WEBVTT 00:10.470 --> 00:12.692 The Navy is proposing to key changes to 00:12.692 --> 00:14.880 plans for future training exercises in 00:14.880 --> 00:17.890 the gulf of Alaska . First , the navy 00:17.890 --> 00:20.057 is proposing to increase the amount of 00:20.057 --> 00:22.279 space military vessels and aircraft can 00:22.279 --> 00:24.057 use to maneuver during training 00:24.057 --> 00:26.210 exercises . Second , the navy is 00:26.210 --> 00:28.099 proposing to implement additional 00:28.099 --> 00:30.321 environmental protections through a new 00:30.321 --> 00:32.610 mitigation area located in the existing 00:32.620 --> 00:35.650 training area , The Navy has safely 00:35.650 --> 00:37.872 trained in the Gulf of Alaska alongside 00:37.872 --> 00:40.039 our partner military services for more 00:40.039 --> 00:42.710 than 30 years . one Important Joint 00:42.710 --> 00:44.821 Service Exercise is known as Northern 00:44.821 --> 00:47.490 Edge . It is typically held every other 00:47.490 --> 00:50.500 year in and around Alaska . After the 00:50.500 --> 00:52.840 completion of exercise northern edge in 00:52.840 --> 00:55.720 May of 2021 , the Navy recognized the 00:55.720 --> 00:57.900 current training area does not provide 00:57.900 --> 01:00.080 enough realistic movement space for 01:00.080 --> 01:02.760 military units at sea . Its current 01:02.760 --> 01:04.920 size and configuration simply doesn't 01:04.920 --> 01:07.090 allow forces to train in the manner 01:07.090 --> 01:08.812 that they would likely need to 01:08.812 --> 01:10.910 effectively operate in many possible 01:10.910 --> 01:13.780 scenarios around the world . In the 01:13.780 --> 01:15.669 future , the Navy is proposing to 01:15.669 --> 01:18.000 operate in additional air and sea space 01:18.010 --> 01:20.460 to the west and south of the current 01:20.460 --> 01:23.160 training area . This proposed area is 01:23.160 --> 01:25.160 referred to as the western maneuver 01:25.160 --> 01:28.890 area , or W . M . A . The W . M . A . 01:28.900 --> 01:30.950 Would be used for limited training 01:30.950 --> 01:33.500 activities . Only training with active 01:33.500 --> 01:35.360 sonar or weapons systems using 01:35.360 --> 01:37.416 explosives would not be done in this 01:37.416 --> 01:39.760 area . The vast majority of training 01:39.760 --> 01:41.649 would still occur in the existing 01:41.649 --> 01:44.790 training space . Overall , the Navy is 01:44.790 --> 01:47.130 not proposing any new or increased 01:47.140 --> 01:49.196 number of training activities in the 01:49.196 --> 01:51.290 gulf of Alaska . No increase in the 01:51.290 --> 01:53.512 number of vessels are underway steaming 01:53.512 --> 01:55.623 hours has proposed no increase in the 01:55.623 --> 01:57.830 number of aircraft events or flight 01:57.840 --> 02:00.118 times has proposed . The W . M . A . S . 02:00.118 --> 02:02.420 Location was specifically selected to 02:02.420 --> 02:04.253 meet important military training 02:04.253 --> 02:07.030 requirements . It is also positioned to 02:07.030 --> 02:09.086 minimize potential impacts to marine 02:09.086 --> 02:11.830 resources and the environment . This 02:11.830 --> 02:13.970 area would be entirely located in 02:13.980 --> 02:16.230 international waters . It is located 02:16.230 --> 02:18.452 outside the continental shelf and slope 02:18.452 --> 02:20.580 area and away from marine species 02:20.580 --> 02:22.900 populations and vital economic 02:22.900 --> 02:25.233 activities such as fishing and shipping . 02:26.620 --> 02:28.570 The W . M . A . Would enable navy 02:28.570 --> 02:30.980 personnel to end units to realistically 02:30.980 --> 02:33.420 practice complex training scenarios in 02:33.420 --> 02:36.320 a safer , more efficient manner . This 02:36.320 --> 02:38.542 would better prepare them to respond to 02:38.542 --> 02:41.420 real world incidents . The Navy's 02:41.420 --> 02:43.587 second proposed change is to implement 02:43.587 --> 02:45.720 a new geographic mitigation area 02:45.750 --> 02:47.806 located across the continental shelf 02:47.806 --> 02:50.139 and slope of the existing training area . 02:50.640 --> 02:52.807 This mitigation was developed directly 02:52.807 --> 02:54.918 in response to comments received from 02:54.918 --> 02:56.696 Alaska , native tribes resource 02:56.696 --> 02:58.584 agencies and the public . The new 02:58.584 --> 03:00.807 mitigation area would extend across the 03:00.807 --> 03:02.918 shelf and slope area , covering water 03:02.918 --> 03:06.000 depths out to about 13,000 ft in this 03:06.000 --> 03:08.167 area . The Navy would restrict the use 03:08.167 --> 03:10.060 of explosives during training to 03:10.060 --> 03:12.650 protect marine species and biologically 03:12.650 --> 03:15.200 important habitat . This proposed 03:15.200 --> 03:17.367 mitigation area would minimize impacts 03:17.367 --> 03:19.470 on marine mammals , fish and marine 03:19.470 --> 03:21.900 birds . This change would not only 03:21.900 --> 03:24.140 benefit marine species , but minimize 03:24.140 --> 03:26.190 potential effects to fisheries and 03:26.190 --> 03:28.450 Alaska , native tribes and the regional 03:28.450 --> 03:31.010 economy . The navy takes great strides 03:31.010 --> 03:33.177 to protect marine resources . While we 03:33.177 --> 03:35.066 prepare for our important role in 03:35.066 --> 03:37.232 national defense , we will continue to 03:37.232 --> 03:39.288 be a good steward of the environment 03:39.288 --> 03:41.510 while operating in the gulf of Alaska . 03:42.540 --> 03:44.596 The proposed changes I briefly spoke 03:44.596 --> 03:46.540 about are detailed in the recently 03:46.540 --> 03:48.484 released supplement to the gulf of 03:48.484 --> 03:51.230 Alaska Navy training activities . Draft 03:51.230 --> 03:53.119 supplemental environmental impact 03:53.119 --> 03:55.910 statement . This documents analysis , 03:55.910 --> 03:57.900 supports the renewal of federal 03:57.900 --> 04:00.011 regulatory permits and authorizations 04:00.011 --> 04:02.440 required for training . I encourage you 04:02.440 --> 04:04.496 to obtain more information about the 04:04.496 --> 04:06.607 analysis for these proposed changes . 04:06.607 --> 04:09.190 Training in the gulf of Alaska and Navy 04:09.190 --> 04:12.040 environmental programs . Please visit 04:12.040 --> 04:15.690 our project website at www dot g o 04:15.700 --> 04:18.080 a d i s dot com .