Live bombing could be eliminated in training off coast

Proposed plans currently being considered by the Navy would eliminate live bombing exercises during air and sea training that takes place off the North Carolina coast.

"We feel that we can eliminate live bombs without compromising our training," said Bryan Murphy, project manager of an environmental impact statement looking at the impacts of current and future operations within the Cherry Point Range Complex.

The area being studied is a combination of sea and airspace where Navy and Marine Corps training is conducted. It covers an offshore area from around Camp Lejeune north to Albemarle Sound and extends out into the ocean about 120 nautical miles.

The Cherry Point Range Complex has supported training operations for nearly 60 years, and the Navy is now looking at ways to continue to meet current needs while also accommodating new missions and capabilities.

The draft EIS now under review has identified three possible alternatives for meeting the Navy's needs.

Under the "no action" alternative, training and testing operations would continue at existing levels.

Alternative 1 calls for a 10 percent increase in most training operations plus changes in operations to meet expanded mission areas, force structure changes and new capabilities.

Murphy said they don't see the 10-percent increase in operations as a big difference over current levels, but it would provide for more flexibility in adjusting to training needs.

"It would make sure we have enough flexibility to train to address a specific threat," he said.

Operational changes proposed include training tailored surface strike groups to conduct rapid response anti-piracy, anti-terrorism and maritime interdiction operations.

For instance, Murphy said, the Navy wouldn't likely need all 10 ships in a carrier strike group to deal with an anti-piracy situation but a smaller strike group could be trained to respond.

"It's using current forces but a new mission," he said.

Other proposed changes include the location of surface-to-air missile training within the Cherry Point Range Complex and an increased use of contractor-operated aircraft as opposition forces during training.

The Cherry Point Range Complex will also host some of the training for the new MH-60R/S helicopters and new weapons systems.

The third, and preferred, alternative identified by the Navy includes all of the above along with the designation of mine warfare training areas.

And particularly noteworthy in terms of environmental impacts is the proposed elimination of live bombing exercises at sea.

Murphy said the Navy would continue to use inert bombs as well as live missiles but they do not have the same impact as the larger, high explosive bombs.

"Essentially, the environmental impact is when the bomb hits the water and explodes," he said.

The EIS looks at the impact of sound exposure on marine mammals and sea turtles as a result of training with explosive ordnance.

With the elimination of live bombing, the Navy sees the environmental impact of its training as greatly reduced.

"I think the big take on this is that with Alternative 2, we would really minimize our impact on the environment," said Erin Swiader, an environmental planner with the Navy.

The Navy reviewed its plans with the public during a Tuesday night meeting in Beaufort on the draft EIS.

Only one person spoke during the formal public hearing, but an open house session drew several people interested in gathering information.

"I'm here on a fact-finding mission," said Carteret County Commissioner Jonathan Robinson.

Robinson, a commercial fisherman, said the area is one that has long supported the military, but it is also important to pay close attention to the use of the waters and potential impacts on marine animals and the natural resource.

"We've had a long-standing relationship with the Navy, but anytime you are discussing the expansion of utilization of public waters there can be concerns," he said.

Maria Dunn attended the meeting as a representative of the N.C. Wildlife Commission. While she did not comment, she said the agency would be submitting formal written comments before the deadline.

Elimination of the live bombs would be beneficial when looked at individually, she said, but it's important to look at the cumulative impacts of all the training.

"You have to take everything and look at it from that perspective," Dunn said.

She said communication between the Navy and the resource agencies remains key to protections for marine animals and the environment.

The Navy's research and mitigation efforts to protect marine animals and resources were reviewed during a presentation before the public hearing.

Prior to training with ordnance, the Navy visually monitors the ocean for marine mammal and sea turtle activity and training activity may be altered or suspended to minimize effects.

During training, shipboard lookouts watch for marine mammals and work to keep ships away from animals such as the endangered North Atlantic right whale.

In 2008, the Navy funded more than $26 million in research on marine mammals. The Navy sponsors about 70 percent of all U.S. research concerning the effects of human-generated sound on marine mammals.

The one speaker at Tuesday's public hearing asked that the Navy extend the public comment period on the draft EIS.

Several Navy EIS documents that involve related issues are currently under review, and citizens have asked at other hearings as well for more time to comment.

Comments on the draft EIS for the Cherry Point Range Complex are due by Oct. 27.

Written comments may be mailed to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic Division; Attention: Code EV22SA (CHPT EIS/OEIS PM); 6506 Hampton Blvd.; Norfolk, VA 23508-1278

For more information on the plans or to submit comments online, go to www.navycherrypointrangecomplexeis.com.