[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9154]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 041294A]

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

 

Advanced Research Projects Agency; Marine Mammals

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce and Advanced Research 
Projects Agency (ARPA), Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The NMFS and the ARPA intend to prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS), according to the National Environmental Policy 
Act, 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 May 6, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: William W. Fox, Jr., Ph.D., 
Director, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1335 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannie Drevenak, (301) 713-2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for a scientific research 
permit has been submitted by Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 
Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Acoustic Thermometry of 
Ocean Climate (ATOC) Program, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-
022. The applicant is requesting authorization to take (i.e., by 
harassment) several species of cetaceans, including humpback whales, 
Hawaiian monk seals, and sea turtles in Hawaiian 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 proposed research was proposed to be conducted in Hawaiian 
waters from April 1994 through December 1995. The sound source will be 
located 14 km north of Kaihu Point, Kauai, at a depth of 850-900 m. The 
maximum duty cycle will be 8%, with a transmission bandwidth of 35 Hz 
at a level of 195 dB (re 1 Pa at 1m), and with a spectrum 
level for the center frequency (75 Hz) at 182 dB. The effects of these 
transmissions on marine mammals and sea turtles will be monitored 
through a variety of methods. The subject permit is requested under 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 (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the 
regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of 
endangered fish and wildlife (50 CFR part 222). NMFS and ARPA invite 
interested parties to participate in determining the scope of 
significant issues to be addressed in the EIS. Significant issues 
currently under consideration by NMFS and ARPA 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. NMFS and ARPA will 
also consider as part of the scoping process, comments received at 
public hearings held in Maryland on March 22, 1994, and in Hawaii on 
April 14 and 15, 1994. Upon completion of a draft EIS on the proposed 
application, NMFS and ARPA will solicit public comments on it, as well.

    Dated: April 12, 1994.
Herbert W. Kaufman,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce.
Ralph W. Alewine, III,
Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 94-9154 Filed 4-14-94; 8:45 am]
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