The U.S. Navy has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Ammunition Pier and Turning Basin project. The Final EA includes the Navy’s evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of constructing a replacement ammunition pier, associated waterfront facilities, causeway, truck turnaround, and a new public navigation channel at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Seal Beach, California.
The Navy and NOAA were studying the sea turtles as part of a proposed $150 million naval project to relocate the base’s ammunition wharf. The reconfiguration would provide greater installation security and improve safety for private boaters and nearby communities. The 5,000-acre base is responsible for weapons storage, loading and maintenance for ships of the United States Pacific Fleet.
The threatened green turtles live and forage on eelgrass within the nearly 1,000-acre Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, the only such refuge on a military installation in the nation.
Based on data collected, the analysis presented in the EA, and coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, State Historic Preservation Office, California Coastal Commission (for coastal consistency determination), U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Navy has determined that implementation of the Proposed Action would have no significant impacts on the quality of the human, natural, or cultural environment, or generate significant controversy. As a result, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.
The Navy proposes to construct a 1,100-foot by 125-foot replacement ammunition pier, associated waterfront facilities, causeway, truck turnaround, and public navigation channel. The project would include dredging for the proposed pier and ship turning basin, as well as for a new public navigation channel that would separate Navy ships from civilian boats traveling to and from Huntington Harbour.
The Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact documents are available on the project website at https://SealBeachEA.com and at the following public libraries:
- Seal Beach/Mary Wilson Library
- Bay Shore Neighborhood Library
- Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library
- Westminster Branch Library
- Huntington Beach Central Library
The documents are also available upon request by contacting:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest
Attention: Code EV25.TB
937 N. Harbor Drive
Building 1, 3rd Floor (Environmental)
San Diego, CA 92132
For more information, please visit the project website at https://SealBeachEA.com or contact the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public Affairs Office at 562-626-7215.
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is the primary munitions installation for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet surface ships. The base has an outstanding record of safety throughout its more than 70 years in operation and is a vital national asset. Its primary role is to store and maintain Navy and Marine Corps munitions and load and unload Navy ships and larger Coast Guard vessels with the munitions they need to conduct their missions.