Environmental Policies:
Navy Region Northwest Environmental Policy
Training and testing in the northwest
The Navy's mission in the Northwest directly supports the national security mission.
Sustaining our mission, including executing today's operations and developing the capabilities and capacity for tomorrow's force depends on our responsible stewardship of the land, waterways and resources with which we are entrusted.
In addition to keeping the sea lanes open to travel and trade, the Navy needs to be ready to respond to a wide range of situations such as large-scale conflict, homeland defense, anti-piracy operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. This level of readiness and capability is achieved through comprehensive, realistic training and testing. Proper training and testing enables Sailors to successfully accomplish the national defense mission, save lives, and preserve our way of life.
Training and testing ranges in the Northwest are vital to preparing Navy personnel for deployment and homeland defense by providing these realistic training and testing environments.
Balancing Training & Testing Needs with Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Planning & NEPA Compliance:
The Navy evaluates the potential environmental effects from proposed military readiness training and testing activities in the Northwest Region. Visit the link above to view Navy Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for proposed actions in the Navy’s Northwest Region, which includes Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming. These documents are prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires all federal agencies to consider potential environmental consequences from a wide array of proposed major Federal actions before decisions are made and actions are taken.
Navy Environmental Stewardship Information:
We all try to be good stewards of the environment in which we live and work. Balancing our need to train and operate in defense of our nation with our environmental stewardship responsibilities is a priority for us. View videos below or see our Stewardship in the Spotlight page.
U.S. Navy Environmental Stewardship - (Video)
Defending America's freedoms while simultaneously protecting the environment.
Follow U.S. Navy Stewards of the Sea on Facebook for more current information.
Navy Sonar and Mitigating Potential Effects to the Sea - (Video)
Marine mammals rely on underwater sound to survive. Similarly, the U.S. Navy depends on sonar for defending our ships at sea. To continue its mission and protect marine mammals, the Navy has studied the potential effects of its sonar activities and developed protective measures to minimize potential impacts to marine mammals.
Navy Sonar and Marine Mammal Protection Measures - (Video)
The protection of environmental resources is an integral part of today’s Navy mission. Partnering with researchers to develop and implement measure that reduce ocean environment impact is part your Navy today.
The Importance of Vital Training and Testing & Environmental Permits - (Video)
When conducting environmental impact statements the U.S Navy stresses the value of at-sea training and testing as well as our track record of responsible environmental stewardship.
Information about EA-18G Growler Operations and Training
Visit the link above for information related to EA-18G Growler Operations and Training environmental planning and compliance.
Other U.S. Navy environmental stewardship news can be found at https://www.nepa.navy.mil/Media/News/.
National Environmental Policy Act
Information about Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments in the Northwest
To find more information, including project websites, for current and recently-completed Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA) related to U.S. Navy activities conducted throughout the 11 states within Navy Region Northwest's area of responsibility, visit the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Documents website or the U.S. Navy NEPA Projects website.
Northwest Training and Testing EIS/OEIS website
Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities EIS/OEIS website
Quick links:
Water Quality Testing and Consumer Confidence Reports
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Documents in the Northwest
National Historic Preservation Act (NRHP) Documents in the Northwest
Natural Resources Management in the Northwest
U.S. Navy Marine Species Monitoring - This website serves as an online portal for information on the background, history, and progress of the US Navy's Marine Species Monitoring Program, as well as provides access to reports, documentation, data, and updates on current monitoring projects.
U.S. Navy Stewards of the Sea - Established in 2013, the U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) sponsored 'Stewards of the Sea: Defending Freedom, Protecting the Environment' outreach program and interactive exhibit educates key stakeholders on the Navy's environmental policy and initiatives, and to increase support for its training and basing activities among public, scientific and regulatory communities.