[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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P