Military selects Pacific training preferences

The U.S. military announced Tuesday it had released its “record of decision” on preferences for training in the Pacific as it seeks new operating permits.

The military branches, most notably the Navy, train extensively in what the Navy calls the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing Area, doing a wide range of exercises ranging from missile tests, submarine training and the huge biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise.

The Navy has been conducting an environmental review and in October released its final Environmental Impact Statement on proposed continued training. The review is required by law as the military seeks a new permit from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes an authorized “take” — instances in which training can cause harm or death to ma