[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10667]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D.042894B]
Marine Mammals
AGENCIES: The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Department of
Defense in cooperation with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
and request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The ARPA, in cooperation with the NMFS, intends to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS), according to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), on an application for a scientific
research permit to allow harassment of marine mammals and sea turtles
by a low frequency sound source, and to monitor the effects thereof.
DATES: Comments are requested by June 15, 1994. The public hearing and
scoping meeting will be held on May 16, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for additional information should be
addressed to: Ralph W. Alewine, III, Ph.D., Director, Advanced Research
Projects Agency, NMRO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-
1714, (703) 696-2246. The public hearing and scoping meeting will held
at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for a scientific research
permit has been submitted by Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Acoustic Thermometry of
Ocean Climate (ATOC) Program, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-
0225. The applicant is requesting authorization to take (by harassment)
several species of cetaceans, pinnipeds, and sea turtles in California
coastal waters, during a study designed to assess the effects of low
frequency sound associated with the ATOC program on marine mammals and
sea turtles. The proposed research is a pilot project which is intended
to provide information which can be used in assessing the potential
environmental effects of continuing the ATOC program in a broader
context. If a decision is made to continue funding for the broader ATOC
program, any potential environmental effects will be assessed in a
separate environmental analysis.
The subject research was proposed to be conducted in California
waters from April 1994 through March 1996. As currently proposed, the
sound source will be located due west of Pt. Sur, California at 850-950
m depth. The maximum duty cycle will be 8%, with a transmission
bandwidth of 20 Hz at a level of 195 dB (re 1 Pa at 1m), and
with a spectrum level for the center frequency (70 Hz) at 182 dB. The
effects of these transmissions on marine mammals and sea turtles will
be monitored through the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations
Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216),
the Endangered Species Act (EIS) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting
of endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR part 222), the Fur Seal Act of
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), and fur seal regulations at
50 CFR part 215. ARPA and NMFS invite interested parties to participate
in determining the scope of significant issues to be addressed in the
EIS. Significant issues currently under consideration by ARPA and NMFS
are: the potential effects of the proposed low frequency sound source
on marine mammals, sea turtles, and other marine resources, including
fish; alternatives with respect to site selection; and, as a related
issue, the purpose of the ATOC program, and an evaluation thereof as
compared to other possible alternatives for assessing global warming.
ARPA and NMFS will also consider as part of the scoping process,
comments received at a public hearing to be held in California on May
16, 1994, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium,
307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, California co-sponsored with the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The period from 5 p.m. to 6
p.m. will be allotted for the applicant to provide a brief description
of an udpated research program. Upon completion of a draft EIS on the
proposed application, ARPA and NMFS will solicit public comments on it,
as well.
Dated: April 28, 1994.
William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service, Department of Commmerce.
L. M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 94-10667 Filed 4-29-94; 8:45 am]
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