Marines must train as they fight. The Marine Corps must fulfill training requirements for a large-scale, Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). This requires more training land and airspace than is now available anywhere in the United States; the training area must at a minimum provide three maneuver corridors for a ground combat element comprised of three battalions that are simultaneously maneuvering for 48-72 hours with combined-arms live fire and the accompanying special-use airspace; a Center for Naval Analyses study shows that Twentynine Palms is the only location with sufficient land and airspace potential to meet the training requirements.
Supplemental Environmental impact Statement
Final Supplemental EIS and ROD (2017) and BLM ROD (2017)
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Environmental Impact Statement (2012), Volume I
Environmental Impact Statement (2012), Volume II
Environmental Impact Statement, Appendix N, Part 1
Environmental Impact Statement, Appendix N, Part 2
Environmental Impact Statement, Appendix N, Part 3
Environmental Impact Statement, Appendix N, Part 4
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Draft EIS, Volume I
Draft EIS, Volume II: Appendices
Air Conformity Determinations
RESPONSE TO TITLE XXVIII, SUBTITLE F, SECTION 2856 OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS PENDING REPORT REGARDING ACQUISITION OF LAND AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINING RANGE FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE MARINE CORPS GROUND AIR COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA
This Report to Congress provides information about the Marine Corps’ efforts to meet its identified requirement for Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)-level sustained, combined-arms, live-fire and maneuver training through land acquisition, airspace establishment, and training range development at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) at Twentynine Palms, California. This report is based on information contained in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment to Support Large-Scale Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Live Fire and Maneuver Training.
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Record of Decision for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment To Support Large-Scale Marine Air Ground Task Force Live-Fire and Maneuver Training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DoN), DoD
ACTION: Notice of Record of Decision
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section l02(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 4321-4370h, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508, the Department of Navy (DoN) NEPA regulations (32 CFR Part 775), and Marine Corps Order (MCO) P5090.2A (with Changes I, 2) Marine Corps Environmental Compliance and Protection Manual, Chapter 12, the DoN, after carefully weighing the operational and environmental consequences of the proposed action in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), announces its decision to establish a large-scale Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) training facility at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California ("the Combat Center") to accommodate a required new program of sustained, combined-arms, live-fire, and maneuver training for all elements of a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)-sized MAGTF, including full-scale MEB Exercises and associated MEB Building Block training. To accommodate the required MEB training activities, the Department of the Navy, acting through the Combat Center, will: purchase additional private and state lands adjacent to the Combat Center; request withdrawal by Act of Congress of additional public lands adjacent to the Combat Center; pursue through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the establishment and modification of military Special Use Airspace for proposed MEB-sized training range; and conduct the specified MEB training. Land withdrawal of more than 5,000 acres for the purposes of national defense may only be made by an Act of Congress. The DoN has selected Alternative 6, the Preferred Alternative, (with additional mitigation developed in consultation with the Bureau of Land Management [BLM]), for implementation and recommendation to Congress. Alternative 6 includes the withdrawal of public land and purchase of privately owned and state owned land collectively totaling approximately 167,971 acres of land west and south of the existing Combat Center. All practical means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the Preferred Alternative that were identified in the Final EIS have been adopted.
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Public Notice: Record of Decision (ROD) for the 29Palms Training Land Acquisition/ Airspace Establishment Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Mar 2016 - Notice of Proposed Establishment of Temporary Restricted Areas R–2509E, R–2509W, and R–2509N; Twentynine Palms, CA
Feb 2013 - Notice of Record of Decision for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment To Support Large-Scale Marine Air Ground Task Force Live Fire and Maneuver Training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA
Jul 2012 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability
Jul 2012 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability
May 2011 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability
Mar 2011 - Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA
Feb 2011 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability
Sep 2010 - Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; California
Jan 2010 - Notice of Partial Cancellation of Proposed Withdrawal; California
Nov 2008 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Acquisition of Lands and Establishment of Airspace Contiguous to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA; Correction
Oct 2008 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Acquisition of Lands and Establishment of Airspace Contiguous to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA
Sep 2008 - Notice of withdrawal application and segregation
Department of the Navy announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study alternatives for meeting Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) sustained, combined arms, live-fire and maneuver training requirements. All written, oral, or telephonic comments regarding the scope of issues that the Department of the Navy should consider during EIS preparation must be received before January 31, 2009.
Public Scoping Meetings
Three public scoping meetings were scheduled and the meeting locations were as follows:
December 3, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Twentynine Palms, CA; Twentynine Palms Junior High School, Hay's Gym, 5798 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
December 4, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Victorville, CA; Hilton Garden Inn Victorville, 12603 Mariposa Road, Victorville, Calif.
December 5, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ontario, CA; Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario, Calif.
Meeting Materials
Presentation Slides
Fact Sheet
NEPA Handout
Parcel Maps
Comment Sheet
Open House Public Meetings
Three open house meetings were scheduled and the meeting locations were as follows:
April 12, 2011, Joshua Tree, CA; Copper Mountain College, Bell Center Gym, 6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, Calif.
April 13, 2011, Ontario, CA; Ontario High School Gym, 901 W. Francis St., Ontario, Calif.
April 14, 2011, Victorville, CA; Hilton Garden Inn, Mirage/Sahara Conference Center, 12603 Mariposa Road, Victorville, Calif.
Notice of Open House Public Meetings (PDF)
Meeting Materials
Presentation Slides
Fact Sheets
Handouts
Information Briefs
Dec 2016 - Proposal for Temporary Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modification in Support of Large Scale Exercise 2017 Sustained, Combined-Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training
July 2015 - Proposal for Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modification in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined-Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training
Jul 2015 - Proposal for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment in Support of Large-Scale MAGTF Live Fire and Maneuver Training
Nov 2014 - Proposal for Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modification in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined-Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training
Jun 2014 - Proposal for Special Use Airspace Establishment and Modification in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined-Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training
Feb 2013 - Proposal for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined-Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training
Feb 2013 - Proposal for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment in Support of Large-Scale MAGTF Live Fire and Maneuver Training
Brochures
Jul 2015 - Proposal for Special Use Airspace Establishment in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training: Airspace Facts
Jul 2015 - 29 Palms Training Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment Project: Project Description
Jun 2014 - Proposal for Special Use Airspace Establishment in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training: Airspace Facts
Feb 2013 - Proposal for Land Acquisition and Special Use Airspace Establishment in Support of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Sustained, Combined Arms, Live-Fire and Maneuver Training: Airspace Facts
Feb 2013 - Proposal for 29 Palms Training Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment: Project Description
Feb 24, 2017 - Record of Decision
Feb 3, 2017 - Announcement Regarding Land Use in The Johnson Valley Area
Jan 06, 2017 - Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Oct 18, 2016 - Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Oct 11, 2016 - Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Sep 30, 2016 - Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Aug 24, 2016 - Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Aug 20, 2016 - Announcement Regarding Land Use in the Johnson Valley Area
Jun 23, 2016 - Announcement Regarding Land Use in the Johnson Valley Area
Jun 03, 2016 - Public Meeting Regarding Land Use in the Johnson Valley Area
Jan 06, 2016 - Resource Management Group meeting Regarding Land use in the Johnson Valley
Oct 21, 2015 - Resource Management Group Meeting Regarding Land Use in the Johnson Valley
Jul 07, 2015 - MCAGCC to Conduct First Large-Scale Exercise in Shared Use Area
Aug 22, 2014 - Site Visit to Discuss Locations of Military Training in Johnson Valley's Shared Use Area
Aug 05, 2014 - Resource Management Group meeting Regarding Land Use Changes in the Johnson Valley Area
Apr 18, 2014 - Information Meeting Regarding Land Use Changes in the Johnson Valley Area
Oct 16, 2012 - New Website for Marine Training Land, Airspace Acquisition Project
Sep 19, 2012 - Marine Corps Continues Review of Comments Received on Project to Meet Marine Expeditionary Brigade Training Requirement
July 27, 2012 - 29 Palms Training Land Acquisition/Airspace Establishment Final EIS Now Available
Feb 25, 2011 - 29 Palms Training Land Acquisition/Airspace Establishment Draft EIS Available for Public Review: U.S. Marine Corps Invites Public Comment
Sep 14, 2010 - U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management News Release: BLM Seeks Comments on Proposed Marine Corps Withdrawal
Nov 23, 2009 - Press Advisory
Nov 25, 2008 - USMC Hosts Open Houses for Proposed Land Expansion
Aug 18, 2008 - USMC Submits Withdrawal Application to Bureau of Land Management
Aug 2008 - Marine Corps to Study Potential Land Acquisition
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Geospatial Data
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** Both archived and current study areas are included in this file. Please select the attribute "Current" out of the "Approval_S" field in order to view the most-up-to-date data.
Download GIS-Study-Areas-2011-03.zip