Question:

Do the area closures affect Tanner Bank and Cortez Bank?

Answer:

Currently, none of the areas shown include Tanner Bank, Cortez Bank, or Bishop Rock. Large scale operations may include the air space over these locations, but not the surface or sub-surface. Applicable area maps in the schedule now show the approximate positions of the banks and Bishop Rock relative to the areas.

Question:

How do you read the schedule for area usage to tell when the area is hot?

Answer:

The daily SCI Area Usage Schedule is shown in the upper right corner of the window. On any given day, many operations may be scheduled for different purposes in different areas around SCI, but all require exclusive use of the respective areas listed. The schedule shows all exclusive use areas for the selected date. Areas that are listed on the schedule are "hot" between the "Start Date/Time" and "Stop Date/Time". For example, on 10 Jan 00, area T45 is shown to be "hot" from 10-JAN-00 10:00 to 10-JAN-00 16:00. So from ten a.m. until four o'clock, the T45 area is reserved for exclusive use by the Navy. The FL-3K altitude restriction means that the exclusive area is from the ocean floor to 3,000 feet above the ocean surface. If you wish to be in the area, it is available for use before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m., but you would have to be out of the area from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. When you click on an area in the schedule, the map of that area will show in the lower left frame of your browser window, and the latitude/longitude coordinates of the area will appear in the lower right. If you plan to use any areas around SCI, you will need to check each of the areas listed for that day to determine which areas will be in use and at what times. All other areas are open on that day.

Question:

Where can I get information on other areas that are hot in the SOCAL area. FLETAHOT for example. Do you have a link to another site that gives other hot areas? You should if one exists--in the schedules section.

Answer:

To our knowledge, the Navy does not currently have a site which includes other Southern California hot areas. The areas shown on the scisland website are scheduled by the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) and include only those areas immediately on and around the island. FLETAHOT is scheduled by the Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC). FACSFAC can be contacted at (619)545-1757/58.

Question:

If an area in the schedule has FL-SFC can a boat transit through this area?

Answer:

An operation with a FL-SFC (i.e., ocean floor to ocean surface) altitude includes exclusivity for the ocean surface, meaning, other vessels may not transit the area.

Question:

Who can use the Northwest Harbor moorings?

Answer:

On the northern end of the island are two possible mooring locations. One is in Northwest Harbor (the northernmost part of the island and is actually on the northeast part), the other is in Wilson Cove (about five miles south of Northwest Harbor on the eastern side of the island). Northwest Harbor mooring is controlled by BUDS Camp (Basic Underwater Demolition School, part of the Navy Seal Team training) and they can be reached via channel 16. Wilson Cove mooring is controlled by San Clemente Island Control Bravo (for the time being) and can also be reached via channel 16. Officially, these buoys are for military use only, however, it may be possible for you to obtain authorization from the above. Of course, if there is an emergency or a safety problem, the rules of the sea apply.

Question:

Could a user group such as a commercial fishing organization be included under your organization listing?

Answer:

Yes. Any organizations that are in any way associated with San Clemente Island may be included in the organization listing. Just contact the webmaster via email (webster@scisland.org) or submit your organization as a Suggestion. If you would like your organization's website linked to your organization's name, send your URL as well. Also, the Community Forum is an ideal place for anyone to submit articles concerning their organization. The purpose of this site is to promote communication between all of the members of the SCI Community, including the Navy, other government organizations (such as environmental agencies), commercial organizations, and any private individuals who are interested.