The following is Camp Pendleton's official statement regarding the training noise this week:
"MCB Camp Pendleton currently supports a wide variety of live-fire training requirements, to include artillery, and is authorized and must be capable of supporting training requirements 24 hours-a-day/365 days-a-year to ensure our Marines and Sailors are combat ready and prepared to deploy into harms way. Noise generation at MCB Camp Pendleton is a result of realistic combat training. Training events involving large-caliber weapons systems are not a day-to-day occurrence, but do occur often to meet specific training requirements in both day, night and all-weather environments.All military training activities conducted aboard MCB Camp Pendleton are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to meet the roles and responsibilities of the military outlined in U.S.C. Title X. In accordance with Department of the Navy Instruction 3550.1, MCB Camp Pendleton has conducted a Range Compatible Use Zone (RCUZ) study (2007), to include noise modeling based on the Community Equivalent Noise Level (CNEL) metrics mandated by the state of California. The noise study conducted during the development of the RCUZ showed that the noise outline for large weapons systems utilized at MCB Camp Pendleton remained within the confines of base property or in close proximity to the Base (Note: The boundaries of MCB Camp Pendleton have remained relatively unchanged since 1942).Depending on atmospheric conditions (e.g. temperature, wind, cloud coverage) the noise generated on the base can be experienced at much greater distances. As a part of our on-going efforts to serve as a good neighbor, considerable effort is made to notify the surrounding communities of noise generating activity in advance.Please refer to our Web site http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/information/noiseAdvisory.asp for posted noise advisories and a letter from Col. Nicholas F. Marano, Commanding Officer, MCB Camp Pendleton, regarding the noise."
