CARD has noted that much of the reporting of the Marine Corps position relative to the Quantico Excursion has been somewhat superficial. CARD is therefore providing a copy of a more detailed USMC report on the issue so that citizens can better understand the nature of USMC concerns relative to the proposal.
PROPOSED WTC ALIGNMENT
MCB Assessment
- Based on Guidelines
-- No loss of Marine Corps Training Opportunities
-- Full Environmental Compliance
-- Full Compliance with DOD/DON Policy
-- No expense to the Marine Corps
- 5 General Topic Areas with Specific Issues
-- Training Mission
-- Environmental Compliance
-- Natural Resources Preservation
-- Cultural Resources Preservation
-- Encroachment
- Three Levels of Non-Monetary Impact on Topic Areas
-- Low: Requires Mitigation but not Significant
-- Moderate: Requires Mitigation to be reduced to level of "Not Significant"
-- High: Mitigation may not reduce to level of "Not Significant"
TOPIC: Training Mission
Issue: Explosive Safety Quotient Distance (ESQD)
- Description: The Assault Breachers Course uses Geottge Demo Range for training. The current ESQD does not overlap the proposed WTC. The current course is limited below standards for explosives training. Expansion of the ESQD is required to allow training to standards. This expanded ESQD is currently under review, it would overlap the proposed WTC.
- Possible Mitigation: Move the range
- Impact: High
- Assessment: Continuing to train below the standard is unacceptable, moving the range elsewhere on the Base would be required. Closing the Geottge Demo Range is a difficult prospect, it should be used for other training within current ESQD.
TOPIC: Training Mission
Issue: Range 15 Surface Danger Zones (SDZ)
- Description: Tne SDZ for Range 15 extends to the current Base boundary. Range 15 is a highly utilized range that supports a diversity of exercises. It is the primary range for many evolutions and the alternate for several more. Current configuration would be incompatible with the proposed WTC.
- Possible Mitigation: Move targets in the dud area, narrow the SDZs and reorient direction of fires.
- Impact: High
- Assessment: This range is irreplaceable. Significant work to reorient the range and maintain its full use would be required.
TOPIC: Training Mission
Issue: Range 3a Surface Danger Zones (SDZ)
- Description: The SDZ for Range 3a crosses the proposed WTC route. Range 3a supports firing of 7.62mm at targets in the dud area.
- Possible Mitigation: Move targets in the dud area, and adjust firing fans.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: Mitigation would reduce the number of firing positions on the range and narrow the spread of targets. This range is convenient to The Basic School (TBS), it is within walking distance. Loss of this range would require transportation to other ranges. Target moving in the dud area requires extensive clearing operations.
TOPIC: Training Mission
Issue: Training Area 5 (TA-5) Maneuver Area
- Description: TA-5 is a critical maneuver area, heavily used due to the high competition for available areas free of man made structures and in close proximity to The Basic School (TBS). Training in this area consists of patrolling exercises as well as land navigation. The WTC would compartmentalize this area and eliminate one of three land navigation courses.
- Possible Mitigation: Establish another training area to replace TA-5 use.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: Replicating current training in other areas will strain the training load even greater. The net results would include more training days per area (impacting range and area maintenance), increased transportation requirements, and reduced flexibility in scheduling.
TOPIC: Training Mission
Issue: Artillery Firing Positions
- Description: Two artillery firing positions would require resiting due to their location in the proposed WTC route. Depending on final alignment appropriate position would be established. These new positions would be located, for safety reasons, to minimize the interference with other training in adjacent areas.
- Possible Mitigation: Establish new gun positions.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: This situation requires detailed study when a final road alignment is established. For safety reasons, training is not conducted bwtween the firing positions and the impact area when conducting live fire. Resiting of the positions will change those areas affected by this safety policy, this may further restrict training options.
TOPIC: Environmental Compliance
Issue: Installation Restoration Program
- Description: Marine Corps Base Quantico is finalizing a Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA) in accordance with CERCLA and its designation on the National Priority List. The current Installation Restoration Program (IRP) addresses known and potential sites of previous contamination. Prior to execution of any land use agreement or transfer, DON requires an Enviornmental Baseline Survey (EPS) be conducted.
- Possible Mitigation: The area of the WTC will require an EPS. Depending on the results, it may be determined for inclusion under the FFA or subject to other mitigation.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: MCB IRP is the means for clean up of identified sites and is proceeding with a site management plan that prioritizes actions. The EPS and follow on actions for the WTC should be addressed and considered for execution separate from the MCB IRP.
TOPIC: Environmental Compliance
Issue: Hazardous Material/Waste Spills
- Description: Traffic on the WTC will create the potential for hazardous materials/waste spills on Marine Corps property that will endanger the watershed and water source for Smith Lake (Aquia Reservior).
- Possible Mitigation: Design the roadway with containment areaqs, establish a cooperative spill response capability among the federal, state, and county resources, limit or prohibit HAZMAT on the WTC, or relieve MCB of liability.
- Impact: High
- Assessment: The Marine Corps cannot ignore its liability in this area even if it is not the source of the hazardous material or waste. This is a critical issue for the Marine Corps and Stafford County. This must be analyzed in detail and the potential impact reduced to the lowest possible level to proceed. We can anticipate significant public reaction to the road alignment near Smith Lake.
TOPIC: Environmental Compliance
Issue: Noise
- Description: The proposed area for the WTC traverses the annual average LdN of 65 to 70. Although public roads right of way may be considered compatible in this zone, there are other concerns. Due to current training exercises, explosions and other loud noises can be expected without warning. Driver reaction to this startle effect may couse unsafe driving conditions.
- Possible Mitigation: Sound barriers in certain areas of the WTC, Driver warnings.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: Under the guidelines of no loss of training opportunities the design of the road or the warning of motorists will have to suffice, since training will continue. In addition to the noise hazards, from time to time visibility may be reduced due to smoke or dust generated from the training areas.
TOPIC: Natural Resource Preservation
Issue: Forestry
- Description: WTC construction will cause a loss of forested areas and the potential revenue from timber sales. Timber on federal land is considered government property in addition to the value of the land.
- Possible Mitigation: Payment for timber removed.
- Impact: Low
- Assessment: Any agreement should include no net loss of revenues to the Marine Corps.
TOPIC: Natural Resource Preservation
Issue: Fish and Wildlife
- Description: WTC will create islands that isolate contiguous natural habitat, this may have a negative effect on indigenous species. There is also the potential impact on two endangered species, this area hosts colonies of the Small Whorled Pogonia and Dwarf Wedge Mussel.
- Possible Mitigation: Depending on endangered species locations, WTC may require moving or bypassing. Moving the endangered species is another option. Other wildlife may migrate out of the isolated areas or also require movement.
- Impact: High
- Assessment: A complete wildlife survey of the ara with specific emphasis on the endangered species will provide the final assessment and options.
TOPIC: Natural Resource Preservation
Issue: Wetlands
- Description: Department of the Navy (DON) policy is for no net loss of wetlands on DON property. Any construction project must include an offset of equal area replacement wetlands for those displaced.
- Possible Mitigation: If Marine Corps retains the right of way of the road an equal amount of wetlands must be created for those eliminated.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: Any construction plan must contain this provision. Relocated wetlands connot be placed to negatively impact on training or other missions on the Base.
TOPIC: Cultural Resource Preservation
Issue: Archaeological Sites and Cemeteries
- Description: The proposed area for the WTC traverses in close proximity to known cemeteries and potential (undocumented) archaeological sites. Currently the Marine Corps maintains these cemeteries and family grave sites allowing full access and continued interment when appropriate.
- Possible Mitigation: Marine Corps retains access to the cemeteries for maintenance and public access for visits and use as needed. Complete a detailed archaeological studies of the area.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: The studies are procedureal, however, this issue can be highly emotional for some individuals whose family grave sites have been moved from their original site already.
TOPIC: Encroachment
Issue: Ownership of the Right of Way
- Description: Ownership of the right of way is essential to control of future expansion or growth along the WTC. If the Marine Corps does not own the right of way then the Corps can not control the construction of interchanges or the development adjacent to the interchanges.
- Possible Mitigation: Marine Corps retains ownership of the federal property within it boundaries and executes the appropriate agreement with the state.
- Impact: Moderate
- Assessment: This position is key to the future preservation of the Bases mission.
TOPIC: Encroachment
Issue: Access
- Description: The proposed alignment of the WTC eliminates SR 610 as an access route to training areas and ranges on the southern and western border of the base.
- Possible Mitigation: Either underpasses from SR 610 to the training areas or an on base internal access road would be needed.
- Impact: High
- Assessment: Under the guideline of no loss in training opportunities it is essential to maintain access to those areas within the WTC to ensure full utilization for training areas and mission accomplishment.
TOPIC: Encroachment
Issue: Isolated Areas
- Description: The proposed alignment of the WTC creates islands to the south and west of the raod that may have no future training value or use to the Marine Corps. This may create a forced excessing of currently used land. There is no guarantee who the future holder of the excess land would be and for what use. This could ause a significant encroachment on the Base and its training mission.
- Possible Mitigation: Find other training uses for the islands; insure any excess remains under federal agency control; or sensure strict limitations on the future use of the land if excessed outside the federal government.
- Impact: High
- Assessment: Under the guideline of no loss in training opportunities to the Marine Corps, a solution must be guaranteed early in the process to ensure no futures restrictions on training due to the loss of excessed land.
Ed Note: At this point the Marine Corps included a map of Quantico which showed that the Quantico Excursion was cutting off 2650 Acres of the Base.
MONETARY IMPACT ISSUES
WTC on MCB
- No additional Cost (direct or indirect) to USMC.
- State Responsible for all costs of expanding, narrowing, realigning, closing, or adding a range, demo area, or SDZ to prevent loss of training.
- One time costs would include but not be limited to:
-- Clean up of spent munitions and hazardous waste
-- Clearance of duds, etc.
-- Includes ranges to be closed/realignmed as well as new or expanded ranges/areas
- Summary of Cost burden with proposed WTC
-- State covers one time costs (listed above)
-- USMC incurs continuing costs to include:
--- Transportation to and from new ranges greater distance than old
--- Decreased training areas increases competition for limited area
--- Inability to conduct simultaneous training
--- Greater wear and tear on fewer ranges
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
- 15 Issues Analyzed
- 6 High Impact Issues
-- Explosive Safety Quotient Distance (ESQD)
-- Range 15 Surface Danger Zones (SDZ)
-- Hazardous Materials/Waste Spills
-- Fish and Wildlife
-- Access
-- Isolated Areas
- 8 Moderate Impact Issues
- 1 Low Impact Issue
- Conclusion: WTC on MCB as proposed is "Not Doable"
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Command position remains to not offer Federal Land for use of WTC
- Expand guidelines to include:
-- No net loss of training opportunities at MCB on air or ground
-- No additional cost to the Marine Corps
-- No growth along WTC that encroaches MCB and training mission
-- No increase in Marine Corps Environmental Compliance liability
-- Marine Corps retains ownership of land within its current boundaries
-- Full compliance with all DOD/DON policies on environment and land use
-- All non-monetary impacts should be mitigated to the lowest level possible
- If any future assessments or public hearings are conducted on the WTC and then include the Quantico Excursion, then all proposed segments through Stafford and Fauquier Counties should also be included.
- In any future assessments or public hearings full disclosure of the Marine Corps position and guidelines will be made.
- CARD salutes the USMC for its candor in this report.
- CARD salutes the men and women of the USMC for their sacrifices in protecting critical US interests around the globe. This site would not be possible without the constitutional rights that we daily take for granted; it is this same constitution that these individuals support and defend for us.
- CARD urges commonwealth and local transportation officials, elected leaders, and the CTB to not loose sight of the role of the USMC in protecting American interests, nor the importance of the Quantico mission in protecting the American way of life.