[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 32029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15157]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Continued Operation of the Sound Source Installed by the Acoustic
Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) Project North of Kauai
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is announcing its
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to continue
operation of the sound source installed by the ATOC Project north of
Kauai.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be held in: (1) Hanalei, Kauai on
June 29, 1999 at 7 PM at the Wai'oli Hui'ia Church, Mission Hall, 5-
5363 Kuhio Highway; (2) Lihue, Kauai on June 30, 1999 at 7 PM at the
Kauai Community College Dining Room, 3-1901 Kaumualii Highway; and (3)
Honolulu, Hawaii on July 1, 1999 at 7 PM at the Hawaii Imin Intl.
Conference Center, East-West Center, 2nd Floor, Pacific Room, 1777
East-West Road. Written comments regarding the scope of this
environmental document must be submitted by 08/15/99.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for additional information should be
addressed to ATTN: Office of Naval Research, c/o Kathleen J. Vigness,
(703) 465-8404, Marine Acoustics, Inc., 901 N. Stuart St., Suite 708,
Arlington, VA 22203.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Kauai ATOC Feasibility Study began in
October 1997, and included a Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) for
which a Scientific Research Permit was obtained. The sound source
installed by the ATOC Project is located approximately 14.7 km (8 nm)
north of Kauai at 22 deg. 20.94 N, 159 deg. 34.18 W at a depth of 807 m
(2648 ft). During the ATOC Project, a team of marine mammal researchers
utilized transmissions of the sound source to conduct simultaneous
observations of marine mammal behavior. The acoustic objectives of the
ATOC Feasibility Study were to determine the precision with which
acoustic methods could be used to measure large-scale changes in ocean
temperature and heat content, thereby refining climate models and
gaining a better understanding of the potential for global warming. The
objectives of the MMRP were to determine the potential effects of the
sound source on marine animals.
The results of the ATOC Project demonstrate that acoustic travel
times can be measured much more accurately than expected. These travel
times can then be used to estimate range- and depth-averaged
temperatures with a precision of about 0.006 deg.C at ranges of 3,000
to 5,000 km. The marine mammal research indicates that transmissions by
the sound source do not affect the abundance, distribution or singing
behavior of humpback whales in the vicinity of the sound source, and
that there were no biologically significant short-term effects observed
in conjunction with the transmissions. The MMRP found that the distance
and time between successive whale surfacings increased slightly with
increasing sound levels.
With these positive results, the Office of Naval Research will
prepare an EIS to continue operation of the sound source installed by
the ATOC Project. The sound source would remain at its present
location, and transmissions would continue with the same signal
parameters and approximately the same transmission schedule. The
current schedule maintains six 20-minute transmissions (one every four
hours), every fourth day, with each transmission preceded by a 5-minute
ramp-up period, representing an average duty cycle of 2%. With the
possible exception of equipment failures or short duration testing,
this schedule would continue for a period of five years. The signals
transmitted by the source have a center frequency of 75 Hz and a
bandwidth of approximately 35 Hz (i.e., sound transmissions are in the
frequency band of 57.5-92.5 Hz). Approximately 260 watts of acoustic
power are radiated during transmission. At 1 m (3.28 ft) from the
source, the sound intensity is about 195 dB referenced to the intensity
of a signal with a sound pressure level of 1 microPascal (on a ``water
standard'' basis). These signal parameters and source level have been
found to provide adequate, but not excessive, signal-to-noise ratios at
the receiver ranges of interest.
The EIS will address the potential effects of the transmissions on
the marine environment, including potential auditory, behavioral, and
physiological effects on marine mammals and other marine creatures.
Alternatives will be studied, including the no action alternative.
Dated: June 8, 1999.
Jeffrey Simmen,
Ocean Acoustics Program, Office of Naval Research.
[FR Doc. 99-15157 Filed 6-14-99; 8:45 am]
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