Mariana Islands Range Complex (“MIRC”)
The Mariana Islands Range Complex (“MIRC”), as proposed within the NEPA framework, was an enhancement on the long-standing underwater range complex in the waters surrounding the Mariana Islands that was developed pursuant to the 1999 EIS for “Military Training in the Marinas.”
The DoD viewed the MIRC as a strategically important range that allowed for:
· Location within a U.S. Territory
· Live-fire ranges on the islands of Guam, Tinian, and Farallon de Medinilla (FDM)
· Expansive airspace, surface sea space, and underwater sea space
· Authorized use of multiple types of live and inert ordnance on FDM
· Support for all Navy warfare areas and numerous other Service roles, missions and tactical tasks
· Support to homeported Navy, Army, USCG, and USAF units based at military installations on Guam and CNMI
· Training support for deployed forces
· Western Pacific (WestPac) theater training venue for Special Warfare forces
· Ability to conduct Joint and combined force exercises
· Rehearsal area for WestPac contingencies
The MIRC is considered a critical range that supports naval sea warfare training, along with, bombing exercises on the island of Farallon de Medinilla and recurring air warfare, strike warfare, amphibious warfare, anti-surface warfare special warfare, joint force, and ground troop training events.