[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9250-9264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3629]
[[Page 9250]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 218
RIN 0648-AX86
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities;
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Training Operations Conducted
Within the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: NMFS, upon application from the U.S. Navy (Navy), is issuing
regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals
incidental to activities conducted by the Navy's Atlantic Fleet within
the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) Range Complex for the period of April 2010
through April 2015. The Navy's activities are considered military
readiness activities pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (NDAA). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of
``Letters of Authorization'' (LOAs) for the incidental take of marine
mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes,
prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of
effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species
and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring
and reporting of such taking.
DATES: Effective February 17, 2011 through February 17, 2016.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Navy's application (which contains a list of
the references used in this document), NMFS' Record of Decision (ROD),
and other documents cited herein may be obtained by writing to Michael
Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225 or by telephone via the contact
listed here (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Additionally, the
Navy's LOA application may be obtained by visiting the Internet at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm#applications.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Guan, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 713-2289, ext. 137.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability
Extensive SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION was provided in the proposed
rule for this activity, which was published in the Federal Register on
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 (74 FR 33960). This information will not be
reprinted here in its entirety; rather, all sections from the proposed
rule will be represented herein and will contain either a summary of
the material presented in the proposed rule or a note referencing the
page(s) in the proposed rule where the information may be found. Any
information that has changed since the proposed rule was published will
be addressed herein. Additionally, this final rule contains a section
that responds to the comments received during the public comment
period.
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
direct the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to allow, upon request,
the incidental, but not intentional taking of marine mammals by U.S.
citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial
fishing) if certain findings are made and regulations are issued or, if
the taking is limited to harassment, notice of a proposed authorization
is provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings may be granted if NMFS finds
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or
stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses, and if
the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking are set forth.
NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``an
impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or
survival.''
With respect to military readiness activities, the MMPA defines
``harassment'' as ``(i) any act that injures or has the significant
potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild
[Level A Harassment]; or (ii) any act that disturbs or is likely to
disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing
disruption of natural behavioral patterns, including, but not limited
to, migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering, to
a point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned or significantly
altered [Level B Harassment].''
Summary of Request
On October 2, 2008, NMFS received an application from the Navy
requesting an authorization for the take of marine mammal species/
stocks incidental to the proposed training operations within the GOMEX
Range Complex over the course of 5 years. On April 24, 2009, NMFS
received additional information and clarification on the Navy's
proposed GOMEX Range Complex training activities. These training
activities are classified as military readiness activities. The Navy
states that these training activities may cause various impacts to
marine mammal species in the proposed GOMEX Range Complex Study Area.
The Navy requests an authorization to take 17 species of cetaceans
annually by Level B harassment, and 1 individual each of pantropical
spotted dolphin and spinner dolphin by Level A harassment (injury).
However, due to the implementation of the proposed mitigation and
monitoring measures, NMFS believes that the actual take would be less
than estimated by the Navy.
Description of the Specified Activities
The proposed rule contains a complete description of the Navy's
specified activities that are covered by these final regulations, and
for which the associated incidental take of marine mammals will be
authorized in the related LOAs. The proposed rule describes the nature
and number of the training activities. These training activities
consist of surface warfare [(Bombing Exercise (Air-to-Surface) or
BOMBEX (A-S), and Small Arms Training (explosive hand grenades)] and
vessel movement to, from and within the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area.
The narrative description of the action contained in the proposed rule
(74 FR 33960; July 14, 2009; pages 33961-33962) has not changed, except
that the event duration for Small Arms Training was corrected to ``1-2
hours'' from ``1 hour'' in Table 1 of the proposed rule (74 FR 33960;
July 14, 2009; page 33962). This change was to correct a typographical
error in the proposed rule. Table 1 summarizes the nature and levels of
these planned activities.
[[Page 9251]]
Table 1--Level of Surface Warfare Training Activities Planned in the GOMEX Range Complex per Year
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Potential time of
Operation Platform System/ordnance Number of events Training area day Event duration
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Bombing Exercise (BOMBEX) (Air- F/A-18............ MK-83 [1,000-lb 1 event (4 bombs BOMBEX Hotbox..... Daytime only...... 1 hour.
to-Surface, At-Sea). High Explosive in succession).
(HE) bomb] 415.8
lbs NEW.
Small Arms Training............. Maritime MK3A2 anti-swimmer 6 events* (20 live UNDET Area E3..... Day or night...... 1-2 hours.
Expeditionary grenades (8-oz HE grenades).
Support Group grenade) 0.5 lb
(Various Small NEW.
Boats).
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*An individual event can include detonation of up to 10 live grenades, but no more than 20 live grenades will be used per year.
Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activities
Twenty-nine marine mammal species have confirmed or potential
occurrence in the GOMEX Study Area. These include 28 cetacean species
and 1 sirenian species (DoN, 2007a), which can be found in Table 2.
Although it is possible that any of the 29 species of marine mammals
may occur in the Study Area, only 21 of those species are expected to
occur regularly in the region. Most cetacean species are in the Study
Area year-round (e.g., sperm whales and bottlenose dolphins), while a
few (e.g., fin whales and killer whales) have accidental or transient
occurrence in the area. The Description of Marine Mammals in the Area
of the Specified Activities section has not changed from what was in
the proposed rule (74 FR 33960; July 14, 2009; pages 33962-33964).
Table 2--Marine Mammal Species Found in the GOMEX Range Complex
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Family and scientific name Common name Federal status
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Order Cetacea
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Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whales)
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Eubalaena glacialis........... North Atlantic Endangered.
right whale.
Megaptera novaeangliae........ Humpback whale... Endangered.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata.... Minke whale.
B. brydei..................... Bryde's whale.
B. borealis................... Sei whale........ Endangered.
B. physalus................... Fin whale........ Endangered.
B. musculus................... Blue whale....... Endangered.
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Suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales)
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Physeter macrocephalus........ Sperm whale...... Endangered.
Kogia breviceps............... Pygmy sperm
whale.
K. sima....................... Dwarf sperm
whale.
Ziphius cavirostris........... Cuvier's beaked
whale.
M. europaeus.................. Gervais' beaked
whale.
M. bidens..................... Sowerby's beaked
whale.
M. densirostris............... Blainville's
beaked whale.
Steno bredanensis............. Rough-toothed
dolphin.
Tursiops truncatus............ Bottlenose
dolphin.
Stenella attenuata............ Pantropical
spotted dolphin.
S. frontalis.................. Atlantic spotted
dolphin.
S. longirostris............... Spinner dolphin.
S. clymene.................... Clymene dolphin.
S. coeruleoalba............... Striped dolphin.
Lagenodephis hosei............ Fraser's dolphin.
Grampus griseus............... Risso's dolphin.
Peponocephala electra......... Melon-headed
whale.
Feresa attenuata.............. Pygmy killer
whale.
Pseudorca crassidens.......... False killer
whale.
Orcinus orca.................. Killer whale.
G. macrorhynchus.............. Short-finned
pilot whale.
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Order Sirenia
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Trichechus manatus............ West Indian Endangered.
manatee.
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[[Page 9252]]
Potential Impacts to Marine Mammal Species
With respect to the MMPA, NMFS' effects assessment on the
consequences of the Navy's proposed activities on marine mammals and
their habitat serves four primary purposes: (1) To prescribe the
permissible methods of taking (i.e., Level B Harassment (behavioral
harassment), Level A Harassment (injury), or mortality, including an
identification of the number and types of take that could occur by
Level A or B harassment or mortality) and to prescribe other means of
effecting the least practicable adverse impact on such species or stock
and its habitat (i.e., mitigation); (2) to determine whether the
specified activity will have a negligible impact on the affected
species or stocks of marine mammals (based on the likelihood that the
activity will adversely affect the species or stock through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival); (3) to determine whether the
specified activity will have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (however,
there are no subsistence communities in the GOMEX Range Complex Study
Area); and (4) to prescribe requirements pertaining to monitoring and
reporting.
In the Potential Impacts to Marine Mammal Species section of the
proposed rule, NMFS included a qualitative discussion of the different
ways that underwater explosive detonations from BOMBEX and Small Arms
Training with explosive hand grenades may potentially affect marine
mammals (some of which NMFS would not classify as harassment). See 74
FR 33960; July 14, 2009; pages 33964-33973. Marine mammals may
experience direct physiological effects (such as threshold shift),
acoustic masking, impaired communications, stress responses, and
behavioral disturbance. The information contained in the Potential
Impacts to Marine Mammal Species section regarding BOMBEX and Small
Arms Training in the proposed rule has not changed.
On April 20, 2010, explosion and fire on the Mobile Offshore
Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon MC252 approximately 50 miles southeast
of the Mississippi Delta led to the BP oil spill, which is the largest
oil spill in U.S. history and potentially the second largest in world
history. The oil wellhead leaked for 85 days and was capped on July 15,
2010. Impacts of this spill are far reaching, and include
environmental, economic, and societal consequences. Wildlife and
ecosystems are threatened primarily due to factors such as petroleum
toxicity and oxygen depletion in the water. Marine species that live in
the Gulf and in the marshlands surrounding the Gulf are at risk,
including marine mammals. As of August 31, 2010, 88 dolphins and 1
whale have been found stranded, including 4 dolphins that were visibly
oiled. However, the proposed Navy's GOMEX training exercises are not
expected to further impact the physical marine ecosystem due to the
nature of the activities.
Below, in the Estimated Take of Marine Mammals Section, NMFS
quantifies the potential effects to marine mammals from underwater
detonation of explosives. In addition, NMFS relates such effects to the
MMPA definitions of Level A and Level B Harassment. NMFS has also
considered the effects of mortality on these species, although
mortality is neither expected, nor will it be authorized.
Mitigation
In order to issue an incidental take authorization (ITA) under
Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, NMFS must prescribe regulations
setting forth the ``permissible methods of taking pursuant to such
activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse
impact on such species or stock and its habitat, paying particular
attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar
significance.'' The NDAA amended the MMPA as it relates to military
readiness activities and the incidental take authorization process such
that ``least practicable adverse impact'' shall include consideration
of personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and impact on the
effectiveness of the ``military readiness activity.'' The GOMEX Range
Complex training activities described in the proposed rule are
considered military readiness activities.
NMFS reviewed the Navy's proposed GOMEX Range Complex training
activities and the proposed GOMEX Range Complex mitigation measures
presented in the Navy's application to determine whether the activities
and mitigation measures were capable of achieving the least practicable
adverse effect on marine mammals.
Any mitigation measure prescribed by NMFS should be known to
accomplish, have a reasonable likelihood of accomplishing (based on
current science), or contribute to the accomplishment of one or more of
the general goals listed below:
(1) Avoidance or minimization of injury or death of marine mammals
wherever possible (goals (2), (3), and (4) may contribute to this
goal).
(2) A reduction in the numbers of marine mammals (total number or
number at a biologically important time or location) exposed to
underwater detonations or other activities expected to result in the
take of marine mammals (this goal may contribute to (1), above, or to
reducing harassment takes only).
(3) A reduction in the number of times (total number or number at
biologically important time or location) individuals would be exposed
to underwater detonations or other activities expected to result in the
take of marine mammals (this goal may contribute to (1), above, or to
reducing harassment takes only).
(4) A reduction in the intensity of exposures (either total number
or number at biologically important time or location) to underwater
detonations or other activities expected to result in the take of
marine mammals (this goal may contribute to (1), above, or to reducing
the severity of harassment takes only).
(5) A reduction in adverse effects to marine mammal habitat, paying
special attention to the food base, activities that block or limit
passage to or from biologically important areas, permanent destruction
of habitat, or temporary destruction/disturbance of habitat during a
biologically important time.
(6) For monitoring directly related to mitigation--an increase in
the probability of detecting marine mammals, thus allowing for more
effective implementation of the mitigation (e.g., a buffer zone of a
5,100-yard radius be established and no bombing exercises would be
initiated marine mammals are detected within the buffer zone, etc.).
NMFS reviewed the Navy's proposed mitigation measures, which
included a careful balancing of the likely benefit of any particular
measure to the marine mammals with the likely effect of that measure on
personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and impact on the
effectiveness of the ``military-readiness activity.''
The Navy's proposed mitigation measures were described in detail in
the proposed rule (74 FR 33960; July 14, 2009; pages 33973-33975). The
Navy's measures address personnel training, lookout and watchstander
responsibilities, operating procedures for training activities using
underwater detonations of explosives (Bombing Exercises and Small Arms
Training), and mitigation related to vessel traffic. No changes have
been made to the mitigation measures described in the proposed rule.
[[Page 9253]]
Monitoring
In order to issue an ITA for an activity, Section 101(a)(5)(A) of
the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth ``requirements pertaining to
the monitoring and reporting of such taking.'' The MMPA implementing
regulations at 50 CFR 216.104 (a)(13) indicate that requests for LOAs
must include the suggested means of accomplishing the necessary
monitoring and reporting that will result in increased knowledge of the
species and of the level of taking or impacts on populations of marine
mammals that are expected to be present.
Monitoring measures prescribed by NMFS should accomplish one or
more of the following general goals:
(1) An increase in the probability of detecting marine mammals,
both within the safety zone (thus allowing for more effective
implementation of the mitigation) and in general to generate more data
to contribute to the effects analyses such as whether marine mammals
are adversely affected by the proposed Navy training exercises in the
GOM Range Complex.
(2) An increase in our understanding of how many marine mammals are
likely to be exposed to levels of underwater detonations or other
stimuli that we associate with specific adverse effects, such as
behavioral harassment, temporary threshold shift of hearing sensitivity
(TTS), or permanent threshold shift of hearing sensitivity (PTS).
(3) An increase in our understanding of how marine mammals respond
(behaviorally or physiologically) to underwater detonations or other
stimuli expected to result in take and how anticipated adverse effects
on individuals (in different ways and to varying degrees) may impact
the population, species, or stock (specifically through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival).
(4) An increased knowledge of the affected species.
(5) An increase in our understanding of the effectiveness of
certain mitigation and monitoring measures.
(6) A better understanding and record of the manner in which the
authorized entity complies with the incidental take authorization.
Monitoring Plan for the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area
The Navy has provided NMFS with a copy of the draft GOMEX Range
Complex Monitoring Plan. Additionally, NMFS and the Navy have
incorporated a suggestion from the public, which recommended the Navy
hold a workshop in 2011 to discuss the Navy's Monitoring Plans for the
multiple range complexes and training exercises in which the Navy would
receive ITAs.
The Navy must notify NMFS immediately (or as soon as clearance
procedures allow) if the specified activity is thought to have resulted
in the mortality or injury of any marine mammals, or in any take of
marine mammals not identified in this document.
The Navy must conduct all monitoring and/or research required under
the Letter of Authorization, if issued.
With input from NMFS, a summary of the monitoring methods required
for use during training events in the GOMEX Range Complex are described
below. These methods include a combination of individual elements that
are designed to allow a comprehensive assessment.
I. Vessel or Aerial Surveys
(A) The Navy shall visually survey a minimum of 1 explosive event
per year. If possible, the event surveyed will be one involving
multiple detonations. One of the vessel or aerial surveys should
involve professionally trained marine mammal observers (MMOs).
(B) When operationally feasible, for specified training events,
aerial or vessel surveys shall be used 1-2 days prior to, during (if
reasonably safe), and 1-5 days post detonation.
(C) Surveys shall include any specified exclusion zone around a
particular detonation point plus 2,000 yards beyond the border of the
exclusion zone (i.e., the circumference of the area from the border of
the exclusion zone extending 2,000 yards outwards). For vessel-based
surveys a passive acoustic system (hydrophone or towed array) could be
used to determine if marine mammals are in the area before and/or after
a detonation event.
(D) When conducting a particular survey, the survey team shall
collect:
Location of sighting;
Species (if not possible, indicate whale, dolphin or
pinniped);
Number of individuals;
Whether calves were observed;
Initial detection sensor;
Length of time observers maintained visual contact with
marine mammal;
Wave height;
Visibility;
Whether sighting was before, during, or after detonations/
exercise, and how many minutes before or after;
Distance of marine mammal from actual detonations (or
target spot if not yet detonated);
Observed behavior--Watchstanders will report, in plain
language and without trying to categorize in any way, the observed
behavior of the animal(s) (such as animal closing to bow ride,
paralleling course/speed, floating on surface and not swimming etc.),
including speed and direction;
Resulting mitigation implementation--Indicate whether
explosive detonations were delayed, ceased, modified, or not modified
due to marine mammal presence and for how long; and
If observation occurs while explosives are detonating in
the water, indicate munitions type in use at time of marine mammal
detection (e.g., were the 5-inch guns actually firing when the animals
were sighted? Did animals enter an area 2 minutes after a huge
explosion went off?).
II. Passive Acoustic Monitoring
The Navy is required to conduct passive acoustic monitoring when
operationally feasible.
(A) Any time a towed hydrophone array is employed during shipboard
surveys the towed array shall be deployed during daylight hours for
each of the days the ship is at sea.
(B) The towed hydrophone array shall be used to supplement the
ship-based systematic line-transect surveys for marine mammals
(particularly for species such as beaked whales that are rarely seen).
III. Marine Mammal Observers on Navy Platforms
(A) MMOs selected for aerial or vessel surveys shall, to the extent
practicable, be placed on a Navy platform during the exercises being
monitored.
(B) The MMO must possess expertise in species identification of
regional marine mammal species and experience collecting behavioral
data.
(C) MMOs shall not be placed aboard Navy platforms for every Navy
training event or major exercise. Instead, MMOs should be employed
during specifically identified opportunities deemed appropriate for
data collection efforts. The events selected for MMO participation
shall take into account safety, logistics, and operational concerns.
(D) MMOs shall observe from the same height above water as the
lookouts.
(E) The MMOs shall not be part of the Navy's formal reporting chain
of command during their data collection efforts; Navy lookouts shall
continue to serve as the primary reporting means within the Navy chain
of command for marine mammal sightings. The only exception is that if
an animal is observed within the shutdown zone that
[[Page 9254]]
has not been observed by the lookout, the MMO shall inform the lookout
of the sighting, and the lookout shall take the appropriate action
through the chain of command.
(F) The MMOs shall collect species identification, behavior,
direction of travel relative to the Navy platform, and distance first
observed. All MMO sightings shall be conducted according to a standard
operating procedure. Information collected by MMOs should be the same
as those collected by Navy lookout/watchstanders described above.
The Monitoring Plan for the GOMEX Range Complex has been designed
as a collection of focused ``studies'' (described fully in the GOMEX
Monitoring Plan) to gather data that will allow the Navy to address the
following questions:
(A) What are the behavioral responses of marine mammals that are
exposed to explosives?
(B) Is the Navy's suite of mitigation measures effective at
avoiding injury and mortality of marine mammals?
Data gathered in these studies will be collected by qualified,
professional marine mammal biologists or trained Navy lookouts/
watchstanders that are experts in their field. This monitoring plan has
been designed to gather data on all species of marine mammals that are
observed in the GOMEX Range Complex study area.
Monitoring Workshop
During the public comment period on past proposed rules for Navy
actions (such as the Hawaii Range Complex (HRC) and Southern California
Range Complex (SOCAL) proposed rules), NMFS received a recommendation
that a workshop or panel be convened to solicit input on the monitoring
plan from researchers, experts, and other interested parties. The GOMEX
Range Complex proposed rule included an adaptive management component
and both NMFS and the Navy believe that a workshop would provide a
means for the Navy and NMFS to consider input from participants in
determining whether (and if so, how) to modify monitoring techniques to
more effectively accomplish the goals of monitoring set forth earlier
in the document. NMFS and the Navy believe that this workshop concept
is valuable in relation to all of the Range Complexes and major
training exercise rules and LOAs that NMFS is working on with the Navy
at this time. Consequently, NMFS has determined that this single
Monitoring Workshop will be included as a component of all of the rules
and LOAs that NMFS will be processing for the Navy in the next year or
so.
The Navy, with guidance and support from NMFS, will convene a
Monitoring Workshop, including marine mammal and acoustic experts as
well as other interested parties, in 2011. The Monitoring Workshop
participants will review the monitoring results from the previous year
of monitoring pursuant to the GOMEX Range Complex rule as well as
monitoring results from other Navy rules and LOAs (e.g., VACAPES,
AFAST, SOCAL, HRC, and other rules). The Monitoring Workshop
participants would provide their individual recommendations to the Navy
and NMFS on the monitoring plan(s) after also considering the current
science (including Navy research and development) and working within
the framework of available resources and feasibility of implementation.
NMFS and the Navy would then analyze the input from the Monitoring
Workshop participants and determine the best way forward from a
national perspective. Subsequent to the Monitoring Workshop,
modifications would be applied to monitoring plans as appropriate.
Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program
In addition to the site-specific Monitoring Plan for the GOMEX
Range Complex, the Navy completed the Integrated Comprehensive
Monitoring Program (ICMP) Plan at the end of 2009. The ICMP was
developed by the Navy, with the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental
Readiness Division (CNO-N45) having the lead. The program does not
duplicate the monitoring plans for individual areas (e.g., AFAST, HRC,
SOCAL, VACAPES); instead it is intended to provide the overarching
coordination that will support compilation of data from both range-
specific monitoring plans as well as Navy funded research and
development (R&D) studies. The Navy, through its ICMP will coordinate
the monitoring programs' progress towards meeting its goals and develop
a data management plan. The ICMP will be evaluated annually to provide
a matrix for progress and goals for the following year, and will make
recommendations on adaptive management for refinement and analysis of
the monitoring methods.
The primary objectives of the ICMP are to:
Monitor and assess the effects of Navy activities on
protected species;
Ensure that data collected at multiple locations is
collected in a manner that allows comparison between and among
different geographic locations;
Assess the efficacy and practicality of the monitoring and
mitigation techniques;
Add to the overall knowledge-base of marine species and
the effects of Navy activities on marine species.
The ICMP will be used both as: (1) A planning tool to focus Navy
monitoring priorities (pursuant to ESA/MMPA requirements) across Navy
Range Complexes and Exercises; and (2) an adaptive management tool,
through the consolidation and analysis of the Navy's monitoring and
watchstander data, as well as new information from other Navy programs
(e.g., R&D), and other peer-reviewed newly published information.
In combination with the 2011 Monitoring Workshop and the adaptive
management component of the GOMEX Range Complex rule and the other Navy
rules (e.g. VACAPES Range Complex, Jacksonville Range Complex, etc.),
the ICMP provides a framework for restructuring the monitoring plans
and allocating monitoring effort based on the value of particular
specific monitoring proposals (in terms of the degree to which results
would likely contribute to stated monitoring goals, as well as the
likely technical success of the monitoring based on a review of past
monitoring results) that have been developed through the ICMP
framework, instead of allocating effort based on maintaining an equal
(or commensurate to effects) distribution of monitoring effort across
range complexes.
The ICMP identified:
A means by which NMFS and the Navy would jointly consider
prior years' monitoring results and advancing science to determine if
modifications are needed in mitigation or monitoring measures to better
effect the goals laid out in the Mitigation and Monitoring sections of
the GOMEX Range Complex rule.
Guidelines for prioritizing monitoring projects.
If, as a result of the workshop and similar to the example
described in the paragraph above, the Navy and NMFS decide it is
appropriate to restructure the monitoring plans for multiple ranges
such that they are no longer evenly allocated (by rule), but rather
focused on priority monitoring projects that are not necessarily tied
to the geographic area addressed in the rule, the ICMP will be modified
to include a very clear and unclassified record-keeping system that
will allow NMFS and the public to see how each range complex/project is
contributing to all of the ongoing monitoring programs (resources,
effort, money, etc.).
[[Page 9255]]
Adaptive Management
NMFS has included an adaptive management component in the final
regulations governing the take of marine mammals incidental to Navy
training exercises in the GOMEX Range Complex. The use of adaptive
management will give NMFS the ability to consider new data from
different sources to determine (in coordination with the Navy) on an
annual basis if mitigation or monitoring measures should be modified or
added (or deleted) if new data suggests that such modifications are
appropriate (or are not appropriate) for subsequent annual LOAs, if
issued.
The following are some of the possible sources of applicable data:
Results from the Navy's monitoring from the previous year
(either from GOMEX Range Complex or other locations)
Findings of the Workshop that the Navy will convene in
2011 to analyze monitoring results to date, review current science, and
recommend modifications, as appropriate to the monitoring protocols to
increase monitoring effectiveness
Compiled results of Navy funded research and development
(R&D) studies (presented pursuant to the ICMP, which is discussed
elsewhere in this document)
Results from specific stranding investigations (either
from GOMEX Range Complex or other locations)
Results from general marine mammal and sound research
(funded by the Navy or otherwise)
Any verified information which reveals that marine mammals
may have been taken in a manner, extent or number not authorized by
these regulations or subsequent Letters of Authorization
Mitigation measures could be modified or added (or deleted) if new
data suggests that such modifications would have (or do not have) a
reasonable likelihood of accomplishing the goals of mitigation laid out
in this proposed rule and if the measures are practicable. NMFS would
also coordinate with the Navy to modify or add to (or delete) the
existing monitoring requirements if the new data suggest that the
addition of (or deletion of) a particular measure would more
effectively accomplish the goals of monitoring laid out in this
proposed rule. The reporting requirements associated with this rule are
designed to provide NMFS with monitoring data from the previous year to
allow NMFS to consider the data and issue annual LOAs. NMFS and the
Navy will meet annually, prior to LOA issuance, to discuss the
monitoring reports, Navy R&D developments, and current science and
whether mitigation or monitoring modifications are appropriate.
Reporting Measures
In order to issue an ITA for an activity, Section 101(a)(5)(A) of
the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth ``requirements pertaining to
the monitoring and reporting of such taking''. Effective reporting is
critical to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of a LOA,
and to provide NMFS and the Navy with data of the highest quality based
on the required monitoring. Additional detail has been added to the
reporting requirements since they were outlined in the proposed rule.
The updated reporting requirements are all included below. A subset of
the information provided in the monitoring reports may be classified
and not releasable to the public.
NMFS will work with the Navy to develop tables that allow for
efficient submission of the information required below.
General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals
Navy personnel will ensure that NMFS (regional stranding
coordinator) is notified immediately (or as soon as operational
security allows) if an injured or dead marine mammal is found during or
shortly after, and in the vicinity of, any Navy training exercise
utilizing underwater explosive detonations or other activities. The
Navy will provide NMFS with species or description of the animal(s),
the condition of the animal(s) (including carcass condition if the
animal is dead), location, time of first discovery, observed behaviors
(if alive), and photo or video (if available).
Annual GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan Report
The Navy shall submit a report annually on March 1 describing the
implementation and results (through January 1 of the same year) of the
GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan, described above. Data collection
methods will be standardized across range complexes to allow for
comparison in different geographic locations. Although additional
information will also be gathered, the MMOs collecting marine mammal
data pursuant to the GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan shall, at a
minimum, provide the same marine mammal observation data required in
the major range complex training exercises section of the Annual GOMEX
Range Complex Exercise Report referenced below.
The GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan Report may be provided to
NMFS within a larger report that includes the required Monitoring Plan
Reports from multiple Range Complexes.
Annual GOMEX Range Complex Exercise Report
The Navy is in the process of improving the methods used to track
explosives used to provide increased granularity. The Navy will provide
the information described below for all of their explosive exercises.
Until the Navy is able to report in full the information below, they
will provide an annual update on the Navy's explosive tracking methods,
including improvements from the previous year.
(i) Total annual number of each type of explosive exercise (of
those identified as part of the ``specified activity'' in this final
rule) conducted in the GOMEX Range Complex.
(ii) Total annual expended/detonated rounds (missiles, bombs, etc.)
for each explosive type.
GOMEX Range Complex 5-yr Comprehensive Report
The Navy shall submit to NMFS a draft report that analyzes and
summarizes all of the multi-year marine mammal information gathered
during the GOMEX Range Complex exercises for which annual reports are
required (Annual GOMEX Range Complex Exercise Reports and GOMEX Range
Complex Monitoring Plan Reports). This report will be submitted at the
end of the fourth year of the rule (March 2014), covering activities
that have occurred through September 1, 2013.
Comments and Responses
On July 14, 2009, NMFS published a proposed rule (74 FR 33960) in
response to the Navy's request to take marine mammals incidental to
military readiness training in the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area and
requested comments, information and suggestions concerning the request.
During the 30-day public comment period, NMFS received comments from 3
private citizens and from the Marine Mammal Commission (Commission).
The comments are summarized and sorted into general topic areas and are
addressed below. Full copies of the comment letters may be accessed at
http://www.regulations.gov.
MMPA Concerns
Comment 1: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the
[[Page 9256]]
Navy to conduct an external peer review of its marine mammal density
estimates, the data upon which those estimates are based, and the
manner in which those data were used for that purpose.
Response: As discussed in detail in the proposed rule (74 FR 33960;
July 14, 2009), marine mammal density estimates were based on the most
recent data and information on the occurrence, distribution, and
density of marine mammals. The updated density estimates presented in
this assessment are derived from the Navy OPAREA Density Estimates
(NODE) for the GOMEX Operation Area (OPAREA) (DoN, 2007).
Density estimates for cetaceans were either modeled using available
line-transect survey data or derived using cetacean abundance estimates
found in the 2006 NOAA stock assessment reports (SARs) (Waring et al.,
2007), which can be viewed at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/species.htm. The abundance estimates in the stock assessment reports
are from Mullin and Fulling (2004).
For the model-based approach, density estimates were calculated for
each species within areas containing survey effort. A relationship
between these density estimates and the associated environmental
parameters such as depth, slope, distance from the shelf break, sea
surface temperature (SST), and chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration was
formulated using generalized additive models (GAMs). This relationship
was then used to generate a two-dimensional density surface for the
region by predicting densities in areas where no survey data exist.
The analyses for cetaceans were based on sighting data collected
through shipboard surveys conducted by NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science
Center (SEFSC) between 1996 and 2004. Species-specific density
estimates derived through spatial modeling were compared with abundance
estimates found in the 2006 NOAA SARs to ensure consistency. All
spatial models and density estimates were reviewed by and coordinated
with NMFS Science Center technical staff and scientists with the
University of St. Andrews, Scotland, Centre for Environmental and
Ecological Modeling (CREEM). Subsequent revisions and draft reports
were reviewed by these same parties. Therefore, NMFS considers that the
density estimates, including the data upon which those estimates are
based and the manner in which the data are collected and used, have
already gone through an independent review process.
Mitigation Measures
Comment 2: The Commission recommends that NMFS require the Navy to
develop and implement a plan to evaluate the effectiveness of
monitoring and mitigation measures before beginning, or in conjunction
with, the proposed military readiness training operations.
Response: NMFS has been working with the Navy throughout the
rulemaking process to develop a series of mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting protocols. These mitigation, monitoring and reporting
measures include, but are not limited to: (1) The use of trained
shipboard lookouts who will conduct marine mammal monitoring to avoid
collisions with marine mammals; (2) the use of exclusion zones that
avoid exposing marine mammals to levels of sound likely to result in
injury or death of marine mammals; (3) several cautionary measures to
minimize the likelihood of ship strikes of marine mammals; (4) the use
of MMOs/lookouts to conduct aerial and vessel-based surveys; and (5)
annual monitoring reports and comprehensive reports to provide insights
of impacts to marine mammals.
NMFS has evaluated the effectiveness of the measures and has
concluded they will result in the least practicable adverse impact on
the affected marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat. For
example, operations will be suspended if trained lookouts and/or MMOs
detect marine mammals within the exercise's specified exclusion zone in
order to prevent marine mammal injury or mortality. In addition, prior
to conducting training activities involving underwater explosive
detonation, the Navy will be required to monitor the safety zones to
ensure the areas are clear of marine mammals. Such monitoring will also
be required during the exercise when operationally feasible. These
monitoring and mitigation measures are expected to reduce the number of
marine mammals exposed to underwater explosions.
Over the course of the 5-year rule, NMFS will evaluate the Navy's
training activities annually to validate the effectiveness of the
measures. NMFS will, through the established adaptive management
process, work with the Navy to determine whether additional mitigation
and monitoring measures are necessary. In addition, with the
implementation of the ICMP Plan, and the planned Monitoring Workshop in
2011, NMFS will work with the Navy to further improve its monitoring
and mitigation plans for its future activities.
Comment 3. The Commission recommends that NMFS require the Navy to
describe the protocol for stranding network personnel to communicate
with the Navy in the event of a stranding that is possibly associated
with Navy activities.
Response: As described in the proposed rule (74 FR 33960; July 14,
2009), the Navy personnel will ensure that NMFS (regional stranding
coordinator) is notified immediately (or as soon as operational
security allows) if an injured or dead marine mammal is found during or
shortly after, and in the vicinity of, any Navy training exercise
utilizing underwater explosive detonations. The Navy will provide NMFS
with species or description of the animal(s), the condition of the
animal(s) (including carcass condition if the animal is dead),
location, time of first discovery, observed behaviors (if alive), and
photo or video (if available). This stranding communication protocol is
similar to the protocol the Navy has for its Atlantic Fleet Active
Sonar Training (AFAST).
Comment 4: The Commission recommends that NMFS require the Navy to
suspend an activity if a marine mammal is seriously injured or killed
and the injury or death could be associated with the Navy's activity.
The injury or death should be investigated to determine the cause,
assess the full impact of the activity or activities potentially
implicated (e.g., the total of animals involved), and determine how the
activity should be modified to avoid future injuries or deaths.
Response: Though NMFS largely agrees with the principle espoused by
the Commission, it should be noted that without detailed examination by
an expert, it is usually not feasible to determine the cause of injury
or mortality when an injured or dead marine mammal is sighted in the
field. NMFS has included a requirement in the final rule that if there
is clear evidence that a marine mammal is injured or killed as a result
of the Navy's training activities (e.g., instances in which it is clear
that munitions' explosions caused the injury or death), the Navy shall
suspend its activities immediately and report such incident to NMFS
through the Navy's chain-of-command.
For any other sighting of injured or dead marine mammals in the
vicinity of any Navy training activities utilizing underwater explosive
detonations for which the cause of injury or mortality cannot be
immediately determined, the Navy personnel will ensure that NMFS
(regional stranding coordinator) is notified immediately (or as soon as
[[Page 9257]]
operational security allows). The Navy will provide NMFS with species
or description of the animal(s), the condition of the animal(s)
(including carcass condition if the animal is dead), location, time of
first discovery, observed behaviors (if alive), and photo or video (if
available).
Miscellaneous Issues
Comment 5: Three private citizens expressed general opposition to
Navy activities and NMFS' issuance of an MMPA authorization because of
the danger of killing marine life.
Response: NMFS appreciates the commenters' concern for the marine
mammals that live in the area of the proposed activities. However, the
MMPA allows individuals to take marine mammals incidental to specified
activities if NMFS can make the necessary findings required by law
(i.e., negligible impact, unmitigable adverse impact on subsistence
users, etc.). As explained throughout this rulemaking, NMFS has made
the necessary findings under 16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(A) to support our
issuance of the final rule.
Estimated Take of Marine Mammals
With respect to the MMPA, NMFS' effects assessment serves four
primary purposes: (1) To prescribe the permissible methods of taking
(i.e., Level B Harassment (behavioral harassment), Level A harassment
(injury), or mortality, including an identification of the number and
types of take that could occur by Level A or B harassment or mortality)
and to prescribe other means of affecting the least practicable adverse
impact on such species or stock and its habitat (i.e., mitigation); (2)
to determine whether the specified activity will have a negligible
impact on the affected species or stocks of marine mammals (based on
the likelihood that the activity will adversely affect the species or
stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival); (3)
to determine whether the specified activity will have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for
subsistence uses (however, there are no subsistence communities that
would be affected in the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area, so this
determination is inapplicable for this rulemaking); and (4) to
prescribe requirements pertaining to monitoring and reporting.
In the Estimated Take of Marine Mammals section of the proposed
rule, NMFS related the potential effects to marine mammals from
underwater detonation of explosives to the MMPA regulatory definitions
of Level A and Level B Harassment and assessed the effects to marine
mammals that could result from the specific activities that the Navy
intends to conduct. The subsections of this analysis are discussed in
the proposed rule (74 FR 33960; July 14, 2009) and have not changed.
Acoustic Take Criteria
In the Acoustic Take Criteria section of the proposed rule, NMFS
described the development and application of the acoustic criteria for
explosive detonations (74 FR 33960; July 14, 2009). No changes have
been made to the discussion contained in this section of the proposed
rule.
Take Calculations
An overview of the Navy's modeling methods to determine the number
of exposures of MMPA-protected species to sound likely to result in
mortality, Level A harassment (injury), or Level B harassment is
provided in the Federal Register notice for the proposed rule (74 FR
33960; pages 33978-33979). No changes have been made to the modeling
methods in the section of that proposed rule.
As noticed in the proposed rule, the Navy's modeling revealed that
only eight marine mammal species (very few individuals of each) would
be taken by Level A and Level B harassment. However, the Navy stated in
its addendum to the LOA application, because of the relatively high
abundance of several species (Bryde's whales, Atlantic spotted
dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Clymene dolphins, false killer whales,
Fraser's dolphins, killer whales, two species of Kogia sp., melon-
headed whales, pygmy killer whales, Risso's dolphins, rough-toothed
dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, striped dolphins, and several
species of beaked whales) in the proposed action area (Waring et al.,
2007) and the fact that some of these species aggregate in relatively
large groups, the Navy considers that additional takes of these species
by Level B behavioral harassment are possible. After reviewing the
Navy's request and consulting the most recent stock assessment reports
of marine mammals in the proposed action area (Waring et al., 2009),
NMFS largely agrees with the Navy except that NMFS considers that the
take of Bryde's and killer whales is unlikely due to their rarity in
the Study Area. However, NMFS considers that the incidental take by
Level B harassment of sperm whale is likely due to this species
abundance in the Gulf of Mexico area. Therefore, NMFS has included
additional species in our take estimates for the 5-year regulations.
Revised estimates of potential takes from the proposed GOMEX Range
Complex training activities are summarized in Table 3.
Table 3--Summary of Potential Exposures From Explosive Ordnance (per
Year) for Marine Mammals in the GOMEX Range Complex
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level A
Marine mammal species Level B (non- (slight lung Mortality
injury) injury)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sperm whale................. 5 0 0
Atlantic spotted dolphin.... 20 0 0
Beaked whales............... 20 0 0
Bottlenose dolphin.......... 30 0 0
Clymene dolphin............. 20 0 0
False killer whale.......... 10 0 0
Fraser's dolphin............ 20 0 0
Kogia sp.................... 20 0 0
Melon-headed whale.......... 20 0 0
Pantropical spotted dolphin. 26 1 0
Pygmy killer whale.......... 10 0 0
Risso's dolphin............. 30 0 0
Rough-toothed dolphin....... 20 0 0
Short-finned pilot whale.... 20 0 0
Spinner dolphin............. 27 1 0
[[Page 9258]]
Striped dolphin............. 20 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects on Marine Mammal Habitat
NMFS' GOMEX Range Complex proposed rule included a section that
addressed the effects of the Navy's activities on Marine Mammal Habitat
(74 FR 33960; July 14, 2009; page 33979). NMFS concluded that the
Navy's activities would have minimal effects on marine mammal habitat.
No changes have been made to the discussion contained in this section
of the proposed rule.
Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination
Pursuant to NMFS' regulations implementing the MMPA, an applicant
is required to estimate the number of animals that will be ``taken'' by
the specified activities (i.e., takes by harassment only, or takes by
harassment, injury, and/or death). This estimate informs the analysis
that NMFS must perform to determine whether the activity will have a
``negligible impact'' on the species or stock. Level B (behavioral)
harassment occurs at the level of the individual(s) and does not assume
any resulting population-level consequences, though there are known
avenues through which behavioral disturbance of individuals can result
in population-level effects. A negligible impact finding is based on
the lack of likely adverse effects on annual rates of recruitment or
survival (i.e., population-level effects). An estimate of the number of
Level B harassment takes alone, is not enough information on which to
base an impact determination.
In addition to considering estimates of the number of marine
mammals that might be ``taken'' through behavioral harassment, NMFS
must consider other factors, such as the likely nature of any responses
(their intensity, duration, etc.), the context of any responses
(critical reproductive time or location, migration, etc.), and the
number and nature of estimated Level A takes, the number of estimated
mortalities, and effects on habitat.
The Navy's specified activities have been described based on best
estimates of the planned detonation events the Navy would conduct for
the proposed GOMEX Range Complex training activities. Taking the above
into account, considering the sections discussed below, and dependent
upon the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures, NMFS has
determined that Navy training exercises utilizing underwater explosives
will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species and
stocks present in the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area.
NMFS' analysis of potential behavioral harassment, temporary
threshold shifts, permanent threshold shifts, injury, and mortality to
marine mammals as a result of the GOMEX Range Complex training
activities was provided in the proposed rule (74 FR 33960; July 14,
2009; pages 33965-33972) and is described in more detail below.
Behavioral Harassment
The Navy plans a total of 1 BOMBEX (Air-to-Surface) training event
(each lasting for 1 hour) and 6 Small Arms Training (explosive hand
grenades) events (each lasting for 1-2 hours) annually. The total
training exercises using high explosives proposed by the Navy in the
GOMEX Range Complex amount to approximately 13 hours per year. These
detonation events are widely dispersed throughout several of the
designated sites within the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area. The
probability that detonation events will overlap in time and space with
marine mammals is low, particularly given the densities of marine
mammals in the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area and the implementation of
monitoring and mitigation measures. Moreover, NMFS does not expect
animals to experience repeated exposures to the same sound source as
animals will likely move away from the source after being exposed. In
addition, these isolated exposures, when received at distances where
the Level B behavioral harassment (i.e., 177 dB re 1 microPa\2\-sec)
threshold would propogate, are expected to cause brief startle
reactions or short-term behavioral modification by the animals. These
brief reactions and behavioral changes are expected to disappear when
the exposures cease. Therefore, these levels of received impulse noise
from detonation are not expected to affect annual rates of recruitment
or survival.
TTS
NMFS and the Navy have estimated that individuals of some species
of marine mammals may sustain some level of temporary threshold shift
(TTS) from underwater detonations. TTS can last from a few minutes to
days, be of varying degree, and occur across various frequency
bandwidths. The TTS sustained by an animal is primarily classified by
three characteristics:
Frequency--Available data (of mid-frequency hearing
specialists exposed to mid to high frequency sounds--Southall et al.,
2007) suggest that most TTS occurs in the frequency range of the source
up to one octave higher than the source (with the maximum TTS at \1/2\
octave above).
Degree of the shift (i.e., how many dB is the sensitivity
of the hearing reduced by)--generally, both the degree of TTS and the
duration of TTS will be greater if the marine mammal is exposed to a
higher level of energy (which would occur when the peak dB level is
higher or the duration is longer). Since the impulse from detonation is
extremely brief, an animal would have to approach very close to the
detonation site to increase the received sound exposure level (SEL).
The threshold for the onset of TTS for detonations is a dual criteria:
182 dB re 1 microPa\2\-sec or 23 psi, which might be received at
distances from 345-2,863 m from the centers of detonation based on the
types of net explosive weight (NEW) involved to receive the SEL that
causes TTS compared to similar source level with longer durations (such
as sonar signals).
Duration of TTS (Recovery time)--Of all TTS laboratory
studies, some using continuous exposures of almost an hour in duration
or up to 217 SEL, almost all recovered within 1 day (or less, often in
minutes), though in one study (Finneran et al., 2007), recovery took 4
days.
Although the degree of TTS depends on the received noise
levels and exposure time, all studies show that TTS is reversible and
the animal's sensitivity is expected to recover fully in minutes to
hours. Therefore, NMFS expects that TTS would not affect annual rates
of recruitment or survival.
[[Page 9259]]
Acoustic Masking or Communication Impairment
As discussed above, it is also possible that anthropogenic sound
could result in masking of marine mammal communication and navigation
signals. However, masking only occurs during the time of the signal
(and potential secondary arrivals of indirect rays), versus TTS, which
occurs continuously for its duration. Impulse sounds from underwater
detonations are extremely brief and the majority of most animals'
vocalizations would not be masked. Therefore, masking effects from
underwater detonations are expected to be minimal and unlikely. If
masking or communication impairment were to occur briefly, it would be
in the frequency ranges below 100 Hz, which overlaps with some
mysticete vocalizations; however, it would likely not mask the entirety
of any particular vocalization or communication series because of the
short impulse.
PTS, Injury, or Mortality
The Navy's model estimated that 1 pantropical spotted dolphin and 1
spinner dolphin could experience 50-percent tympanic membrane rupture
or slight lung injury (Level A harassment) as a result of the training
activities utilizing underwater detonation by BOMBEX in the GOMEX Range
Complex Study Area. However, these estimates do not take into
consideration the proposed mitigation and monitoring measures. For
underwater detonations, the animals have to be within an area between
certain injury zones of influence (ZOI) to experience Level A
harassment. Such injury ZOI varies from 0.09 km\2\ to 4.98 km\2\ (or at
distances between 169 m to 1,259 m from the center of detonation)
depending on the types of munition used and the season of the action.
Though it is possible that Navy observers could fail to detect an
animal at a distance of more than 1 km (an injury ZOI during BOMBEX,
which is planned to have 1 event annually), all injury ZOIs from small
arms trainings are smaller than 0.1 km\2\ (178 m in radius) and NMFS
believes it is unlikely that any marine mammal will be missed by
lookouts/watchstanders or MMOs. As discussed previously, the Navy plans
to utilize aerial or vessel surveys to detect marine mammals for
mitigation implementation and indicated that they are capable of
effectively monitoring safety zones.
Based on these assessments, NMFS and the Navy determined that
approximately 5 Sperm whales, 20 Atlantic spotted dolphins, 20 beaked
whales, 30 bottlenose dolphins, 20 Clymene dolphins, 10 false killer
whales, 20 Fraser's dolphins, 20 pygmy or dwarf sperm whales, 20 melon-
headed whales, 26 pantropical spotted dolphins, 10 pygmy killer whales,
30 Risso's dolphins, 20 rough-toothed dolphins, 27 spinner dolphins, 20
short-finned pilot whales, and 20 striped dolphins could be affected by
Level B harassment (TTS and sub-TTS) as a result of the proposed GOMEX
Range Complex training activities. These numbers represent
approximately 0.30%, 0.07%, 0.81%, 0.30%, 2.57%, 4.42%, 0.88%, 0.08%,
3.10%, 1.89%, 0.75%, 2.79%, 1.36%, and 0.60% of sperm whales, Atlantic
spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins (Gulf of Mexico oceanic stock),
Clymene dolphins, false killer whales, pygmy or dwarf sperm whales,
melon-headed whales, pantropical spotted dolphins, pygmy killer whales,
Risso's dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, short-finned pilot whales,
spinner dolphins, and striped dolphins, respectively in the vicinity of
the proposed GOMEX Range Complex Study Area (calculation based on NMFS
2007 U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessment).
Although the population estimates of beaked whales and Fraser's
dolphins are unknown in the proposed action area, NMFS has concluded
that the take of 20 individuals of beaked whales and Fraser's dolphins
by Level B harassment would have a negligible impact because most of
its population exists beyond the project area and because they are a
widely distributed species in the North Atlantic (Jefferson et al.,
1993; Reeves et al., 2002).
In addition, the Level A takes of 1 pantropical spotted dolphin and
1 spinner dolphin represent 0.0029% and 0.0503% of these species,
respectively, in the vicinity of the proposed GOMEX Range Complex Study
Area (calculation based on NMFS 2007 U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Marine Mammal Stock Assessment). Given these very small percentages,
NMFS does not expect there to be any long-term adverse effect on the
populations of the aforementioned dolphin species. No marine mammals
are expected to be killed as a result of these activities.
Additionally, the aforementioned take estimates do not account for
the implementation of mitigation measures. With the implementation of
mitigation and monitoring measures, NMFS expects that the takes would
be reduced further. Coupled with the fact that these impacts will
likely not occur in areas and times critical to reproduction, NMFS has
determined that the total taking over the 5-year period of the
regulations and subsequent LOAs from the Navy's GOMEX Range Complex
training activities will have a negligible impact on the marine mammal
species and stocks present in the GOMEX Range Complex Study Area.
Subsistence Harvest of Marine Mammals
NMFS has determined that the issuance of 5-year regulations and
subsequent LOAs (as warranted) for Navy training exercises in the GOMEX
Range Complex would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the affected species or stocks for subsistence use
since there are no such uses in the specified area.
ESA
There are six ESA-listed marine mammal species that are listed as
endangered under the ESA with confirmed or possible occurrence in the
GOMEX Range Complex: humpback whale, North Atlantic right whale, fin
whale, blue whale, sei whale, and sperm whale.
Pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA, the Navy has consulted with NMFS
on this action. NMFS has also consulted internally on the issuance of
regulations under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA for this activity.
The Biological Opinion concludes that the proposed Navy activities are
likely to adversely affect but are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of these threatened and endangered species under
NMFS jurisdiction.
NEPA
NMFS participated as a cooperating agency on the Navy's Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the GOMEX EIS. NMFS
subsequently adopted the Navy's EIS/OEIS for the purpose of complying
with the MMPA.
Determination
Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat and dependent
upon the implementation of the mitigation measures, NMFS finds that the
total taking from Navy training exercises utilizing underwater
explosives in the GOMEX Range Complex will have a negligible impact on
the affected marine mammal species or stocks and will not result in an
unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of marine mammal species
or stocks for taking for subsistence uses because no subsistence uses
exist in the GOMEX Range Complex study area. NMFS has issued
regulations for these exercises that prescribe the means of effecting
the least
[[Page 9260]]
practicable adverse impact on marine mammals and their habitat and set
forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of that
taking.
Classification
This action does not contain a collection of information
requirement for purposes of the
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this rule
is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified at the proposed rule stage that this action will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The Navy is the sole entity that will be affected by this rulemaking.
It is not a small governmental jurisdiction, small organization or
small business, as defined by the RFA. This rulemaking authorizes the
take of marine mammals incidental to a specified activity. The
specified activity defined in the final rule includes the use of
underwater detonations, which are only used by the U.S. military,
during training activities that are only conducted by the U.S. Navy.
Additionally, any requirements imposed by a Letter of Authorization
issued pursuant to these regulations, and any monitoring or reporting
requirements imposed by these regulations, will be applicable only to
the Navy. Because this action, if adopted, would directly affect the
Navy and not a small entity, NMFS concludes the action would not result
in a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 218
Exports, Fish, Imports, Incidental take, Indians, Labeling, Marine
mammals, Navy, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Seafood, Sonar, Transportation.
Dated: February 10, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 218 is amended
as follows:
PART 218--REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE
MAMMALS
0
1. The authority citation for part 218 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
0
2. Subpart D is added to part 218 to read as follows:
Subpart D--Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training
in the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex
Sec.
218.30 Specified activity and specified geographical area and
effective dates.
218.31 Permissible methods of taking.
218.32 Prohibitions.
218.33 Mitigation.
218.34 Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
218.35 Applications for Letters of Authorization.
218.36 Letters of Authorization.
218.37 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive management.
218.38 Modifications to Letters of Authorization.
Subpart D--Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Navy Training
in the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex
Sec. 218.30 Specified activity and specified geographical area and
effective dates.
(a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to the U.S. Navy for the
taking of marine mammals that occurs in the area outlined in paragraph
(b) of this section and that occur incidental to the activities
described in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) The taking of marine mammals by the Navy is only authorized if
it occurs within the GOMEX Range Complex Operation Areas (OPAREAs),
which is located along the Gulf of Mexico coast of the U.S. described
in Figures 1 and 2 of the LOA application and consists of the BOMBEX
Hotbox (surface and subsurface waters), located off the Alabama and
Florida coast, south of NAS Pensacola, and underwater detonation
(UNDET) Area E3 (surface and subsurface waters), located within the
territorial waters off Padre Island, Texas, near Corpus Christi NAS.
(1) The northernmost boundary of the BOMBEX Hotbox is located 23 nm
(42.6 km) from the coast of the Florida panhandle at latitude 30[deg]
N, the eastern boundary is approximately 200 nm (370.4 km) from the
coast of the Florida peninsula at longitude 86[deg]48' W.
(2) The UNDET Area E3 is a defined surface and subsurface area
located in the waters south of Corpus Christi NAS and offshore of Padre
Island, Texas. The westernmost boundary is located 7.5 nm (13.9 km)
from the coast of Padre Island at 97[deg]9'33'' W and 27[deg]24'26'' N
at the Westernmost corner. It lies entirely within the territorial
waters (0 to 12 nm, or 0 to 22.2 km) of the U.S. and the majority of it
lies within Texas state waters (0 to 9 nm, or 0 to 16.7 km). It is a
very shallow water training area with depths ranging from 20 to 26 m.
(c) The taking of marine mammals by the Navy is only authorized if
it occurs incidental to the following activities within the designated
amounts of use:
(1) The detonation of the underwater explosives identified in
paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section conducted as part of the training
events identified in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section:
(i) Underwater Explosives:
(A) MK-83 (1,000 lb High Explosive bomb);
(B) MK3A2 anti-swimmer concussion grenades (0.5 lbs NEW).
(ii) Training Events:
(A) BOMBEX (Air-to-Surface)--up to 5 events over the course of 5
years (an average of 1 event per year, with 4 bombs in succession for
each event);
(B) Small Arms Training with MK3A2 anti-swimmer concussion
grenades--up to 30 events over the course of 5 years (an average of 6
events per year, with up to 10 live grenades authorized per event, but
no more than 20 live grenades will be used per year).
(2) [Reserved]
(d) Regulations are effective February 17, 2011 through February
17, 2016.
Sec. 218.31 Permissible methods of taking.
(a) Under Letters of Authorization issued pursuant to Sec. Sec.
216.106 of this chapter and 218.36, the Holder of the Letter of
Authorization may incidentally take marine mammals within the area
described in Sec. 218.30(b), provided the activity is in compliance
with all terms, conditions, and requirements of this subpart and the
appropriate Letter of Authorization.
(b) The activities identified in Sec. 218.30(c) must be conducted
in a manner that minimizes, to the greatest extent practicable, any
adverse impacts on marine mammals and their habitat.
(c) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activities
identified in Sec. 218.30(c) is limited to the following species, by
the indicated method of take and the indicated number of times:
(1) Level B Harassment:
(i) Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)--25 (an average of 5
annually);
(ii) Beaked whales--100 (an average of 20 annually);
(iii) Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)--150 (an average of
30 annually);
(iv) Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata)--130 (an
average of 26 annually);
(v) Clymene dolphin (S. clymene)--100 (an average of 20 annually);
(vi) Atlantic spotted dolphin (S. frontalis)--100 (an average of 20
annually);
(vii) Spinner dolphin (S. longirostris)--135 (an average of 27
annually);
[[Page 9261]]
(viii) Striped dolphin (S. coeruleoalba)--100 (an average of 20
annually);
(ix) Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)--150 (an average of 30
annually);
(x) Melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra)--100 (an average of
20 annually);
(xi) False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)--50 (an average of
10 annually);
(xii) Fraser's dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)--100 (an average of 20
annually);
(xiii) Pygmy or dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sp.)--100 (an average of
20 annually);
(xiv) Pygmy killer whale (Ferresa attenuatta)--50 (an average of 10
annually);
(xv) Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis)--100 (an average of
20 annually);
(xvi) Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)--100
(an average of 20 annually).
(2) Level A Harassment (injury):
(i) Pantropical spotted dolphin--5 (an average of 1 annually);
(ii) Spinner dolphin--5 (an average of 1 annually);
Sec. 218.32 Prohibitions.
Notwithstanding takings contemplated in Sec. 218.31 and authorized
by a Letter of Authorization issued under Sec. 216.106 of this chapter
and Sec. 218.36, no person in connection with the activities described
in Sec. 218.30 may:
(a) Take any marine mammal not specified in Sec. 218.31(c);
(b) Take any marine mammal specified in Sec. 218.31(c) other than
by incidental take as specified in Sec. 218.31(c)(1) and (2);
(c) Take a marine mammal specified in Sec. 218.31(c) if such
taking results in more than a negligible impact on the species or
stocks of such marine mammal; or
(d) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and
requirements of this Subpart or a Letter of Authorization issued under
Sec. 216.106 of this chapter and Sec. 218.36.
Sec. 218.33 Mitigation.
(a) When conducting training activities identified in Sec.
218.30(c), the mitigation measures contained in the Letter of
Authorization issued under Sec. 216.106 of this chapter and Sec.
218.36 must be implemented. These mitigation measures include, but are
not limited to:
(1) General Maritime Measures:
(i) Personnel Training--Lookouts:
(A) All bridge personnel, Commanding Officers, Executive Officers,
officers standing watch on the bridge, maritime patrol aircraft
aircrews, and Mine Warfare (MIW) helicopter crews shall complete Marine
Species Awareness Training (MSAT).
(B) Navy lookouts shall undertake extensive training to qualify as
a watchstander in accordance with the Lookout Training Handbook
(NAVEDTRA 12968-D).
(C) Lookout training shall include on-the-job instruction under the
supervision of a qualified, experienced watchstander. Following
successful completion of this supervised training period, lookouts
shall complete the Personal Qualification Standard Program, certifying
that they have demonstrated the necessary skills (such as detection and
reporting of partially submerged objects).
(D) Lookouts shall be trained in the most effective means to ensure
quick and effective communication within the command structure to
facilitate implementation of protective measures if marine species are
spotted.
(E) Surface lookouts shall scan the water from the ship to the
horizon and be responsible for all contacts in their sector. In
searching the assigned sector, the lookout shall always start at the
forward part of the sector and search aft (toward the back). To search
and scan, the lookout shall hold the binoculars steady so the horizon
is in the top third of the field of vision and direct the eyes just
below the horizon. The lookout shall scan for approximately five
seconds in as many small steps as possible across the field seen
through the binoculars. They shall search the entire sector in
approximately five-degree steps, pausing between steps for
approximately five seconds to scan the field of view. At the end of the
sector search, the glasses shall be lowered to allow the eyes to rest
for a few seconds, and then the lookout shall search back across the
sector with the naked eye.
(F) At night, lookouts shall scan the horizon in a series of
movements that would allow their eyes to come to periodic rests as they
scan the sector. When visually searching at night, they shall look a
little to one side and out of the corners of their eyes, paying
attention to the things on the outer edges of their field of vision.
Lookouts shall also have night vision devices available for use.
(ii) Operating Procedures & Collision Avoidance:
(A) Prior to major exercises, a Letter of Instruction, Mitigation
Measures Message or Environmental Annex to the Operational Order shall
be issued to further disseminate the personnel training requirement and
general marine species mitigation measures.
(B) Commanding Officers shall make use of marine species detection
cues and information to limit interaction with marine species to the
maximum extent possible consistent with safety of the ship.
(C) While underway, surface vessels shall have at least two
lookouts with binoculars; surfaced submarines shall have at least one
lookout with binoculars. Lookouts already posted for safety of
navigation and man-overboard precautions may be used to fill this
requirement. As part of their regular duties, lookouts shall watch for
and report to the OOD the presence of marine mammals.
(D) Personnel on lookout shall employ visual search procedures
employing a scanning method in accordance with the Lookout Training
Handbook (NAVEDTRA 12968-D).
(E) After sunset and prior to sunrise, lookouts shall employ Night
Lookouts Techniques in accordance with the Lookout Training Handbook
(NAVEDTRA 12968-D).
(F) While in transit, naval vessels shall be alert at all times,
use extreme caution, and proceed at a ``safe speed'' (the minimum speed
at which mission goals or safety will not be compromised) so that the
vessel can take proper and effective action to avoid a collision with
any marine animal and can be stopped within a distance appropriate to
the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
(G) When marine mammals have been sighted in the area, Navy vessels
shall increase vigilance and implement measures to avoid collisions
with marine mammals and avoid activities that might result in close
interaction of naval assets and marine mammals. Such measures shall
include changing speed and/or course direction and would be dictated by
environmental and other conditions (e.g., safety or weather).
(H) Naval vessels shall maneuver to keep at least 500 yds (460 m)
away from any observed whale and avoid approaching whales head-on. This
requirement does not apply if a vessel's safety is threatened, such as
when change of course will create an imminent and serious threat to a
person, vessel, or aircraft, and to the extent vessels are restricted
in their ability to maneuver. Vessels shall take reasonable steps to
alert other vessels in the vicinity of the whale.
(I) Where feasible and consistent with mission and safety, vessels
shall avoid closing to within 200-yd (183 m) of marine mammals other
than whales (whales addressed above).
[[Page 9262]]
(J) Navy aircraft participating in exercises at sea shall conduct
and maintain, when operationally feasible and safe, surveillance for
marine species of concern as long as it does not violate safety
constraints or interfere with the accomplishment of primary operational
duties. Marine mammal detections shall be immediately reported to
assigned Aircraft Control Unit for further dissemination to ships in
the vicinity of the marine species as appropriate where it is
reasonable to conclude that the course of the ship will likely result
in a closing of the distance to the detected marine mammal.
(K) All vessels shall maintain logs and records documenting
training operations should they be required for event reconstruction
purposes. Logs and records shall be kept for a period of 30 days
following completion of a major training exercise.
(2) Coordination and Reporting Requirements:
(i) The Navy shall coordinate with the local NMFS Stranding
Coordinator for any unusual marine mammal behavior and any stranding,
beached live/dead, or floating marine mammals that may occur at any
time during or within 24 hours after completion of training activities.
(ii) The Navy shall follow internal chain of command reporting
procedures as promulgated through Navy instructions and orders.
(3) Mitigation Measures for Specific At-sea Training Events--If a
marine mammal is injured or killed as a result of the proposed Navy
training activities (e.g., instances in which it is clear that
munitions explosions caused the death), the Navy shall suspend its
activities immediately and report such incident to NMFS.
(i) Air-to-Surface At-Sea Bombing Exercises (1,000-lbs explosive
bombs):
(A) This activity shall only occur in W-155A/B (hot box) area of
the GOMEX Range Complex OPAREA.
(B) Aircraft shall visually survey the target and buffer zone for
marine mammals prior to and during the exercise. The survey of the
impact area shall be made by flying at 1,500 ft (457 m) altitude or
lower, if safe to do so, and at the slowest safe speed. Release of
ordnance through cloud cover is prohibited; aircraft must be able to
actually see ordnance impact areas.
(C) A buffer zone of a 5,100-yard (4,663-m) radius shall be
established around the intended target zone. The exercises shall be
conducted only if the buffer zone is clear of marine mammals.
(D) At-sea BOMBEXs using live ordnance shall occur during daylight
hours only.
(ii) Small Arms Training--Explosive hand grenades (such as the
MK3A2 grenades):
(A) Lookouts shall visually survey for marine mammals prior to and
during exercise.
(B) A 200-yd (182-m) radius buffer zone shall be established around
the intended target. The exercises shall be conducted only if the
buffer zone is clear of marine mammals.
(b) [Reserved]
Sec. 218.34 Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
(a) The Holder of the Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to
Sec. 216.106 of this chapter and Sec. 218.36 for activities described
in Sec. 218.30(c) is required to cooperate with the NMFS when
monitoring the impacts of the activity on marine mammals.
(b) The Holder of the Authorization must notify NMFS immediately
(or as soon as clearance procedures allow) if the specified activity
identified in Sec. 218.30(c) is thought to have resulted in the
mortality or serious injury of any marine mammals, or in any take of
marine mammals not identified in Sec. 218.31(c).
(c) The Navy must conduct all monitoring and required reporting
under the Letter of Authorization, including abiding by the GOMEX Range
Complex Monitoring Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference, and
which requires the Navy to implement, at a minimum, the monitoring
activities summarized below.
(1) Vessel or aerial surveys.
(i) The Holder of this Authorization shall visually survey a
minimum of 1 explosive event per year. One of the vessel or aerial
surveys should involve professional trained marine mammal observers
(MMOs). If it is impossible to conduct the required surveys due to lack
of training exercises, the missed annual survey requirement shall roll
into the subsequent year to ensure that the appropriate number of
surveys (i.e., total of five) occurs over the 5-year period of
effectiveness of this subject.
(ii) When operationally feasible, for specified training events,
aerial or vessel surveys shall be used 1-2 days prior to, during (if
reasonably safe), and 1-5 days post detonation.
(iii) Surveys shall include any specified exclusion zone around a
particular detonation point plus 2,000 yards beyond the border of the
exclusion zone (i.e., the circumference of the area from the border of
the exclusion zone extending 2,000 yards outwards). For vessel-based
surveys a passive acoustic system (hydrophone or towed array) could be
used to determine if marine mammals are in the area before and/or after
a detonation event.
(iv) When conducting a particular survey, the survey team shall
collect:
(A) Location of sighting;
(B) Species (if not possible, indicate whale, dolphin or pinniped);
(C) Number of individuals;
(D) Whether calves were observed;
(E) Initial detection sensor;
(F) Length of time observers maintained visual contact with marine
mammal;
(G) Wave height;
(H) Visibility;
(I) Whether sighting was before, during, or after detonations/
exercise, and how many minutes before or after;
(J) Distance of marine mammal from actual detonations (or target
spot if not yet detonated);
(K) Observed behavior--Watchstanders shall report, in plain
language and without trying to categorize in any way, the observed
behavior of the animal(s) (such as animal closing to bow ride,
paralleling course/speed, floating on surface and not swimming etc.),
including speed and direction;
(L) Resulting mitigation implementation--Indicate whether explosive
detonations were delayed, ceased, modified, or not modified due to
marine mammal presence and for how long; and
(M) If observation occurs while explosives are detonating in the
water, indicate munitions type in use at time of marine mammal
detection.
(2) Passive acoustic monitoring--the Navy shall conduct passive
acoustic monitoring when operationally feasible.
(i) Any time a towed hydrophone array is employed during shipboard
surveys the towed array shall be deployed during daylight hours for
each of the days the ship is at sea.
(ii) The towed hydrophone array shall be used to supplement the
ship-based systematic line-transect surveys (particularly for species
such as beaked whales that are rarely seen).
(iii) The array should have the capability of detecting low
frequency vocalizations (<1,000 Hz) for baleen whales and relatively
high frequency (up to 30 kHz) for odontocetes. The use of two
simultaneously deployed arrays can also allow more accurate
localization and determination of diving patterns.
(3) Marine mammal observers on Navy platforms:
(i) As required in Sec. 218.34(c)(1), MMOs who are selected for
aerial or vessel surveys shall, to the extent practicable, be placed on
a Navy platform during the exercises being monitored.
[[Page 9263]]
(ii) The MMO must possess expertise in species identification of
regional marine mammal species and experience collecting behavioral
data.
(iii) MMOs shall not be placed aboard Navy platforms for every Navy
training event or major exercise. Instead, MMOs should be employed
during specifically identified opportunities deemed appropriate for
data collection efforts. The events selected for MMO participation
shall take into account safety, logistics, and operational concerns.
(iv) MMOs shall observe from the same height above water as the
lookouts.
(v) The MMOs shall not be part of the Navy's formal reporting chain
of command during their data collection efforts; Navy lookouts shall
continue to serve as the primary reporting means within the Navy chain
of command for marine mammal sightings. The only exception is that if
an animal is observed within the shutdown zone that has not been
observed by the lookout, the MMO shall inform the lookout of the
sighting and the lookout shall take the appropriate action through the
chain of command.
(vi) The MMOs shall collect species identification, behavior,
direction of travel relative to the Navy platform, and distance first
observed. Information collected by MMOs should be the same as those
collected by the survey team described in Sec. 218.34(c)(1)(iv).
(d) General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals--Navy
personnel shall ensure that NMFS (regional stranding coordinator) is
notified immediately (or as soon as clearance procedures allow) if an
injured or dead marine mammal is found during or shortly after, and in
the vicinity of, any Navy training exercise utilizing underwater
explosive detonations. The Navy shall provide NMFS with species or
description of the animal(s), the condition of the animal(s) (including
carcass condition if the animal is dead), location, time of first
discovery, observed behaviors (if alive), and photo or video (if
available).
(e) Annual GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan Report--The Navy
shall submit a report annually on March 1 describing the implementation
and results (through January 1 of the same year) of the GOMEX Range
Complex Monitoring Plan. Data collection methods shall be standardized
across range complexes to allow for comparison in different geographic
locations. Although additional information will also be gathered, the
MMOs collecting marine mammal data pursuant to the GOMEX Range Complex
Monitoring Plan shall, at a minimum, provide the same marine mammal
observation data required in Sec. 218.34(c)(1)(iv). The GOMEX Range
Complex Monitoring Plan Report may be provided to NMFS within a larger
report that includes the required Monitoring Plan Reports from GOMEX
Range Complex and multiple range complexes.
(f) Annual GOMEX Range Complex Exercise Report--The Navy shall
provide the information described below for all of their explosive
exercises. Until the Navy is able to report in full the information
below, they shall provide an annual update on the Navy's explosive
tracking methods, including improvements from the previous year.
(1) Total annual number of each type of explosive exercise (of
those identified as part of the ``specified activity'' in this final
rule) conducted in the GOMEX Range Complex.
(2) Total annual expended/detonated rounds (missiles, bombs, etc.)
for each explosive type.
(g) GOMEX Range Complex 5-yr Comprehensive Report--The Navy shall
submit to NMFS a draft report that analyzes and summarizes all of the
multi-year marine mammal information gathered during the GOMEX Range
Complex exercises for which annual reports are required (Annual GOMEX
Range Complex Exercise Reports and GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan
Reports). This report shall be submitted at the end of the fourth year
of the rule (February 2015), covering activities that have occurred
through August 1, 2014.
(h) The Navy shall respond to NMFS comments and requests for
additional information or clarification on the GOMEX Range Complex
Comprehensive Report, the Annual GOMEX Range Complex Exercise Report,
or the Annual GOMEX Range Complex Monitoring Plan Report (or the multi-
Range Complex Annual Monitoring Plan Report, if that is how the Navy
chooses to submit the information) if submitted within 3 months of
receipt. These reports will be considered final after the Navy has
addressed NMFS' comments or provided the requested information, or
three months after the submittal of the draft if NMFS does not comment
by then.
(i) In 2011, the Navy shall convene a Monitoring Workshop in which
the Monitoring Workshop participants will be asked to review the Navy's
Monitoring Plans and monitoring results and make individual
recommendations (to the Navy and NMFS) of ways of improving the
Monitoring Plans. The recommendations shall be reviewed by the Navy, in
consultation with NMFS, and modifications to the Monitoring Plan shall
be made, as appropriate.
Sec. 218.35 Applications for Letters of Authorization.
To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to these regulations,
the U.S. citizen (as defined by Sec. 216.103 of this chapter)
conducting the activity identified in Sec. 218.30(a) (the U.S. Navy)
must apply for and obtain either an initial Letter of Authorization in
accordance with Sec. 218.36 or a renewal under Sec. 218.37.
Sec. 218.36 Letters of Authorization.
(a) A Letter of Authorization, unless suspended or revoked, will be
valid for a period of time not to exceed the period of validity of this
subpart, but must be renewed annually subject to annual renewal
conditions in Sec. 218.37.
(b) Each Letter of Authorization will set forth:
(1) Permissible methods of incidental taking;
(2) Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the
species, its habitat, and on the availability of the species for
subsistence uses (i.e., mitigation); and
(3) Requirements for mitigation, monitoring and reporting.
(c) Issuance and renewal of the Letter of Authorization will be
based on a determination that the total number of marine mammals taken
by the activity as a whole will have no more than a negligible impact
on the affected species or stock of marine mammal(s).
Sec. 218.37 Renewal of Letters of Authorization and adaptive
management.
(a) A Letter of Authorization issued under Sec. Sec. 216.106 and
218.36 of this chapter for the activity identified in Sec. 218.30(c)
will be renewed annually upon:
(1) Notification to NMFS that the activity described in the
application submitted under Sec. 218.35 shall be undertaken and that
there will not be a substantial modification to the described work,
mitigation or monitoring undertaken during the upcoming 12 months;
(2) Timely receipt of the monitoring reports required under Sec.
218.34; and
(3) A determination by the NMFS that the mitigation, monitoring and
reporting measures required under Sec. 218.33 and the Letter of
Authorization issued under Sec. Sec. 216.106 and 218.36 of this
chapter, were undertaken and will be undertaken during the upcoming
annual period of validity of a renewed Letter of Authorization.
[[Page 9264]]
(b) If a request for a renewal of a Letter of Authorization issued
under Sec. Sec. 216.106 and 218.37 of this chapter indicates that a
substantial modification to the described work, mitigation or
monitoring undertaken during the upcoming season will occur, the NMFS
will provide the public a period of 30 days for review and comment on
the request. Review and comment on renewals of Letters of Authorization
are restricted to:
(1) New cited information and data indicating that the
determinations made in this document are in need of reconsideration,
and
(2) Proposed changes to the mitigation and monitoring requirements
contained in these regulations or in the current Letter of
Authorization.
(c) A notice of issuance or denial of a renewal of a Letter of
Authorization will be published in the Federal Register.
(d) NMFS, in response to new information and in consultation with
the Navy, may modify the mitigation or monitoring measures in
subsequent LOAs if doing so creates a reasonable likelihood of more
effectively accomplishing the goals of mitigation and monitoring set
forth in the preamble of these regulations. Below are some of the
possible sources of new data that could contribute to the decision to
modify the mitigation or monitoring measures:
(1) Results from the Navy's monitoring from the previous year
(either from GOMEX Study Area or other locations).
(2) Findings of the Monitoring Workshop that the Navy will convene
in 2011 (Sec. 218.34(j)).
(3) Results from specific stranding investigations (either from the
GOMEX Range Complex Study Area or other locations).
(4) Results from general marine mammal and sound research (funded
by the Navy (described below) or otherwise).
(5) Any information which reveals that marine mammals may have been
taken in a manner, extent or number not authorized by these regulations
or subsequent Letters of Authorization.
Sec. 218.38 Modifications to Letters of Authorization.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no
substantive modification (including withdrawal or suspension) to the
Letter of Authorization by NMFS, issued pursuant to Sec. Sec. 216.106
and 218.36 of this chapter and subject to the provisions of this
subpart shall be made until after notification and an opportunity for
public comment has been provided. For purposes of this paragraph, a
renewal of a Letter of Authorization under Sec. 218.37, without
modification (except for the period of validity), is not considered a
substantive modification.
(b) If the Assistant Administrator determines that an emergency
exists that poses a significant risk to the well-being of the species
or stocks of marine mammals specified in Sec. 218.30(b), a Letter of
Authorization issued pursuant to Sec. Sec. 216.106 and 218.36 of this
chapter may be substantively modified without prior notification and an
opportunity for public comment. Notification will be published in the
Federal Register within 30 days subsequent to the action.
[FR Doc. 2011-3629 Filed 2-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P