ALTERNATIVES

The MESA VERDE shock trial EIS evaluates four alternatives including the “no action”, and conducting an at-sea shock trial at one of three proposed alternative locations. The Navy conducted an extensive operational site analysis (OSA) in August 2003 to identify candidate test areas that are operationally acceptable for conducting a SAN ANTONIO Class shock trial. A location along the East Coast or Gulf of Mexico would best meet operational needs because the MESA VERDE is proposed to be homeported on the East Coast. Subsequently, three Navy facilities were identified as locations fully able to meet the operational requirements to support a shock trial (Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Station Mayport, and Naval Air Station Pensacola). Proposed shock trial locations offshore of these three Navy facilities met the operational requirements including having a water depth of at least 600 feet (ft) (183 meters [m]); suitable weather/sea state conditions; a manageable volume of commercial vessel traffic; and proximity to an airfield, a vessel repair facility, and an ordnance storage/loading facility.

The Notice of Intent published for this EIS in the Federal Register on 12 March 2004 identified the alternative location of offshore Pascagoula, in addition to the “no action” alternative, for analysis in the MESA VERDE shock EIS. However, the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 (BRAC) identified Naval Station Pascagoula for closure. After the 2005 BRAC recommendation, the Navy revisited the operational requirements for the shock trial and identified offshore off Pensacola, Florida as an additional alternative shock trial location, removing the offshore Pascagoula alternative location from further study. The “no action” alternative does not meet the purpose and need because it would prevent the Navy from adequately assessing the survivability of SAN ANTONIO Class ships, as required by 10 United States Code (USC) Section 2366. The ship must undergo a shock trial because, although computer modeling and component testing have been undertaken, an at-sea shock trial would provide the best means to assess the shock response of the entire manned ship and the interaction of the ship’s systems and components.

The three proposed alternative shock trial locations that meet all operational requirements (offshore of Norfolk, Virginia; Mayport, Florida; and Pensacola, Florida) are compared with respect to project purpose and need, operational criteria, and environmental impacts. The map below illustrates the offshore areas reviewed in the EIS.

Click map for larger view.

Environmental impacts that may occur from the proposed action include minor or temporary impacts to the physical and biological environments and existing human uses of the area. Additionally, there is a risk of impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, which varies between proposed shock trial locations and seasons. However, protective measures would be established to minimize risk to marine mammals and sea turtles. The NMFS is concurrently evaluating the Navy’s request for a Letter of Authorization for the Incidental Take of Marine Mammals in their regulatory role under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition, the Navy has initiated early, formal consultation with the NMFS under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

The Navy has identified the preferred alternative of conducting the shock trial offshore of Mayport, Florida in the spring/summer of 2008. This alternative would meet the project purpose and need, satisfy operational requirements, and potentially minimize environmental impacts.