Scuba Diving club,
Southern California
Sea Sabres
San Clemente Island, California
The San Clemente Island
Range Complex (SCIRC) consists of San Clemente Island (SCI) land, air and sea
training ranges and designated operational areas to the south and west of SCI
which are controlled by a single command and control system on SCI. The range
and operations area on San Clemente Island is owned entirely by the Navy and
accommodates naval surface fire support, air-to-ground ordnance delivery
operations, and special operations. Its location near San Diego is critical for
efficient use of training dollars.
The
San Clemente Island is the only surface fire support range on the West Coast.
And with the planned closing in 2003 of the bombing range at Vieques, San
Clemente Island will become the Navy's last ship-to-shore live-fire range.
Training on the island has increased 25% since the terrorist attacks of
September 2001. The Department of Defense began construction in July 2002 of a
a $21-million simulated US embassy compound to train troops in rescuing
Americans.
San
Clemente Island (SCI) is the southernmost of the eight California Channel
Islands. It lies 55 nautical miles (nm) south of Long Beach and 68 nm west of
San Diego. The island is approximately 21 nm long and is 4-1/2 nm across at its
widest point. Since 1934, the island has been owned and operated by various
naval commands. More than a dozen range and operational areas are clustered
within a 60 mile radius of the island. The Commander-in-Chief, Naval Forces,
Pacific (CINCPACFLT) is the major claimant for the island, and Naval Air
Station, North Island (NASNI) is responsible for its administration.
The San Clemente Island
Range Complex (SCIRC) is the cornerstone of the tactical training ranges
supporting the Southern California Operations Area (SOCAL OPAREA). SOCAL
supports the largest concentration of naval forces in the world. The SCI land,
air, and sea ranges provide the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and other
military services space and facilities which they use to conduct readiness
training and test and evaluation activities. SCI's distance from the mainland
and its complete Navy ownership make the island and its surrounding area ideal
for fleet training, weapon and electronics system testing, and research and
development activities.
This
integrated set of ranges and operational areas covers approximately 2,620
square nautical miles (nm) and is located 68 nm west of San Diego. The command
and control system and supporting infrastructure emanate from SCI which is
approximately 21 nm (39 km) long and 4 and one-half nm (8.3 km) at its widest
point. The SCIRC consists of more than six dozen ranges and operational areas.
The extent of these areas range from the ocean floor to an altitude of 80,000
feet.
San
Clemente Island has been operated by Navy as a tactical training range and
testing area for over 70 years. Tactical training ranges and operational areas
provide space and facilities where U.S. military forces can conduct exercises
in a safe, controlled environment. The SCIRC is the cornerstone of tactical
training in the Southern California region. The primary purpose of the Complex
is to provide readiness training for units and personnel who deploy overseas to
meet the national strategy of forward presence and global engagement. Among the
evolving needs that precipitated the proposed action are the need for more
training in: littoral warfare, including mine counter-measures; electronic
warfare; missile firing; operations in the shore bombardment area (SHOBA),
amphibious operations; and Naval Special Warfare. Increased need for test and
evaluation activities is also anticipated.
The
island’s military value had for a number of years been recognized by the Navy.
They made plans to establish a fighter-aircraft training base and, after the
Blair and Murphy sheep ranching lease expired, began construction. In 1935 the
Navy moved civilian workmen out to the prospective naval base to build
barracks, roads, and a pier at Wilson Cove. Following commencement of WWII
hostilities, the Navy in 1942, accelerated use of the Shore Bombardment Area
(SHOBA) at the southern end of the island for fleet training. In 1949 Naval
Ordnance Test Station (NOTS), China Lake, began using the island as a test and
evaluation range on an occasional basis.
San Clemente Island is home
to the San Clemente Island Loggerhead Shrike, which is listed as an endangered
species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Due in part to successful
conservation efforts, the population has grown from 13 to 42 birds in the wild
and 64 birds in a captive breeding population at a cost of $2.5 million
annually. The Navy's successful stewardship of the Loggerhead Shrike has had a
direct impact on training. To protect the Shrike from fires during the
seven-month fire season and to comply with the Endangered Species Act, the Navy
has decreased one live round impact area by 90 percent and another by 67
percent, reducing the types of missions for which forces can train. The Navy
has also eliminated use of illumination rounds and all surface fire support training
at night. Moreover, during Shrike breeding season, the shore bombardment range
is closed four days a week to permit biologists to surveil the Shrike. As the
Shrike population recovers, nesting areas are expanding into the only two
fire-impact areas.
To
reduce the use of diesel fuel and prevent harmful emissions, the Naval facility
on San Clemente Island installed three 225-kilowatt wind turbines. From
February 1998 to April 2000, the turbines produced two million kWhs,
approximately 13 percent of the island’s total electricity needs. In FY99, the
turbines helped the installation decrease consumption of 141,757 gallons of No.
2 diesel fuel, and avoided 18,450 pounds of carbon monoxide emissions. In the
future, the turbines should provide 15 percent or more of the island’s
electricity, further reducing diesel fuel use and emissions.
San
Clemente Island and the waters surrounding the island are used and visited by a
variety of organizations, including military, civilian government, contractors,
environmentalists, civic organizations, fishing vessels, pleasure craft, and
others.
Air
Resorts has two contracts with the U.S. Navy: F11626-93-D-0032 and
F11626-94-D-0018. Under one contract, Air Resorts has operated the non-TCAS
equipped CV-440 aircraft from Pt. Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS),
California to San Nicholas Island Navy Outlying Field (NOLF), California. On
the other contract, the aircraft have operated from North Island Naval Air
Station (NAS), California to San Clemente Island Naval Auxiliary Landing Field
(NALF), California. The usual alternate for the San Nicholas route is Pt. Mugu,
and for San Clemente, it is Navy North Island.
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updated September 15, 2003
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