw the weapns range develpment that wuld meet the purpse and need fr training f the relcated Marines. Accrdingly, Tinian, with its availability f land, prximity t Guam, and reliability f access makes it the nly suitable lcatin fr this training fr Marines based n Guam Additinal Cnsideratins The prpsed actin wuld increase training capabilities in the CNMI by building n the existing training infrastructure cntained within the MIRC. The MIRC is a jint training cmplex cnsisting f service ranges utilized in a crdinated jint manner. The prpsed actin wuld cntinue develpment f training capabilities in the regin by develping ranges n Tinian. All services have cntributed t the training capabilities in the Marianas. The develpment f the training range cmplex has been a phased develpment starting with the Marianas Training Plan in Each successive range r range enhancement has added additinal capabilities t the verall range cmplex. Over time, the inclusin f new capabilities has resulted in the existing MIRC Under the prpsed actin, the develpment f training capabilities in the regin wuld cntinue with the additin f live-fire small arms ranges and ther capabilities in the CNMI t the MIRC. The prpsed actin wuld cmplement the existing nn live-fire capabilities by adding live-fire training ranges. By supplementing existing nn live-fire training with limited live-fire ranges, the prpsed actin assures missin readiness training availability fr Marine Crps units n Guam while enhancing the verall training infrastructure in the regin. The prpsed actin wuld invlve changes t the peratins and training activities presently cnducted n Tinian thrugh develpment f ranges required t supprt the prpsed Marine Crps relcatin. The develpment, peratin, and nging peridic use f these ranges is necessary t maintain the state f readiness required fr Marine Crps frces relcated t Guam pursuant t the Radmap Agreement with Japan. This prgressin f develpment f range capabilities wuld cntinue as technlgy, weapn systems, and peratinal requirements cntinue t evlve. The 1999 Marianas Training Plan, the subsequent MIRC Management Plan, and the assciated MIRC EIS/OEIS establish the baseline fr training facilities and peratins in the Mariana Islands, including Guam and CNMI. The planning apprach and methdlgy fr key elements f the prpsed actin are dcumented in Vlume 9, Appendix G, and include: Range Cmplex Management Plan 2006 Training Cncept Plan, U.S. Marine Frces Pacific 2008 (Marine Frces Pacific 2008) Guam Jint Military Master Plan, Jint Guam Prgram Office (in prgress) CNMI Military Training Master Plan (in prgress) These fur dcuments represent the next phases f the master planning effrt fr Guam and the CNMI. The Range Cmplex Management Plan identified specific range deficiencies, including lack f live-fire ranges in the Marianas. The Training Cncept Plan prvided an uncnstrained view f training pssibilities n Guam and the CNMI. Present planning effrts fr Guam and CNMI that have ccurred cincident with the develpment f this EIS, have identified prpsed training actins fr Guam and CNMI. Tgether, these planning effrts have identified the specific weapns training needed n Tinian fr the additinal frces mving frm Okinawa (Japan) t Guam. VOLUME 3: MARINE CORPS TINIAN 1-5 Purpse f and Need fr Actins

6 Guam and CNMI Military Relcatin Final EIS (July 2010) Training Activities Training peratins prpsed n Tinian wuld supprt individual up t cmpany level sustainment training fr the relcated Marines. Sustainment training is training that enables Marine Crps frces t maintain cmbat readiness. The individual and crew-served weapns qualificatin ranges are prpsed fr Guam (refer t Vlume 2, Chapter 2, Sectin 2.3). The training that wuld take place n Tinian is essential t the end-state f sustaining cmbat readiness f Guam-based Marines. The prpsed Tinian ranges are fr training Marines with use f weapns similar t the Guam ranges (5.65 mm and belw) but in tactical scenaris. Individual-level training wuld ccur n Guam as travel distances and lgistics t Tinian wuld nt be practical fr individual-level training. Training in tactical scenaris requires larger areas than is available n Guam. Training units wuld include grund elements that wuld enable three f the fur cmpnents f the Marine Air Grund Task Frce (Cmmand, Grund, Air, and Lgistics) t accmplish weapns training tasks accrding t Missin Essential Task List, as designated by apprpriate cmmanders. VOLUME 3: MARINE CORPS TINIAN 1-6 Purpse f and Need fr Actins