[Occupymendocino] responding to Navy war games offshore?

[Liz Helenchild]

Dear Occupiers,

Does anyone have clarity as to which of these unacceptable alternatives is least dire, & should be favored when commenting to www.NWTTEIS.com? Deadlineto submit comments is Tuesday 4/15. I am composing my own screed & would welcome any suggestions re jargon, etc.


Thanks,

Liz









No Action Alternative
 
Under the No Action Alternative, the Navy would continue current 
training and testing activities as defined by existing environmental 
planning documents, including the Northwest Training Range Complex 
EIS/OEIS and the Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Range Complex Extension EIS/OEIS. The baseline testing 
activities also include other testing events that historically occur in 
the NWTT Study Area (see Figure 1) and have been subject to previous 
analysis pursuant to NEPA and Executive Order 12114. Analysis of the No 
Action Alternative provides a baseline, enabling decision makers to 
compare the magnitude of the environmental effects of no action (current activities) to the effects of the action alternatives. Baseline 
activities do not include training with sonar in Puget Sound.

Alternative 1
Alternative 1 includes adjustments to types and levels from baseline 
activities conducted in the NWTT Study Area to support current and 
planned Navy at-sea training and testing requirements. Under Alternative 1, sink exercises would be eliminated.
Alternative 1 includes:
	* Testing activities at Navy pierside locations in Puget Sound, 
the Carr Inlet Operations Area and the Southeast Alaska Acoustic 
Measurement Facility 
	* Mission requirements associated with force structure changes, 
including those resulting from the development, testing and introduction of new vessels, aircraft and weapons systems into the fleet 

Alternative 1 includes some activities that were not analyzed in previous documents. New activities being considered include:
	* Use of new and existing unmanned vehicles and their acoustic 
sensors, in support of homeland security and anti-terrorism/force 
protection. This type of training is critical in protecting the nation’s military and civilian harbors, ports and shipping lanes. 
	* Use of 0.50-caliber blanks in Puget Sound in support of force 
protection training of the Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Security Force. 
	* Addition of a biennial maritime homeland defense mine 
countermeasure training exercise in Puget Sound and analyzing the amount of time acoustic sensors are used during that event.

Alternative 2
Alternative 2 includes all activities in Alternative 1 plus 
adjustments to the type and level of training and testing activities. 
Under Alternative 2, sink exercises would be eliminated.
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