Johnston Atoll

Johnston Atoll
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Annotated satellite image of Johnston Atoll
Annotated satellite image of Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll is located in North Pacific
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll
Location in the North Pacific Ocean
Coordinates: 16°44′13″N 169°31′26″W / 16.73694°N 169.52389°W / 16.73694; -169.52389
CountryUnited States
StatusUnorganized, unincorporated territory
Claimed by U.S.March 19, 1858
Named forCaptain Charles James Johnston, HMS Cornwallis
Government
 • TypeAdministered as a National Wildlife Refuge
 • BodyUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service
 • SuperintendentLaura Beauregard, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument
Area
 • Total
1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
 • EEZ157,389 sq mi (407,635 km2)
Highest elevation
(Sand Island)
30 ft (10 m)
Lowest elevation
(Pacific Ocean)
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total
0
Time zoneUTC−10 (Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone)
Geocode127
ISO 3166 codeUM
Websitewww.fws.gov/refuge/Johnston_Atoll/

Johnston Atoll is an unincorporated territory of the United States, under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force (USAF). The island is closed to public entry, and limited access for management needs is only granted by a letter of authorization from the USAF. A special use permit is also required from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to access the island by boat or enter the waters surrounding the island, which are designated as a National Wildlife Refuge and part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. The Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge extends from the shore out to 12 nautical miles, continuing as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System out to 200 nautical miles. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument extends from the shore out to 200 nautical miles.

The isolated atoll has been under the control of the U.S. military since 1934.[1] During that time, it was variously used as a naval refueling depot,[2] an airbase,[3] a testing site for nuclear[4] and biological weapons,[5] a secret missile base,[6] and a site for the storage and disposal of chemical weapons[7] and Agent Orange.[8] Those activities left the area environmentally contaminated. The USAF completed remediating the contamination in 2004 and performs only periodic monitoring today.[9]

The island is home to thriving communities of nesting seabirds and has significant marine biodiversity. USAF and USFWS teams conduct environmental monitoring and maintenance to protect the native wildlife.[10]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Polmar2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bases was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Operation HARDTACK I: Fact Sheet" (PDF). Defense Threat Reduction Agency. September 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference rpbio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference AFmuseum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Birds was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ EarthTech (April 2005). "Appendix B" (PDF). Phase II Environmental Baseline Survey, Johnston Atoll (Report). p. B19-B20. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 21, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fish And Wildlife Service was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "One Remote Island's Battle Against Acid-Spewing Ants". Audubon. June 26, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.