The 2013 ROD committed the Marine Corps to various measures to protect resident desert tortoises by moving them from areas where they would be exposed to impacts from the MEB training to nearby areas that would not be affected by the MEB training. The approach to translocation of the desert tortoises has changed over time due to various factors and new information. In addition to the GTP, two alternative translocation plans were developed and studied as a part of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study (SEIS).
The SEIS was prepared during the fall of 2016. As part of this analysis, a revised Biological Opinion was released on January 31, 2017. A Record of Decision for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a cooperating agency on this project, was signed on February 9, 2017. The Department of the Navy’s Record of Decision was signed on February 10, 2017, documenting the Marine Corps selection of a tortoise translocation alternative.
Visit the Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment Archive for historical EIS documents, or contact the Resource Management Group at 760-830-3737 with other questions.
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment to Support Large-Scale Marine Air Ground Task Force Live-Fire and Maneuver Training at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms, California (Combat Center)