[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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