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DOD: Naval Station Mayport

Existing Environmental Conditions

EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

September 1996

CONTENTS

 

ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS.................................... v
UNITS OF MEASURE........................................................ vi 1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................... 1 1. I PURPOSE...................................................... ... 1 1.2
GENERAL ACTIVITY INFORMATION... 1 2.0
INSTALLATION RESTORATION SITES................. 1 3.0
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL............................... 2 3.1
POTABLE WATER............................................... 2 3.2
SURFACE WATER................................... ... 3 3.3
AQUIFER SYSTEMS............................................ 3 3.3.1
Surficial Aquifer System.............................. 3 3.3.2
Intermediate Aquifer System............................ 4 3.3.3
Floridan Aquifer System............................. 4 3.3.4
Aquifer System Summary............................... 5 3.4
WASTEWATER ... ;................................................ 5 4.0
CONTIGENCY PLANNING........................................ 6 5.0
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL..................................... 6 6.0
WASTE @AGEMENT................................................. 7 6.1
SOLID WASTE....................................................... 7 6.2 RECYCLING........................................................... 7 6.3
USED OIL RECOVERY....................................... 7 6.4
HAZARDOUS WASTE......................................... 8 6.5
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL MINIMIATION (HAZMIN) ......................... 8 7.0 NATURAL RESOURCES............................ 9 7.1
SENSITIVE BIOLOGICAL HABITATS....... 9 7.2
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES... 10 8.0
CULTURAL RESOURCES.............................................. 10 9.0 CONCLUSIONS................................................................ 10
FIGURES 6.1 Hazardous Waste Generated...............................9

LIST OF APPENDIXES

A Naval Station Mayport Nomination for 1994-1995
Environmental Quality-Non-Industrial Installation Secretary of the Navy Award B Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program, General Information Report (Prepared by ABB Environmental Services, Inc., July 1995),
Executive Summary Only C March 1996 Water Plant Operating Summary December 1995
Water Plant Operating Summary D Final Report for Obtaining and Analyzing Sediment Samples, Water Samples, and Bioassay Samples from Mayport Harbor, Florida (Prepared by PPB Environmnental Laboratories, Inc., March 1994),
Executive Summary Only Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations Documentation, (Prepared by Point Source Evaluation Section, Bureau of Water Facilities Planning and Regulation, April 1992),
Executive Summary Only Wastewater Treatment Plant Monthly Operating Report, December 1995
E Annual Operating Reports for Air Emission Sources, CY 1995 F Oily Waste/Waste Oil Engineering Study (Prepared by Ensafe/Allen & Hoshall, 1993),
Introduction and Sampling and Analysis Plan Only AOC area of concern bls below land surface
CFB Carbonaceous Fueled Boiler Plant
CUP Consumptive Use Permit
DBOF Defense Business Operations Fund- EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FAC Florida Administrative Code
FISC Fleet Industrial Supply Center
FMU Facility Management and Utilities FOR fuel oil reclaimed
HAP hazardous air pollutant
HAZMIN Hazardous Material Minimization
JAX Jacksonville, Florida
NAVSTA Naval Station
NELP Navy Environmental Leadership Program
NFA No Further Action
OWTP Oily Waste/Waste Oil Treatment Plant
PWC Public Works Center
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
SJRWMD St. Johns River Waste Management District
SOUTHDIV Southern Division swmu Solid Waste Management Unit
WTP Water Treatment Plant
voc volatile organic compound
UNITS OF MEASUREcfs cubic feet per secondft footgal gallonsgaUd/ft gallons per day per foothr hourin. inchL literlbs poundsmg milligramsmg/L milligrams per literMGD Million gallons per day sec second tons/yea.r tons per year lig/L microgram per liter Jim micrometers

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE
Existing environmental conditions at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Mayport are examined herein as an integral task in establishing the overall "environmental baseline." The Navy Environmental Leadership Program (NELP) Focus Group determined that a baseline would be necessary to later evaluate the effectiveness of the NELP Program and assist in identification of areas of concern for selection of future NELP initiatives. Existing data sources available -are referenced here with some reproductions included in the appendixes. This report will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. A general overview of NAVSTA's environmental programs is provided in Appendix A, the Environmental Quality Award submittal for 1994-1995.

1.2 GENERAL ACTIVTY INFORMATION
Located 15 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida, NAVSTA Mayport is one of the area's largest employers with an economic impact of more than $1.35 billion annually. The installation encompasses more than 3,400 acres and is one of the largest naval facilities in the continental United States. The station has nearly a full mile of beachfront and 4.5 miles of river shoreline. Approximately half of the 3,400 acres is classified as wetlands, brackish marshlands, or beaches. The station combines the operations of a busy seaport with an airport that conducts more than 200,000 flights each year.

The workforce at the base consists of 650 military personnel and 710 civilian 4mployees. NAVSTA Mayport serves more than 17,000 active-duty and civilian personnel that work at the 58 tenant commands, and nearly 50,000 family members and over 40,000 retired service members in the local area. NAVSTA's assets include a $56 million annual operating budget, $527 million in land and facilities, over $255 million in managed inventory to support the helicopter community, and $95 million in plant and equipment.

The station's major operational tenant commands include three battle group staffs, three destroyer squadrons, 23 ships (including an aircraft carrier), and five helicopter squadrons. Additionally, the station has major training and repair tenant commands and facilities, which include two commercial shipyards and the Atlantic Fleet's Training Group.

2.0 INSTALLATION RESTORATION SITES
Wastes generated by the station are those normally associated with ship, on-shore maintenance, and flight operation activities. Wastes generated and disposed of at the station include waste oils, fuels, lubricants, solvents, paints, and general refuse associated with ship, aircraft, vehicle, and building maintenance activities. From 1942 to 1979, all wastes were disposed of in landfills on the station. Some of the landfilled wastes were burned at the site to reduce their volume. Additionally, some waste oils were used for mosquito control around the station. From 1979 to 1994, all burnable wastes were incinerated in a carbonaceous fuel boiler. Incinerator ash, unburnable debris, construction rubble, and large scrap materials were landfilled on the base until early 1985 when all onsite landfills were closed.

A total of 56 solid waste management units (SWMUS) and two areas of concern (AOCS) were originally designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1989; 15 of these were immediately classified by EPA as No Further Action (N-FA) thus leaving 41 SWWs and the two AOCs to be investigated. Typical contaminants present include heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, organic solvents, petroleum, oil, and lubricants. Through efforts largely attributable to the _partnering process, NAVSTA has been able to progress through the majority of its corrective action program and achieve resolution for 38 SWMUs and two AOCs in little more than two years. Investigation has also been completed and recommendations made for six other potential SWMUS. A brief description of each of the sites is provided in Appendix B. Appendix B is the Executive Summary for NAVSTA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program General Information Report, July 1995. Appendix B also provides valuable information regarding existing site conditions including geography, demography, land use, physiography, topography, climate, soil, hydrology, and biology. The entire RCRA report, in its most recent version, should be referred to in any future evaluation requiring comparison to an environmental baseline.

3.0 WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
NAVSTA's potable water and wastewater programs are managed by the Navy Public Works Center (PWC) Jacksonville (JAX).
3.1 POTABLE WATER
A new, expanded water treatment plant (WTP) commenced operation on 21 December 1992. The new WT? replaced an outmoded plant that was manually operated. This new plant is operated by the PWC JAX Facility Management and Utilities (FMU) contractor through a computerized control system that continuously monitors system pressure, reservoir levels, chlorine residual, service pump sequencing, and well pump sequencing. 'Me @ is a state-of--the-art plant and provides approximately 2.3 MGD of potable water to NAVSTA Mayport. The plant is capable of and permitted for treating IO MGD. The treatment method used is aeration and chlorination. Water is obtained from four deep wells in the Floridan aquifer 1,000 ft below the ground. Withdrawal of the water is authorized by a St. Johns Water Management District (SJWNM) Consumptive Use Permit (CUP). All wells are located on NAVSTA.

The potable water program is currently struggling with water conservation issues (e.g., installation of low flow devices in housing). Several operating reports along with analytical results are provided in Appendix C. It should also be noted that one additional well supplies non-potable water for golf course irrigation.

3.2 SURFACE WATER (from Appendix B) NAVSTA
Mayport is situated at the mouth of the St. Johns River on the south bank. Average discharge of the St. Johns River is estimated to be between 6,000 and 8,300 cfs about 3,900 MGD with a maximum flow of approximately 130,000 cfs. The station is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and northwest by the St. Johns River. To the south and southwest, an extensive tract of tidal marsh exists within the boundaries of the station. Tidal action in the lower reaches of the St. Johns River makes the determination of flow characteristics difficult. The surface water around NAVSTA is classified as Class -HI based on its designated use for recreation, propagation, and maintenance of a healthy, well-balanced population of fish and wildlife per Florida Administrative Code (FAC) 62-302.400.

The station has one manmade, freshwater lake, Lake Wonderwood, located in the base housing area. Lake Wonderwood occupies approximately 20 acres and was created to provide fill for the adjacent housing area. The lake has a depth of approximately 20 ft and is used by NAVSTA Mayport personnel for recreation. The SJRWMD issued the CUP requiring the station to use lake water for irrigation, but the water will be too saline until a project involving a redesign of the weir system is complete.

The other dominant surface water feature at NAVSTA Mayport is the Mayport Turning Basin. The turning basin was constructed during the early 1940s by dredging the eastern part of Ribault Bay. Dredge material was used to fill parts of Ribault Bay and other low-lying areas in order to elevate the land surface. The Mayport Turning Basin was originally dredged to,a depth of 29 ft, and in 1952 the basin was deepened to a depth of 40 ft to provide access to larger ships. The 1952 dredge material was used to fill other topographic low areas of the stati6n.

A storrnwater pollution prevention plan was recently completed for the station and is in the early stages of implementation. Surface runoff from NAVSTA Mayport enters Mayport Turning Basin, the St. Johns River, Lake Wonderwood, Sherman Creek, Pablo Creek, Chicopit Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean via 61 drainage basins. Aircraft runways provide a topographic drainage divide between the northwest and southeast parts of the station. To the north, soil along the St. Johns River tends to be very sandy and to have high infiltration capacities. In this area there is little surface runoff, and few drainage features are evident. To the south of the runways, dredge materials are underlain at shallow depths by less permeable silty clay deposits, and the topography is flatter and lower in elevation. The predominant drainage feature in this area is Sherman Creek.

3.3 AQUIFER SYSTEMS3.3.1 Surficial Aquifer System
The surficial aquifer system is a permeable hydrologic unit contiguous with the land surface and is comprised principally of unconsolidated siliciclastic and carbonate sediments. The depth of the surficial aquifer at NAVSTA Mayport is approximately I 00 ft. It contains the water table, and the water within it is under mainly unconfined conditions. The lower limit of the surficial aquifer system coincides with the upper sandy-clay units of the Hawthorn Group.

Since the surficial aquifer is unconfined and is located relatively close to ground surface, it is recipient to any pollutant discharges that can penetrate the thin layer of highly permeable sediments, which exist between the water table and ground surface. Additionally, leachable contaminants within contaminated soils can pass to the water table as a result of infiltration of rainwater. Recharge by local precipitation occurs at an estimated rate of IO to 16 in. per year. Consequently, pollutant discharges that have occurred throughout NAVSTA Mayport's history have affected the surficial aquifer. As with most contamination site cases within Duval County, the low permeabilities within the Hawthorn sediments form an effective confining unit and tend to limit vertical migration of contaminants. Moreover, the Hawthorn confining units act as an effective protective barrier that provides considerable protection for NAVSTA Mayport's potable water supplies, obtained from the Floridan aquifer.

Migration of surficial groundwater and mobile contaminants also occurs laterally. Throughout most of NAVSTA Mayport, groundwater flow in the surficial aquifer is generally toward the major surface water features that serve important ecosystem components. These water bodies include the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the St. Johns River to the north and northwest, intertidal spartina marsh to the west, and Sherman Creek to the south.

3.3.2 Intermediate Aquifer System (from Appendix B) T'he intermediate aquifer system consists of sand and limestone layers interbedded in clayey sand and sandy clay of the Hawthorn Group and is situated between the surficial aquifer and the underlying Floridan aquifer system. These strata collectively retard the exchange of water between the overlying surficial aquifer system and the underlying Floridan aquifer system. The intermediate aquifer may be in hydraulic connection with the surficial aquifer. Recharge to the intermediate aquifer occurs primarily from precipitation in areas approximately 30 miles to the west of the NAVSTA Mayport site in Baker and Clay Counties where Hawthorn Group sediment occurs at shallow depths beneath the land surface (approximately 30 ft bis). Recharge may also occur in other topographically updip areas where Hawthorn Group sediment outcrops.

3.33 Floridan Aquifer System (from Appendix B) The Floridan aquifer system is the principal source of freshwater in northeast Florida. It is composed of the Oldsmar and Avon Park Formations; the Ocala Limestone; and a few discontinuous thin water-bearing zones in the lower part of the Hawthorn Group.

T'he Ocala Limestone is a homogeneous sequence of permeable, hydraulically connected marine limestone beds containing few hard dolomite or limestone beds that restrict the vertical movement of water. The Avon Park Formation consists almost entirely of hard, relatively impermeable dolomite beds that restrict the vertical movement of water between the overlying and underlying permeable zones. The Oldsmar Formation contains alternating hard, relatively impermeable dolomite-conf@ng beds and soft, permeable limestone and dolomite water-bearing zones.

The top of the Floridan aquifer system occurs at a depth of about 400 ft bls at NAVSTA Mayport. Published transmissivities of the Floridan aquifer system in eastern Duval County range from approximately 85,000 to 160,000 gal/d/fL.

Past research discussed in Appendix B reports that groundwater in the Floridan aquifer system in the vicinity of Mayport is moving southward towdad areas of heavy-pumpage along the coast. Floridan aquifer system wells in the vicinity of NAVSTA Mayport are under sufficient artesian pressure to flow at the surface. Water quality in the Floridan aquifer system is potable in the Mayport area. The concentration of total dissolved solids is approximately 400 mg/L and the concentration of chlorides is around 25 mg/L.

The potentiometric surface of the Floridan aquifer system exists at elevations above land surface, resulting in a net upward hydraulic gradient between the Floridan aquifer system and the surficial aquifer. This information suggests that the intermediate Hawthorn aquifer located in the Hawthorn Group potentially receives recharge from the Floridan aquifer system.

3.3.4 Aquifer System Summary
Groundwater within the state of Florida is considered a vitally important natural resource and is extremely vulnerable to pollution. Consequently, groundwater is protected by I number of state trained from Mayport appears to be confined to the surficial aquifer and has not affected the Floridan aquifer, the same water quality standards apply to each aquifer.

In establishing priorities for future NELP Installation Restoration initiatives, consideration should be given to addressing contaminated soil and free phase pollutants that are acting as a source of groundwater contamination. Additionally, contaminants that have significant potential for extensive vertical or horizontal migration should receive due attention. The proximity of these sites to surface water bodies must also be taken into account.

Further NELP groundwater protection efforts should be focused on upgrading petroleum storage tanks and piping, construction of secondary containment for storage tank systems, construction of spill containment structures for product handling and transfer areas,, maintaining a comprehensive stormwater management system, and maintaining an adequate wastewater treatment system.

3.4 WASTEWATER NAVSTA's
wastewater treatment plant is operated by the PWC JAX FMU contractor; the facility is permitted to discharge 2.0 MGD of disinfected secondary treated effluent into the entrance channel of the NAVSTA, Mayport turning basin on the St. Johns River. The present and federal regulations. All of NAVSTA Mayports potable water supply wells located onsite. Although all groundwater contamination, discharge has been identified as having an average total recoverable copper content of approximately 80 ug/L in the effluent with peak values of approximately 130 ug/L. The water quality standard for copper in the marine environment is 2.9 ug/L total recoverable based on the FAC. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection requested that PWC JAX achieve an initial effluent dilution at least sufficient to meet state water quality standards for copper when the effluent reaches the surface of the receiving waters. This will be accomplished by adding an outfall dispersion element in the turning basin, increasing the number of discharge points from one to six. Some background studies related to this copper mixing zone project are included in Appendix D, along with a sample monthly operating report for the treatment plant.

4.0 CONTIGENCY PLANNING
Oil and hazardous substances contingency planning is a key element in protecting water resources. Also of importance is spill prevention, control, and countermeasures planning for oil storage facilities. This planning is critical for an installation such as NAVSTA Mayport where spills into navigable waters are more likely to occur with operations conducted within or in close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the St. John River. Mayport has the necessary documents in place, familiarity with the noted requirements should be continually reinforced. In general, the number of oil spills has been on the rise in the past 12 months. While the volume of oil spilled has not increased and spills seldom reach the mouth of the basin, increased vessel traffic will make this a continued AOC for surface water quality. Efforts of the Oil Spill Quality Management Board (already established under NELP) are addressing root causes of oil spills. This board will be an ongoing highly-valued initiative.

5.0 AIR POLLUTION CONTROLPWC
JAX holds operating permits for the two steam boilers in Building 250 and the three steam boilers in Building 1241. NAVSTA currently has operating permits for the two galley steam boilers in Building 338, the boiler in Building 1488, and the shipboard fire simulators for training. The station has one construction permit for a fire fighting facility that simulates aircraft fires on a carrier -deck. The base submitted their Title V permit application prior to the state's 15 June deadline and is waiting to receive a completeness determination. 'Me base is considered a major source of air pollution based on emissions units with a collective potential to emit more than I 00 tons per year of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 gm, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). NAVSTA Mayport is not, however, a major source of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) .emissions; that is, NAVSTA's potential to emit any single HAP is less than IO tons/year and its potential to emit all HAP combined is less than 25 tons/year.

The most outstanding accomplishment in air pollution control was that PWC JAX closed the Carbonaceous Fueled Boiler Plant (CFB) in May 1994. This major air pollution source burned up to two tons per hour of garbage and 50 g@ of fuel oil reclaimed (FOR) for a total of 10,000 garbage tons/year and 200,000 gal/year FOR, respectively. The CFB closure reduced particulate emissions by 95 percent, nitrogen oxides by 50 percent, VOCs by 95 percent, sulfur oxides by 20 percent, and carbon monoxides by 92 percent. Garbage disposal costs were also reduced -from $1 million dollars per year to operate the CFB to $400,000 per year for a refuse disposal contract. This reflects a 60 percent savings to the Navy. This savings is, however, reduced to about 34 percent if the cost of oily rag disposal is considered (oily rags, now disposed through the refuse contract, had previously been burned at the CFB).

Other air pollution control initiatives include the installation of propane fueled fire fighting training systems, which will again greatly reduce the base's contribution to air pollution in the county. The federal requirement for privately owned vehicle emissions testing began implementation on I July 1996. Copies of NAVSTA's annual operating reports for permitted air pollution sources are included in Appendix E.

NAVSTA Mayport is located in Duval County, which was designated a maintenance area for the pollutant ozone in March 1995. Duval County is unclassified for particulate matter and is classifled as attainment for all other criteria pollutants. There are no air monitors nearby to provide specific quantitative data on the ambient air conditions at or near NAVSTA; the closest monitors are at University and Atlantic Boulevards for ozone and at Fernandina Beach for sulfur dioxide.

6 .0 WASTE MANAGEMENT

6.1 SOLID WASTE PWC
JAX uses the old CFB building as a waste transfer stations (permit pending) to store trash and garbage until the waste can be hauled to an approved landfill. A new facility is being designed for future use. Domestic sewage sludge, another solid waste stream, is land disposed through a PWC JAX contractor.

6.2 RECYCLING
The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation department operates a recycling center for metals, paper, glass, and plastic. Since the program's inception in 1989, 18,000,000 lbs of high grade paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum cans, and various metals have been recycled. 'Me following information was taken from the FY95 Solid Waste Annual Report and represents the totals for Defense Business Operations Fund (DBOF) and non-DBOF activities.

Total Material Recycled 1,705
Tons Total Revenue $170,519
Avoided Disposal Costs $ 59 ' 818
Recycling Program Costs $153,033

6.3 USED OIL RECOVERY
Used oil recovery system at NAVSTA Mayport consists of three components: collection, treatment, and reclamation. Collection methods used in addition to pipelines include barges, trucks, and drums. NAVSTA's Oily Waste/Waste Oil Treatment Plant (OWTP), as well as the pipeline collection system, are owned by PWC JAX and operated by the FMU contractor. The OWPT is designed to treat 0.288 MGD of oily wastewater originating from shipboard oily wastewater collection systems (mostly bilge water) and oily wastewater from the Fleet Training Center fire fighting field. The OWTP uses two treatment systems and includes the following elements: three 300,000 gal load equalization tanks, a dissolved air flotation unit, chemical coagulation, and settling. Treated effluent is discharged to the domestic wastewater collection system. Waste sludge is discharged to a gravity sludge thickener and then hauled and disposed off station. 'Me volume of oily waste treated in CY 1995 was 12,5 8 1,000 gal with 3 45,000 gal of fuel oil recovered (FOR). FOR is transferred to the three 21 0,000 gal Fleet Industrial Supply Center (FISC) reclamation tanks at the fuel farm prior to being burned in the PWC JAX steam boilers. Savings of over $250,000 in otherwise additional fuel costs were realized in 1995. FISC has proposed transferring the FOR operations to PWC JAX; the estimated date for the transfer is 1998.'

At present, there is no sampling of oily waste or used oil prior to transfer from a ship or activity to the oily waste collection system. Appendix F includes a recommended sampling and analysis plan taken form the Oily Waste/Waste Oil Engineering Study performed for NAVSTA Mayport in 1993 by Ensafe/Allen & Hoshall. Due to past upsets of the treatment facility, the implementation of some type of screening procedure would improve operations. The base could also realize significant benefit by establishing a used oil program basewide. Currently, some used oil is "disposed" through the PWC JAX waste commodities. By establishing a formal waste oil marketing program, the base could potentially reduce their industrial waste stream by almost 80,000 lbs annually.

6.4 HAZARDOUS WASTE NAVSTA
Mayport holds an EPA ID number as a large quantity generator. PWC JAX operates a Part B permitted storage facility at NAVSTA Mayport. The permit is jointly held by PWC JAX as the operator and NAVSTA as the land owner.

The station reported 253,298 lbs of hazardous waste disposed in CY95 in their annual report to Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center. This is down from waste generation figures for the CY94 baseline. Waste generation figures for the past 5 years are presented for informational purposes in Figure 6. 1. To ensure continued progress toward meeting the Executive Order 12856 50-percent reduction goal, NAVSTA will need to strive to implement pollution prevention initiatives, including those outlined in the station's pollution prevention plan. Source reduction projects will receive high priority. Hazardous waste compliance issues will not be addressed in detail in this report. Hazardous waste disposal practices are conducted in accordance with applicable regulations. and are protective of human health and the environment.

6.5 HAZARDOUS MATERIAL MIMNUZATION (HAZMIN)
NAVSTA has a program that is recognized Navywide for its excellence. The program saved the government $2.6 million from 1993-1995. Mayport provided training on their HAZMIN Program to. 1 8 bases in 1995. Their program has incorporated 55 shore and 6 afloat commands and was the first base to include home-ported ships. The program, operated by FISC, is run by 12 employees with operating costs of $315K (FY95) and $327K (FY96). The program has successfully served shore organizations and housing occupants and will strive in the months ahead to incorporate contractors. Figure 6.1 Hazardous Waste Generated - Not Available electronically.

7.0 NATURAL RESOURCES

7.1 SENSITIVE BIOLOGICAL HABITATS
The natural resources at NAVSTA Mayport are influenced by wetlands and water bodies within and adjacent to its boundaries. The Atlantic Ocean forms NAVSTA's eastern boundary, and the St. Johns River bounds the area (see Appendix B) on the north. Most of the area south of the magazines and dredge material holding areas (adjacent to Sherman Creek) are considered SWMUs at NAVSTA. Upland systems at NAVSTA may be generally described as consisting of coastal uplands, developed and rural lands, and managed forests. Appendix B references detailed information on the habitats and dominant plant species at the base. Several habitat communities of note include Mesic Flatwoods, Second Growth Hardwoods, Prairie Hammock, Coastal Grassland, and Estuarine. Issues related to habitats ongoing at NAVSTA include the wetland line survey being accomplished via a regional contract through SOUT'BDIV and beachfront erosion prevention. Another area that will continue to present challenges is the management of the dredge spoil areas where there is concern for hq7ards posed to wildlife from possible contamination, as well as the need to control bird strikes in this area of potentially heavy aircraft traffic.

7.2 TEIREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
There are rare, endangered, or threatened plant or animal species that inhabit or migrate through habitats identified at NAVSTA Mayport. A summary of species present or possibly occurring at NAVSTA is provided in Appendix B. Several species of note include the prickly pear cactus, the Atlantic sturgeon, the loggerhead turtle, the gopher tortoise, the American alligator, the wood stork, the bald eagle, the least tem, the West Indian manatee, and the northern right whale. As an example of their commitment, NAVSTA Mayport and operational units currently in Mayport are working with the Southeastern U.S. Implementation Team for the Recovery of the Northern Right Whale. This participation includes using information provided by and contributing information to the Early Warning System Communications Network (based on daily aerial surveys during the calving season), which allows for avoidance of right whales by ships and education of ships' crews through a right whale awareness program. 'Me Audubon Society's Christmas bird count is another example where NAVSTA showcases their animal resources and their commitment to preserving the animals along with their habitats.

8.0 CULTURAL RESOURCESNAVSTA
Mayport could possess a wealth of cultural resources. A minor survey of the Greenland Plantation with various pottery findings is evidence that a major survey of the site is required, as well as the installation of a fence to protect against theft. Other areas of the program have not been adequately funded in particular, providing for storage and curation of salvaged archeological resources and records and conducting an inventory of archeological material collections under NAVSTA's control and jurisdiction. A notable success story in NAVSTA's cultural resource program is the listing of the light house in the National Register of Historic Places. Additional coordination will be necessary to resolve the problem of barn owls nesting within the light house as the nesting box provided outside the lighthouse has been unsuccessful. Another coordination issue will be the building renovation for the light house noted in the base Historic Archeological Resources Protection Plan.

9.0 CONCLUSIONS Existing environmental conditions at NAVSTA Mayport are in relative harmony with existing environmental requirements. In order to display true leadership, it will become necessary to demonstrate an exceedance of documented environmental quality standards. To show the desired outcome of minimal environmental impact due to Navy operations it will be helped to better track/present, existing data (e.g., chart water quality standards on a monthly basis for the purpose of identifying trends beyond basic compliance). In real terms with current resource constraints, this may be impractical. However, as NAVSTA Mayport strives to achieve the best environmental program in the Navy while effectively executing naval operations, optimism is high that through NELP the delicate balance of mission and environmental protection can be sustained at Mayport and that lessons learned will have a vital reverberation throughout the Navy.

 


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