The U.S. Navy has released its Final Environmental Assessment, granting a green light for the construction of specialized testing and maintenance facilities at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme, covering about 123,000 square feet. The assessment concluded that the project would not significantly impact the local environment.
This ambitious endeavor will encompass a comprehensive set of facilities intended for the testing of unmanned undersea and surface platforms. The plan includes laboratories, cranes, assembly and disassembly areas, vehicle staging, Command and Coordination area, expeditionary support, material storage, locker rooms, classrooms, multi-purpose training rooms, a simulator, a watch area, as well as areas dedicated to research, testing, administrative tasks, a battery shop, and even a vehicle wash rack.
The construction of the new facilities paired with relevant pier-side renovation work is anticipated to commence no sooner than 2026, as shared by the U.S. Navy. This step forward reflects the Navy’s vision of a hybrid fleet composed of both manned and unmanned platforms.
The Navy’s construction proposal is designed to fit within the naval installation’s existing infrastructure, preventing significant impacts on utilities such as water, waste management, energy, and communication systems. Noteworthy concurrences have been received from the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Coastal Commission, acknowledging the proposal’s minimal environmental impact on marine species and coastal zones, respectively.
Despite the favorable assessment, the Navy has committed to engaging in voluntary mitigation efforts. The proposed action will also include the training and testing of up to six Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (XLUUVs) and two Unmanned Surface Vessels in the waters west and southwest of NBVC Port Hueneme, with no inclusion of explosive ordinance in the activities.
Boeing, instrumental to this advancement, has designed the XLUUV, known as ‘Orca’, an autonomous submersible with a 6,500 nautical mile range, capable of enduring mission periods of several months with minimal human intervention.
Local authorities like the City of Camarillo have expressed concerns about the potential surge in noise due to military flights associated with the delivery of the new platforms. The County of Ventura’s Department of Toxic Substances Control Board raised issues regarding certain contaminants now recognized as hazardous. Both concerns have prompted amendments to the final environmental assessment.
Furthermore, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ request for consultation has been honored, resulting in agreements on Tribal observations, potential archaeological monitoring, and the avoidance of tribal fishing regions.
This advancement is a critical piece of the U.S. Navy’s strategic initiative as outlined in the Chief of Naval Operations’ Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy 2024, asserting the significance of autonomous system evaluation and operations.