Virginia Capes Range Complex Final Environmental Impact Statement

VACAPES Range Complex FEIS/OEISData SourcesChapter 3 Affected Environment andEnvironmental Consequences3.3 – Water ResourcesState and federal regulations, as well as each state’s water resource/water quality programs werereviewed. Available reference materials, including the Marine Resource Assessment for the VACAPESStudy Area, as well as prior EAs and EISs, were reviewed and are cited as appropriate.Significance Criteria and Impact ThresholdsNumerous federal, state, and local regulations govern the protection of water resources; these regulationsare summarized in Appendix K. The primary objective of these regulations is to protect public health andthe environment, as well as biological resources.3.3.1.2 Warfare Areas and Associated Environmental StressorsAspects of the proposed actions likely to act as stressors to water resources were identified by conductingan analysis of the warfare areas, operations, and specific activities included in the alternatives.Table 3.3-1 summarizes this analysis and shows the primary stressors associated with each operation (seeAppendix D for detailed descriptions of operations). After the primary stressors were identified, trainingitems associated with warfare areas and operations were identified.TABLE 3.3-1POTENTIAL STRESSORS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER QUALITYWarfare Area and OperationTraining AreasMine WarfareDeployment/RecoveryNon-Explosive PracticeMunitionsUnderwater Detonations andHigh Explosive OrdnanceMilitary Expended MaterialsMine Warfare (MIW)Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCM) Lower Chesapeake Bay Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCM)W-50A/CW-386, W-72 Mine Neutralization W-50C Surface Warfare (SUW)Bombing Exercise (Air-to-Surface)(at sea)W-386 (Air-K)W-72A (Air-3B)W-72A/B Missile Exercise (MISSILEX)W-386 (Air-K) W-72A (Air-to-Surface)Gunnery Exercise (GUNEX)W-386 (Air-K), W-72A,(Air-to-Surface)W-72A (Air-1A), W-50CGUNEX (Surface-to-Surface) - Boat W-50C, R-6606 GUNEX (Surface-to-Surface) - Ship W-386, W-72 Laser TargetingW-386 (Air-K)3-35 March 2009