United States Marine Corps Marine Corps Installations West-marine Corps .

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 2019nonhazardous military exercise activities from Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic and identifyto Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic where this short-term exercise event will be conducted.FAA implementation of Playas tMOA would be in support of the USMCs Tactical Recovery ofAircraft and Personnel (“TRAP”) pre-deployment CERTEX (i.e., 20.1) that is typically conductedtwice annually; typically in February and August of each year. This same pre-deploymenttraining schedule is expected to continue (twice annually) each year through FY 2024, subject tofunding availability/constraints, training scenario development, availability of military personneland equipment, as well as the USMCs military operational tempo and FAA approval of thePlayas tMOA. The August 2019 Playas TRAP CERTEX (20.1) is a Commanding General, I MarineExpeditionary Force (I MEF) directed, pre-deployment training exercise scheduled for 26-30August 2019 at the PTRC military readiness training facility in Playas, New Mexico.ACTION PROPONENT/SPONSOR: The United States Marine Corps, 1st Marine ExpeditionaryForce (I MEF), Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG) is responsible for the planningand execution of this exercise. Point of Contact: LtCol Thomas Kisch, I MEF Deputy AssistanceChief of Staff (AC/S) G-7, EOTG (Work – 760.725.9222) (Cell – 419.508.7744) (E-mail thomas.kisch@usmc.mil).The USMC, as an entity of the United States Government, is a self-insuring agency; therefore, ifany service member during the scope of their employment causes either property damage orpersonal injury to a third party, the United States Government will compensate the injuredthird party through either the Military Claims Act or the Federal Tort Claims Act. The USMC willbe responsible for processing any claims against the government.PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION: The purpose of the military exercise isto provide the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, Crisis Response - CentralCommand (SPMAGTF CR-CC) an opportunity to conduct training in an unfamiliar environmentduring the final phase of its pre-deployment training program. During CERTEX 20.1, SPMAGTFCR-CC will be required to conduct a series of challenging and realistic training events to test itsability to conduct conventional and specialized missions, in cooperation with the USAF.PROPOSED ACTION LOCATION (Action Area): The Playas MOA is a 20 NM X 20 NM box(airspace) from 300 feet above the surface up to but not including FL180 that sits atop thePlayas Training and Research Center, in Playas, New Mexico. The proposed Playas tMOAboundary is N 32 10'43"/W 108 42'48" to N 32 09'20"/W 108 19'29" to N 31 49'32"/W108 21'06" to N 31 50'49"/W 108 44'26" to the point of beginning. Reasonable and timelyaerial access below 1,200' AGL to private and public land below the proposed Playas tMOA bygeneral aviation aircraft will not be restricted.The Playas tMOA is adjacent to and connects with the long established Tombstone A, B, and CMOAs (Tombstone MOA complex) in southeastern Arizona (AZ). The Tombstone MOA complex3

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 2019scheduling unit is USAF 355 OSS/OSOS, who has concurred with the Marine Corps intendedexercise period. The area below the proposed Playas TMOA is open, isolated and sparselypopulated high desert range land, both public (Bureau of Land Management, or BLM) andprivate, with few settlements; residential or otherwise. Regardless of published Playas tMOAaltitudes, FAR 91.119 minimum safe altitudes will be observed by all participating militaryaircraft. Additionally, the Playas airport, which is part of the PTRCs facilities, is located justnorth of the main PTRC complex of buildings and paved roadways (residential areas), and willbe closed to all non-participating aircraft during the 5-hour exercise event window.As stated previously, the Playas tMOA (as defined by the Marine Corps’ Aeronautical Proposal(Reference 8) lies immediately above/atop the PTRC training facility, which is locatedapproximately 20 miles (32 Km) south of lnterstate-10, and approximately 60 miles (97 Km)north of the United States/Mexico border. The nearest small towns/communities are Animas(population 240 residents), located approximately 18 miles (29Km) miles west, and Hachita(population 50 residents) located approximately 14 miles (22.5 Km) east of PTRC (Figure 1,Page 2 of the 2017 Playas TRAP CERTEX EA; Reference 9).PROPOSED ACTION DESCRIPTION:The scheduled August 2019 TRAP CERTEX will require select members of the United StatesMarine Corps and United States Air Force to plan and execute Tactical Recovery of Aircraft andPersonnel (TRAP) in order to recover downed pilot(s) located at a training site in/beneathPlayas tMOA. The proposed scheduling times for this training event is a 5-hour block (eventwindow) sometime between 1130AM and 2330PM Mountain Standard Time (MST) on 26August 2019 and 30 August 2019. Two dates have been identified; the primary being 27August, with 29 August 2019 selected as the back-up.Proposed aerial activities will include tactical combat maneuvering (basic fighter maneuvers,simulated air-to-ground ordnance delivery, and tactical landing profiles) by fighter andtransport category tiltrotor/rotary wing aircraft involving abrupt, unpredictable changes inaltitude, attitude, and direction of flight. Non-standard formation flights are possible. Therewill be no supersonic flights, use of chaff/flares, surface-to-surface or surface-to-air weaponsfiring, or aerial refueling operations conducted within the proposed Playas temporary MOA.Aircraft that may operate in the proposed Playas temporary MOA include up to: (2) MV-22 (tiltrotor Osprey); (2) FA-18C/D (USMC Hornet, [Jet] Fighter), F-16C (USAF Eagle, [Jet] Fighter), orUSAF/USMC F-35 (Joint Strike [Jet] Fighter); (4) A-10C (Warthog), (1) HC-130J USAF SuperHercules [Turboprop]) refueling aircraft, and (2) HH-60G (USAF Sikorsky, Black Hawk). TheUSMCs Aeronautical Proposal (Reference 8) lists all aircraft types potentially participating in thepilot rescue certification exercise. Although all aircraft listed herein, and in the USMCsAeronautical Proposal (Reference 8) have been included in previous analyses from 2017 and4

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 20192018 (References 9 and 10), not all of the aircraft listed may be available for use during conductof the August 2019 TRAP CERTEX.The Marine Corps Proposed Action, the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel CertificationExercise (i.e., August 2019 TRAP CERTEX) is a pre-deployment training exercise conducted twiceannually. The August 2019 Proposed Action, as noted above, is very similar to previouslyapproved (by the FAA) TRAP CERTEX activities that were analyzed in 2017 and 2018 (References9 and 10). Conducting the August 2019 TRAP CERTEX would enable USMC and USAF combat airand ground forces to practice effective inter and intra-service integration of actions, which iscritical to the success of real-world combat search and rescue missions. As with the USAF’s RedFlag-Rescue, a USMC TRAP CERTEX is designed to provide personnel recovery training for U.S.combat aircrews, para-rescue teams, survival specialists, intelligence personnel, air battlemanagers, and medical personnel from the Joint Personnel Recovery Center.This Supplemental Technical Analysis has re-assessed and re-confirmed the activities proposedfor the August 2019 TRAP CERTEX, both on the ground within the PTRC and in the air within thePlayas tMOA, to ensure they are similar to, and consistent with, past TRAP CERTEX activities,and that the potential effects of the activities and actions described herein are consistent withpreviously executed by the USMC in their 2017 and 2018 TRAP CERTEX (References 9 and 10),respectively) and the USAF Red Flag Rescue SA pilot rescue/recovery training actions (Reference11) that were previously review, approved and adopted (by FONSI/ROD) by the FAA.Maximum flight ceiling is up to 18,000 feet (FL180) above Mean Sea Level (MSL), andapproximately 13,500 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) in the vicinity of (and above) the PTRC.The tMOA floor will be 300 feet AGL. Operations may include free-fall and static lineparachute operations at all altitudes, non-standard formation flights; rescue escortmaneuvering above participating rotary wing aircraft; and close air support.This Proposed Action is planned for the PTRC because it offers the best and most realistictraining scenario available as it most closely resembles an actual urban, residential communitywith houses, commercial facilities and other types of buildings to support a variety of trainingscenarios that can include combat rescue and urban warfare training, among other trainingscenarios, not otherwise available outside a fully populated urban setting. To conduct a TRAP, atemporary MOA is necessary to ensure a safe airspace environment, protecting both civil andmilitary aircraft, during conduct of the exercise.The Proposed Action to be conducted on the ground, within the PTRC, remains as previouslydescribed and analyzed in NEPA documentation referenced above (Reference 9, Pages 6-8).The TRAP force will consist of up to two (2) teams of combat loaded Marines tactically insertedinto an approved (previously certified) Landing Zone (LZ) within the main body of theabandoned town (Figure 3, Page 6, 2018 PLAYAS TRAP CERTEX SA; Reference 10).5

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 2019As mentioned above, and consistent with USMCs Aeronautical Proposal (Reference 9), thePlayas tMOA will be needed for only one day between 26 and 30 August 2019. The preferred 5hour event window is on 27 August 2019, between the hours of 1130AM (local time) and2330PM (local time). An alternate 5-hour exercise event window has been scheduled for 29August 2019 (same 5-hour event window), as a back-up. The Playas tMOA will be activated viaa Notice to Airman (NOTAM). Only one day of use (both tMOA and the PTRC) is planned for theTRAP CERTEX, based on the training scenario, and will be executed within the established 5hour exercise event window by some or all of the aircraft listed above. Typically, execution of aTRAP CERTEX, as described previously (references 9 and 10), is completed within 1-2 hours ofentering the tMOA.ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: The USMC considered conducting the 2019 TRAP CERTEX withinthe Tombstone, Ruby, Fuzzy and Sells MOAs but these were eliminated from furtherconsideration because realistic ground training infrastructure necessary to conduct requiredcombat rescue training does not exist within them.The I MEF-EOTG also explored the possibility of executing SPMAGTF-CR-CC 20.1 CERTEXoperations within existing training facilities onboard established Marine Corps bases andranges. While backup training locations and dates have been reserved within Marine Corps AirStation (MCAS) Yuma managed ranges, similar challenging, realistic amenities offered at thePlayas Training and Research Center in Playas, NM do not exist on southwestern US MarineCorps installations. Consistent with Chief of Naval Operations guidance, exercise flightoperations should be contained within special use airspace or via stationary altitudereservation.The No Action Alternative reflects the conditions that would exist within the Playas tMOA andat the Playas Training and Research Center (PTRC) without the TRAP CERTEX being conducted.The Affected Environment described in the resource evaluation section of the previouslyprepared 2017 TRAP CERTEX EA (Reference 9), and reiterated in the 2018 Playas TRAP CERTEXSA (Reference 10), accurately reflects (discusses and analyzes) the conditions for the No-ActionAlternative for/of this Supplemental Technical Analysis (Reference 9).AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT: The Marine Corps reviewed previously approved NEPAdocumentation developed by the USMC and USAF (References 9-11), and their associated FAAFinding(s) of No Significant Impact (FONSIs), to validate the analyses previously conducted bythe Marine Corps (Reference 10, Pg. 10-20) and Air Force (Reference 11, Pages 4-10). TheUSMC’s 2017 Playas TRAP CERTEX EA (Reference 9, June 2017) previously evaluated thepotential effects of the Proposed Action on 14 environmental impact (resource) categories, asidentified in FAA Order 1050.1F. The FAA subsequently validated with the USMC conclusions inAugust 2017 and 2018 (References 9 and 10).6

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 2019All Environmental (resource) impact categories were considered and evaluated per FAA orders,if they were applicable and relevant. The following environmental impact (resource) categorieswere considered by both the USMC and USAF, in accordance with CEQ and FAA regulations, andwere determined to have negligible to no effect(s) on the human and/or natural environment,either individually and cumulatively: land use; DOT, Section 4(f); socioeconomics;environmental justice; climate change; coastal resources; farmlands; hazardous materials,hazardous waste and solid waste; natural resources/ energy supply; visual effects/lightemissions (aesthetics), and; water resources/water quality/wetlands/wild and scenic rivers(References 9 and 10), and both cultural and biological resources (Enclosures a and b), anddiscussed below.Cultural Resources. At the request of the FAA, the Marine Corps consulted with the NewMexico State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Consultation was initiated late April 2019 andconcluded 7 May 2019 (Enclosure a). The NM-SHPO concurred with the Marine Corpsdetermination that no historic properties would be affected by the Proposed Action, which isconsistent with their determination that no historic properties would be affected by the USAFsRed-Flag Rescue (August 2019, Reference 11) activities also proposed for August 2019. Boththese determinations are consistent with previous NM-SHPO determinations reached in 2017and 2018 for this same type of training event at the PTRC ((References 9 and 10).It should be noted, the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office has consistentlyconcurred with, not only the USMCs “no potential to effect” determinations (2017, 2018 andagain in 2019) for its Playas TRAP CERTEX military training exercises (References 9 and 10) andwith the USAFs’ “no potential to effect” determination for their August 2019 Red Flag Rescuepilot rescue training exercise (Reference 11).Biological Resources. As with USMC and/or USAF planned activities in past years within thePlayas tMOA and at the PTRC, the Marine Corps conducted an analysis of the Proposed Action(i.e., TRAP CERTEX requiring implementation of a tMOA) to determine if, and to what extent,Federally-listed species in the Playas area may be potentially affected, both within the PlayastMOA (action area) and on/in lands surrounding the PTRC. The Marine Corps determined noFederally-listed threatened and endangered species would be potentially affected by theProposed Action discussed herein (Enclosure b). This is consistent with past conclusionsreached by the Marine Corps in both 2017 and 2018 (References 9 and 10), as well as thosedeterminations made by/between the USAF and FAA regarding the Red Flag Rescue trainingactions to be conducted at the PTRC (and within the Playas tMOA) (Reference 11) in August2019.7

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 2019Resource Areas Considered and EvaluatedThe USMC reviewed the Playas TRAP CERTEX EA (June 2017) ((References 9), as well as themost recent USAF Red Flag-Rescue Supplemental Analysis (27 February 2018) (References 11)to re-assess and re-validate the analysis conducted previously for similar (type and scale)activities. As a result, this Supplemental Technical Analysis carries forward the followingenvironmental (resource) impact categories, incorporating by reference, where appropriate:airspace, noise and air quality.Airspace –Affected Environment. In order for the Marine Corps to execute the activities described herein(i.e., August 2019 TRAP CERTEX), the Playas tMOA would be activated by the FAA via NOTAMabove the PTRC, where the ground component of the pilot search and rescue training wouldtake place. As noted in the 2017 TRAP CERTEX EA (Page 13), several Victor Routes (V66, V-16,V16-66 [T 306] and V198) traverse the Playas MOA (2017 Playas TRAP CERTEX EA, Figure 3, andPage 5) and discussed in the USAFs Red Flag Rescue Supplemental Analysis (Reference 10).Environmental Consequences. Activation of the Playas tMOA by the FAA would be in effect byNOTAM during the time periods that aircraft operations in support of the pilot search andrescue (TRAP) training will take place. Activation of the Playas tMOA for one 5-hour exerciseevent window on a single day between 26 and 30 August 2019 would not measurably affect theabove mentioned flight routes that are used by the general aviation community, nor generalaviation use of the Playas airspace itself.Noise –Affected Environment. As described in the 2017 Playas TRAP CERTEX EA (Page 13) (References9) and the 2018 Playas TRAP CERTEX SA with Noise/Air Quality Study (Reference 10), and asamplified subsequently by the USAF NEPA documentation approved and adopted by the FAA inMarch 2019 (Reference 11), normal aircraft activities that occur in the regional airspace aregenerally a mix of private (general aviation); local, state or other federal agency; or militaryaircraft. These existing sources of noise are consistent with known, FAA-approved flight routesand are typical for small, rural, and/or outlying airspace use, with resulting in aircraft noisebeing episodic in nature.As previously noted (References 9-11), and mentioned again in the description of the ProposedAction herein (August 2019 TRAP CERTEX), there are no formally recognized towns lyingunder/within the proposed tMOA (action area). There are, however, scattered ranches and/or8

Subj: PLAYAS TEMPORARY MILITARY OPERATING AREASPECIAL PURPOSE MARINE AIR - GROUND TASK FORCE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CENTRAL COMMANDTACTICAL RECOVERY OF AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL (TRAP) 20.1 CERTIFICATION EXERCISE (CERTEX)AUGUST 2019agricultural activities in the region, but the vast majority of the area is undeveloped, openspace public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).Table 1 below identifies typical background noise levels for var

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS WEST-MARINE CORPS BASE BOX 555010 CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA 92055-5010 5090 G-3/5 AVN 9 May 2019 From: Director, G-3/5 Aviation, Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton To: Operations Support Group Manager, Federal Aviation Administration Western Service Center,