Navy says Northern Edge 2021 plans include no new activities

Public comment period runs through Feb. 16

MH-60S Sea Hawks from the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 8 fly over Eyak Lake during a search and rescue demonstration on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Photo by U.S. Navy/MCCS Brandon Raile

U.S. Navy officials are seeking public comment through Feb. 16 on proposed continuing periodic military training activities within the Gulf of Alaska.

The proposed training activities are similar to those which have occurred in the Gulf study area for decades, with continuing to implement mitigation measures to avoid or reduce potential impacts on marine species and the environment from training activities, Navy officials said.

To that end the Navy has prepared a draft supplement to its 2011 Gulf of Alaska Navy training activities final supplemental environmental impact statement and overseas EIS, which is at goaeis.com/Documents/2016-Gulf-of-Alaska-Supplemental-EIS-OEIS-Documents.

The supplemental EIS/OEIS is described as an update to the 2011 and 2016 impact analyses with new information and analytical methods. New information includes an updated acoustic effects model, updated marine species density data and hearing criteria, and other emergent best available science. Navy officials said they are not proposing new activities or an increase in activities from current levels.

The supplemental EIS/OEIS includes the analysis of at-sea training activities projected to meet readiness requirements beyond 2022 and into the reasonable, foreseeable future, and reflects the most-up-to-date compilation of training activities deemed necessary to accomplish military readiness in that time period.

Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, the new commander of Navy Region Northwest, wrote in a commentary published in the Anchorage Daily News that he is committed to meeting training objectives required of the Navy’s national defense mission, but wants also to engage with Alaska communities in an open dialogue about protecting Alaska’s diverse environment.

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“Northern Edge is a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command joint exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces that takes place in Alaska every other year for about two weeks, most recently in spring 2019 and soon to occur in spring 2021,” he said.

In advance of past Northern Edge exercises in the Gulf of Alaska, residents of coastal fishing communities have voiced continuing concerns because the timing of these military exercises comes just at the start of the salmon fishing season. There have also been concerns voiced about potential impact of these military exercises on whales and other sea mammals.

According to Barnett the military exercises that occur during Northern Edge are designed to replicate challenging scenarios and prepare personnel to respond to crises in the Indo-Pacific region, including humanitarian assistance, natural disasters, global conflicts and threats to homeland security.

For assistance in accessing the supplemental documents or for information on attending a virtual public meeting, contact Julianne Stanford at the Navy Region Northwest Public Affairs office at julianne.stanford@navy.mil or call 360-867-8525. All other inquiries or for additional information about the project should be directed to Kimberly Kler, GOA supplemental EIS/OEIS project manager, at projectmanager@goaeis.com.

Comments may be submitted at goaeis.com or by mail to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Attention: GOA Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale, WA 98315-1101. All comments submitted will become part of the public record, and substantive comments will be addressed in the final supplemental EIS/OEIS.

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