March 12, 2005

Bloodsworth Island Range Information Exchanges

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD — The first of three public information exchanges begins Monday, March 14 at the Deal Island School in Deal Island, MD. These exchanges provide opportunity for attendees to learn about the draft environmental assessment for the proposed operations at the Bloodsworth Island Range and talk directly with operations, safety, and environmental experts; people may attend anytime between 3:30 and 8:00 pm.

The draft environmental assessment presents a program of potential operations that could be conducted at the Bloodsworth Island Range and analyzes the associated environmental impacts of these operations. However, no operations are planned to occur at this time or to commence upon the immediate approval of the environmental assessment.

Public feedback is an integral element of the environmental assessment process. The assessment and fact sheets are available at www.navair.navy.mil/oep/bloodsworth.html#ea. Comments may be submitted at the public exchanges, by email to [email protected], or by mail to:

Naval Air Systems Command
Attn: Kelly Burdick
Naval Air Warfare Center Public Affairs
Bldg. 409 Room 204
22268 Cedar Point Road
Patuxent River, MD 20670

The comment period closes on March 31.

The Navy at NAS Patuxent River has an excellent safety record, with community safety as the highest priority – every mission is always evaluated for this plus aircraft and pilot safety. Range clearance procedures are well established, and include a cooperative working relationship with watermen and recreational fishers and boaters. The Navy at NAS Patuxent River has been, and will continue to minimize impacts to the watermen and boaters during the course of their mission.

The Naval Air Station Patuxent River has an outstanding environmental program that has included Bloodsworth Island caretaking over the years, even prior to the 2001 ownership transfer from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. Many successful mitigation efforts have been put into place to help meet mission requirements with minimal impacts to the Bay, and the Navy works diligently with state and federal agencies to not only meet, but exceed minimal requirements.

Regarding noise, the proposed operations in the environmental assessment largely involve inert (non-explosive) weapons and would therefore be much quieter than those conducted in the past. As always, the seasonal restrictions that the Navy has established in cooperation with the USFWS and MD DNR will be strictly adhered to for the protection of the wildlife inhabiting the Bloodsworth Island Range.

The information exchanges are an open house style forum, providing attendees a personal audience with subject experts to answer their questions and discuss their concerns, and will be available any time between 3:30 pm - 8:00 pm at the following locations:

Monday, March 14, 2005 Deal Island School, 23275 Lola Wheatley Rd. Deal Island, Md.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 Holiday Inn Express, 2715 Ocean Gateway Cambridge, Md.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 Lakes & Straits VFC, 2103 Farm Creek Rd. Wingate, Md.