Patuxent River Complex

Environmental Protection

Naval Air Station Patuxent River manages robust resource compliance, community service, and environmental stewardship programs.

Stewardship

The Navy is committed to environmental stewardship and is doing its part to minimize impacts to neighboring communities and the environment, while equipping our Sailors and Marines to be successful in their mission of national defense.

Initiatives include:

Wildlife habitat protection and enhancement
Rare, threatened, and endangered species monitoring and protection
Archaeological surveys and site preservation

Environmental Protection and Stewardship

Multiple partnerships with the private sector and government agencies have been successful in advancing environmental compliance, conservation, and education.

Over 12,000 acres of land have been protected as conservation areas or easements
Naval Air Station Patuxent River partners with the University of Maryland to develop creative solutions to protect native terrapin nesting sites
Navy experts built and maintain heron nesting platforms at Bloodsworth Island
The Navy participates in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Wildlife habitat protection and enhancement

Shared Space The water and airspace within the PRC are used by many people for commercial and recreational purposes. The Navy shares the water and airspace with the community and recognizes the importance of public access. The Navy ensures public safety during testing and training activities by:
Making sure any watermen or recreational users are clear of impact areas and targets before testing begins Canceling or delaying activities if public or personnel safety is a concern Communicating via radio to local watermen and recreational users of the location, date, and time of range closures Implementing temporary access restrictions to testing and training areas Designating restricted airspace for multiple, high-speed military aircraft Limiting the number of aircraft within restricted airspace Using a Military Radar Unit, named BayWatch, for surveillance when the restricted area is activated

Thorough environmental and safety reviews are conducted for all tests. The safety measures implemented before and during testing and training, along with the cooperation of the public, commercial, and recreational users of the air and sea spaces, enable safe testing and training.

Noise Management

The Navy has a comprehensive noise management program for the PRC including:

Noise response system with a toll-free noise hotline to report noise disturbances
Sonic boom monitors throughout the PRC
Aircraft awareness briefs and noise management instructions to reduce noise impacts
Monitoring and tracking of activities
Community noise advisories
Real estate disclosure clause to notify prospective buyers of potential impacts from nearby military installations
Noise zones to promote compatible development

The PRC noise hotline number is 1(866)819-9028 and the email address is paxnoise@us.navy.mil.

This is an official U.S. Navy web site.