Patuxent River Complex
Testing and Training Activities
Environmental Impact Statement

What does the Navy propose to do?

The Navy’s Proposed Action includes testing and training activities analyzed in the 1998 PRC Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and subsequent Environmental Assessments and adjustments to current testing and training activities. These adjustments to type and tempo of activities would support projected Navy military readiness requirements into the foreseeable future.

Purpose

At Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the Navy tests and trains on newly developed aircraft, weapons, and technologies before they are put into service across the Navy. The Proposed Action to continue these critical testing and training activities within the PRC is of utmost importance in providing Sailors and Marines with equipment and technology that operate effectively and safely.

Need

The Proposed Action would meet the Navy’s requirement to maintain military readiness of naval forces to win wars, deter aggression, and maintain freedom of the seas, now and into the future.

Study Area

The Study Area includes Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Outlying Field Webster, Bloodsworth Island Range, and the water and airspace where the Navy conducts aircraft testing and training.

<-  Click for full size image of PRC study area map.

Alternatives

The Council on Environmental Quality regulations require Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to have a range of alternatives, including a No Action Alternative, to provide options by the decision maker and the public (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1502.14). The Navy developed a range of alternatives that take into consideration the Navy’s operational needs for the foreseeable future as well as public input received during the public scoping phase of this project in 2019. The following is a description of the alternatives.

No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the Navy would continue testing and training activities within the PRC at the same annual flight hours and mix of aircraft, non-explosive munitions, and systems as is currently being conducted. This baseline includes testing and training activities analyzed in the 1998 PRC EIS and subsequent EAs.

Alternative 1. Under Alternative 1, the Navy would conduct the same types of testing and training activities within the PRC as the No Action Alternative but with higher annual flight hours and adjustments to current aircraft mix, non-explosive munitions numbers, and systems to accommodate projected testing and training requirements identified by the Navy for the foreseeable future. This alternative is based on the annual level of increased operational tempo projected by the Navy to maintain readiness of naval forces for the foreseeable future but not the readiness level needed during increased global conflicts. Under this alternative, the Navy would be able to meet the typical, but not the highest, level of military readiness.

Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative). Under Alternative 2, the Navy would conduct the same types of testing and training activities within the PRC as Alternative 1 but with increased annual number of flight hours and adjustments to current aircraft mix, non-explosive munitions numbers, and systems to accommodate projected testing and training requirements identified by the Navy for increased global conflict. Under this alternative, the Navy would be able to meet the highest level of military readiness. The Navy has selected this alternative as documented in the Record of Decision.