The goal of community outreach is to advocate for and strengthen early and meaningful community participation in the Department of the Navy’s (Navy) Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). The overarching objective of the Navy’s ERP is to protect human health and the environment from past hazardous waste practices and releases at Navy and Marine Corps Installation Restoration Program (IRP) sites and Munitions Response Program (MRP) sites. The Navy is committed to involving the public throughout the cleanup process at Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR), which is currently managed by Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, by both formal and informal means of communications. Health and safety in our communities is a top Navy priority.
Federal and state laws and regulations require community involvement during the proposed plan phase, prior to final decision on cleanup activities conducted under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Navy is partnered with the Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Toxic Substance Control on planning, implementation, and public outreach activities for CMAGR. This ensures that the public is informed, has a chance to comment, and that their comments are considered in making final decisions on managing cleanup activities. The Navy encourages meaningful and productive participation by everyone in the community.
Historically, community involvement in environmental activities at CMAGR has been limited because of its remote location and primary use as a recreational trail. CMAGR is surrounded on three sides by wilderness, and MCAS Yuma lies to the south. Public notices are published when remedial investigation activities are underway to inform users of closures and any necessary precautions. The Navy will continue to publish notices for cleanup related activities.
Documents related to the Navy’s ERP at CMAGR are available in the CMAGR Administrative Record files. As the site progresses through the cleanup process, documents are continually added to the administrative records, providing site-specific information over time that the public may reference to stay informed. Correspondence, reports, minutes, fact sheets, public notices, and other records are available for public review at the following location and online.
Administrative Record
Command Records Manager
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest
750 Pacific Highway
Code EV33, NBSD Bldg. 3519
San Diego, CA 92132-5190
Phone (619) 556-1280
CLICK HERE for site-specific documents in the Navy’s CMAGR Administrative Record.
Public Meetings
The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest (NAVFAC SW) ERP holds virtual and public meetings, when needed, to provide the public with current information about cleanup activities and progress, and to respond to specific community concerns, issues, or events. Formal public meetings are also held in conjunction with public comment periods for major technical milestones, such as the proposed plan, which documents the Navy’s path forward for a site. These meetings will be announced in public notices in local newspapers and on websites.
Public Affairs Offices
CMAGR is managed by MCAS Yuma. The mission of the MCAS Yuma Public Affairs Office is to manage and improve the command’s relationship with the on base and surrounding communities and to serve as the point of contact for all media and public inquiries.
The NAVFAC SW Public Affairs Office provides information and press releases to newspapers, TV, radio stations, and civic organizations, and schedules and conducts interviews and news conferences.
COMMSTRAT Officer
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Phone: (928) 269-5505
Email: MCASYuma_Media@usmc.mil
Public Affairs Office
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest
750 Pacific Highway,
San Diego, CA 92132-5190
Phone: (619) 909-8746