Patuxent River Complex
Testing and Training Activities
Environmental Impact Statement

Background

The Navy will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (hereinafter referred to as "testing") and training within the Patuxent River Complex (PRC), Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. The proposed action includes testing and training activities analyzed in the Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) December 1998 PRC Final EIS and subsequent Environmental Assessments, plus adjustments in testing and training activities from current types and tempos required to support projected Navy military readiness requirements into the foreseeable future.

Why prepare a new EIS?

An EIS – or Environmental Impact Statement – is a detailed public document providing an assessment of the potential effects a federal action may have on the human, natural, and cultural environment. Updated environmental impact analysis is warranted due to changes in:

Technology:

The EIS will address new aircraft, test activities, and changes in the number of non-explosive weapons. All aircraft, non-explosive weapons, and test activities are very similar to those conducted and used for the past 20 years.

Environment:

The EIS will address the natural and cultural resources of the PRC Study Area. The PRC Study Area includes supporting land areas (Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Outlying Field Webster, and the Bloodsworth Island Range), water areas (e.g., Chesapeake Bay, lower Potomac, St. Mary’s, and lower Patuxent Rivers), airspace, and Atlantic Test Ranges assets (e.g., fixed targets, aim points, recovery areas, and instrumentation sites).

Science:

The EIS will use the best available science. Since 1998, there have been changes in the natural and cultural resources within the PRC that are documented in new published scientific studies. New methodologies and studies will be used to update the analysis of potential environmental impacts from ongoing and proposed testing and training activities.

Navy Policy and Regulations:

The EIS will use the most current standards for conducting environmental impact analysis, incorporate multiple Navy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents into a single EIS document, and address new environmental regulatory requirements (e.g., new protected species).


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