[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73556-73629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28894]



[[Page 73555]]

Vol. 80

Tuesday,

No. 226

November 24, 2015

Part III





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration





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50 CFR Part 218





Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S. Navy 
Training and Testing Activities in the Northwest Training and Testing 
Study Area; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 73556]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 218

[Docket No. 140109018-5999-02]
RIN 0648-BD89


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S. 
Navy Training and Testing Activities in the Northwest Training and 
Testing Study Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Upon application from the U.S. Navy (Navy), we (the National 
Marine Fisheries Service) are issuing regulations under the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the unintentional taking of 
marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted 
in the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area from November 
2015 through November 2020. These regulations allow us to issue Letters 
of Authorization (LOAs) for the incidental take of marine mammals 
during the Navy's specified activities and timeframes, set forth the 
permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the 
least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and 
their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring 
and reporting of the incidental take. These regulations also allow us 
to authorize modifications to watchstander requirements for observed 
behavior of marine mammals during Major Training Events (MTEs) in the 
Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT), Atlantic Fleet 
Training and Testing (AFTT), Mariana Islands Training and Testing 
(MITT), and Gulf of Alaska Training (GOA) study areas. Modifications to 
the Navy watchstander requirements include a revision to regulatory 
text in current regulations governing the taking and importing of 
marine mammals during training and/or testing activities in these study 
areas. There are no MTEs associated with Navy training and testing 
activities in the NWTT Study Area.

DATES: Effective date: November 24, 2015. Applicability date: November 
9, 2015, through November 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To obtain an electronic copy of the Navy's application or 
other referenced documents, visit the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. Documents cited 
in this rule may also be viewed, by appointment, during regular 
business hours, at 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC III, Silver Spring MD 
20912.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fiorentino, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability

    A copy of the Navy's LOA application, which contains a list of the 
references used in this document, may be obtained by visiting the 
internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. The Navy's Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS/OEIS) for the NWTT Study Area, 
which also contains a list of the references used in this document, may 
be viewed at http://www.nwtteis.com. Documents cited in this notice may 
also be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the 
aforementioned address (see ADDRESSES).

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the 
incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than 
commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain 
findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking 
is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is 
provided to the public for review.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall 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 (where 
relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements 
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting of such takings 
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.''
    The National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 (NDAA) (Pub. L. 108-
136) removed the ``small numbers'' and ``specified geographical 
region'' limitations indicated above and amended the definition of 
``harassment'' as it applies to a ``military readiness activity'' to 
read as follows (section 3(18)(B) of the MMPA): ``(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 December 19, 2013, NMFS received an application (version (v)1 
dated December 18, 2013) from the Navy requesting two LOAs for the take 
of 25 species of marine mammals incidental to Navy training and testing 
activities to be conducted in the NWTT Study Area over 5 years. On 
October 1, 2014, the Navy submitted a revised LOA application (v2 dated 
September 26, 2014) to reflect updates to exposure estimates based on 
emergent changes to specific types of training activities which were 
addressed in the Navy's supplemental EIS/OEIS for the NWTT Study Area. 
The revised application also provided an update to the effects analysis 
for Guadalupe fur seals (summarized in the Analysis of Guadalupe Fur 
Seal Exposures section of the proposed rule, which published on June 3, 
2015 (80 FR 31737)) to more realistically reflect potential impacts 
from offshore Navy training and testing events. On November 7, 2014, 
the Navy submitted a revised LOA application (v3 dated November 7, 
2014) to address: (a) An inadvertent error in the recommended 
mitigation zone for mine countermeasure and neutralization training 
events; (b) removal of the time delay firing underwater explosive 
training activity; (c) correction or clarification of certain 
mitigation measures applied to testing, and (d) revised mitigation for 
pinniped haulouts. On November 21, 2014, the Navy submitted a revised 
LOA application (v4 dated November 7, 2014) to correct inadvertent 
errors in the exposure calculations. On April 2, 2015, the Navy 
submitted a final revision to the LOA application (v5 dated April 2, 
2015) (hereinafter referred to as the LOA application) to incorporate 
and update population density estimates for the Hood Canal stock of 
harbor seals and remove the ship strike mortality request.

[[Page 73557]]

    The Navy is requesting separate 5-year LOAs for training and 
testing activities to be conducted from 2015 through 2020. The NWTT 
Study Area is composed of established maritime operating and warning 
areas in the eastern north Pacific Ocean region, to include the Strait 
of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and Western Behm Canal in southeastern 
Alaska. The Study Area includes the existing Northwest Training Range 
Complex, the Keyport Range Complex, Carr Inlet Operations Area, 
Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility (SEAFAC), and Navy 
pierside locations where sonar maintenance or testing may occur (see 
Figure 1-1 of the LOA application for a map of the NWTT Study Area). 
The activities conducted within the NWTT Study Area are classified as 
military readiness activities. The Navy states that these activities 
may expose some of the marine mammals present within the NWTT Study 
Area to sound from underwater acoustic sources and explosives. The Navy 
is requesting authorization to take 25 marine mammal species by Level B 
(behavioral) harassment; 5 of those marine mammal species may be taken 
by injury (Level A harassment). The Navy is not requesting mortality 
takes for any species.
    The Navy's LOA application and the NWTT FEIS/OEIS contain acoustic 
thresholds that, in some instances, represent changes from what NMFS 
has used to evaluate the Navy's activities for previous authorizations. 
The revised thresholds, which the Navy developed in coordination with 
NMFS, are based on the evaluation and inclusion of new information from 
recent scientific studies; a detailed explanation of how they were 
derived is provided in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Criteria and Thresholds for 
U.S. Navy Acoustic and Explosive Effects Analysis Technical Report 
(available at http://www.nwtteis.com). The revised thresholds are 
adopted for this rulemaking after providing the public with an 
opportunity for review and comment via the proposed rule for this 
action, which published on June 3, 2015 (80 FR 31737).
    NOAA is currently in the process of developing Acoustic Guidance on 
thresholds for onset of auditory impacts from exposure to sound, which 
will be used to support assessments of the effects of anthropogenic 
sound on marine mammals. To develop this Guidance, NOAA is compiling, 
interpreting, and synthesizing the best information currently available 
on the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals, and is 
committed to finalizing the Guidance through a systematic, transparent 
process that involves internal review, external peer review, and public 
comment.
    In December 2013, NOAA released for public comment a ``Draft 
Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine 
Mammals: Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of Permanent and Temporary 
Threshold Shifts'' (78 FR 78822). The Draft Guidance was generally 
consistent with the Navy's PTS/TTS criteria used in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
and detailed within Finneran and Jenkins (2012). Prior to the 
finalization of this guidance by NOAA, the Navy suggested revisions to 
the criteria (e.g., auditory weighting functions and PTS/TTS 
thresholds) based on a number of studies available since the Navy's 
Phase 2 modeling, including Finneran et al. (2005), Finneran et al. 
(2010), Finneran and Schlundt (2013), Kastelein et al. (2012a), 
Kastelein et al. (2012b), Kastelein et al. (2014a), Kastelein et al. 
(2014b), Popov et al. (2013), and Popov et al. (2011). In January 2015, 
the Navy submitted a draft proposal (Finneran 2015) to NOAA staff for 
their consideration.
    Finneran (2015) proposed new weighting functions and thresholds for 
predicting PTS/TTS in marine mammals. The methodologies presented 
within this paper build upon the methodologies used to develop the 
criteria used within the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Finneran and Jenkins, 
2012) and incorporate relevant auditory research made available since 
2012. While Finneran and Jenkins (2012) presented a conservative 
approach to development of auditory weighting functions where data was 
limited, Finneran (2015) synthesizes a wide range of auditory data, 
including newly available studies, to predict refined auditory 
weighting functions and corresponding TTS thresholds across the 
complete hearing ranges of functional hearing groups. Finneran (2015) 
also developed updated threshold shift growth functions to facilitate 
the development of new PTS thresholds.
    During the development process of NOAA's Draft Guidance, NOAA chose 
to incorporate Finneran (2015) into its Draft Guidance prior to its 
finalization. As a result, the Navy's proposal (Finneran 2015) was 
submitted for peer review by external subject matter experts, in 
accordance with the process previously conducted for NOAA's Draft 
Guidance. Peer review comments were received by NOAA in April 2015. 
NOAA subsequently developed a Peer Review Report, which was published 
on its Web site on July 31, 2015. The published report documents the 
Navy's proposal (Finneran 2015) that underwent peer review, the peer-
review comments, and NOAA's responses to those comments. NOAA then 
incorporated this information into revised Draft Guidance which was 
published in the Federal Register for public review and comment (80 FR 
45642) on July 31, 2015. The auditory weighting functions and PTS/TTS 
thresholds provided in that revised Draft Guidance will not be adopted 
by NOAA or applied to applicants until Final Guidance is issued. At the 
time of this rulemaking, Final Guidance has not been issued. Therefore, 
the Navy has not adopted these proposed criteria in its NWTT FEIS/OEIS. 
However, the underlying science contained within Finneran (2015) has 
been addressed qualitatively within the applicable sections of the 
Final EIS/OEIS and this rulemaking.
    If the proposed criteria in Finneran (2015) were adopted by NOAA, 
incorporated into its Final Guidance, and applied to the Navy in the 
future, predicted numbers of PTS/TTS would change for most functional 
hearing groups. However, because Finneran (2015) relies on much of the 
same data as the auditory criteria presented in the Navy's NWTT FEIS/
OEIS, these changes would not be substantial, and in most cases would 
result in a reduction in the predicted impacts. Predicted PTS/TTS would 
be reduced over much to all of their hearing range for low-frequency 
cetaceans and phocids. Predicted PTS/TTS for mid-frequency and high-
frequency cetaceans would be reduced for sources with frequencies below 
about 3.5 kHz and remain relatively unchanged for sounds above this 
frequency. Predicted auditory effects on otariids would increase for 
frequencies between about 1 kHz and 20 kHz and decrease for frequencies 
above and below these points, although otariids remain the marine 
mammals with the least sensitivity to potential PTS/TTS. Overall, 
predicted auditory effects within this rulemaking would not change 
significantly.
    In summary, NOAA's continued evaluation of all available science 
for the Acoustic Guidance could result in changes to the acoustic 
criteria used to model the Navy's activities for this rulemaking, and, 
consequently, the enumerations of ``take'' estimates. However, at this 
time, the results of prior Navy modeling described in this rule 
represent the best available estimate of the number and type of take 
that may result from the Navy's use of acoustic sources in the NWTT 
Study Area. Further, consideration of the

[[Page 73558]]

revised Draft Guidance and information contained in Finneran (2015) 
does not alter our assessment of the likely responses of marine mammals 
to acoustic sources employed by Navy in the NWTT Study Area, or the 
likely fitness consequences of those responses. Finally, while acoustic 
criteria may also inform mitigation and monitoring decisions, this 
rulemaking requires a robust adaptive management program that regularly 
addresses new information and allows for modification of mitigation 
and/or monitoring measures as appropriate.
    NMFS is also authorizing modifications to watchstander 
requirements, which do not affect current mitigation measures, for 
observed behavior of marine mammals during MTEs in the HSTT, AFTT, 
MITT, and GOA study areas. With these modifications the Navy would no 
longer be required to report individual marine mammal sighting 
information when mitigation is not being implemented during the MTEs. 
After 5 years of collecting marine mammal sighting data for all animals 
sighted during MTEs, NMFS and the Navy have determined that without the 
ability to obtain species information this data set does not provide 
for any meaningful analysis beyond that which may be possible using 
mitigation-related observations alone. The Navy and NMFS have 
thoroughly investigated several potential uses for the data prior to 
reaching this conclusion. Additionally, this reporting requirement 
places an undue administrative burden on ships watch teams, which was 
undue given the limited value of the information collected, as was 
described during the Adaptive Management Process. The Navy will 
continue to collect marine mammal sighting data during MTEs for every 
instance when any form of mitigation is employed such as powering down 
or securing sonar, maneuvering the ship, or delaying an event--in other 
words, in instances where animals are closer to the sound source around 
which mitigation measures are implemented. This data is useful in 
supporting mitigation effectiveness analyses and also may be helpful in 
supporting an understanding of the frequency with which marine mammals 
(generally, not by species) may be encountered or detected in close 
proximity to a particular source (e.g., where the likelihood of 
auditory or other injury is higher). Additionally, the Navy will 
continue to implement its separate Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring 
Program, which includes studies that are specifically designed to 
contribute to our understanding of the animals affected and how Navy 
training and testing impacts them. These modifications shall be 
implemented through the revision of regulatory text for existing 
regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental to 
training and/or testing activities in HSTT, AFTT, MITT, and GOA study 
areas. Revisions to the regulatory text are provided in the regulatory 
text at the end of this final rule. There are no MTEs or marine mammal 
sighting reporting requirements associated with Navy training and 
testing activities in the NWTT study area, therefore this revision is 
not applicable in NWTT.

Description of the Specified Activity

    The proposed rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015) and NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
include a complete description of the Navy's specified training and 
testing activities incidental to which NMFS is authorizing take of 
marine mammals in this final rule. Sonar use and underwater detonations 
are the stressors most likely to result in impacts on marine mammals 
that could rise to the level of harassment. Detailed descriptions of 
these activities are provided in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and LOA application 
(http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm) and are 
summarized here.

Overview of Training Activities

    The Navy routinely trains in the NWTT Study Area in preparation for 
national defense missions. Training activities and exercises covered in 
the Navy's LOA request are briefly described below, and in more detail 
within Chapter 2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. Training activities are 
categorized into eight functional warfare areas (anti-air warfare; 
amphibious warfare; strike warfare; anti-surface warfare; anti-
submarine warfare; electronic warfare; mine warfare; and naval special 
warfare). The Navy determined that the following stressors used in 
these warfare areas are most likely to result in impacts on marine 
mammals:
     Anti-surface warfare (impulsive sources [underwater 
detonations])
     Anti-submarine warfare (non-impulsive sources [active 
sonar], impulsive underwater detonations)
     Mine warfare (non-impulsive sources, impulsive underwater 
detonations)
    The Navy's activities in anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, and 
naval special warfare do not involve stressors that could result in 
harassment of marine mammals. Therefore, these activities are not 
discussed further. The analysis and rationale for excluding these 
warfare areas are contained in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS.

Overview of Testing Activities

    Testing activities covered in the Navy's LOA request are briefly 
described below, and in more detail within Chapter 2 of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS. The Navy researches, develops, tests, and evaluates new 
platforms, systems and technologies. Many tests are conducted in 
realistic conditions at sea, and can range in scale from testing new 
software to operating portable devices to conducting tests of live 
weapons (such as the Service Weapon Test of a torpedo) to ensure they 
function as intended. Testing activities may occur independently of or 
in conjunction with training activities.
    Many testing activities are conducted similarly to Navy training 
activities and are also categorized under one of the primary mission 
areas described above. Other testing activities are unique and are 
described within their specific testing categories. Because each test 
is conducted by a specific component of the Navy's research and 
acquisition community, which includes the Navy's Systems Commands and 
the Navy's scientific research organizations, the testing activities 
described in the LOA application are organized first by that particular 
organization as described below and in the order as presented.
    The Navy describes and analyzes the effects of its testing 
activities within the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. In its assessment, the Navy 
concluded that acoustic stressors from the use of underwater acoustic 
sources and underwater detonations resulted in impacts on marine 
mammals that rose to the level of harassment as defined under the MMPA. 
Therefore, the LOA application for the NWTT Study Area provides the 
Navy's assessment of potential effects from these stressors in terms of 
the various activities that produce them.
    The individual commands within the research and acquisition 
community included in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and in the LOA application 
are:
     Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Within NAVSEA are the 
following field activities:
    [cir] Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport
    [cir] Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), 
Detachment Puget Sound
    [cir] NSWCCD Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility 
(SEAFAC)
    [cir] Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance 
Facility
    [cir] Various NAVSEA program offices

[[Page 73559]]

     Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)

Description of Sonar, Ordnance, Targets, and Other Systems

    The Navy uses a variety of sensors, platforms, weapons, and other 
devices to meet its mission. Training and testing with these systems 
may introduce acoustic (sound) energy into the environment. This 
section describes and organizes sonar systems, ordnance, munitions, 
targets, and other systems to facilitate understanding of the 
activities in which these systems are used. Underwater sound is 
described as one of two types for the purposes of the LOA application: 
Impulsive and non-impulsive. Sonar and similar sound producing systems 
are categorized as non-impulsive sound sources. Underwater detonations 
of explosives and other percussive events are impulsive sounds.

Sonar and Other Active Acoustic Sources

    Modern sonar technology includes a variety of sonar sensor and 
processing systems. The simplest active sonar emits sound waves, or 
``pings,'' sent out in multiple directions and the sound waves then 
reflect off of the target object in multiple directions. The sonar 
source calculates the time it takes for the reflected sound waves to 
return; this calculation determines the distance to the target object. 
More sophisticated active sonar systems emit a ping and then rapidly 
scan or listen to the sound waves in a specific area. This provides 
both distance to the target and directional information. Even more 
advanced sonar systems use multiple receivers to listen to echoes from 
several directions simultaneously and provide efficient detection of 
both direction and distance. The Navy rarely uses active sonar 
continuously throughout activities. When sonar is in use, the pings 
occur at intervals, referred to as a duty cycle, and the signals 
themselves are very short in duration. For example, sonar that emits a 
1-second ping every 10 seconds has a 10-percent duty cycle. The Navy's 
largest hull-mounted mid-frequency sonar source nominally emits a 1-
second ping every 50 seconds representing a 2% duty cycle. The Navy 
utilizes sonar systems and other acoustic sensors in support of a 
variety of mission requirements. Primary uses include the detection of 
and defense against submarines (anti-submarine warfare) and mines (mine 
warfare); safe navigation and effective communications; use of unmanned 
undersea vehicles; and oceanographic surveys. Sources of sonar and 
other active acoustic sources include surface ship sonar, sonobuoys, 
torpedoes, range pingers, and unmanned underwater vehicles.

Ordnance and Munitions

    Most ordnance and munitions used during training and testing events 
fall into three basic categories: Projectiles (such as gun rounds), 
missiles (including rockets), and bombs. Ordnance can be further 
defined by their net explosive weight, which considers the type and 
quantity of the explosive substance without the packaging, casings, 
bullets, etc. Net explosive weight (NEW) is the trinitrotoluene (TNT) 
equivalent of energetic material, which is the standard measure of 
strength of bombs and other explosives. For example, a 12.7-centimeter 
(cm) shell fired from a Navy gun is analyzed at about 9.5 pounds (lb) 
(4.3 kilograms (kg)) of NEW. The Navy also uses non-explosive ordnance 
in place of high explosive ordnance in many training and testing 
events. Non-explosive ordnance look and perform similarly to high 
explosive ordnance, but lack the main explosive charge.

Defense Countermeasures

    Naval forces depend on effective defensive countermeasures to 
protect themselves against missile and torpedo attack. Defensive 
countermeasures are devices designed to confuse, distract, and confound 
precision-guided munitions. Defensive countermeasures analyzed in the 
LOA application include acoustic countermeasures, which are used by 
surface ships and submarines to defend against torpedo attack. Acoustic 
countermeasures are either released from ships and submarines, or towed 
at a distance behind the ship.

Mine Warfare Systems

    The Navy divides mine warfare systems into two categories: Mine 
detection and mine neutralization. Mine detection systems are used to 
locate, classify, and map suspected mines, on the surface, in the water 
column, or on the seafloor. The Navy analyzed the following mine 
detection systems for potential impacts to marine mammals:
     Towed or hull-mounted mine detection systems. These 
detection systems use acoustic and laser or video sensors to locate and 
classify suspect mines. Fixed and rotary wing platforms, ships, and 
unmanned vehicles are used for towed systems, which can rapidly assess 
large areas.
     Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems. Airborne laser 
detection systems work in concert with neutralization systems. The 
detection system initially locates mines and a neutralization system is 
then used to relocate and neutralize the mine.
     Unmanned/remotely operated vehicles. These vehicles use 
acoustic and video or lasers to locate and classify mines and provide 
unique capabilities in nearshore littoral areas, surf zones, ports, and 
channels.
    Mine neutralization systems disrupt, disable, or detonate mines to 
clear ports and shipping lanes, as well as littoral, surf, and beach 
areas in support of naval amphibious operations. Mine neutralization 
systems can clear individual mines or a large number of mines quickly. 
The Navy analyzed the following mine neutralization systems for 
potential impacts to marine mammals:
     Towed influence mine sweep systems. These systems use 
towed equipment that mimic a particular ship's magnetic and acoustic 
signature triggering the mine and causing it to explode.
     Towed mechanical mine sweeping systems. These systems tow 
a sweep wire to snag the line that attaches a moored mine to its anchor 
and then uses a series of cables and cutters to sever those lines. Once 
these lines are cut, the mines float to the surface where Navy 
personnel can neutralize the mines.
     Unmanned/remotely operated mine neutralization systems. 
Surface ships and helicopters operate these systems, which place 
explosive charges near or directly against mines to destroy the mine.
     Projectiles. Small- and medium-caliber projectiles, fired 
from surface ships or hovering helicopters, are used to neutralize 
floating and near-surface mines.
     Diver emplaced explosive charges. Operating from small 
craft, divers put explosive charges near or on mines to destroy the 
mine or disrupt its ability to function.
    Explosive charges are used during mine neutralization system 
training activities; however, only non-explosive mines or mine shapes 
would be used.

Classification of Non-Impulsive and Impulsive Sources Analyzed

    In order to better organize and facilitate the analysis of about 
300 sources of underwater non-impulsive sound or impulsive energy, the 
Navy developed a series of source classifications, or source bins. This 
method of analysis provides the following benefits:

[[Page 73560]]

     Allows for new sources to be covered under existing 
authorizations, as long as those sources fall within the parameters of 
a ``bin;''
     Simplifies the data collection and reporting requirements 
anticipated under the MMPA;
     Ensures a conservative approach to all impact analysis 
because all sources in a single bin are modeled as the loudest source 
(e.g., lowest frequency, highest source level, longest duty cycle, or 
largest net explosive weight within that bin);
     Allows analysis to be conducted more efficiently, without 
compromising the results;
     Provides a framework to support the reallocation of source 
usage (hours/explosives) between different source bins, as long as the 
total number and severity of marine mammal takes remain within the 
overall analyzed and authorized limits. This flexibility is required to 
support evolving Navy training and testing requirements, which are 
linked to real world events.
    A description of each source classification is provided in Tables 
1-3. Non-impulsive sources are grouped into bins based on the 
frequency, source level when warranted, and how the source would be 
used. Impulsive bins are based on the net explosive weight of the 
munitions or explosive devices. The following factors further describe 
how non-impulsive sources are divided:
     Frequency of the non-impulsive source:
    [cir] Low-frequency sources operate below 1 kilohertz (kHz)
    [cir] Mid-frequency sources operate at or above 1 kHz, up to and 
including 10 kHz
    [cir] High-frequency sources operate above 10 kHz, up to and 
including 100 kHz
    [cir] Very high-frequency sources operate above 100 kHz, but below 
200 kHz
     Source level of the non-impulsive source:
    [cir] Greater than 160 decibels (dB), but less than 180 dB
    [cir] Equal to 180 dB and up to 200 dB
    [cir] Greater than 200 dB
    How a sensor is used determines how the sensor's acoustic emissions 
are analyzed. Factors to consider include pulse length (time source is 
on); beam pattern (whether sound is emitted as a narrow, focused beam, 
or, as with most explosives, in all directions); and duty cycle (how 
often a transmission occurs in a given time period during an event).
    There are also non-impulsive sources with characteristics that are 
not anticipated to result in takes of marine mammals. These sources 
have low source levels, narrow beam widths, downward directed 
transmission, short pulse lengths, frequencies beyond known hearing 
ranges of marine mammals, or some combination of these factors. These 
sources were not modeled by the Navy, but are qualitatively analyzed in 
Table 1-4 of the LOA application and in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. These 
sources generally meet the following criteria:
     Acoustic sources with frequencies greater than 200 kHz 
(based on known marine mammal hearing ranges)
     Sources with source levels less than 160 dB

                         Table 1--Impulsive Training and Testing Source Classes Analyzed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Source class                        Representative munitions       Net explosive weight (lbs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E1.............................................  Medium-caliber projectiles.......                      0.1-0.25
E3.............................................  Large-caliber projectiles........                      >0.5-2.5
E4.............................................  Improved Extended Echo Ranging                         >2.5-5.0
                                                  Sonobuoy.
E5.............................................  5 in. (12.7 cm) projectiles......                         >5-10
E8.............................................  250 lb. bomb, lightweight torpedo                       >60-100
E10............................................  1,000 lb. bomb, Air-to-Surface                         >250-500
                                                  Missile.
E11............................................  650 lb. mine, heavyweight torpedo                      >500-650
E12............................................  2,000 lb. bomb...................                    >650-1,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Table 2--Non-Impulsive Training Source Classes Analyzed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Source class category         Source class         Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Frequency (MF): Tactical     MF1              Active hull-mounted
 and non-tactical sources that                     surface ship sonar
 produce mid-frequency (1 to 10                    (e.g., AN/SQS-53C and
 kHz) signals.                                     AN/SQS-60).
                                 MF3              Active hull-mounted
                                                   submarine sonar
                                                   (e.g., AN/BQQ-10).
                                 MF4              Active helicopter-
                                                   deployed dipping
                                                   sonar (e.g., AN/AQS-
                                                   22 and AN/AQS-13).
                                 MF5              Active acoustic
                                                   sonobuoys (e.g., AN/
                                                   SSQ-62 DICASS \2\).
                                 MF11             Hull-mounted surface
                                                   ship sonar with an
                                                   active duty cycle
                                                   greater than 80%.
High-Frequency (HF) and Very     HF1              Active hull-mounted
 High-Frequency (VHF): Tactical                    submarine sonar
 and non-tactical sources that                     (e.g., AN/BQQ-15).
 produce high-frequency
 (greater than 10 kHz but less
 than 200 kHz) signals.
                                 HF4              Active mine detection,
                                                   classification, and
                                                   neutralization sonar
                                                   (e.g., AN/SQS-20).
                                 HF6              Active sources (equal
                                                   to 180 dB and up to
                                                   200 dB).
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW):    ASW2             MF active Multistatic
 Tactical sources such as                          Active Coherent (MAC)
 active sonobuoys and acoustic                     sonobuoy (e.g., AN/
 countermeasures systems used                      SSQ-125).
 during ASW training activities.
                                 ASW3             MF active towed active
                                                   acoustic
                                                   countermeasure
                                                   systems (e.g., AN/SLQ-
                                                   25 NIXIE).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 73561]]


         Table 3--Non-Impulsive Testing Source Classes Analyzed
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Source class category         Source class         Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency (LF): Sources      LF4              Low-frequency sources
 that produce low-frequency                        equal to 180 dB and
 (less than 1 kilohertz [kHz])                     up to 200 dB.
 signals.
                                 LF5              Low-frequency sources
                                                   less than 180 dB.
Mid-Frequency (MF): Tactical     MF1              Active hull-mounted
 and non-tactical sources that                     surface ship sonar
 produce mid-frequency (1 to 10                    (e.g., AN/SQS-53C and
 kHz) signals.                                     AN/SQS-60).
                                 MF3              Hull-mounted submarine
                                                   sonar (e.g., AN/BQQ-
                                                   10).
                                 MF4              Helicopter-deployed
                                                   dipping sonar (e.g.,
                                                   AN/AQS-22 and AN/AQS-
                                                   13).
                                 MF5              Active acoustic
                                                   sonobuoys (e.g.,
                                                   DICASS).
                                 MF6              Active underwater
                                                   sound signal devices
                                                   (e.g., MK-84).
                                 MF8              Active sources
                                                   (greater than 200
                                                   dB).
                                 MF9              Active sources (equal
                                                   to 180 dB and up to
                                                   200 dB).
                                 MF10             Active sources
                                                   (greater than 160 dB,
                                                   but less than 180 dB)
                                                   not otherwise binned.
                                 MF11             Hull-mounted surface
                                                   ship sonar with an
                                                   active duty cycle
                                                   greater than 80%.
                                 MF12             High duty cycle--
                                                   variable depth sonar.
High-Frequency (HF) and Very     HF1              Hull-mounted submarine
 High-Frequency (VHF): Tactical                    sonar (e.g., AN/BQQ-
 and non-tactical sources that                     10).
 produce high-frequency
 (greater than 10 kHz but less
 than 200 kHz) signals.
                                 HF3              Hull-mounted submarine
                                                   sonar (classified).
                                 HF5 \1\          Active sources
                                                   (greater than 200
                                                   dB).
                                 HF6              Active sources (equal
                                                   to 180 dB and up to
                                                   200 dB).
                                 VHF2             Active sources with a
                                                   frequency greater
                                                   than 100 kHz, up to
                                                   200 kHz with a source
                                                   level less than 200
                                                   dB.
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW):    ASW1             Mid-frequency Deep
 Tactical sources such as                          Water Active
 active sonobuoys and acoustic                     Distributed System
 countermeasures systems used                      (DWADS).
 during the conduct of ASW
 testing activities.
                                 ASW2             Mid-frequency
                                                   Multistatic Active
                                                   Coherent sonobuoy
                                                   (e.g., AN/SSQ-125)--
                                                   sources analyzed by
                                                   number of items
                                                   (sonobuoys).
                                 ASW2             Mid-frequency sonobuoy
                                                   (e.g., high duty
                                                   cycle)--Sources that
                                                   are analyzed by
                                                   hours.
                                 ASW3             Mid-frequency towed
                                                   active acoustic
                                                   countermeasure
                                                   systems (e.g., AN/SLQ-
                                                   25).
                                 ASW4             Mid-frequency
                                                   expendable active
                                                   acoustic device
                                                   countermeasures
                                                   (e.g., MK-3).
Torpedoes (TORP): Source         TORP1            Lightweight torpedo
 classes associated with the                       (e.g., MK-46, MK-54).
 active acoustic signals
 produced by torpedoes.
                                 TORP2            Heavyweight torpedo
                                                   (e.g., MK-48,
                                                   electric vehicles).
Acoustic Modems (M): Systems     M3               Mid-frequency acoustic
 used to transmit data                             modems and similar
 acoustically through water.                       sources (up to 210
                                                   dB) (e.g., Underwater
                                                   Emergency Warning
                                                   System, Aid to
                                                   Navigation).
Swimmer Detection Sonar (SD):    SD1              High-frequency sources
 Systems used to detect divers                     with short pulse
 and submerged swimmers.                           lengths, used for the
                                                   detection of swimmers
                                                   and other objects for
                                                   the purpose of port
                                                   security.
Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS):  SAS2             High frequency
 Sonar in which active acoustic                    unmanned underwater
 signals are post-processed to                     vehicle (UUV) (e.g.,
 form high-resolution images of                    UUV payloads).
 the seafloor..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Notes: (1) For this analysis, HF5 consists of only one source; the
  modeling was conducted specifically for that source. (2) DICASS =
  Directional Command Activated Sonobuoy System Proposed Action.

Training and Testing

    The training and testing activities that the Navy proposes to 
conduct in the NWTT Study Area are listed in Tables 4-6. Detailed 
information about each activity (stressor, training or testing event, 
description, sound source, duration, and geographic location) can be 
found in the LOA application and in Appendix A of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. 
NMFS used the detailed information in the LOA application and in 
Appendix A of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS to analyze the potential impacts from 
training and testing activities on marine mammals. The Navy's 
activities are anticipated to meet training and testing needs in the 
years 2015-2020.

Correction to Sonar Testing Activities

    During the development of the Navy's NWTT Draft, Supplemental and 
Final EIS/OEIS, 8 proposed life cycle pierside sonar testing events 
involving surface ships at Naval Station (NS) Everett were incorrectly 
modeled as 8 life cycle pierside sonar testing events involving 
submarines at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK)--Bremerton. The Navy identified 
this error while considering, at the request of NMFS, the overlap of 
NWTT activities within biologically important areas. Although documents 
released to the public for comment, including the NWTT Draft, 
Supplemental and Final EIS/OEIS, the Navy's LOA application, and NMFS' 
proposed rule qualitatively describe life cycle pierside sonar testing 
events as occurring at both NBK--Bremerton and Naval Station Everett, 
the quantitative analysis of impacts on marine mammals that could 
result from these activities is based on modeling data for more events 
occurring at NBK--Bremerton and fewer events than

[[Page 73562]]

required occurring at Naval Station Everett. Additionally, both the 
FEIS/OEIS and the proposed rule already included and considered 
quantitative analysis for Naval Station Everett pierside surface ship 
sonar maintenance training events, events which are similar in both 
conduct and effects to life cycle pierside sonar testing events.
    The Navy corrected the error by eliminating 8 life cycle pierside 
sonar testing events involving submarines and their associated hours at 
NBK--Bremerton and adding 8 life cycle pierside sonar testing events 
involving surface ships and their associated hours to Naval Station 
Everett. This correction results in a reduction of hours in the MF3 bin 
(submarine sonar) and an addition of hours to the MF1 bin (surface ship 
sonar). Life cycle pierside sonar testing events involving submarines 
require use of up to 2 hours of MF3 sonar per event. Life cycle 
pierside sonar testing events involving surface ships require use of up 
to 4 hours of MF1 sonar per event. Given this difference between 
submarine and surface ship life cycle pierside sonar testing, 
elimination of the 8 submarine events at NBK--Bremerton will result in 
an overall reduction of 16 MF3 hours and addition of the 8 surface ship 
events at Naval Station Everett will result in an overall increase of 
32 MF1 hours.
    These revisions have been incorporated in this final rule (Table 
5). Further, the updated predicted exposures resulting from this 
correction are included in the estimated Take of Marine Mammals section 
of this rule and depicted in Table 18, and the resulting analysis is 
discussed in the Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination section 
of this rule.

Summary of Non-Impulsive and Impulsive Sources

    Table 4 provides a quantitative annual summary of training 
activities by sonar and other active acoustic source class analyzed in 
the Navy's LOA request.

  Table 4--Annual Hours of Sonar and Other Active Acoustic Sources Used
               During Training Within the NWTT Study Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Source class category       Source class          Annual use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Frequency (MF) Active       MF1             166 hours.
 sources from 1 to 10 kHz.
                                MF3             70 hours.
                                MF4             4 hours.
                                MF5             896 items.
                                MF11            16 hours.
High-Frequency (HF) Tactical    HF1             48 hours.
 and non-tactical sources that
 produce signals greater than
 10kHz but less than 100kHz.
                                HF4             384 hours.
                                HF6             192 hours.
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)..  ASW2            720 items.
                                ASW3            78 hours.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 5 provides a quantitative annual summary of testing 
activities by sonar and other active sources analyzed in the Navy's LOA 
request.

  Table 5--Annual Hours of Sonar and Other Active Acoustic Sources Used
                During Testing Within the NWTT Study Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Source class category       Source class          Annual use
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency (LF): Sources     LF4             110 hours.
 that produce signals less
 than 1 kHz.
                                LF5             71 hours.
Mid-Frequency (MF): Tactical    MF1             32 hours.
 and non-tactical sources that
 produce signals from 1 to 10
 kHz.
                                MF3             145 hours.
                                MF4             10 hours.
                                MF5             273 items.
                                MF6             12 items.
                                MF8             40 hours.
                                MF9             1,183 hours.
                                MF10            1,156 hours.
                                MF11            34 hours.
                                MF12            24 hours.
High-Frequency (HF) and Very    HF1             161 hours.
 High-Frequency (VHF):
 Tactical and non-tactical
 sources that produce signals
 greater than 10 kHz but less
 than 200 kHz.
                                HF3             145 hours.
                                HF5 \1\         360 hours.
                                HF6             2,099 hours.
Very High-Frequency (VHF):      VHF2            35 hours.
 Tactical and non-tactical
 sources that produce signals
 greater than 100 kHz but less
 than 200 kHz.
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW):   ASW1            16 hours.
 Tactical sources used during
 ASW training and testing
 activities.
                                ASW2 \2\        64 hours.
                                ASW2 \2\        170 items.
                                ASW3            444 hours.
                                ASW4            1,182 hours.
Torpedoes (TORP): Source        TORP1           315 items.
 classes associated with
 active acoustic signals
 produced by torpedoes.
                                TORP2           299 items.

[[Page 73563]]

 
Acoustic Modems (M): Transmit   M3              1,519 hours.
 data acoustically through the
 water.
Swimmer Detection Sonar (SD):   SD1             757 hours.
 Used to detect divers and
 submerged swimmers.
Synthetic Aperture Sonar        SAS2            798 hours.
 (SAS): Sonar in which active
 acoustic signals are post-
 processed to form high-
 resolution images of the
 seafloor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For this analysis, HF5 consists of only one source; the modeling was
  conducted specifically for that source.
\2\ The ASW2 bin contains sources that are analyzed by hours and some
  that are analyzed by count of items. There is no overlap of the
  numbers in the two rows.

    Table 6 provides a quantitative annual summary of training 
explosive source classes analyzed in the Navy's LOA request.

 Table 6--Proposed Annual Number of Impulsive Source Detonations During
                     Training in the NWTT Study Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Annual  in-
                                                                water
    Explo- sive  class      Net  explosive  weight  (NEW)    detonations
                                                             (training)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E1.......................  (0.1 lb.-0.25 lb.).............            48
E3.......................  (>0.5 lb.-2.5 lb.).............             6
E5.......................  (>5 lb.-10 lb.)................            80
E10......................  (>250 lb.-500 lb.).............             4
E12......................  (>650 lb.-1000 lb.)............            10
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 7 provides a quantitative annual summary of testing explosive 
source classes analyzed in the Navy's LOA request.

 Table 7--Proposed Annual Number of Impulsive Source Detonations During
                     Testing in the NWTT Study Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Net  explosive  weight        Annual  in-water
 Explo- sive  class            (NEW)             detonations  (testing)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E3.................  (>0.5 lb.-2.5 lb.)......  72.
E4.................  (>2.5 lb.-5 lb.)........  140 (70 buoys).
E8.................  (>60 lb.-100 lb.).......  3.
E11................  (>500 lb.-650 lb.)......  3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Stressors--Vessel Strikes

    In addition to potential impacts to marine mammals from activities 
during which explosives or sonar and other active acoustic sources are 
used, the Navy also considered potential ship strike impacts to marine 
mammals, which are discussed below. The Navy concluded that no 
additional stressors would result in a take and require authorization 
under the MMPA.
    Vessel strikes may occur from surface operations and sub-surface 
operations (excluding bottom crawling, unmanned underwater vehicles). 
Vessels used as part of the Navy's NWTT training and testing activities 
(proposed action) include ships, submarines and boats ranging in size 
from small, 16-foot (ft.) (5-meter [m]) rigid hull inflatable boats to 
aircraft carriers with lengths up to 1,092 ft. (333 m). Representative 
Navy vessel types, lengths, and speeds used in both training and 
testing activities are shown in Table 8.

         Table 8--Representative Navy Vessel Types, Lengths, and Speeds Used Within the NWTT Study Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Typical
            Vessel type                  Example(s)            Length        operating  speed      Max speed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aircraft Carrier...................  Aircraft Carrier..  >900 ft (>300 m).  10-15 knots......  30+ knots.
Surface Combatants.................  Cruisers,           330-660 ft (100-   10-15 knots......  30+ knots.
                                      Destroyers,         200 m).
                                      Littoral Combat
                                      Ships.
Support Craft/Other................  Range Support       16-250 ft (5-80    Variable.........  20 knots.
                                      Craft, Combat       m).
                                      Rubber Raiding
                                      Craft, Landing
                                      Craft, Utility;
                                      Submarine
                                      Tenders, Yard
                                      Patrol Craft,
                                      Protection
                                      Vessels, Barge.
Support Craft/Other--Specialized     Patrol Coastal      33-130 ft (10-40   Variable.........  50+ knots.
 High Speed.                          Ships, Patrol       m).
                                      Boats, Rigid Hull
                                      Inflatable Boat,
                                      High Speed
                                      Protection
                                      Vessels.
Submarines.........................  Fleet Ballistic     330-660 ft (100-   8-13 knots.......  20+ knots.
                                      Missile             200 m).
                                      Submarines,
                                      Attack
                                      Submarines,
                                      Guided Missile
                                      Submarines.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Large Navy ships greater than 65 ft. (20 m) generally operate at 
speeds in the range of 10-15 knots for fuel conservation when cruising. 
Submarines generally operate at speeds in the range of 8-13 knots 
during transit and slower for certain tactical maneuvers. Small craft 
(for purposes of this discussion less than 65 ft. [20 m] in length) 
have much more variable speeds, dependent on the mission. While these 
speeds are representative, some vessels operate outside of these speeds 
due to unique training, testing, or safety requirements for a given 
event. Examples include increased speeds needed for flight operations, 
full speed runs to test engineering equipment, time critical 
positioning needs, etc. Examples of decreased speeds include speeds 
less than 5 knots or completely stopped for launching small boats, 
certain tactical maneuvers, target launch or retrievals, etc.
    The number of Navy vessels in the Study Area varies based on 
training and testing schedules. Most activities include either one or 
two vessels, with an average of one vessel per activity, and last from 
a few hours up to 2 weeks. Vessel movement and the use of in-water 
devices as part of the proposed action would be concentrated in certain 
portions of the Study Area (such as Western Behm Canal [Alaska] or Hood 
Canal in the inland waters portion of the

[[Page 73564]]

Study Area) but may occur anywhere within the Study Area.
    The Navy analyzed the potential environmental impacts of 
approximately 286 ongoing annual Maritime Security Operations events in 
Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Included in this activity 
are approximately 226 annual Transit Protection System training events. 
These critical events have been occurring since 2006 and exercise the 
Navy's Transit Protection System, where up to nine escort vessels 
provide protection during all nuclear ballistic missile submarine 
(SSBN) transits between the vessel's homeport and the dive/surface 
point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca or Dabob Bay. During a Transit 
Protection System event, the security escorts enforce a moving 
1,000yard security zone around the SSBN to prevent other vessels from 
approaching while the SSBN is in transit on the surface. These events 
include security escort vessels, U.S. Coast Guard personnel and their 
ancillary equipment and weapons systems. The Transit Protection System 
involves the movement of security vessels and also includes periodic 
exercises and firearms training (with blank rounds). Given the relative 
slow speed of the escorted and blocking vessels and multiple lookouts, 
no marine mammal vessel strikes are expected as a result of these 
events.
    In addition to Transit Protection System events, the Navy would 
conduct approximately 60 annual maritime security escort training 
events with Coastal Riverine Group boats that conduct force protection 
for designated vessels and movements. These Coastal Riverine Group boat 
crews train to protect ships while entering and leaving ports. Other 
missions include ensuring compliance with vessel security zones for 
ships in port and at anchor, conducting patrols to counter waterborne 
threats, and conducting harbor approach defense. Special consideration 
will be given to the presence of marine mammals during training events. 
Training will be paused until marine mammals have cleared the area, or 
the training area will be temporarily relocated.
    Navy policy (Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 3100.6H) 
requires Navy vessels to report all whale strikes. That information is 
collected by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Energy and 
Environmental Readiness Division (OPNAV N45) and cumulatively provided 
to NMFS on an annual basis. In addition, the Navy and NMFS also have 
standardized regional reporting protocols for communicating to regional 
NMFS stranding coordinators information on any Navy vessel strikes as 
soon as possible. These communication procedures will remain in place 
for the duration of the LOAs. There are no records of any Navy vessel 
strikes to marine mammals during training or testing activities in the 
NWTT Study Area.

Duration and Location

    Training and testing activities will be conducted in the NWTT Study 
Area for the reasonably foreseeable future. The description of the 
location of authorized activities has not changed from what was 
provided in the proposed rule (80 FR 31737, June 3, 2015; pages 31747-
31749) and NWTT FEIS/OEIS (http://www.nwtteis.com). For a complete 
description, please see those documents. The Study Area is composed of 
established maritime operating and warning areas in the eastern North 
Pacific Ocean region, including areas of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, 
Puget Sound, and Western Behm Canal in southeastern Alaska. The Study 
Area includes air and water space within and outside Washington state 
waters, and outside the state waters of Oregon and Northern California. 
The Study Area includes four existing range complexes and facilities: 
The Northwest Training Range Complex (NWTRC), the Keyport Range 
Complex, Carr Inlet Operations Area, and SEAFAC. In addition to these 
range complexes, the Study Area also includes Navy pierside locations 
where sonar maintenance and testing occurs as part of overhaul, 
modernization, maintenance and repair activities at NAVBASE Kitsap, 
Bremerton; NAVBASE Kitsap, Bangor; and Naval Station Everett.

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activities

    Twenty-nine marine mammal species are known to occur in the Study 
Area, including seven mysticetes (baleen whales), 16 odontocetes 
(dolphins and toothed whales), and six pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). 
The Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified 
Activities section was included in the proposed rule (80 FR 31737, June 
3, 2015, 2014; pages 31749-31750). Table 9 of the proposed rule 
provided a list of marine mammals with possible or confirmed occurrence 
within the NWTT Study Area, including stock, abundance, and status.
    The proposed rule, the Navy's LOA application, and the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS include a complete description of information on the status, 
distribution, abundance, vocalizations, density estimates, and general 
biology of marine mammal species in the Study Area. In addition, NMFS 
publishes annual stock assessment reports for marine mammals, including 
some stocks that occur within the Study Area (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals).

Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals

    In the Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals 
section of the proposed rule (80 FR 31737, June 3, 2015; pages 31752-
31769), we included a qualitative discussion of the different ways that 
Navy training and testing activities may potentially affect marine 
mammals without consideration of mitigation and monitoring measures. 
That information has not changed and is not repeated here.

Mitigation

    Under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, NMFS must set 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.'' NMFS' duty under 
this ``least practicable adverse impact'' standard is to prescribe 
mitigation reasonably designed to minimize, to the extent practicable, 
any adverse population-level impacts, as well as habitat impacts. While 
population-level impacts are minimized by reducing impacts on 
individual marine mammals, not all takes have a reasonable potential 
for translating to population-level impacts. NMFS' objective under the 
``least practicable adverse impact'' standard is to design mitigation 
targeting those impacts on individual marine mammals that are 
reasonably likely to contribute to adverse population-level effects.
    The NDAA of 2004 amended the MMPA as it relates to military 
readiness activities and the ITA 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 training and testing activities 
described in the Navy's LOA application are considered military 
readiness activities.
    In Conservation Council for Hawaii v. National Marine Fisheries 
Service, No. 1:13-cv-00684 (D. Hawaii March 31, 2015), the court stated 
that NMFS ``appear[s] to think that [it] satisf[ies] the statutory 
`least practicable adverse impact' requirement with a `negligible 
impact' finding.'' In light of the court's decision, we take this 
opportunity to make clear our position that the

[[Page 73565]]

``negligible impact'' and ``least practicable adverse impact'' 
requirements are distinct, even though the focus of both is on 
population-level impacts.
    A population-level impact is an impact on the population numbers 
(survival) or growth and reproductive rates (recruitment) of a 
particular marine mammal species or stock. As we noted in the preamble 
to our general MMPA implementing regulations, not every population-
level impact violates the negligible impact requirement. As we 
explained, the negligible impact standard does not require a finding 
that the anticipated take will have ``no effect'' on population numbers 
or growth rates: ``The statutory standard does not require that the 
same recovery rate be maintained, rather that no significant effect on 
annual rates of recruitment or survival occurs . . . [T]he key factor 
is the significance of the level of impact on rates of recruitment or 
survival. Only insignificant impacts on long-term population levels and 
trends can be treated as negligible.'' See 54 FR 40338, 40341-42 
(September 29, 1989). Nevertheless, while insignificant impacts on 
population numbers or growth rates may satisfy the negligible impact 
requirement, such impacts still must be mitigated, to the extent 
practicable, under the ``least practicable adverse impact'' 
requirement. Thus, the negligible impact and least practicable adverse 
impact requirements are clearly distinct, even though both focus on 
population-level effects.
    As explained in the proposed rule, any mitigation measure(s) 
prescribed by NMFS should be able to accomplish, have a reasonable 
likelihood of accomplishing (based on current science), or contribute 
to accomplishing one or more of the general goals listed below:
    a. Avoid or minimize injury or death of marine mammals wherever 
possible (goals b, c, and d may contribute to this goal).
    b. Reduce the numbers of marine mammals (total number or number at 
biologically important time or location) exposed to received levels of 
MFAS/HFAS, underwater detonations, or other activities expected to 
result in the take of marine mammals (this goal may contribute to a, 
above, or to reducing harassment takes only).
    c. Reduce the number of times (total number or number at 
biologically important time or location) individuals would be exposed 
to received levels of MFAS/HFAS, underwater detonations, or other 
activities expected to result in the take of marine mammals (this goal 
may contribute to a, above, or to reducing harassment takes only).
    d. Reduce the intensity of exposures (either total number or number 
at biologically important time or location) to received levels of MFAS/
HFAS, underwater detonations, or other activities expected to result in 
the take of marine mammals (this goal may contribute to a, above, or to 
reducing the severity of harassment takes only).
    e. Avoid or minimize adverse effects to marine mammal habitat 
(including acoustic 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.
    f. For monitoring directly related to mitigation--increase the 
probability of detecting marine mammals, thus allowing for more 
effective implementation of the mitigation (shut-down zone, etc.).
    Our final evaluation of measures that meet one or more of the above 
goals includes consideration of the following factors in relation to 
one another: The manner in which, and the degree to which, the 
successful implementation of the mitigation measures is expected to 
reduce population-level impacts to marine mammal species and stocks and 
impacts to their habitat; the proven or likely efficacy of the 
measures; and the practicability of the suite of measures for applicant 
implementation, including consideration of personnel safety, 
practicality of implementation, and impact on the effectiveness of the 
military readiness activity.
    NMFS reviewed the proposed activities and the suite of proposed 
mitigation measures as described in the Navy's LOA application to 
determine if they would result in the least practicable adverse effect 
on marine mammals. NMFS described the Navy's proposed mitigation 
measures in detail in the proposed rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; 
pages 31771-31780). NMFS worked with the Navy in the development of the 
Navy's initially proposed measures, and they are informed by years of 
experience and monitoring. As described in the Mitigation Conclusions 
below and in responses to comments, and in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, some 
additional measures were considered and analyzed, but ultimately not 
chosen for implementation. However, some area-specific mitigation 
measures considered by the Navy and NMFS for the Navy's low use of mid-
frequency active sonar and other activities in certain areas of 
particular importance to marine mammals have been clarified or updated 
below (see Consideration of Time/Area Limitation) and in the Comments 
and Responses section of this rule. These additional area-specific 
measures are also included in the regulatory text (see Sec.  218.144 
Mitigation) at the end of this rule. Below are the mitigation measures 
as agreed upon by the Navy and NMFS. For additional details regarding 
the Navy's mitigation measures, see Chapter 5 in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS.
     At least one Lookout during the training and testing 
activities provided in Table 9;
     Mitigation zones ranging from 70 yards (yd) (64 m) to 2.5 
nautical miles (nm) during applicable activities that involve the use 
of impulsive and non-impulsive sources to avoid or reduce the potential 
for onset of the lowest level of injury, PTS, out to the predicted 
maximum range (Table 10).
     For all training activities and for testing activities 
involving surface ships, vessels shall maneuver to keep at least 500 yd 
(457 m) away from whales and 200 yd (183 m) away from all other marine 
mammals (except bow riding dolphins, and pinnipeds hauled out on man-
made navigational and port structures and vessels) during vessel 
movements. These requirements do not apply if a vessel's safety is 
threatened and to the extent that vessels are restricted in their 
ability to maneuver (e.g. launching and recovering aircraft or landing 
craft, towing activities, mooring, etc.) (Table 10).
     For testing activities not involving surface ships (e.g. 
range craft), vessels shall maneuver to keep at least 100 yd (91 m) 
away from marine mammals (except bow-riding dolphins, pinnipeds hauled 
out on man-made navigational and port structures and vessels, and 
pinnipeds during test body retrieval) during vessel movements. These 
requirements do not apply if a vessel's safety is threatened and to the 
extent that vessels are restricted in their ability to maneuver (e.g. 
launching and recovering aircraft or landing craft, towing activities, 
mooring, etc.) (Table 10).
     The Navy will ensure that towed in-water devices being 
towed from manned platforms avoid coming within a mitigation zone of 
250 yd (229 m) for all training events and testing activities involving 
surface ships, and a mitigation zone of 100 yd (91 m) for testing 
activities not involving surface ships (e.g. range craft) around any 
observed marine mammal, providing it is safe to do so.
     Mitigation zones ranging from 200 yd (183 m) to 1,000 yd 
(914 m) during

[[Page 73566]]

activities that involve the use of non-explosive practice munitions.
     The Navy is clarifying its existing speed protocol: While 
in transit, Navy vessels shall be alert at all times, use extreme 
caution, and proceed at a ``safe speed'' so that the vessel can take 
proper and effective action to avoid a collision with any sighted 
object or disturbance, including any marine mammal or sea turtle and 
can be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing 
circumstances and conditions.

Table 9--Lookout Mitigation Measures for Training and Testing Activities
                       Within the NWTT Study Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of lookouts            Training and testing activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-2......................  Low-Frequency and Hull Mounted Mid-Frequency
                            Active Sonar.
1-2......................  High-Frequency and Non-Hull Mounted Mid-
                            Frequency Active Sonar.
1........................  Improved Extended Echo Ranging Sonobuoys
                            (testing only).
1........................  Explosive Signal Underwater Sound Buoys Using
                            >0.5-2.5 Pound Net Explosive Weight.
2........................  Mine Countermeasures and Neutralization
                            Activities Using Positive Control Firing
                            Devices (training only).
1-2......................  Gunnery Exercises Using Surface Target
                            (training only).
1........................  Missile Exercises Using Surface Target
                            (training only).
1 (minimum)..............  Bombing Exercises--Explosive (training only).
1-2......................  Torpedo--Explosive (testing only).\1\
1........................  Weapons Firing Noise During Gunnery Exercises
                            (training only).
1 (minimum)..............  Vessel Movement.
1........................  Towed In-Water Device.
1........................  Gunnery Exercises--Non-Explosive (training
                            only).
1........................  Bombing Exercises--Non-Explosive (training
                            only).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For explosive torpedo tests from aircraft, the Navy will have one
  Lookout positioned in an aircraft; for explosive torpedoes tested from
  a surface ship, the Navy is proposing to use the Lookout procedures
  currently implemented for hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar
  activities.


                           Table 10--Predicted Ranges to TTS, PTS, and Recommended Mitigation Zones for Each Activity Category
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Bin (representative     Predicted  average     Predicted average     Predicted  maximum     Recommended mitigation
         Activity category               source) \1\           range  to TTS           range to PTS          range  to PTS                zone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Non-Impulsive Sound
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency and Hull-Mounted Mid- SQS-53 ASW hull-       4,251 yd. (3,887 m)    100 yd. (91 m) for     Not applicable......  Training: 1,000 yd. (914
 Frequency Active Sonar \2\.         mounted sonar (MF1).   for one ping.          one ping.                                    m) and 500 yd. (457 m)
                                                                                                                                power downs and 200 yd.
                                                                                                                                (183 m) shutdown for
                                                                                                                                cetaceans, 100 yd. (91
                                                                                                                                m) mitigation zone for
                                                                                                                                pinnipeds (excludes
                                                                                                                                haulout areas).
                                                                                                                               Testing: 1,000 yd. (914
                                                                                                                                m) and 500 yd. (457 m)
                                                                                                                                power downs for sources
                                                                                                                                that can be powered down
                                                                                                                                and 200 yd. (183 m)
                                                                                                                                shutdown for cetaceans,
                                                                                                                                100 yd. (91 m) for
                                                                                                                                pinnipeds (excludes
                                                                                                                                haulout areas).
High-Frequency and Non-Hull-        AQS-22 ASW dipping     226 yd. (207 m) for    20 yd. (18 m) for one  Not applicable......  Training: 200 yd. (183
 Mounted Mid-Frequency Active        sonar (MF4).           one ping.              ping.                                        m).
 Sonar \2\.                                                                                                                    Testing: 200 yd. (183 m)
                                                                                                                                for cetaceans, 100 yd.
                                                                                                                                (91 m) for pinnipeds
                                                                                                                                (excludes haulout
                                                                                                                                areas).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Explosive and Impulsive Sound
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Improved Extended Echo Ranging      Explosive sonobuoy     237 yd. (217 m)......  133 yd. (122 m)......  235 yd. (215 m).....  Training: n/a.
 Sonobuoys.                          (E4).                                                                                     Testing: 600 yd. (549 m).
Signal Underwater Sound (SUS)       Explosive sonobuoy     178 yd. (163 m)......  92 yd. (84 m)........  214 yd. (196 m).....  Training: 350 yd. (320
 buoys using >0.5-2.5 lb. NEW.       (E3).                                                                                      m).
                                                                                                                               Testing: 350 yd. (320 m).
Mine Countermeasure and             >0.5 to 2.5 lb NEW     495 yd. (453 m)......  145 yd. (133 m)......  373 yd. (341 m).....  Training: 400 yd. (336
 Neutralization Activities           (E3).                                                                                      m).
 (positive control).                                                                                                           Testing: n/a.
Gunnery Exercises--Small- and       25 mm projectile (E1)  72 yd. (66 m)........  48 yd. (44 m)........  73 yd. (67 m).......  Training: 200 yd. (183
 Medium-Caliber (Surface Target).                                                                                               m).
                                                                                                                               Testing: n/a.
Gunnery Exercises--Large-Caliber    5 in. projectiles (E5  210 yd. (192 m)......  110 yd. (101 m)......  177 yd. (162 m).....  Training: 600 yd. (549
 (Surface Target).                   at the surface) \3\.                                                                       m).
                                                                                                                               Testing: n/a.
Missile Exercises up to 500 lb.     Harpoon missile (E10)  1,164 yd. (1,065 m)..  502 yd. (459 m)......  955 yd. (873 m).....  Training: 2,000 yd. (1.8
 NEW (Surface Target).                                                                                                          km).
                                                                                                                               Testing: n/a.

[[Page 73567]]

 
Bombing Exercises.................  MK-84 2,000 lb. bomb   1,374 yd. (1,256 m)..  591 yd. (540 m)......  1,368 yd. (1,251 m).  Training: 2,500 yd. (2.3
                                     (E12).                                                                                     km).
                                                                                                                               Testing: n/a.
Lightweight Torpedo (Explosive)     MK-46 torpedo (E8)...  497 yd. (454 m)......  245 yd. (224 m)......  465 yd. (425 m).....  Training: n/a.
 Testing.                                                                                                                      Testing: 2,100 yd. (1.9
                                                                                                                                km).
Heavyweight Torpedo (Explosive)     MK-48 torpedo (E11)..  1,012 yd. (926 m)....  472 yd. (432 m)......  885 yd. (809 m).....  Training: n/a.
 Testing.                                                                                                                      Testing: 2,100 yd. (1.9
                                                                                                                                km).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This table does not provide an inclusive list of source bins; bins presented here represent the source bin with the largest range to effects within
  the given activity category.
\2\ High-frequency and non-hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar category includes unmanned underwater vehicle and torpedo testing activities.
\3\ The representative source Bin E5 has different range to effects depending on the depth of activity occurrence (at the surface or at various depths).
Notes: ASW = anti-submarine warfare, in. = inch, km = kilometer, m = meter, mm = millimeter, n/a = Not Applicable, NEW = net explosive weight, PTS =
  permanent threshold shift, TTS = temporary threshold shift, yd. = yard.

Consideration of Time/Area Limitations

Area-Specific Mitigation
    The Navy has previously placed certain voluntary limitations on 
their activities in Puget Sound and coastal areas. These limitations 
have been incorporated into the final rule.
Puget Sound
    MFAS Training: Currently, the Navy is not conducting nor is it 
proposing to conduct training with mid-frequency active hull-mounted 
sonar on vessels while underway in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan 
de Fuca. The Navy's process since 2003 requires approval prior to 
operating mid-frequency active hull-mounted sonar in Puget Sound and 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Navy will continue the permission and 
approval process, in place since 2003, through U.S. Pacific Fleet's 
designated authority for all mid-frequency active hull-mounted sonar on 
vessels while training underway in Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de 
Fuca.
    Pierside Maintenance/Testing of Sonar Systems: Pierside maintenance 
and testing of sonar systems within Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan 
de Fuca will also require approval by U.S. Pacific Fleet's designated 
authority or System Command designated authority as applicable and must 
be conducted in accordance with Navy's Protective Measures Assessment 
Protocol (PMAP) for ship and submarine active sonar use, to include use 
of lookouts. Use of active sonar for anti-terrorism force protection or 
for safe navigation within the Puget Sound or Strait of Juan de Fuca, 
or for testing activities within the Dabob Bay Range is always 
permitted for safety of ship/national security reasons. This scheme has 
been functioning appropriately since 2003 and there has been, as 
reflected in annual reports submitted to NMFS for the Northwest 
Training Range Complex, limited active sonar use for maintenance and 
testing across Puget Sound and no use for training purposes has been 
approved in that timeframe.
    Civilian Port Defense Exercise (Maritime Homeland Defense/Security 
Mine Countermeasure Exercise): Prior to Maritime Homeland Defense/
Security Mine Countermeasure Integrated Exercises, the Navy will 
conduct pre-event planning and training to ensure environmental 
awareness of all exercise participants. When this event is proposed to 
be conducted in Puget Sound, Navy event planners will consult with Navy 
biologists who will contact NMFS (Protected Resources Division, West 
Coast Marine Species Branch Chief) during the planning process in order 
to determine likelihood of gray whale or southern resident killer whale 
presence in the proposed exercise area as planners consider specifics 
of the event.
    Non-Explosive Gunnery Exercises: One gunnery exercise, Small Boat 
Attack, involves only blank rounds and no targets. However, because of 
the exercise location in Puget Sound, prior to Small Boat Attack 
training, the Navy will conduct pre-event planning and training to 
ensure environmental awareness of all exercise participants. When this 
event is proposed to be conducted in and around Naval Station Everett, 
Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, or Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton in Puget 
Sound, Navy event planners will consult with Navy biologists who will 
contact NMFS early in the planning process in order to determine the 
extent marine mammals may be present in the immediate vicinity of 
proposed exercise area as planners consider the specifics of the event.
    Mine Neutralization: The Navy conducts Explosive Ordnance Disposal 
(EOD) Mine Neutralization events in only two designated locations 
within the Inland Waters of the NWTT Study Area. A process has been in 
place requiring approval from U.S. Third Fleet prior to conducting EOD 
underwater detonations. The Navy will continue the permission and 
approval process through U.S. Third Fleet for in-water explosives 
training conducted at Hood Canal or Crescent Harbor.
Coastal Areas
    The Navy will conduct Missile Exercises using high explosives at 
least 50 nm from shore in the NWTRC Offshore Area. The Navy will 
conduct BOMBEX (high explosive munitions) events at least 50 nm from 
shore, and will conduct BOMBEX (non-explosive practice munitions) 
events at least 20 nm from shore.
Feeding and Migration Areas
    The Navy's and NMFS' analysis of effects to marine mammals 
considers emergent science regarding locations where cetaceans are 
known to engage in specific activities (e.g., feeding, breeding/
calving, or migration) at certain times of the year that are important 
to individual animals as well as populations of marine mammals (see 
discussion in Van Parijs, 2015). Where data were available, Van Parijs 
(2015) identified areas that are important in this way and named the 
areas Biologically Important Area (BIA). It is important to note that 
the BIAs were not meant to define exclusionary zones, nor were they 
meant to be locations that

[[Page 73568]]

serve as sanctuaries from human activity, or areas analogous to marine 
protected areas (see Ferguson et al. (2015a) regarding the envisioned 
purpose for the BIA designations). The delineation of BIAs does not 
have direct or immediate regulatory consequences, although it is 
appropriate to consider them as part of the body of science that may 
inform mitigation decisions, depending on the circumstances. The 
intention was that the BIAs would serve as resource management tools 
and that their boundaries be dynamic and considered along with any new 
information as well as, ``existing density estimates, range-wide 
distribution data, information on population trends and life history 
parameters, known threats to the population, and other relevant 
information'' (Van Parijs, 2015).
    The Navy and NMFS have supported and will continue to support the 
Cetacean and Sound Mapping project, including providing representation 
on the Cetacean Density and Distribution Mapping Working Group (CetMap) 
developing the BIAs, which informed NMFS' identification of BIAs. The 
same marine mammal density data present in the Navy's Density Database 
Technical Report (U.S. Department of the Navy, 2014) and used in the 
analysis for the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and this rule were used in the 
development of BIAs. The final products, including U.S. West Coast 
BIAs, from this mapping effort were completed and published in March 
2015 (Aquatic Mammals, 2015; Calambokidis et al., 2015; Ferguson et 
al., 2015a, 2015b; Van Parijs, 2015). 131 BIAs for 24 marine mammal 
species, stocks, or populations in seven regions within U.S. waters 
were identified (Ferguson et al., 2015a). BIAs in the West Coast of the 
continental U.S. with the potential to overlap portions of the Study 
Area include the following feeding and migration areas: Northern Puget 
Sound Feeding Area for gray whales (March-May); Northwest Feeding Area 
for gray whales (May-November); Northbound Migration Phase A for gray 
whales (January-July); Northbound Migration Phase B for gray whales 
(March-July); Northern Washington Feeding Area for humpback whales 
(May-November); Stonewall and Heceta Bank Feeding Area for humpback 
whales (May-November); and Point St. George Feeding Area for humpback 
whales (July-November) (Calambokidis et al., 2015).
    NMFS' Office of Protected Resources routinely considers available 
information about marine mammal habitat use to inform discussions with 
applicants regarding potential spatio-temporal limitations on their 
activities that might help effect the least practicable adverse impact 
on species or stocks and their habitat. BIAs are useful tools for 
planning and impact assessments and are being provided to the public 
via this Web site: www.cetsound.noaa.gov. While these BIAs are useful 
tools for analysts, any decisions regarding protective measures based 
on these areas must go through the normal MMPA evaluation process (or 
any other statutory process that the BIAs are used to inform); the 
designation of a BIA does not pre-suppose any specific management 
decision associated with those areas, nor does it have direct or 
immediate regulatory consequences.
    During the April 2014 annual adaptive management meeting in 
Washington, DC, NMFS and the Navy discussed the BIAs that might overlap 
with portions of the NWTT Study Area, what Navy activities take place 
in these areas (in the context of what their effects on marine mammals 
might be or whether additional mitigation might be necessary), and what 
measures could be implemented to reduce impacts in these areas (in the 
context of their potential to reduce marine mammal impacts and their 
practicability). Upon request by NMFS the Navy prepared an assessment 
of these BIAs, including the degree of spatial overlap of their action 
areas and activities as well as an analysis of potential impacts or 
lack of impacts for each BIA. The Navy determined that there was some 
very limited, to no direct spatial overlap with the marine mammal 
feeding and migration areas for the majority of the NWTT Study Area (as 
depicted in Figures 3.4-2--3.4-4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS). There is even 
less overlap with the actual training and testing activities based on 
historical training and testing profiles. The majority of overlap 
involves vessel transit activity rather than actual acoustic training 
and testing activities. The following paragraphs go into more detail on 
the spatial and activity overlap with marine mammal feeding and 
migration areas.
Spatial Overlap of NWTT Study Area and BIAs
    Gray whale areas: There is no direct spatial overlap between the 
Study Area and four of the offshore gray whale feeding areas--Grays 
Harbor, WA; Depoe Bay, OR; Cape Blanco and Orford Reef, OR; and Pt. St. 
George, CA. The NWTT Study Area does overlap with the newly designated 
offshore gray whale Northwest WA feeding area and the Northern Puget 
Sound gray whale feeding area. There is no overlap of the gray whale 
migrations corridor(s) and the NWTT Study Area, with the exception of a 
portion of the NW coast of Washington approximately from Pacific Beach 
(WA) and extending north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
    Humpback whale areas: The offshore Northern WA humpback whale 
feeding area is located entirely within the Study Area boundaries. The 
humpback whale feeding area at Stonewall and Hecta Bank only partially 
overlaps with the Study Area, and the feeding area at Point St. George 
has extremely limited overlap with the Study Area.

Training and Testing Activity Overlap

    Gray whale areas: The gray whale NW Washington feeding area abuts 
to the shoreline of the NW coast of WA and lies adjacent to the main 
shipping channel between the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific 
Ocean. There is a small likelihood of Navy vessel movement in the gray 
whale feeding area mapped along the northern coast of Washington as 
ships transit to the offshore training and testing areas. Based on 
approximate historically used locations and the proposed training and 
testing activities described in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, there is no direct 
spatial overlap of any training or testing activities within this 
feeding area. The majority of activities occur greater than 12 nm 
offshore, thus significantly reducing the potential for overlap. 
Furthermore, the Navy's LOA request describes mitigation measures that 
it will implement to avoid vessel strikes, such as continuing to use 
extreme caution and a safe speed when transiting, maneuvering to keep 
at least 500 yards from whales observed in a vessel's path, and not 
approaching whales head-on, provided it is safe to do so. The Navy will 
also be required to report any vessel strike. The Navy and NMFS 
concluded that these mitigation measures in addition to historical 
training and testing profiles indicate that additional mitigations are 
not warranted for this feeding area.
    Vessel movement associated with both training and testing 
activities is likely to occur within the gray whale feeding area in 
Northern Puget Sound. Navy ships cannot avoid transiting through this 
area in order to exit the Puget Sound. Figure 3.0-5 in the NWTT FEIS/
OIES depicts average ship traffic density within the major shipping 
routes within the Pacific Northwest. Overall vessel traffic near 
Everett, whose port is within or adjacent to the Northern Puget Sound 
feeding area, is relatively low compared to other inland water areas. 
The Navy's proportion of the total vessel traffic is extremely minimal 
with only 6 surface ships

[[Page 73569]]

homeported at Naval Station Everett. Therefore, while there is overlap, 
the potential for Navy vessels to interact with feeding gray whales 
within this area is low, especially given the short time period (March-
May) that whales will be present. The Navy's request describes 
mitigation measures that it will implement to avoid vessel strikes, 
such as continuing to use extreme caution and a safe speed when 
transiting, maneuvering to keep at least 500 yards from whales observed 
in a vessel's path, and not approaching whales head-on, provided it is 
safe to do so. The Navy will also be required to report any vessel 
strike. (Note that the Navy does not find vessel strikes likely to 
occur given there is no recorded occurrence of vessel strike of any 
species of marine mammal, including gray whales, by Navy ships during 
training or testing in the Northwest).
    The following training and testing activities occur at Naval 
Station Everett which appears to be located within the Northern Puget 
Sound gray whale feeding area; annual pierside sonar maintenance 
training, annual life-cycle hull-mounted sonar testing, and Maritime 
Homeland Defense/Security Mine Countermeasure exercises which could 
occur once every other year (3 events out of 5 years). Acoustic 
emissions would propagate into this feeding area from these activities. 
However it is highly unlikely that gray whales would be within the 
vicinity of the piers or the shorelines around Naval Station Everett 
based on historical data of their presence (Calambokidis et al., 2015). 
In the case of Maritime Homeland Defense/Security Mine Countermeasure 
exercises, acoustic emissions would be very infrequent, transitory, and 
happen with a high degree of temporal variability; activities would 
occur for a limited time (less than 2 weeks) and generally utilize HF 
and VHF active sonar for mine detection that operates outside of the 
functional hearing and vocalization range for mysticetes, and has less 
acoustic energy and shorter propagation distances. Based on the 
acoustic modeling potentially one gray whale take by TTS could occur 
from the activities at Naval Station Everett. However, since the 
scheduling of these activities is dependent upon deployment cycles and 
maintenance schedules the activities may not occur during periods when 
gray whales are present within this area for feeding. Further, Navy 
mitigation measures for acoustic activities include avoiding the 
conduct of acoustic and explosive activities in the immediate vicinity 
of all marine mammals, including gray whales, and include power down 
and shutdown procedures to reduce the potential for exposures to whales 
from sonar events.
    Given this area's location in Puget Sound, the vast majority of 
sound and disturbance in the area will be the result of non-Navy vessel 
traffic. As such, precluding Navy activity at Naval Station Everett and 
in Northern Puget Sound would be of little to no biological benefit to 
the gray whales. Furthermore, given pending overseas deployment needs 
and individual ship readiness cycles to support those deployments, the 
time of year when maintenance occurs cannot be proscribed. As for the 
Maritime Homeland Defense exercise, the location in which it would 
occur provides realistic conditions necessary to effectively train 
personnel to protect a major port and the vital assets (ships, cargo) 
and shipping channels near those ports. This training event, which may 
include a pierside component, cannot be relocated without losing 
realism given the ships/cargo and transit lanes requiring protection 
are in fixed locations. Moreover, as described in the area-specific 
mitigation section above, the Navy will require approval from 
designated authorities prior to conducting mine countermeasure and 
neutralization underwater detonations at Hood Canal or Crescent Harbor, 
hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar training on vessels while 
underway in Puget Sound and the Strat of Juan de Fuca, and pierside 
maintenance or testing in Puget Sound or the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In 
summary, the Navy and NMFS conclude that seasonal avoidance of the use 
of acoustic sources within the Northern Puget Sound feeding area is 
unlikely to further reduce impacts to gray whales in this area which 
are already estimated to be extremely low (i.e. one Level B TTS take) 
and would negatively impact readiness in a significant manner.
    The Navy acknowledges that gray whales migrate along the entire 
western coast of the United States, typically within 15 nm of the shore 
in the NWTT Study Area, but possibly anywhere over the continental 
shelf, and that a small subset of the gray whale population may enter 
Puget Sound during their migrations. Vessel movement associated with 
virtually all of the training and testing activities proposed in the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS will occur and has been occurring in areas potentially 
used by migrating gray whales for decades; however, the majority of the 
Navy's vessel traffic and training and testing occur outside the 12 nm 
line, thus significantly reducing the overlap, since the gray whale 
migration areas only extend 10 nm offshore. Navy vessels are not the 
only vessel traffic that these migrating whales may encounter as Navy 
vessels represent a small fraction of total vessel traffic within the 
Greater Puget Sound and offshore areas (see Figure 3.0-5 of the NWTT 
FEIS/OIS). The Figure shows little correlation of impedance or 
interference to gray whale migration in areas where Navy vessels 
transit and training and testing activities have historically occurred 
or are expected to continue into the reasonably foreseeable future in 
the NWTT Study Area. In fact, with the shipping density data 
overlapped, it is evident that while shipping traffic is heavy into the 
Strait of Juan de Fuca, as well as within the shipping lanes of Puget 
Sound, this traffic does not restrict or interfere with the annual 
north and south bound migration of gray whales nor their movements in 
Puget Sound. Some training and most testing activities will include 
acoustic emissions within or propagating into areas potentially used by 
migrating gray whales. However, these activities may not always be 
timed during periods in which the gray whales are present. The Navy has 
requested a small number of Level B (behavioral) gray whale takes for 
all activities occurring within the offshore NWTT Study Area. As 
described in the Navy's LOA application and this final rule, the Navy 
is seeking authorization for 17 Level B (TTS) takes of gray whales 
annually (6 from training activities and 11 from testing activities) 
from activities occurring throughout the offshore Study Area. The 
Navy's LOA request describes mitigation measures that it will implement 
to avoid vessel strikes, such as continuing to use extreme caution and 
a safe speed when transiting, maneuvering to keep at least 500 yards 
from whales observed in a vessel's path, and not approaching whales 
head-on, provided it is safe to do so. The Navy will also be required 
to report any vessel strike. However, the Navy does not find vessel 
strikes likely to occur given there is no recorded occurrence of vessel 
strike of any species of marine mammal, including gray whales, by Navy 
ships during training or testing in the Northwest. Navy mitigation 
measures for acoustic activities also include avoiding the conduct of 
acoustic and explosive activities in the immediate vicinity of all 
marine mammals, including gray whales. Further, as described in the 
area-specific mitigation section above, the Navy will require approval 
from designated authorities prior to conducting mine countermeasure and 
neutralization underwater detonations at Hood Canal

[[Page 73570]]

or Crescent Harbor, hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar training on 
vessels while underway in Puget Sound and the Strat of Juan de Fuca, 
and pierside maintenance or testing in Puget Sound or the Strait of 
Juan de Fuca. The Navy and NMFS concluded that based on the mitigations 
in place, historical training and testing profiles, limited estimated 
effects, and no evidence of ship strikes to migrating gray whales 
within the Study area that no additional mitigations are warranted in 
the gray whale migration areas.
    Humpback whale areas: Vessel movement is likely to occur in at 
least some of the humpback whale BIAs, including the designated 
humpback whale feeding area mapped at the mouth of the Strait of Juan 
de Fuca. Historical ship density (majority of which is non-Navy 
vessels) depicted in Figure 3.0-5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS is high in the 
Northern Washington humpback whale feeding area. However, Navy vessel 
traffic is extremely minimal in comparison to commercial ship traffic, 
with typically only 20 ships and submarines homeported in the Puget 
Sound region. Therefore, Navy vessel traffic is low within this feeding 
area. There is an extremely low likelihood of any Navy vessel movements 
occurring within the two southern humpback whale feeding areas, 
especially given that the Point St. George feeding area only overlaps 
the very eastern boundary of the Study Area. The Navy's LOA request 
describes mitigation measures that it will implement to avoid vessel 
strikes, such as continuing to use extreme caution and a safe speed 
when transiting, maneuvering to keep at least 500 yards from whales 
observed in a vessel's path, and not approaching whales head-on, 
provided it is safe to do so. The Navy will also be required to report 
any vessel strike. (Note that neither the Navy nor NMFS find vessel 
strikes likely to occur given there is no recorded occurrence of vessel 
strike of any species of marine mammal, including gray whales, by Navy 
ships during training or testing in the Northwest).
    Based on a review of the historic activity profiles and the 
proposed training activities described in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, there 
would be no direct spatial overlap of training activities with any 
designated feeding areas for humpbacks in the offshore portion of the 
NWTT Study Area. There is a generally low probability of potential 
acoustic overlap with the specifically identified feeding areas. Any 
propagation of sound from training activities into the Northern 
Washington humpback whale feeding area would mostly likely result from 
hull-mounted sonar maintenance or systems checks as vessels are 
transiting to other areas within and outside of the NWTT Study Area. 
The Navy estimates very low impacts to humpback whales from offshore 
training activities involving sonar, and no impacts from any explosive 
events. Only 12 total Level B (7 behavioral, 5 TTS) takes of humpback 
whales are anticipated annually from all training activities combined 
occurring within the offshore Study Area, not just those areas 
overlapping with the feeding areas. Requiring Navy vessels to avoid 
this feeding area and utilize acoustic systems further offshore would 
position ships into higher dense traffic waters based on commercial 
shipping density data in that area. In addition to the fact that 
avoidance would not be expected to notably reduce takes, avoidance of 
these feeding areas during Navy training could create safety concerns 
by forcing the Navy to delay maintenance and systems checks until ships 
are farther from shore and homeport infrastructure that could have 
assisted in addressing potential technical issues.
    For testing activities, there is a chance that countermeasure 
testing could propagate non-impulsive sound into the Northern 
Washington humpback whale feeding area adjacent to the Strait of Juan 
de Fuca. These testing activities would be transitory, last from three 
to eight hours, and are conducted sporadically in any given geographic 
location. These countermeasure testing activities may be scheduled for 
any time of year based upon the availability of assets (ships and/or 
aircraft) needed to support the tests. Though the Navy does not expect 
to conduct tests within this feeding area, it would be difficult to 
ensure that all countermeasure testing was conducted far enough from 
the site to avoid sound propagation into it since some countermeasure 
devices propagate mid-frequency sound a long distance, so it is 
possible that some amount of sound from these measures conducted 
outside of the area may propagate into the feeding area some limited 
number of times. Conducting this testing further from port and from 
support facilities would increase event costs, time, and fuel required 
to complete them, as well as limit available sites suitable to support 
the testing requirements and limit Navy's use of the existing Quinault 
Range Site. Avoidance of this area would negatively impact readiness, 
while likely only providing a small potential reduction in marine 
mammal sound exposure.
    Occasional shallow water testing with sonobuoys would overlap the 
Stonewall and Heceta Bank humpback whale feeding area offshore of 
Oregon. The shallow water features in the area affect bottom 
reflecting, scattering, and absorption of the sound and typically 
create a more challenging environment to test sonobuoys in due to other 
surface sound sources (commercial/recreational boats). These conditions 
allow aircrews to gain understanding of how noise from other sources 
will impact underwater signal detection. However, these sonobuoy 
testing events are infrequent (fewer than 50 per year) and of short-
duration (less than a day). These events occur sporadically throughout 
the year and will not necessarily occur during time periods of humpback 
whale feeding. It is unlikely that this limited testing of sonobuoys 
would have any biologically meaningful effect on humpback whale feeding 
behavior in this area; however, avoidance of this area would negatively 
impact readiness. The Navy estimates very low impacts to humpback 
whales from offshore testing activities involving sonar and no impacts 
from explosive testing. Only 45 Level B (6 behavioral, 39 TTS) takes of 
humpback whales are anticipated annually from all testing activities 
occurring within the offshore Study Area, not just those areas 
overlapping with the feeding areas. Based on the Navy's existing 
mitigation measures for these activities, the low numbers of potential 
take to all humpback whales not just those within the feeding areas, 
the lack of prior ship strikes of humpback whales within the Study 
Area, and the impacts to readiness from avoiding or relocating 
activities the Navy and NMFS conclude that further mitigation within 
the humpback whale feeding areas is not warranted.
    In summary, the Navy's and NMFS' analysis indicates that there is 
generally low use of the BIAs and the modeling supports that there are 
limited impacts to gray whales and humpbacks throughout the entire NWTT 
study area. There is the potential for the most overlap between Navy 
activities within the following threes feeding areas--the Humpback 
Whale Northern Washington feeding area, Stonewall Heceta Bank feeding 
area, and the Gray Whale Northern Puget Sound feeding area. Very few 
takes are expected to result from activities within these feeding 
areas, and the nature of these activities along with the required 
mitigation measures would result in the least practicable adverse 
impacts on the species and their habitat. However, the Navy has agreed 
to monitor, and provide NMFS with reports of, hull-mounted mid-
frequency and high frequency active sonar use during

[[Page 73571]]

training and testing in the months specified in the following three 
feeding areas to the extent that active sonar training or testing does 
occur in these feeding areas: Humpback Whale Northern Washington 
feeding area (May through November); Stonewall and Heceta Bank feeding 
area (May through November) and Gray Whale Northern Puget Sound Feeding 
Area (March through May). The Navy will provide this information 
annually in the classified exercise report to the extent sonar use in 
those areas can be distinguished from data retrieved in Navy's system. 
The intent would be to inform future adaptive management discussions 
about future mitigation adjustments should sonar use increase above the 
existing low use/low overlap description provided by the Navy or if new 
science provides a biological basis for increased protective measures.
    If additional biologically important areas are identified by NMFS 
after finalization of this rule and the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Navy 
and NMFS will use the Adaptive Management process to assess whether any 
additional mitigation should be considered in those areas. Results of 
the species-specific assessment of potential impacts to humpback and 
gray whales in their respective BIAs within the Study Area are included 
in Chapter 3.4.3 and Chapter 5.3.4.1.11 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and in 
the Species/Group Specific Analysis below. As we learn more about 
marine mammal density, distribution, and habitat use (and the BIAs are 
updated), NMFS and the Navy will continue to reevaluate appropriate 
time-area measures through the Adaptive Management process outlined in 
these regulations.
Marine Protected Areas
    Marine protected areas (MPAs) in the National System of MPAs 
potentially occurring within the Study Area are listed and described in 
Section 6.1.2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Marine Protected Areas, Table 6.1-
2). As shown in Figure 6.1-1 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, proposed Navy 
training and testing activities in the Study Area do not overlap these 
MPAs (with the exception of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary 
(OCNMS), discussed below). The NWTT FEIS/OEIS has been prepared in 
accordance with the requirements to avoid harm to the natural and 
cultural resources of existing National System MPAs. Navy activities, 
should they occur within or near a MPA, would fully abide by the 
regulations of the individual MPA (see Table 6.1-2 of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS for information See Section 6.1.2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Marine 
Protected Areas) for more information.
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
    To the extent practicable, the Navy currently avoids conducting 
activities within the OCNMS, and expects this practice to continue. 
However, some Navy NWTT activities may occur within the OCNMS. The Navy 
has been conducting training and testing offshore of the coast of 
Washington for decades. The area provides variable bathymetries, and 
training and testing challenges to simulate potential operational 
scenarios. There is relatively small spatial overlap between the NWTT 
Offshore Area and the OCNMS. For training activities occurring in the 
Offshore Area, less than 3% would be expected to occur within the 
OCNMS. Most training events would occur outside the boundaries of the 
OCNMS. Although the Navy is specifically authorized to conduct certain 
activities within the OCNMS, the Navy currently conducts very limited 
training within the OCNMS and does not use explosives within the OCNMS. 
Non-explosive bombing exercises will also not occur in the OCNMS. The 
Navy expects this level and type of activity to continue into the 
reasonably foreseeable future.
    While active sonar and ASW activities are authorized within the 
OCNMS, the Navy uses its Protective Measures Assessment Protocol (PMAP) 
program to inform all users of active sonar that the OCNMS is within 
the NWTT Study Area. PMAP informs users that no high explosives are 
authorized in the OCNMS. The Navy proposes to continue use of PMAP in 
this manner for awareness and notification. The Navy has also agreed to 
monitor, and provide NMFS with reports of, hull-mounted mid-frequency 
and high-frequency active sonar use during training and testing in the 
OCNMS.
    Federal agency actions that are likely to injure sanctuary 
resources are subject to consultation with the NOAA Office of National 
Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) under section 304(d) of the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act (NMSA). The Navy and NMFS initiated joint consultation 
with ONMS through the submittal of a Sanctuary Resource Statement (SRS) 
on September 8, 2015. Within the Navy's SRS, only a subset of NWTT 
activities, primarily non-impulsive testing events, were identified as 
possibly occurring routinely within OCNMS because of the existing 
Quinault Range which overlaps portions of OCNMS. Furthermore, these 
events would be spatially and temporarily separated throughout the year 
as well as from any preceding event. ONMS provided recommended 
alternatives to the Navy and NMFS to further protect sanctuary 
resources on October 23, 2015. On November 9, 2015, the Navy and NMFS 
jointly responded in writing to each of the ONMS recommendations.

Notification of Marine Mammal Stranding

    Navy personnel shall ensure that NMFS is notified immediately (or 
as soon as clearance procedures allow) if a stranded marine mammal is 
found during or shortly after, and in the vicinity of, any Navy 
training exercise utilizing MFAS, HFAS, or underwater explosive 
detonations. See General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals 
in the Reporting section below for details on the communication and 
reporting requirements if a marine mammal stranding is observed.

Mitigation Conclusions

    NMFS has carefully evaluated the Navy's proposed mitigation 
measures--many of which were developed with NMFS' input during the 
first phase of Navy Training and Testing authorizations--and considered 
a range of other measures in the context of ensuring that NMFS 
prescribes the means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact 
on the affected marine mammal species and stocks and their habitat. 
Based on our evaluation of the Navy's proposed measures, as well as 
other measures considered by NMFS, NMFS has determined that the Navy's 
proposed mitigation measures (especially when the adaptive management 
component is taken into consideration (see Adaptive Management, below)) 
are adequate means of effecting the least practicable adverse impacts 
on marine mammals species or stocks and their habitat, paying 
particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, while also considering personnel safety, practicality of 
implementation, and impact on the effectiveness of the military 
readiness activity.

Monitoring

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA states that in order to issue an 
ITA for an activity, 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

[[Page 73572]]

increased knowledge of the species and of the level of taking or 
impacts on populations of marine mammals that are expected to be 
present.

Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program (ICMP)

    The Navy's ICMP is intended to coordinate monitoring efforts across 
all regions and to allocate the most appropriate level and type of 
effort for each range complex based on a set of standardized 
objectives, and in acknowledgement of regional expertise and resource 
availability. The ICMP is designed to be flexible, scalable, and 
adaptable through the adaptive management and strategic planning 
processes to periodically assess progress and reevaluate objectives. 
Although the ICMP does not specify actual monitoring field work or 
projects, it does establish top-level goals that have been developed in 
coordination with NMFS. As the ICMP is implemented, detailed and 
specific studies will be developed which support the Navy's top-level 
monitoring goals. In essence, the ICMP directs that monitoring 
activities relating to the effects of Navy training and testing 
activities on marine species should be designed to contribute towards 
one or more of the following top-level goals:
     An increase in our understanding of the likely occurrence 
of marine mammals and/or ESA-listed marine species in the vicinity of 
the action (i.e., presence, abundance, distribution, and/or density of 
species);
     An increase in our understanding of the nature, scope, or 
context of the likely exposure of marine mammals and/or ESA-listed 
species to any of the potential stressor(s) associated with the action 
(e.g., tonal and impulsive sound), through better understanding of one 
or more of the following: (1) The action and the environment in which 
it occurs (e.g., sound source characterization, propagation, and 
ambient noise levels); (2) the affected species (e.g., life history or 
dive patterns); (3) the likely co-occurrence of marine mammals and/or 
ESA-listed marine species with the action (in whole or part) associated 
with specific adverse effects, and/or; (4) the likely biological or 
behavioral context of exposure to the stressor for the marine mammal 
and/or ESA-listed marine species (e.g., age class of exposed animals or 
known pupping, calving or feeding areas);
     An increase in our understanding of how individual marine 
mammals or ESA-listed marine species respond (behaviorally or 
physiologically) to the specific stressors associated with the action 
(in specific contexts, where possible, e.g., at what distance or 
received level);
     An increase in our understanding of the impacts of the 
activity on marine mammal or ESA-listed species habitat;
     An increase in our understanding of how anticipated 
individual responses to individual stressors or anticipated 
combinations of stressors, and/or impacts to habitat, may impact 
either: (1) The long-term fitness and survival of an individual; or (2) 
the population, species, or stock (e.g., through effects on annual 
rates of recruitment or survival);
     An increase in our understanding of the effectiveness of 
mitigation and monitoring measures;
     A better understanding and record of the manner in which 
the authorized entity complies with the ITA and Incidental Take 
Statement;
     An increase in the probability of detecting marine mammals 
(through improved technology or methods), both specifically within the 
safety zone (thus allowing for more effective implementation of the 
mitigation) and in general, to better achieve the above goals; and
     A reduction in the adverse impact of activities to further 
achieve the least practicable level, as defined in the MMPA.
    Monitoring would address the ICMP top-level goals through a 
collection of specific regional and ocean basin studies based on 
scientific objectives. Quantitative metrics of monitoring effort (e.g., 
20 days of aerial surveys) would not be a specific requirement. The 
adaptive management process and reporting requirements would serve as 
the basis for evaluating performance and compliance, primarily 
considering the quality of the work and results produced, as well as 
peer review and publications, and public dissemination of information, 
reports, and data. Details of the ICMP are available online (http://www.navymarinespeciesmoni toring.us/).

Strategic Planning Process for Marine Species Monitoring

    The Navy also developed the Strategic Planning Process for Marine 
Species Monitoring, which establishes the guidelines and processes 
necessary to develop, evaluate, and fund individual projects based on 
objective scientific study questions. The process uses an underlying 
framework designed around top-level goals, a conceptual framework 
incorporating a progression of knowledge, and in consultation with a 
Scientific Advisory Group and other regional experts. The Strategic 
Planning Process for Marine Species Monitoring would be used to set 
intermediate scientific objectives, identify potential species of 
interest at a regional scale, and evaluate and select specific 
monitoring projects to fund or continue supporting for a given fiscal 
year. This process would also address relative investments to different 
range complexes based on goals across all range complexes, and 
monitoring would leverage multiple techniques for data acquisition and 
analysis whenever possible. The Strategic Planning Process for Marine 
Species Monitoring is also available online (http://www.navymar 
inespeciesmonitoring.us/).

Past Monitoring in the NWTT Study Area

    NMFS has received multiple years' worth of annual exercise and 
monitoring reports addressing active sonar use and explosive 
detonations within portions of the NWTT Study Area and other Navy range 
complexes. The data and information contained in these reports have 
been considered in developing mitigation and monitoring measures for 
the proposed training and testing activities proposed to occur within 
the NWTT Study Area. The Navy's annual exercise and monitoring reports 
may be viewed at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm and http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us. NMFS' 
summary of the Navy's annual monitoring reports was included in the 
proposed rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; pages 31781-31783).

Other Regional Navy-Funded Monitoring Efforts

    Additional marine mammal studies are being funded or conducted by 
the Navy outside of and in addition to the Navy's commitments in the 
NWTT Study Area and other Navy range complexes. NMFS' summary of the 
Navy's other regional monitoring efforts was included in the proposed 
rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; pages 31781-31783).

Proposed Monitoring for the NWTT Study Area

    Based on discussions between the Navy and NMFS, future Navy 
compliance monitoring should address ICMP top-level goals through a 
series of regional and ocean basin study questions with a 
prioritization and funding focus on species of interest as identified 
for each range complex. The ICMP will also address relative investments 
to different range complexes based on goals across all range complexes, 
and monitoring will leverage multiple techniques for data

[[Page 73573]]

acquisition and analysis whenever possible.
    Within the NWTT Study Area, the Navy's initial recommendation for 
species of interest includes blue whale, fin whale, humpback whale, 
Southern Resident killer whale (offshore portion of their annual 
movements), and beaked whales. Navy monitoring for NWTT under this LOA 
authorization and concurrently in other areas of the Pacific Ocean will 
therefore be structured to address region-specific and species-specific 
study questions in consultation with NMFS. The following projects will 
be funded or have been funded to support the NWTT monitoring program:
A. Modeling the Distribution of Southern Resident Killer Whales in the 
Pacific Northwest
    As an early start to NWTT monitoring, in July 2014 the Navy 
provided funding ($209,000) to NMFS' Northwest Fisheries Science Center 
(NWFSC) to jointly participate in a new NWTT-specific study: Modeling 
the distribution of southern resident killer whales in the Pacific 
Northwest. The goal of this new study is to provide a more scientific 
understanding of endangered southern resident killer whale winter 
distribution off the Pacific Northwest coast. The end product will be a 
Bayesian space-state model for predicting the offshore winter 
occurrence of southern resident killer whales. The project will consist 
of analysis of existing NMFS data (passive acoustic detections, 
satellite tag tracks) as well as new data collection from fall 2014 
through spring 2016, some of which is being accomplished with the 
Navy's funding. The Navy has also provided NMFS NWFSC funds to support 
the FY16 fieldwork associated with the larger southern resident killer 
whale Habitat Model Project to collect biopsy samples, prey remains, 
fecal, mucus, and regurgitation samples. The goal of this field work is 
to determine the prey selected by southern resident killer whales 
throughout their range, but particularly in the coastal waters of the 
US, mainly from Cape Flattery to the Columbia River).
    Details of the study can be found at: http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/regions/pacific/current-projects/.
    The main tasks the study supports include:
     Identification and classification of marine mammal 
detections from acoustic recorders.
     Acquisition and field deployment of satellite-linked 
transmitters to track and determine southern resident killer whales 
movements.
     Deployment of autonomous underwater acoustic recorders in 
and adjacent to the coastal and shelf/slope waters of Washington State. 
Navy funding will allow 10 additional recorders to be purchased and 
deployed along with four NMFS recorders for a total of 14 deployed 
recorders.
     Estimation of the probability of Southern Resident killer 
whale detection on acoustic recorders.
     Development of the state-space occurrence models.
     Development of predicative maps of the seasonal annual 
occurrence of southern resident killer whales.
     Development a cost efficient strategy for the deployment 
of acoustic recorders in and adjacent to Pacific Northwest Navy ranges.
     Reporting.
B. Pacific Northwest Pinniped Satellite Tracking Project
    This project began in FY14 and will continue through FY16. Navy 
provided funding to the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to conduct 
satellite tagging and behavioral monitoring of sea lions in the Pacific 
Northwest in proximity to Navy facilities. The goal of the study is to 
fill in data gaps that exist in identifying the location of local 
foraging areas and documenting the percentage of time pinniped species 
are hauled out or utilizing the waters near Puget Sound naval 
facilities. The objectives of this study include:
     Census data of the adult males that haulout at Naval 
Station Everett, and Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton/Bangor to develop 
minimum population estimates for the inland waters;
     Monthly correction factors from tagging data to correct 
count data from census locations;
     Geographical distribution and foraging behavior of 
California sea lion adult males in the inland waters of Washington, 
specifically relative to Navy installations;
     Migration and foraging behavior of California sea lions in 
coastal Washington, Oregon, and California.
C. Marine Mammal Aerial Surveys in the Pacific Northwest, Inland Puget 
Sound Waters
    This project began in FY13 and will continue through FY16. The goal 
of this effort was to fill critical data gaps regarding the current 
abundance and population status of marine mammal species within the 
inland waters of Puget Sound and in relation to Navy training and 
testing locations. The objectives of this task are to:
     Collect data to estimate the abundance and densities of 
marine mammals in inland waters of Puget Sound;
     Document the distribution, habitat use, and behaviors of 
each species observed.
    A more detailed description of the Navy's planned projects starting 
in 2015 (and some continuing from previous years) is available at the 
Navy's Marine Species Monitoring web portal: http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/. The Navy will update the status of 
its monitoring program and funded projects through their Marine Species 
Monitoring web portal.

Ongoing Navy Research

    The U.S. Navy is one of the world's leading organizations in 
assessing the effects of human activities on the marine environment, 
including marine mammals. From 2004 through 2013, the Navy has funded 
over $240M specifically for marine mammal research. Navy scientists 
work cooperatively with other government researchers and scientists, 
universities, industry, and non-governmental conservation organizations 
in collecting, evaluating, and modeling information on marine 
resources. They also develop approaches to ensure that these resources 
are minimally impacted by existing and future Navy operations. It is 
imperative that the Navy's Research and Development (R&D) efforts 
related to marine mammals are conducted in an open, transparent manner 
with validated study needs and requirements. The goal of the Navy's R&D 
program is to enable collection and publication of scientifically valid 
research as well as development of techniques and tools for Navy, 
academic, and commercial use. Historically, R&D programs are funded and 
developed by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Energy and 
Environmental Readiness Division and Office of Naval Research (ONR), 
Code 322 Marine Mammals and Biological Oceanography Program. Since the 
1990s, the primary focus of these programs has been on understanding 
the effects of sound on marine mammals, including physiological, 
behavioral and ecological effects. ONR's current Marine Mammals and 
Biology Program thrusts include, but are not limited to: (1) Monitoring 
and detection research; (2) integrated ecosystem research including 
sensor and tag development; (3) effects of sound on marine life (such 
as hearing, behavioral response studies, physiology [diving and 
stress], and PCAD); and (4) models and databases for environmental 
compliance.
    To manage some of the Navy's marine mammal research programmatic 
elements, OPNAV N45 developed in

[[Page 73574]]

2011 a new Living Marine Resources (LMR) Research and Development 
Program (http://www.lmr.navy.mil/). The goal of the LMR Research and 
Development Program is to identify and fill knowledge gaps and to 
demonstrate, validate, and integrate new processes and technologies to 
minimize potential effects to marine mammals and other marine 
resources. Key elements of the LMR program include:
     Providing science-based information to support Navy 
environmental effects assessments for research, development, 
acquisition, testing, and evaluation as well as Fleet at-sea training, 
exercises, maintenance, and support activities.
     Improving knowledge of the status and trends of marine 
species of concern and the ecosystems of which they are a part.
     Developing the scientific basis for the criteria and 
thresholds to measure the effects of Navy-generated sound.
     Improving understanding of underwater sound and sound 
field characterization unique to assessing the biological consequences 
resulting from underwater sound (as opposed to tactical applications of 
underwater sound or propagation loss modeling for military 
communications or tactical applications).
     Developing technologies and methods to monitor and, where 
possible, mitigate biologically significant consequences to living 
marine resources resulting from naval activities, emphasizing those 
consequences that are most likely to be biologically significant.

Navy Research and Development

    Navy Funded--Both the LMR and ONR R&D programs periodically fund 
projects within the NWTT Study Area. Some data and results from these 
R&D projects are summarized in the Navy's annual range complex 
monitoring reports, and available on NMFS' Web site (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm) and the Fleet's 
new marine species monitoring Web site (http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/regions/pacific/current-projects/). 
In addition, the Navy's Range Complex monitoring during training and 
testing activities is coordinated with the R&D monitoring in a given 
region to leverage research objectives, assets, and studies where 
possible under the ICMP.
    The integration between the Navy's new LMR R&D program and related 
range complex monitoring will continue and improve during the 
applicable period of the rulemaking with results presented in NWTT 
annual monitoring reports.
    Other National Department of Defense Funded Initiatives--Strategic 
Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and 
Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) are the 
DoD's environmental research programs, harnessing the latest science 
and technology to improve environmental performance, reduce costs, and 
enhance and sustain mission capabilities. The Programs respond to 
environmental technology requirements that are common to all of the 
military Services, complementing the Services' research programs. SERDP 
and ESTCP promote partnerships and collaboration among academia, 
industry, the military Services, and other Federal agencies. They are 
independent programs managed from a joint office to coordinate the full 
spectrum of efforts, from basic and applied research to field 
demonstration and validation.

Adaptive Management

    The final regulations governing the take of marine mammals 
incidental to Navy training and testing activities in the NWTT Study 
Area contain an adaptive management component carried over from 
previous authorizations. Although better than 5 years ago, our 
understanding of the effects of Navy training and testing activities 
(e.g., MFAS/HFAS, underwater detonations) on marine mammals is still 
relatively limited, and yet the science in this field is evolving 
fairly quickly. These circumstances make the inclusion of an adaptive 
management component both valuable and necessary within the context of 
5-year regulations for activities that have been associated with marine 
mammal mortality in certain circumstances and locations.
    The reporting requirements associated with this rule are designed 
to provide NMFS with monitoring data from the previous year to allow 
NMFS to consider whether any changes are appropriate. NMFS and the Navy 
would meet to discuss the monitoring reports, Navy R&D developments, 
and current science and whether mitigation or monitoring modifications 
are appropriate. The use of adaptive management allows NMFS to consider 
new information from different sources to determine (with input from 
the Navy regarding practicability) on an annual or biennial basis if 
mitigation or monitoring measures should be modified (including 
additions or deletions). Mitigation measures could be modified if new 
data suggests that such modifications would have a reasonable 
likelihood of reducing adverse effects to marine mammals and if the 
measures are practicable.
    The following are some of the possible sources of applicable data 
to be considered through the adaptive management process: (1) Results 
from monitoring and exercises reports, as required by MMPA 
authorizations; (2) compiled results of Navy funded R&D studies; (3) 
results from specific stranding investigations; (4) results from 
general marine mammal and sound research; and (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 LOAs.

Reporting

    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 both to compliance as well as ensuring that the most value is 
obtained from the required monitoring. NMFS described the proposed Navy 
reporting requirements in the proposed rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; 
page 31784). Reports from individual monitoring events, results of 
analyses, publications, and periodic progress reports for specific 
monitoring projects will be posted to the Navy's Marine Species 
Monitoring web portal: http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us and 
NMFS' Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. There are several different reporting requirements that 
are further detailed in the regulatory text at the end of this document 
and summarized below.

General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals

    Navy personnel would ensure that NMFS (the appropriate Regional 
Stranding Coordinator) is notified immediately (or as soon as clearance 
procedures allow) if an injured, stranded, or dead marine mammal is 
found during or shortly after, and in the vicinity of, any Navy 
training exercise utilizing MFAS, HFAS, or underwater explosive 
detonations. The Navy would provide NMFS with species identification or 
a 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 photographs or 
video (if available).

[[Page 73575]]

Vessel Strike

    Since the publication of the proposed rule, NMFS has added the 
following language to address monitoring and reporting measures 
specific to vessel strike. Most of this language comes directly from 
the Stranding Response Plan for other Navy Phase 2 rulemakings. This 
section has also been included in the regulatory text at the end of 
this document. Vessel strike during Navy training and testing 
activities in the Study Area is not anticipated; however, in the event 
that a Navy vessel strikes a whale, the Navy shall do the following:
    Immediately report to NMFS (pursuant to the established 
Communication Protocol) the:
     Species identification (if known);
     Location (latitude/longitude) of the animal (or location 
of the strike if the animal has disappeared);
     Whether the animal is alive or dead (or unknown); and
     The time of the strike.
    As soon as feasible, the Navy shall report to or provide to NMFS, 
the:
     Size, length, and description (critical if species is not 
known) of animal;
     An estimate of the injury status (e.g., dead, injured but 
alive, injured and moving, blood or tissue observed in the water, 
status unknown, disappeared, etc.);
     Description of the behavior of the whale during event, 
immediately after the strike, and following the strike (until the 
report is made or the animal is no longer sighted);
     Vessel class/type and operational status;
     Vessel length;
     Vessel speed and heading; and
     To the best extent possible, obtain a photo or video of 
the struck animal, if the animal is still in view.
    Within 2 weeks of the strike, provide NMFS:
     A detailed description of the specific actions of the 
vessel in the 30-minute timeframe immediately preceding the strike, 
during the event, and immediately after the strike (e.g., the speed and 
changes in speed, the direction and changes in direction, other 
maneuvers, sonar use, etc., if not classified);
     A narrative description of marine mammal sightings during 
the event and immediately after, and any information as to sightings 
prior to the strike, if available; and use established Navy shipboard 
procedures to make a camera available to attempt to capture photographs 
following a ship strike.
    NMFS and the Navy will coordinate to determine the services the 
Navy may provide to assist NMFS with the investigation of the strike. 
The response and support activities to be provided by the Navy are 
dependent on resource availability, must be consistent with military 
security, and must be logistically feasible without compromising Navy 
personnel safety. Assistance requested and provided may vary based on 
distance of strike from shore, the nature of the vessel that hit the 
whale, available nearby Navy resources, operational and installation 
commitments, or other factors.

Annual Monitoring Reports

    The Navy shall submit an annual report of the NWTT monitoring 
describing the implementation and results of the NWTT monitoring 
efforts from the previous calendar year. Data collection methods will 
be standardized across range complexes and study areas to allow for 
comparison in different geographic locations. Although additional 
information will be gathered, the protected species observers 
collecting marine mammal data pursuant to the NWTT monitoring plan 
shall, at a minimum, provide the same marine mammal observation data 
required in Sec.  218.145. The report shall be submitted either 90 days 
after the calendar year, or 90 days after the conclusion of the 
monitoring year to be determined by the Adaptive Management process.
    The NWTT Monitoring Report may be provided to NMFS within a larger 
report that includes the required Monitoring Plan reports from multiple 
range complexes and study areas (the multi-Range Complex Annual 
Monitoring Report). Such a report would describe progress of knowledge 
made with respect to monitoring plan study questions across all Navy 
ranges associated with the ICMP. Similar study questions shall be 
treated together so that progress on each topic shall be summarized 
across all Navy ranges. The report need not include analyses and 
content that does not provide direct assessment of cumulative progress 
on the monitoring plan study questions.

Annual Exercise and Testing Reports

    The Navy shall submit preliminary reports detailing the status of 
authorized sound sources within 21 days after the anniversary of the 
date of issuance of the LOA. The Navy shall submit detailed reports 3 
months after the annual anniversary of the date of issuance of the LOA. 
The detailed annual reports shall describe the level of training and 
testing conducted during the reporting period, and a summary of sound 
sources used (total annual hours or quantity [per the LOA] of each bin 
of sonar or other non-impulsive source; total annual number of each 
type of explosive exercises; total annual expended/detonated rounds 
[missiles, bombs, etc.] for each explosive bin; and improved Extended 
Echo-Ranging System (IEER)/sonobuoy summary, including total number of 
IEER events conducted in the Study Area, total expended/detonated 
rounds (buoys), and total number of self-scuttled IEER rounds. The 
analysis in the detailed reports will be based on the accumulation of 
data from the current year's report and data collected from previous 
reports.
    The annual classified exercise reports will also include the amount 
of hull-mounted mid-frequency and high frequency active sonar use 
during training and testing activities in the OCNMS and in the months 
specified for the following three feeding areas (to the extent that 
active sonar training or testing does occur in these areas): The 
Humpback Whale Northern Washington feeding area (May through November); 
the Stonewall and Heceta Bank feeding area (May through November) and 
the Gray Whale Northern Puget Sound Feeding Area (March through May).

5-Year Close-out Exercise and Testing Report

    This report will be included as part of the 2020 annual exercise or 
testing report. This report will provide the annual totals for each 
sound source bin with a comparison to the annual allowance and the 5-
year total for each sound source bin with a comparison to the 5-year 
allowance. Additionally, if there were any changes to the sound source 
allowance, this report will include a discussion of why the change was 
made and include the analysis to support how the change did or did not 
result in a change in the EIS and final rule determinations. The report 
will be submitted 3 months after the expiration of the rule. NMFS will 
submit comments on the draft close-out report, if any, within 3 months 
of receipt. The report will be considered final after the Navy has 
addressed NMFS' comments, or 3 months after the submittal of the draft 
if NMFS does not provide comments.

Comments and Responses

    On June 3, 2015 (80 FR 31738), NMFS published a proposed rule in 
response to the Navy's request to take marine mammals incidental to 
training and testing activities in the NWTT Study Area and requested 
comments, information, and suggestions concerning the request. During 
the 45-day public

[[Page 73576]]

comment period, NMFS received over 100 comments (including several 
duplicates) from the Marine Mammal Commission (Commission), non-
governmental organizations, Tribes, and private citizens. Comments were 
collectively submitted in a letter on behalf of the Animal Legal 
Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute, Center for Biological 
Diversity, Earthjustice, Environmental Protection Information Center, 
Friends of the Earth, Friends of the San Juans, The Humane Society of 
the United States, InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Klamath 
Forest Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York Whale and 
Dolphin Action League, Northcoast Environmental Center, Ocean Mammal 
Institute, Orca Network, Surfrider Foundation--Mendocino Coast Chapter, 
Carol Van Strum, and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (hereinafter 
referred to as Animal Legal Defense Fund et al.). Comments specific to 
section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and NMFS' analysis of impacts to 
marine mammals are summarized, sorted into general topic areas, and 
addressed below and/or throughout the final rule. Comments specific to 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, which NMFS participated in developing as a 
cooperating agency and adopted, or that were also submitted to the Navy 
during the NWTT DEIS/OEIS public comment period are addressed in 
Appendix E (Public Participation) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. Some 
commenters presented technical comments on the general behavioral risk 
function that are largely identical to those posed during the comment 
period for proposed rules for the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing 
(AFTT), Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT), and 
Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) study areas, predecessors 
to the NWTT rule. The behavioral risk function remains unchanged since 
then, and here we incorporate our responses to those initial technical 
comments (78 FR 73010, Acoustic Thresholds, page 73038; 78 FR 78106, 
Acoustic Thresholds, page 78129; 80 FR 46112, Criteria and Thresholds, 
page 46146). Full copies of the comment letters may be accessed at 
http://www.regulations.gov.

Activity

    Comment 1: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy's training and testing activities and resulting takes are ``a 
picture of harm that exceeds anything the Navy has proposed for the 
area in the past.'' The commenters further expressed particular 
concerns for southern resident killer whales, blue whales, fin whales, 
harbor porpoises, and beaked whales.
    Response: The Navy has been conducting largely the same training 
and testing activities using the same type of equipment in the NWTT 
Study Area for decades without any evidence of harm to marine species 
as a result of those activities. The takes authorized by this rule are 
comparable to what is currently authorized for the same training and 
testing activities that have been occurring for decades in the NWTT 
Study Area, and are less than what is authorized in other Navy training 
and testing areas (e.g., AFTT, HSTT). In particular, see Section 
3.4.4.1 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Summary of Monitoring and Observations 
During Navy Activities) and the Long Term Consequences section of this 
rule regarding the likely long-term consequences from those activities. 
Also note that as described in Section 1.9 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, 
previous analyses have taken place regarding a comprehensive 
understanding of Navy activities in the Pacific Northwest involving 
training and testing at sea. Specifically with regard to the Proposed 
Action, see the September 2010 Northwest Training Range Complex FEIS/
OEIS and the May 2010 Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas 
Environmental Impact Statement NAVSEA NUWC Keyport Range Complex 
Extension FEIS/OEIS.
    Please see Section 3.4.3.1.18 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Application of 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act to Potential Acoustic and Explosive 
Effects) and the Estimated Take of Marine Mammals section of the 
proposed rule for a description of ``take'' and note that the 
overwhelming majority of takes predicted for all species--including 
those mentioned above by the commenters--are short-term behavioral 
responses to relatively short-term activities (Level B harassment). 
Further, the majority of these Level B takes are expected to be in the 
form of milder responses (i.e., lower-level exposures that still rise 
to the level of take, but would be less severe in the ranges of 
responses that qualify as a take) and are not expected to have 
deleterious impacts on the fitness of any individuals or long-term 
consequences to populations of marine mammals. Effects on marine 
mammals will minimized through the Navy's implementation of the 
following mitigation measures (among others): (1) The use of lookouts 
to monitor for marine mammals and begin powerdown and shutdown of sonar 
when marine mammals are detected within ranges where the received sound 
level is likely to result in temporary threshold shift (TTS) or injury; 
(2) the use of mitigation zones that avoid exposing marine mammals to 
levels of explosives likely to result in injury or death of marine 
mammals; and (3) vessel maneuvering protocols. NMFS and the Navy have 
also worked to develop a robust monitoring plan to improve our 
understanding of the environmental effects resulting from the use of 
active sonar and underwater explosives. Additionally, the proposed rule 
includes an adaptive management component that allows for timely 
modification of mitigation or monitoring measures based on new 
information, when appropriate.
    Regarding southern resident killer whales, and as discussed in the 
Group and Species-Specific Analysis section of this rule, the Navy's 
acoustic analysis predicts only 2 instances of Level B harassment 
(behavioral reaction) of southern resident killer whales from sonar and 
other active acoustic sources during annual training activities in the 
Study Area. The Navy has not asked for, and NMFS has not authorized, 
any takes resulting from mortality or injury for southern resident 
killer whales. No injury or mortality is predicted by the acoustic 
impact modeling, or anticipated to result from the continuation of Navy 
training and testing, which has been occurring in the area for decades. 
The Navy and NMFS considered numerous studies analyzing the impact from 
chronic noise associated with vessel traffic as well as other threats, 
and these are cited in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, Section 3.4.2.4 (General 
Threats) and Section 3.4.3.1.5 (Physiological Stress). As described in 
the Biological Opinion, the available scientific information does not 
provide evidence that exposure to acoustic stressors from Navy training 
and testing activities will impact the fitness of any individuals of 
this species. Therefore, exposure to acoustic stressors will not have 
population or species level impacts.
    NMFS considered the distribution of southern resident killer whales 
in its effects analysis. The majority of the Navy's proposed training 
and testing activities would not occur in the southern resident killer 
whale's designated critical habitat (NMFS, 2006). Furthermore, the 
majority of testing events would occur in Hood Canal, where southern 
resident killer whales are not believed to be present (southern 
resident killer whales have not been reported in Hood Canal or Dabob 
Bay since 1995 [NMFS, 2008c]), while the majority of training 
activities

[[Page 73577]]

would occur in the offshore portions of the Study Area, where they are 
only present briefly during their annual migration period. As the 
commenters noted, NMFS issued a 12-month finding on a petition to 
revise the critical habitat for this species earlier this year (80 FR 
9682, Feb. 24, 2015); however, as stated in that notice, NMFS does not 
anticipate developing a proposed rule for comment until 2017. The Navy 
and NMFS will consider as appropriate any revisions to the critical 
habitat designation. Finally, to further support awareness of southern 
resident killer whale in the Study Area, prior to Maritime Homeland 
Defense/Security Mine Countermeasure Integrated Exercises, the Navy 
will conduct pre-event planning and training to ensure environmental 
awareness of all exercise participants. When this event is proposed to 
be conducted in Puget Sound, Navy event planners will consult with Navy 
biologists who will contact NMFS during the planning process in order 
to determine the likelihood of gray whale or southern resident killer 
whale presence in the proposed exercise area as planners consider the 
specifics of the event.
    As discussed in the Group and Species-Specific Analysis section of 
this rule, take numbers for ESA-listed mysticetes are also predicted to 
be low relative to estimated stock abundances, and occasional 
behavioral reactions are predicted to occur at low received levels and 
are unlikely to cause long-term consequences for individuals or 
populations. Furthermore, there is no designated critical habitat for 
mysticetes in the Study Area.
    The number of harbor porpoises behaviorally harassed by exposure to 
MFAS/HFAS in the Study Area is higher than the other species because of 
the low Level B harassment threshold (we assume for the purpose of 
estimating take that all harbor porpoises exposed to 120 dB or higher 
MFAS/HFAS will be taken by Level B behavioral harassment), which 
essentially makes the ensonified area of effects significantly larger 
than for the other species. However, the fact that the threshold is a 
step function and not a curve (and assuming uniform density) means that 
the vast majority of the takes occur in the very lowest levels that 
exceed the threshold (it is estimated that approximately 80 percent of 
the takes are from exposures to 120 dB to 126 dB), which means that 
anticipated behavioral effects are not expected to be severe (e.g., 
temporary avoidance). See the Analysis and Negligible Impact 
Determination section of this rule for further information regarding 
the expected impacts to harbor porpoises.
    Moore and Barlow (2013) have noted a decline in beaked whale 
populations in a broad area of the Pacific Ocean within the U.S. 
Exclusive Economic Zone. However, there are scientific caveats and 
limitations to the data used for that analysis, as well as 
oceanographic and species assemblage changes on the U.S. Pacific coast 
not thoroughly addressed. Although Moore and Barlow (2013) have noted a 
decline in the overall beaked whale population along the Pacific coast, 
in the small fraction of that area where the Navy has been training and 
testing with sonar and other systems for decades (the Navy's Southern 
California (SOCAL) Range Complex), higher densities and long-term 
residency by individual Cuvier's beaked whales suggest that the decline 
noted elsewhere is not apparent where Navy sonar use is most intense. 
Navy sonar training and testing is not conducted along a large part of 
the U.S. west coast from which Moore and Barlow (2013) drew their 
survey data. In Southern California, based on a series of surveys from 
2006 to 2008 and a high number encounter rate, Falcone et al. (2009) 
suggested the ocean basin west of San Clemente Island may be an 
important region for Cuvier's beaked whales given the number of animals 
encountered there. Follow-up research (Falcone and Schorr, 2012, 2014) 
in this same location suggests that Cuvier's beaked whales may have 
population sub-units with higher than expected residency, particularly 
in the Navy's instrumented Southern California Anti-Submarine Warfare 
Range. Encounters with multiple groups of Cuvier's and Baird's beaked 
whales indicated not only that they were prevalent on the range where 
Navy routinely trains and tests, but also that they were potentially 
present in much higher densities than had been reported for anywhere 
along the U.S. west coast (Falcone et al., 2009, Falcone and Schorr, 
2012). This finding is also consistent with concurrent results from 
passive acoustic monitoring that estimated regional Cuvier's beaked 
whale densities were higher where Navy trains in the SOCAL training and 
testing area than indicated by NMFS's broad scale visual surveys for 
the U.S. west coast (Hildebrand and McDonald, 2009). See the Analysis 
and Negligible Impact Determination section of this rule for further 
information regarding the expected impacts to beaked whales.

Marine Mammal Density Estimates

    Comment 2: The Commission stated that it was unsure how the Navy 
determined that extrapolated densities better represent expected 
densities than densities from relevant environmental suitability (RES) 
models in the absence of density data. The Commission recommended that 
NMFS require the Navy to (1) account for uncertainty in extrapolated 
density estimates for all species by using the upper limit of the 95% 
confidence interval or the arithmetic mean plus two standard deviations 
and (2) then re-estimate the numbers of takes accordingly.
    Response: As noted in the Commission's comment, the Navy 
coordinated with NMFS scientists at the Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center (SWFSC) and the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) to help 
identify the best available density estimates for marine mammals 
occurring in the Study Area. Regarding the use of extrapolated density 
estimates from the SWFSC rather than using estimates from RES models, 
in the Pacific Ocean the distribution patterns predicted by the RES 
model do not correspond well to known species distribution patterns. 
RES density estimates for some of the other Navy Study Areas (e.g., 
HSTT) were found to be orders of magnitude different from density 
estimates derived from multiple years of systematic line-transect 
survey data (Department of the Navy 2014--Navy Marine Species Density 
Database Technical Report). Therefore, in the absence of density data, 
extrapolation of density estimates from well-studied regions to lesser-
known regions was deemed more appropriate than using RES data, which 
have shown to be inconsistent with what is known to be a more 
representative estimate of species density.
    The use of a mean density estimate is consistent with the approach 
taken by NMFS to estimate and report the populations of marine mammals 
in the Stock Assessment Reports, and the estimated mean is thus 
considered the ``best available data.'' Adjusting the mean estimates as 
suggested would result in unreasonable take estimates, particularly 
given the very high coefficients of variation (CVs) associated with 
most marine mammal density estimates. Note that the CVs in the Navy's 
marine species density database for the California Current Ecosystem 
represent the interannual variability in marine mammal occurrence; the 
CV does not represent uncertainty in the model predicted density 
estimates. Further, the Navy's acoustic model includes conservative 
estimates of all parameters (e.g., assumes that the animals do not move 
horizontally, assumes they are always head-on to the sound source so 
that they receive the maximum amount of energy, etc.), which results in 
a more conservative

[[Page 73578]]

(i.e., greater) assessment of potential impacts.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
(1) incorporate data from Raum-Suryan et al. (2004) and Call et al. 
(2007) and consult with scientists at NMML regarding unpublished data 
to revise the areas used in estimating Steller sea lion densities in 
the offshore and Western Behm Canal areas, (2) incorporate data from 
Robinson et al. (2012) into the areas used in estimating northern 
elephant seal densities in the offshore and Western Behm Canal areas, 
(3) incorporate data from Weise et al. (2006) and consult with 
scientists at NMML regarding unpublished data to revise the areas used 
in estimating California sea lion densities in the offshore area, and 
(4) incorporate data from Ream et al. (2005), Lea et al. (2009), Melin 
et al. (2012), Pelland et al. (2014), and Sterling et al. (2014) and 
consult with scientists at NMML to revise its northern fur seal density 
estimates by using movement and dispersion data from tagged fur seals 
specific to the study area and scaled to the population.
    Response: With respect to estimating Steller sea lion (SSL) density 
offshore and in the Western Behm Canal, the Navy Pacific Marine Species 
Density Database Technical Report (Department of the Navy, 2014) used 
the eastern stock of SSL (highest stock estimate was used), multiplied 
by 0.25 (Bonnell and Bowlby, 1992) to get at-sea numbers. This numbers 
was then divided by the area of the eastern stock of SSL (1,244,000 
km\2\) to get a uniform distribution density estimate. Raum-Suryan et 
al. (2005) and Call et al. (2007) present the movement, dispersal and 
haulout use of juvenile (Call et al.) and juvenile and pups (Raum-
Suryan et al.). Both papers confirm SSLs are present in the offshore 
and Western Behm Canal portions of the NWTT. However, these papers 
present information on haul out use, round trip duration, and distance 
of a subset of the available population, which may be useful for small 
estimates of area use. This information is limited to juveniles and 
pups, and does not represent the range of area that is potentially 
covered by all SSLs in the eastern stock of SSLs. Therefore, as most 
literature indicates a wide variety of dispersal and movement among age 
classes and sex, the uniform distribution was used. In short, this 
information does not change the analysis presented in the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS. See the Revised May 2015) Navy Marine Species Density Database 
Technical Report available at http://www.nwtteis.com.
    With regard to the density of northern elephant seals, the area 
used for calculation was based on all animals in the LeBouef et al. 
(2000) paper and was mistakenly reported in the Technical Report as 
only females. The Robinson et al. (2012) study presents reinforcing 
data on the presence of northern elephant seals in both the NWTRC 
offshore and Western Behm Canal portions of the NWTT Study Area and the 
incorporation of the Robinson study would not change the analysis of 
impacts on the stock.
    The Weise et al. (2006) paper adds to the information regarding 
movements of a subset of animals under ``anomalous'' conditions and for 
the majority of the Pacific coast of North America, which is outside 
the NWTT Study Area. Given these factors, it was not included in the 
definition of area. However, the findings are not inconsistent with the 
current analysis; California sea lions are assumed to be present in the 
Study Area. The Navy has also taken into account monitoring data on 
California sea lions in the Study Area, as presented in Section 
3.4.2.29 (California Sea Lion [Zalophus californianus]) of the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS, including that from local researchers (i.e., NMML) in the 
Pacific Northwest. Ream et al. (2005), Melin et al. (2012) and Lea et 
al. (2009) all indicate that there is some use of the nearshore areas 
of the NWTT off Washington and Oregon by pups and females, and those 
findings are not inconsistent with the current analysis. Regarding 
Pelland et al. (2014) and Sterling et al. (2014), who document a highly 
pelagic distribution of northern fur seals through the offshore areas 
of the Study Area where the majority of training would occur, the Navy 
used these studies to develop its at-sea densities, described in the 
Pacific Marine Species Density Database Technical Report, which were 
derived as Study Area-wide single density values by season (U.S. 
Department of the Navy, 2014b). Pelland et al. (2014) and Sterling et 
al. (2014) were discussed in the Analysis of Guadalupe Fur Seal 
Exposures in the proposed rule
    The Commission's suggested novel method of determining a density of 
pinnipeds based on the presence of tagged animals and then ``scaled to 
the population'' may be investigated in the future as the science and 
methodology evolves. NMFS, along with the Navy, will continue to work 
with researchers and scientists at NMML in the development of future 
at-sea analyses.
    Comment 4: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
(1) revise its abundance estimates to include data from Allen and 
Angliss (2014) and Carretta et al. (2014) to determine Steller sea lion 
and northern fur seal densities in both the offshore and Western Behm 
Canal areas, (2) update the Guadalupe fur seal take estimates based on 
the revised northern fur seal density estimates and provide better 
justification for the reduction in Guadalupe fur seal takes for the 
offshore area, and (3) revise its abundance estimates to include 
updated data for harbor seals in the Western Behm Canal area, if 
available.
    Response: The Navy used the best available science and consulted 
with regional marine mammal experts in the derivation of the data used 
in the analysis. The Navy incorporated abundance estimates for Steller 
sea lions and northern fur seals from the most recent (2014) stock 
assessment reports (Caretta et al., 2015, Allen and Angliss, 2015) into 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (see Section 3.4.2.28.2 Abundance and 3.4.2.30.2 
Abundance). The reported increase in abundance estimates does not 
result in a significant change in the density estimates and does not 
affect the impact assessment.
    Regarding the reduction in Guadalupe fur seal takes for the 
offshore area, the Navy's September 26, 2014 revision to the LOA 
application included an update to the effects analysis for Guadalupe 
fur seals to more realistically reflect potential impacts from offshore 
Navy training and testing activities. The analysis used to modify the 
Guadalupe fur seal takes is fully described in Analysis of Guadalupe 
Fur Seal Exposures in the proposed rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; 
page 31792).
    The Navy's Marine Species Density Database Technical Report, was 
revised in May 2015 to update the density estimates for harbor seals in 
the NWTT Study Area. The report is available at http://www.nwtteis.com. 
These updates did not affect marine mammal densities used for acoustic 
impact modeling nor change the results of the acoustics effects 
analysis.
    Comment 5: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
use Hubner et al.'s (2001) harbor seal haul-out correction factors of 
1.50 for the offshore area, 1.85 for the Strait of Juan de Fuca and San 
Juan Islands, 1.51 for Eastern Bays, and 1.36 for Puget Sound rather 
than a pooled correction factor of 1.53. The proportion of seals at sea 
for each of those areas also should be adjusted accordingly and then 
incorporated with the relevant abundance estimates to derive the 
appropriate density estimates.
    Response: The Navy corresponded with Huber and other regional 
harbor seal scientists at the NMML regarding

[[Page 73579]]

appropriate haul out correction factors. While Huber et al. (2001) did 
report a regional correction factor for each survey site, analysis of 
variance (ANOVA) results in the same paper concluded there was no 
significant difference between any of the locations and proportion 
ashore. Therefore, the regional combined haulout factor can be viewed 
as a conservative approach. The Navy did, however, apply the revised 
stock assessment (2014 SAR) for the Hood Canal resident population of 
harbor seals.
    Comment 6: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
use a haul-out correction factor of 1.49 rather than 0.198 to determine 
the overall abundance of harbor seals for the Western Behm Canal area 
and apply a correction of 0.33 to determine the proportion of the 
overall abundance at sea, which then is used to derive the density 
estimate.
    Response: With regard to Western Behm Canal, the description of the 
correction factor, as reported in the Marine Mammal Occurrence/Density 
Report (U.S. Department of the Navy, 2010, prepared in support of Navy 
activities at the Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility 
[SEAFAC]), is confusingly written as 0.198. The text was written as 
``Total seals were calculated as the 1,094 seals hauled out in the area 
(Withrow et al., 1999) plus an at sea correction factor of 0.198 of the 
haul-out count (Allen and Angliss, 2010).'' The ``plus'' in this 
language was meant to indicate that the Simpkins 1.198 factor was used 
to achieve a total population of 1,310. The at-sea proportion based on 
the Simpkins value (which Allen and Angliss used) would be 
approximately 216 animals, and this value is reported in the Navy's 
Marine Species Density Database Technical Report. While the confusing 
language was carried into the Technical Report, the methodology is the 
same as presented in the Commission's comment and the density reported 
would not change.
    Using a mean haulout correction factor of 1.47 would revise the 
density estimate from 0.29 seals per km\2\ to 0.56 seals per km\2\. 
Given that Southeast Alaska (Clarence Strait) stock of harbor seals 
would not be exposed to sound that would exceed the current impact 
thresholds (as listed in Section 3.4 [Marine Mammals] of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS), it is unlikely that any revisions to density values will result 
in a change in modeled effects.
    Comment 7: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
provide the methods by which species-specific densities were calculated 
for each area and each season and cite the primary literature from 
which the data originated.
    Response: The Navy Pacific Marine Species Density Database 
Technical Report (Department of the Navy, 2014) includes individual 
species-specific descriptions of the density estimates used for each 
area and each season. The seasonal delineation used by the Navy is 
specifically described in the Technical Report (Section 3.2). Due to 
the many different sources of data used, all sections incorporate by 
reference the literature from which the estimates were taken. In 
addition, Chapter 3.3 (Information on Density Data Sources Considered 
and Included) of the Technical Report provides additional details on 
the main data sources used (and for many of the systematic surveys maps 
are included to show the extent of the study area or transects 
surveyed). For those cases where density estimates were taken directly 
from an existing report (e.g., U.S. Department of the Navy, 2010, 
Marine Mammal Occurrence/Density Report), a general description is 
provided but it is beyond the scope of this document to summarize all 
the information contained in each of the reports that are incorporated 
by reference.
    The technical report is available on the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Web site 
at: http://nwtteis.com/DocumentsandReferences/NWTTDocuments/SupportingTechnicalDocuments.aspx. The Navy continues to use the best 
available science, and this information will be considered in future 
projects.

Criteria and Thresholds

    Comment 8: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
update Finneran and Jenkins (2012) to include the appropriate 
justification for its use of the 6-dB extrapolation factor between 
explosive and acoustic sources; use 151 dB rather than 152 dB re 1 
[mu]Pa2-sec as the TTS threshold for high-frequency cetaceans exposed 
to acoustic sources; use 145 rather than 146 dB re 1 [mu]Pa2-sec as the 
TTS threshold for high-frequency cetaceans for explosive sources; and 
based on these changes to the TTS thresholds, adjust the PTS thresholds 
for high-frequency cetaceans by increasing the amended TTS threshold by 
20 dB for acoustic sources and 15 dB for explosive sources, and adjust 
the behavioral thresholds by decreasing the amended TTS thresholds by 5 
dB for explosive sources.
    Response: At the time the acoustic criteria and thresholds were 
developed, no direct measurements of TTS due to non-impulsive sound 
exposures were available for any high-frequency cetacean; therefore, 
the relationship between onset-TTS sound exposure level (SEL)-based 
thresholds (Type II weighted) for mid-frequency cetaceans exposed to 
impulsive and non-impulsive sounds (beluga data) was used to derive the 
onset-TTS threshold for high-frequency cetaceans exposed to non-
impulsive sounds (6-dB difference). The derived high-frequency cetacean 
non-impulsive onset TTS threshold is consistent with data recently 
published by Kastelein, et al. (2012) on TTS measured after exposing a 
harbor porpoise to non-impulsive sounds.
    The acoustic and explosive thresholds were adjusted based on 
weighting the exposures from the original research from which the 
thresholds were derived with the Type II weighing functions. The 
weighted threshold is not derived by a simple amplitude shift. The 
high-frequency cetacean onset TTS threshold is based on the onset-TTS 
threshold derived from data in Lucke et al. (2009) for impulsive 
exposures. This threshold was subsequently adjusted in Finneran and 
Jenkins (2012) to reflect Type II high-frequency cetacean weighting. 
Therefore, a simple 19.4 dB adjustment to the thresholds presented in 
Southall et al. (2007) is not appropriate.
    As detailed in Finneran and Jenkins (2012), the thresholds 
presented incorporate new findings since the publication of Southall et 
al. (2007) and the evolution of scientific understanding since that 
time. Please note that Dr. Finneran was one of the authors for Southall 
et al. (2007) and so is completely familiar with the older conclusions 
present in the 2007 publication; therefore, Dr. Finneran was able to 
integrate that knowledge into the development of the refined approach 
that was presented in Finneran and Jenkins (2012), based on evolving 
science since 2007. NMFS is confident that the thresholds and criteria 
used in the NWTT analysis have already incorporated the correct balance 
of conservative assumptions that tend towards overestimation in the 
face of uncertainty. Details regarding the process are provided in 
Section 3.4.3.1.14 (Quantitative Analysis) of the NWTT EIS/OEIS. In 
addition, the summary of the thresholds used in the analysis are 
presented in Section 3.4.3.1.10 (Thresholds and Criteria for Predicting 
Acoustic and Explosive Impacts on Marine Mammals).
    Comment 9: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy to 
(1) adjust the behavioral response function (BRF1) for low-
frequency cetaceans and BRF2 for mid- and high-frequency 
cetaceans (except

[[Page 73580]]

harbor porpoises and beaked whales), phocids, and otariids with 
appropriate K and A parameters based on the basement parameter and the 
weighted TTS thresholds and (2) recalculate its behavioral take 
estimates for all marine mammals exposed to acoustic sources based on 
those revised BRFs.
    Response: Please see the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, Section 3.4.3.1.10 
(Thresholds and Criteria for Predicting Acoustic and Explosive Impacts 
on Marine Mammals) and Finneran and Jenkins (2012) for details 
describing how the criteria and thresholds used in the analysis were 
derived. Hearing impairment such as TTS is based on an SEL threshold 
and behavior is based on the sound pressure level of the highest ping 
received. The predicted higher order effect from the acoustic effects 
model is the potential effect that is reported. Note that Level B 
harassment includes both predicted TTS and behavioral responses.
    Regarding the raw number of exposures presented in the modeling 
technical report (Navy Marine Species Modeling Team, 2013) and the 
difference between the non-TTS exposures for harbor porpoise when 
compared to Dall's porpoise and Kogia spp, note that, as presented in 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, Section 3.4.3.1.12.1 (Sonar and Other Active 
Acoustic Sources), a sound pressure level of 120 dB re 1 [mu]Pa is used 
in this analysis as a threshold for predicting behavioral responses in 
harbor porpoises, whereas for the high-frequency cetaceans like Dall's 
porpoise and Kogia spp. (see Table 3.4-6 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS), the 
behavioral response threshold is the received level SPL: 
BRF2 using Type 1 weighting. Additionally, these species 
have unique density distributions and dive profiles which can result in 
very different modeling results.
    Regarding the confusion about TTS and behavioral takes, note that 
over time, for some events, such as slow moving or stationary sources 
and stationary animats, PTS and TTS takes increase with multiple pings 
and increased energy. However, multiple pings would not cause the outer 
range of the behavioral takes to increase. Therefore, the fixed pool of 
animals that are taken (PTS + TTS + behavioral) does not change but, 
over time, some TTS become PTS, and some behavioral takes become TTS. 
The result of this is that, ultimately, the behavioral takes are 
reduced and become smaller, eventually fewer than the number of TTS.
    Comment 10: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy and NMFS failed to set proper thresholds for threshold shift and 
injury. They base this on the following: First, NMFS's direct 
extrapolation of data from bottlenose dolphins and belugas to low-
frequency cetaceans is not justifiable and insufficiently conservative. 
Second, NMFS makes no attempt to account for the potential bias in 
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command's (SPAWAR) bottlenose dolphin 
data, particularly the age of the subjects used in these influential 
studies and their situation for years within a noisy bay. Third, NMFS's 
weighting curve for high-frequency cetaceans is not sufficiently 
conservative in light of ongoing studies, as by Ron Kastelein. Fourth, 
NMFS's analysis fails to incorporate empirical data on both humans and 
marine mammals indicating that permanent threshold shift can occur at 
levels previously thought to cause temporary threshold shift only.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. The criteria and thresholds for 
determining potential effects on marine species used in the NWTT EIS/
OEIS, the LOA application, and the proposed rule were developed based 
on best available science. See the cited Finneran and Jenkins (2012; 
Criteria and Thresholds for U.S. Navy Acoustic and Explosive Effects 
Analysis Technical Report), which can be found at http://www.nwtteis.com.
    Regarding the commenters' first point, NMFS disagrees that the 
thresholds are unjustified and insufficiently conservative. Please see 
the discussion presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.2.3.3 (Low-
Frequency Cetaceans) and Section 3.4.3.1.11 (Frequency Weighting) to 
understand the derivation of the thresholds and criteria for low 
frequency cetaceans. Specifically it was the low- and high-frequency 
cetacean weighting functions (see Southall et al. (2007) that were 
extrapolated from the dolphin data because of the suspected 
similarities of greatest susceptibility at best frequencies of hearing 
consistent with the best available science. The Navy uses 
experimentally derived mid-frequency cetacean thresholds to assess PTS 
and TTS for low-frequency cetaceans, since mid-frequency cetaceans are 
the most similar to the low frequency group (see Southall et al. 
(2007); Finneran and Jenkins (2012)). Although the mid-frequency 
criteria and thresholds are applied to low frequency cetaceans, 
exposures and threshold sound exposure levels are weighted using the 
low frequency cetacean weighting function rather than the mid-frequency 
which provides higher susceptibility to low frequency sound, consistent 
with their inferred frequencies of best hearing. Data for low frequency 
cetaceans considered in the analysis also includes that from Ketten 
(2014) for blue whales and minke whales, Ketten and Mountain (2014) for 
humpback whales, and Cranford and Krysl (2015) for fin whales. Observed 
vocalization frequencies, observed reactions to playback of sounds, 
anatomical analyses of the auditory system (Cranford and Krysl (2015); 
Houser et al. (2001); Ketten (2014); Ketten and Mountain (2014); Parks 
et al., (2007)), and a general understanding of mammalian hearing are 
the reasons and science behind why the methodology in the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS and the proposed rule is justifiable. NMFS disagrees that the 
approach is not conservative given that low frequency cetaceans do not 
echolocate and that the physiology of mysticetes indicates a lack of 
sensitivity to high frequency sound.
    NMFS disagrees with the commenters' second point, as the data used 
in the analysis included many animals and species at multiple 
experimental facilities around the world as well as auditory 
measurements on wild animals that had stranded, in addition to 
anatomical analyses of the auditory system of mysticetes (Cranford and 
Krysl (2015); Houser et al. (2001); Ketten (2014); Ketten and Mountain 
(2014); Parks et al. (2007)). Direct measurement of hearing sensitivity 
exists for approximately 25 species of marine mammals, including the 
following cetacean species: Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Houser et 
al., 2010a), common dolphins (Houser, Dankiewicz-Talmadge et al., 
2010), Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Johnson, 1967), Indo-Pacific 
bottlenose dolphins (Houseret et al., 2010a), Black Sea bottlenose 
dolphins (Popov et al., 2007), striped dolphins (Kastelein et al., 
2003), white-beaked dolphins (Nachtigall et al., 2008), Risso's 
dolphins (Nachtigall et al., 2005), belugas (Finneran et al., 2005; 
White et al., 1977), long-finned pilot whales (Pacini et al., 2010), 
false killer whales (Yuen et al., 2005), killer whales (Szymanski et 
al., 1999), Gervais' beaked whales (Finneran et al., 2009), and 
Blainville's beaked whales (Pacini et al., 2011).
    Regarding the commenters' third point, the most recent publications 
by Dr. Kastelein are cited and were considered in the analysis 
presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (see Kastelein et al., 2014a, 2014b, 
2105). In reference to the most recent publication involving non-pulse 
sources (sonar) from Kastelein et al. (2015), the authors found that 
the threshold shift criteria proposed by Southall et al. (2007) for 
cetaceans echolocating at high frequency (SEL 215

[[Page 73581]]

dB re 1 lPa2s) was too high for the harbor porpoise when considering 
high duty cycle sonars. Kastelein et al. (2015) documented fatiguing 
sounds at duty cycles of 10 percent (one sonar ping every 10 seconds) 
and 100 percent (one ping immediately followed by another). The high 
duty cycle sonar used in Kastelein's study were a different frequency 
(6-7 kHz) and produce sound at a higher rate than the Navy's hull-
mounted mid-frequency anti-submarine sonar, which nominally produces 
one ping every 45 seconds. Therefore, the Kastelein (2015) study and 
its findings do not relate to the Navy's proposed action or the sonar 
sources proposed for use in the NWTT Study Area.
    Additionally, TTS represents a physiological metric for a 
behavioral reaction and that an exposure resulting in TTS has been and 
is considered an MMPA Level B harassment take. As presented in Section 
3.4.3.1.12.1 (Sonar and Other Active Acoustic Sources, Subsection 
``Harbor Porpoises'') of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Navy and NMFS are 
aware of the sensitivity of harbor porpoises and have established a 
sound pressure level of 120 dB re 1 [micro]Pa as a threshold for 
predicting behavioral responses in harbor porpoises and Level B takes 
pursuant to the MMPA.
    The reference to Tougaard et al. (2014) cited by the commenters has 
been considered in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. The point raised in that 
reference was that the Southall et al. (2007) weighting functions need 
updating given there have been new studies that have since become 
available. The Navy's analysis is in fact based on an update to 
Southall et al. (2007) as detailed in Finneran and Jenkins (2012). In 
the opinion of the authors, the net result from revisions to the 
weighting functions like that used by the Navy (Finneran and Jenkins, 
2012) is that they are not guaranteed to be conservative enough 
specifically with regard to sound sources such as pile driving, ``seal 
scarers,'' and high-frequency pingers. With the exception of high 
frequency pingers, these sources are not part of the Navy's proposed 
action. As detailed in Section 3.4.3.1.11.2 (Hearing Loss--Temporary 
and Permanent Threshold Shift; see reference to Finneran (2015)) in the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Navy and NMFS are in the process of reviewing the 
latest and best available science to further refine future acoustic 
analyses using weighting functions.
    Regarding the commenters' fourth point, NMFS and the Navy have 
incorporated empirical data on humans (see the NWTT FEIS/OEIS citations 
to Ward et al., 1958, 1959a, b; and Miller et al., 1963).
    With regard to the references cited by the commenters: Kastak et 
al. (2008) reported PTS in a harbor seal after an exposure of 202 dB 
SEL at 4.1 kHz. This exposure level is 5 dB above the PTS onset 
criteria used by Navy analyses, and thus the Navy would have predicted 
PTS for this exposure. The Kastak et al. data are therefore in complete 
agreement with the criteria and thresholds used in the Navy's analysis 
and the proposed rule. Kujawa and Liberman (2009) reported TTS in mice 
of 40 dB measured 24 h after exposure. Thresholds were found to recover 
completely (thus there was no PTS) but other signs of auditory damage 
were found, such as neural degeneration and a decrease in 
suprathreshold evoked response amplitudes. A similar study by Lin et 
al. (2011) with guinea pigs found similar results after TTS of >50 dB 
measured 24 h after exposure. Since no lower level exposures were 
utilized, it is not known if the suite of auditory damage observed by 
Kujawa and Liberman (2009) and Lin et al. (2011) would have occurred 
with lesser exposures. Navy's analyses assumed PTS (and thus injury) 
would occur after exposures producing TTS of 40 dB or more measured ~4 
minutes after exposure. Therefore, the exposures used by Kujawa and 
Liberman (2009) and Lin et al. (2011) would have been considered 
injurious by the Navy criteria. Therefore, both the Kastak et al. 
(2008) and Kujawa and Liberman (2009) studies are consistent with the 
Navy's use of TTS of 40 dB, measured ~4 min after exposure, as an 
indicator for auditory injury.
    Comment 11: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. provided several 
comments, which were originally set forth in a detailed critique by Dr. 
David Bain, that were critical of the acoustic risk function used by 
the Navy and NMFS to estimate the probability of behavioral effects 
that NMFS would classify as harassment. The commenters assert that 
these risk functions are flawed and underestimate take.
    Response: Dr. Bain's critique is not directly relevant to the 
proposed action in the NWTT Study Area. It is in reference to older 
Navy EISs (2007 Hawaii Range Complex (HRC) Navy DEIS/OEIS; 2006 
Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR) DEIS/OEIS) that analyze 
different actions in another geographic location, and is no longer 
current as the science has evolved over the last seven years. The 
criteria and thresholds for determining potential effects on marine 
species used in the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS and related consultation 
documents have been appropriately revised based on the best available 
science since the 2006 and 2007 Draft EISs which Dr. Bain reviewed (see 
Finneran and Jenkins (2012). Dr. Bain's critique is therefore dated and 
not directly relevant to the proposed rule or the Navy's analysis for 
the NWTT Study Area as presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. Please also 
note that all comments from Dr. Bain's critique were previously 
responded to in the 2009 Hawaii Range Complex FEIS/OEIS. Particular 
aspects of Dr. Bain's critique highlighted by the commenters are 
discussed in Comments and Responses 12 through 19.
    Comment 12: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS and the Navy rely on studies of temporary threshold shift in 
captive animals for one of their primary source of data.
    Response: The Navy's model uses the best available science to 
analyze impacts and often overestimates the potential effects of its 
activities by considering the worst case scenario (e.g., modeling for 
the loudest sound source within a source bin); see the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
Section 3.4.3.1.14.4 (Model Assumptions and Limitations) for details in 
this regard. The criteria and thresholds for determining potential 
effects on marine species used in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and related 
consultation documents have been revised based on the best available 
science since the 2007 HRC DEIS/OEIS and the 2006 USWTR DEIS/OEIS. See 
Finneran and Jenkins (2012), which can be found at http://www.nwtteis.com.
    NMFS and marine mammal scientists recognize the limitations of 
controlled experiments using captive animals, but there are no 
alternative scientific methods to document the onset of TTS, especially 
in wild animals. It is inaccurate to describe these limitations as 
deficiencies. Furthermore, commenters are incorrect that the TTS data 
used in the analysis is from only seven animals in the Navy's research 
program in the SPAWAR complex. Data used in the analysis and cited in 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS also includes results from other species and non-
Navy/SPAWAR animals--for example see Lucke et al. (2009); Kastelein et 
al. (2012b, 2012c); Kastak et al. (2005); Nachtigall, et. al. (2003); 
and Southall et al. (2007).
    Comment 13: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS and the Navy appear to have misused data garnered from the Haro 
Strait incident by including only those levels of sound received by the 
``J'' pod

[[Page 73582]]

of killer whales when the USS Shoup was at its closest approach.
    Response: Details of the analysis of the Haro Strait event were 
presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.3.1.6. (Behavioral 
Reactions to Sonar and Other Active Acoustic Sources; subsection 
Odontocetes). The Navy and NMFS reviewed testimony, video, and all 
field notes from the time of the event, and have accurately used that 
documented data in the analysis for the NWTT activities. That data 
clearly indicated that the behaviors observed were within the species' 
normal range of behaviors and there were no immediate or general overt 
negative behavioral reactions observed at the time of the exposure. 
Furthermore, the presence of numerous small motor vessels maneuvering 
in close proximity to the orca further complicated any assessment of 
possible reactions related to sonar from a vessel.
    Comment 14: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS and the Navy exclude a substantial body of controlled exposure 
research and opportunistic studies on wild animals (and some research 
on other experimental animals as well, within a behavioral experimental 
protocol). For example, NMFS and the Navy fail to include data from the 
July 2004 Hanalei Bay event, in which 150-200 melon-headed whales were 
embayed for more than 24 hours during the Navy's Rim of the Pacific 
exercise.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. The studies cited by the commenters are 
cited in the proposed rule and in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and were fully 
considered in the analysis. Section 3.4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS contains 
citations to additional controlled exposure research on wild animals 
including, for example, DeRuiter et al. (2013a, b), Defence Science and 
Technology Laboratory (2007); Claridge and Durban (2009); McCarthy et 
al. (2011); Miller et al. (2012); Moretti et al. (2009); Southhall et 
al. (2011, 2012a, 2012b, 2013, 2014); Stimpert et al. (2014); and Tyack 
et al. (2011).
    Regarding the Hanalei Bay event, NMFS included an extensive 
analysis of this event in the Potential Effects section of the proposed 
rule (80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; pages 31764-31765. Please see that 
section for further information regarding NMFS' assessment and 
consideration of that event. It should be noted that NMFS considered 
active sonar transmissions a plausible, if not likely, contributing 
factor in the Hanalei stranding in what may have been a ``confluence of 
events,'' including a unique interaction of biological and physical 
factor--most of which are not expected to occur in the NWTT Study Area 
or during NWTT activities. The biological factors may have included the 
presence of an apparently uncommon, deep-diving cetacean species (and 
possibly an offshore, non-resident group), social interactions among 
the animals before or after they entered the Bay, and/or unknown 
predator or prey conditions. The physical factors may have included the 
presence of nearby deep water, multiple vessels transiting in a 
directed manner while transmitting active sonar over a sustained 
period, the presence of surface sound ducting conditions, and/or 
intermittent and random human interactions while the animals were in 
the Bay.
    Comment 15: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS and the Navy also fail to incorporate data on harbor porpoises and 
beaked whales in their dataset.
    Response: NMFS disagrees with the commenters' assessment. The Navy 
and NMFS have used studies on harbor porpoises and beaked whales in the 
data sets used for analysis. Please see Section 3.4.3.1.12.1 (Sonar and 
Other Active Acoustic Source) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS where this 
information is presented. The analysis includes, for example, data from 
both captive and wild harbor porpoises (see Kastelein et al. (2000, 
2005b) and Johnston (2002)) and behavioral responses from a wild 
population of beaked whales as documented by Tyack et al. (2011). 
Please also refer to the cited Finneran and Jenkins (2012) for 
additional details. Finally, please see the discussions presented in 
Section 3.4.3.1.14.4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Model Assumptions and 
Limitations), which describes the numerous conservative assumptions 
incorporated into the Navy's model.
    Comment 16: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
risk function should have taken into account the social ecology of some 
marine mammal species.
    Response: The Navy and NMFS have taken these factors into account. 
As detailed in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.3.1.14.3 (Navy Acoustic 
Effects Model) and the Navy's Determination of Acoustic Effects 
Technical Report (Marine Species Modeling Team 2013), group size is 
accounted for in the modeling of acoustic effects. Additionally, the 
behavioral response function includes observations of the J-pod in Haro 
Strait.
    Comment 17: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS' threshold is applied in such a way as to preclude any assessment 
of long-term behavioral impacts on marine mammals. It does not account, 
to any degree, for the problem of repetition: The way that apparently 
insignificant impacts, such as subtle changes in dive times or 
vocalization patterns, can become significant if experienced repeatedly 
or over time.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. This analysis is presented in the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS in Section 3.4.3.1.9 (Long-Term Consequences to the 
Individual and the Population) and Section 3.4.3 (Summary of Impacts 
(Combined Impacts of all Stressors) on Marine Mammals) where cumulative 
impacts are addressed, as well as in the Long-Term Consequences section 
of this rule. Assessment of long-term cumulative impacts to species and 
stocks is also represented by the discussion in Section 3.4.4.1 of the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Summary of Monitoring and Observations During Navy 
Activities). NMFS finds that the vast majority of impacts expected from 
sonar exposure and underwater detonations are behavioral in nature, 
temporary and comparatively short in duration, relatively infrequent, 
and specifically not of the type or severity that would be expected to 
be additive for the small portion of the stocks and species likely to 
be exposed.
    This analysis is further corroborated by the healthy, and in some 
locations, increasing marine mammal populations, where sonar use has 
been occurring for decades and is frequently in use on an annual basis, 
such as on instrumented ranges. As noted previously, there is no 
evidence that Navy activities have had or are having any long-term 
impact on marine mammal populations or stocks. For more information, 
see the Long-Term Consequences discussion in the Analysis and 
Negligible Impact Determination section of this rule.
    Comment 18: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
while NMFS and the Navy have assigned a specific threshold to beaked 
whales, in light of Tyack et al. (2011), it is clear that some beaked 
whales are taken on exposure to mid frequency sonar at levels below 140 
decibels (SPL).
    Response: The Navy and NMFS specifically considered the Tyack et 
al. (2011) study, which was cited in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, and its 
findings were incorporated into the threshold for beaked whales (see 
the FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.3.1.6 (Behavioral Reactions)). During Tyack 
et al.'s (2011) research at the Navy's fixed tracking range in the 
Bahamas, animals were observed to leave the immediate area of the anti-
submarine warfare training exercise (avoiding the sonar acoustic

[[Page 73583]]

footprint at a distance where the received level was ``around 140 dB'' 
SPL. Further, Moretti et al. (2014) recently derived an empirical risk 
function for Blainville's beaked whale that predicts there is a 0.5 
probability of disturbance at a received level of 150 dB SPL, 
suggesting that in some cases the current step function may over-
estimate the effects of an activity using sonar on beaked whales. 
Therefore, NMFS has concluded that, based on the best available 
science, 140 dB re 1[mu]Pa (root mean square) is a conservative 
threshold for predicting potential behavioral effects on beaked whales 
from sonar signals.
    Comment 19: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
there are additional flaws in the Navy's acoustic effects modeling, 
which include: A lack of any indication that the Navy has accounted for 
reverberation effects in its modeling, or that its modeling 
sufficiently represents areas in which the risk of reverberation is 
greatest; and a failure to consider the possible synergistic effects on 
marine mammal physiology and behavior of using multiple acoustic 
sources in spatial and temporal proximity.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. As presented in the Section 3.4.3.1.14.3 
(Navy Acoustic Effects Model) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and in the 
referenced modeling technical report (Marine Species Modeling Team, 
2013), the Navy's acoustic effects modeling incorporates the most up to 
date marine mammal density data and oceanographic data for the 
quantification of predicted acoustic impacts to marine mammals. 
Contrary to the assertions in the comment, the model does account for a 
fully three-dimensional environment in calculating sound propagation 
and exposures incorporating site-specific bathymetry, sound speed 
profiles, wind speed, and bottom properties into the propagation 
modeling process. As noted in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the modeling accounts 
for all sources within a scenario simultaneously, so this modeling 
approach specifically accounts for the combined (additive) effects from 
using multiple acoustic sources in spatial and temporal proximity 
(i.e., the cumulative SEL is a composite of all sources received by the 
animat). Multiple conservative assumptions are incorporated into the 
model.

Vessel Strike

    Comment 20: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy and NMFS failed to evaluate ship collisions with large cetaceans, 
and recommended that the Navy model potential ship strikes in the same 
way it models acoustic harassment and injury. The Commission also 
recommended that NMFS require the Navy to use its spatially and 
temporally dynamic simulation models rather than simple probability 
calculations to estimate strike probabilities for specific activities 
(i.e., movement of vessels, torpedoes, unmanned underwater vehicles and 
use of expended munitions, ordnance, and other devices).
    Response: The potential for ship strikes is discussed in the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS, Section 3.4.3.4.1 (Impact from Vessel Strikes), Chapter 6 of 
the LOA application (Section 6.7, Estimated Take of Large Whales by 
Navy Vessel Strike), and throughout this rule. There has never been a 
recorded vessel strike of a whale during any active training or testing 
activities in the NWTT Study Area. There has been only one whale strike 
in the Pacific Northwest by the Navy since such records have been kept 
(June 1994-present). In August 2012, a San Diego homeported DDG 
(destroyer) at-sea about 35 nm west of Coos Bay, Oregon struck a whale 
(believed to be a minke) while transiting to San Diego from Seattle. 
The whale (believed to be a minke whale) was last seen swimming away 
from the location. The fate of the animal is unknown and although no 
blood or other obvious indications of injury to the whale were 
detected, this does not negate the possibility that there may have been 
serious internal injury to the whale resulting from the encounter. It 
is important to note that the vessel strike mitigation procedures 
proposed for the NWTT activities (see Mitigation) were not employed 
during the August 12 ship strike incident that occurred during non-
training activities (with the exception of ``safe speed'' protocols), 
and these measures are expected to effectively mitigate the potential 
impacts to marine mammals from vessel strike during the NWTT training 
and testing activities.
    Any increase in vessel movement, as discussed in Section 3.4.3.4.1 
(Impacts from Vessel Strikes) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, over the No Action 
Alternative is still well below areas such as Southern California and 
Hawaii where the density of large whales and the number of Navy 
activities is higher than that for the NWTT Study Area and yet strikes 
to large whales are still relatively rare in the SOCAL and Hawaii Range 
Complexes. Further, there are fewer Navy vessels for NWTT that are 
homeported in the Study Area than in the previous years included in the 
historical record. Additionally, while the number of training and 
testing activities is likely to increase, it is not expected to result 
in an appreciable increase in vessel use or transits since multiple 
activities usually occur from the same vessel. Finally, the Navy is not 
proposing substantive changes in the locations where vessels have been 
used over the last decade. In summary, neither the Navy nor NMFS 
anticipates vessel strikes to marine mammals during training or testing 
activities within the Study Area, and NMFS is not authorizing mysticete 
takes (by injury or mortality) from vessel strikes during the 5-year 
period of the NWTT regulations. However, the Navy has proposed measures 
(see Mitigation) to mitigate potential impacts to marine mammals from 
vessel strikes during training and testing activities in the Study 
Area.
    The Navy considered using a dynamic simulation model to estimate 
strike probability. However, the Navy determined, and NMFS concurs, 
that the use of historical data was a more appropriate way to analyze 
the potential for strike. The Navy's strike probability analysis in the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS is based upon actual data collected from historical use 
of vessels, in-water devices, and military expended materials, and the 
likelihood that these items may have the potential to strike an animal. 
This data accounts for real world variables over the course of many 
years, and any model would be expected to be less accurate than the use 
of actual data.
    The suggestion to use the Navy's acoustic effects model to 
determine the probability of a strike would not provide a more reliable 
estimate of strike probability given that there are so many unknown but 
critical values which would be necessary as required inputs. There is 
no available science regarding the necessary functional parameters for 
a complex dynamic whale strike simulation model; there are large 
unknowns regarding the data that would be necessary such as the 
density, age classes, and behavior of large whales in the NWTT Study 
Area; and there are no means to validate the output of a model given 
there is no empirical data (not strikes) to ``seed the dynamic 
simulation.'' Therefore, use of historical data from identical 
activities elsewhere and additional use of a probability analysis 
remain a more reasonable analytical approach.

Mitigation and Monitoring

    Comment 21: Some commenters suggested that the rule fails to 
include meaningful mitigation and monitoring measures that would ensure 
the ``least

[[Page 73584]]

practicable impact'' as obligated by the MMPA.
    Response: NMFS disagrees. Under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, 
NMFS must set 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.'' NMFS' duty under this ``least practicable adverse 
impact'' standard is to prescribe mitigation reasonably designed to 
minimize, to the extent practicable, any adverse population-level 
impacts, as well as habitat impacts. While population-level impacts are 
minimized by reducing impacts on individual marine mammals, not all 
takes have a reasonable potential for translating to population-level 
impacts. NMFS' objective under the ``least practicable adverse impact'' 
standard is to design mitigation targeting those impacts on individual 
marine mammals that are reasonably likely to contribute to adverse 
population-level effects.
    The mitigation measures required by this rule are discussed in the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS and in the Mitigation section of this rule. In summary, 
the mitigation measures include the use of visual and acoustic methods 
to detect marine mammals, procedures to relocate or delay events where 
marine mammals have been detected, monitoring of event locations and 
marine mammals before, during, and after events, and the continued 
reporting of Navy activity and interactions with marine mammals as has 
been occurring since 2006. Please also note that the rule requires a 
robust adaptive management program that regularly addresses new 
information and allows for modification of mitigation and/or monitoring 
measures as appropriate. The mitigation measures are informed by years 
of experience and monitoring, which has shown them to be effective. 
NMFS has determined that the mitigation measures are adequate means of 
effecting the least practicable adverse impacts on marine mammals 
species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, while 
also considering personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and 
impact on the effectiveness of the military readiness activity.
    Comment 22: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy 
to provide the predicted average and maximum ranges for all impact 
criteria (i.e., behavioral response, TTS, PTS, onset slight lung 
injury, onset slight gastrointestinal injury, and onset mortality), for 
all activities (i.e., based on the activity category and representative 
source bins and including ranges for more than 1 ping), and for all 
functional hearing groups of marine mammals within the three NWTT areas 
(i.e., offshore, inland waters, and Western Behm Canal).
    Response: Ranges to effects for all criteria and functional hearing 
groups are provided for representative active sonars (Section 
3.4.3.2.1.1, Range to Effects) and explosives (Section 3.4.3.2.2.1, 
Range to Effects) in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. The representative sources 
include the most powerful active sonar source and the charge with the 
largest net explosive weight analyzed. NMFS believes that these 
representative sources provide adequate information to analyze 
potential effects on marine mammals. Because the Navy conducts training 
and testing in a variety of environments having variable acoustic 
propagation conditions, variations in acoustic propagation conditions 
are considered in the Navy's acoustic modeling and the quantitative 
analysis of acoustic impacts. Average ranges to effect are provided in 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS to show the reader typical zones of impact around 
representative sources. The presentation of a maximum range based on a 
worst case analysis under extreme conditions would fail to be 
representative and therefore potentially confuse readers by 
presentation of a range to effects that are extremely unlikely to ever 
be present in actual real world conditions.
    As explained in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS in Section 3.4.3.2.1.1 (Range to 
Effects), there is no reason to show a PTS range for more than one ping 
because of the short distances involved, even in the case of the most 
powerful hull mounted source. The ship moves beyond the PTS zone for 
each successive ping, and there is no difference in successive pings. 
Given all the science detailed in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (see for example 
Section 3.4.3.2.1.2, Avoidance Behavior and Mitigation Measures as 
Applied to Sonar and Other Active Acoustic Sources) indicating that 
marine mammals will behaviorally avoid high levels of sound, the 
assumption that a marine mammal would not remain alongside a pinging 
vessel is a simple but reasonable assumption. As presented in the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS, while 10 knots was the speed used in modeling the ship's 
speed of advance, a ship engaged in anti-submarine warfare training or 
testing would be moving at between 10 and 15 knots. For the majority of 
marine mammals, the distance to a PTS exposure is within 10 meters of 
the sonar dome, and that distance is not influenced significantly by 
differing ocean environments given that the calculated range to a PTS 
is almost entirely a function involving the physics of spreading loss. 
The comment's assumption that the distances provided in Tables 3.4-10 
and 3.4-11 of the NWTT DEIS/OEIS do not apply to NWTT is incorrect.
    Because the Navy conducts training and testing in a variety of 
environments having variable acoustic propagation conditions, 
variations in acoustic propagation conditions are considered in the 
Navy's acoustic modeling and the quantitative analysis of acoustic 
impacts. Although the Navy pointed out the complexity of acoustic 
modeling in inland waters, it would be incorrect to conclude that 
modeling therefore lacked precision. The Navy acoustic modeling makes 
use of the most accurate information and environmental data available, 
including the inland waters where these activities would take place.
    The Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS and supporting technical documents 
provide the detail to make the analysis fully transparent. Details of 
this model's processes and the description and derivation of the inputs 
are presented in the Navy's Determination of Acoustic Effects Technical 
Report (Marine Species Modeling Team, 2013). As presented in Section 
3.4.3.1.14.3 (Navy Acoustic Effects Model) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the 
model incorporates actual site-specific bathymetric relief, sound speed 
profiles, wind speed, and bottom properties into the propagation 
analysis.
    Comment 23: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy 
to use a second clearance category of 60 minutes for beaked whales and 
sperm whales if the animal has not been observed exiting the mitigation 
zone.
    Response: NMFS does not concur with the Commission's recommendation 
that the Navy should use a second clearance category of 60 minutes for 
deep-diving species for the following reasons:
     As described in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS in Chapter 5 (Standard 
Operating Procedures, Mitigation, and Monitoring), a 30-minute wait 
period more than covers the average dive times of most marine mammals.
     The ability of an animal to dive longer than 30 minutes 
does not mean that it will always do so. Therefore, the 60-minute delay 
would only potentially add value in instances when animals had remained 
under water for more than 30 minutes.
     Navy vessels typically move at 10-12 knots (5-6 m/sec) 
when operating

[[Page 73585]]

active sonar and potentially much faster when not. Fish et al. (2006) 
measured speeds of seven species of odontocetes and found that they 
ranged from 1.4-7.30 m/sec. Even if a vessel was moving at the slower 
typical speed associated with active sonar use, an animal would need to 
be swimming near sustained maximum speed for an hour in the direction 
of the vessel's course to stay within the safety zone of the vessel. 
Increasing the typical speed associated with active sonar use would 
further narrow the circumstances in which the 60-minute delay would add 
value.
     Additionally, the times when marine mammals are deep-
diving (i.e., the times when they are under the water for longer 
periods of time) are the same times that a large portion of their 
motion is in the vertical direction, which means that they are far less 
likely to keep pace with a horizontally moving vessel.
     Given that, the animal would need to have stayed in the 
immediate vicinity of the sound source for an hour, and considering the 
maximum area that both the vessel and the animal could cover in an 
hour, it is improbable that this would randomly occur. Moreover, 
considering that many animals have been shown to avoid both acoustic 
sources and ships without acoustic sources, it is improbable that a 
deep-diving cetacean (as opposed to a dolphin that might bow ride) 
would choose to remain in the immediate vicinity of the source.
    Furthermore, the Navy was aware of the diving behaviors of marine 
mammals and integrated the data in Watwood and Buonantony (2012) into 
its modeling. In summary, NMFS believes that it is unlikely that a 
single cetacean would remain in the safety zone of a Navy sound source 
for more than 30 minutes, and therefore disagrees with the Commission 
that a second clearance category of 60 minutes for deep-diving species 
is necessary. The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts that that injury to 
deep-diving marine mammals (e.g., sperm whales and beaked whales) are 
not expected to occur in the Study Area.
    Comment 24: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS should limit all Navy training and testing activities that use 
sonar and explosives that overlap biologically important areas 
identified along the Washington, Oregon, and Northern California coasts 
and off the coast of Southern Alaska. Time/Area closures were 
specifically recommended for NMFS-identified biologically important 
areas, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS), Puget Sound, 
and Marine Protected Areas. Other commenters also recommended 
consideration of time/area limitations in biologically sensitive areas 
in the Study Area.
    Response: The Navy and NMFS have fully considered area-specific 
mitigation measures for the Navy's low use of mid-frequency active 
sonar and other activities in areas of particular importance (e.g., 
BIAs, OCNMS, MPAs, Puget Sound) to marine mammals. See the 
Consideration of Time/Area Limitation section of this rule for an 
assessment of Navy activities within these areas, along with 
clarification of, or updates to, mitigation measures within these 
areas. In addition, the analysis of mitigation measures in Chapter 5 
(Standard Operating Procedures, Mitigation, and Monitoring) of the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS provides an analysis of the activities in these BIAs, which 
has been incorporated into the analysis in Section 3.4 (Marine Mammals) 
of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. Chapters 5 (see Section 5.3.4.12, Avoiding 
Marine Protected Areas) and 6 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS include an analysis 
of the MPAs.
    NMFS has determined that the mitigation measures required by this 
rule (especially when the adaptive management component is taken into 
consideration), including those clarified or updated above (see 
Consideration of Time/Area Limitation), are adequate means of effecting 
the least practicable adverse impacts on marine mammals species or 
stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, 
mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, while also 
considering personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and 
impact on the effectiveness of the military readiness activity.
    Comment 25: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested the use 
of sonar and other active acoustic systems at the lowest practicable 
source level, with clear standards and reporting requirements for 
different testing and training scenarios.
    Response: The Navy uses active sonar at the lowest practicable 
source level consistent with mission requirements. See Section 
5.3.4.1.3 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Reducing Sonar Source Levels and Total 
Number of Hours) for further information.
    Comment 26: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested 
expansion of the marine species ``safety zone'' to a 4 km shutdown, 
reflecting international best practice, or 2 km, reflecting the 
standard prescribed by the California Coastal Commission for similar 
activities in Southern California.
    Response: Section 5.3.4.1.13 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Increasing the 
Size of Observed Mitigation Zones) discusses mitigation zone expansion. 
See also Section 5.3.4.1.16 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Adopting Mitigation 
Measures of Foreign Navies). There is no internationally recognized 
best practice with regard to mitigation zone distance. The Navy 
developed activity-specific mitigation zones based on the Navy's 
acoustic propagation model. Each recommended mitigation zone is 
intended to avoid or reduce the potential for onset of the lowest level 
of injury, PTS, out to the predicted maximum range. Mitigating to the 
predicted maximum range to PTS consequently also mitigates to the 
predicted maximum range to onset mortality (1 percent mortality), onset 
slight lung injury, and onset slight gastrointestinal tract injury, 
since the maximum range to effects for these criteria are shorter than 
for PTS. Furthermore, in most cases, the mitigation zone actually 
covers the TTS zone.
    The mitigation zones contained in this final rule represent the 
maximum area the Navy can effectively observe based on the platform of 
observation, number of personnel that will be involved, and the number 
and type of assets and resources available. As mitigation zone sizes 
increase, the potential for reducing impacts decreases. For instance, 
if a mitigation zone increases from 1,000 to 4,000 yd. (914 to 3,658 
m), the area that must be observed increases sixteen-fold, which is not 
practicable. The mitigation measures contained in this final rule 
balance the need to reduce potential impacts with the Navy's ability to 
provide effective observations throughout a given mitigation zone. 
Implementation of mitigation measures is most effective when the 
mitigation zone is appropriately sized to be realistically observed. 
The Navy does not have the resources to maintain additional Lookouts or 
observer platforms that would be needed to effectively observe 
mitigation zones of increased size.
    Comment 27: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested that the 
Navy delay or relocate activities when beaked whales are detected 
through passive acoustic monitoring and when significant aggregations 
of any species or particularly vulnerable or endangered species are 
detected by any means in the vicinity of an exercise, even if 
potentially occurring beyond the established mitigation zone.
    Response: Mitigation will be implemented within the mitigation zone 
for all marine mammals regardless of species or numbers of animals if 
they

[[Page 73586]]

approach or enter a mitigation zone. NMFS disagrees that it is 
necessary to delay or relocate activities when beaked whales, other 
sensitive species or significant aggregations of marine mammals are 
detected outside the mitigation zones. For the NWTT activities, the 
Navy developed each recommended mitigation zone to avoid or reduce the 
potential for onset of the lowest level of injury, PTS, out to the 
predicted maximum range. Furthermore, in most cases, the predicted 
maximum range to PTS also consequently covers the predicted average 
range to TTS. The activity-specific mitigation zones are based on the 
longest range for all the functional hearing groups. The mitigation 
zone for a majority of activities is driven by either the high-
frequency cetaceans or the sea turtle functional hearing groups. 
Therefore, the mitigation zones are even more protective for the 
remaining functional hearing groups (i.e., low-frequency cetaceans, 
mid-frequency cetaceans, and pinnipeds). The predicted ranges are based 
on local environmental conditions and are unique to the NWTT Study 
Area.
    With respect to passive acoustic monitoring, all passive acoustic 
detections will be reported to Lookouts to increase vigilance of the 
visual surveillance. However, as stated previously, passive acoustic 
monitoring can neither provide range or bearing to detected animals, 
and therefore cannot provide locations of these animals.
    Comment 28: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested use of 
simulated geography (and other work-arounds) to reduce or eliminate 
chokepoint exercises in near-coastal environments, particularly within 
canyons and channels, and use of other important habitat.
    Response: There are no chokepoint exercises in the NWTT Study Area. 
Further, NMFS notes that the Navy has clarified that certain activities 
will not occur in the near-coastal environment. As explained previously 
in this rule, the Navy will conduct Missile Exercises using high 
explosives at least 50 nm from shore in the NWTRC Offshore Area, the 
Navy will conduct BOMBEX (high explosive munitions) events at least 50 
nm from shore, and the Navy will conduct BOMBEX (non-explosive practice 
munitions) events at least 20 nm from shore.
    As discussed in Section 2.5.1.4 (Simulated Training and Testing) 
and Section 5.3.4.1.2 (Replacing Training and Testing with Simulated 
Activities) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Navy uses computer simulation 
for training and testing whenever possible. However, training in near-
coastal environments is an essential component to maintaining military 
readiness. Computer simulation can provide familiarity and complement 
live training; however, it cannot provide the fidelity and level of 
training necessary to prepare naval forces for deployment. Sound 
propagates differently in shallower water and operators must learn to 
train in this environment. Additionally, submarines have become quieter 
through the use of improved technology and have learned to hide in the 
higher ambient noise levels of the shallow waters of coastal 
environments. In real world events, it is highly likely Sailors would 
be working in, and therefore must train in, these types of areas. The 
littoral water space is also the most challenging area to operate in 
due to a diverse acoustic environment. It is not realistic or 
practicable to refrain from training in the areas that are the most 
challenging and operationally important. Operating in near-costal 
environments is essential in order to provide realistic training on 
real world combat conditions with regard to shallow water sound 
propagation.
    The Navy will implement mitigation for all training and testing 
activities to minimize any potential effects. Further, the Navy does 
have a particular set of monitoring measures (intended to help reduce 
the chance of a stranding) that would be applied if a combination of 
circumstances exist that are thought to make a stranding more likely 
(e.g., steep bathymetry, multiple vessels using sonar in a single area 
over an extended period of time, constricted channels or embayments). 
However, a combination of these environmental and operational features 
is not present in the NWTT Study Area.
    Comment 29: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested 
avoidance or reduction of training during months with historically 
significant surface ducting conditions; delay of activities or use of 
power-downs during significant surface ducting conditions; and use of 
additional power-downs when significant surface ducting conditions 
coincide with other conditions that elevate risk.
    Response: The mitigation measures required by this rule, which have 
proven effective over years of monitoring and reporting, apply to 
activities conducted during surface ducting conditions. Avoiding or 
reducing active sonar during surface ducts for the purpose of 
mitigation would increase safety risks to personnel, be impractical 
with regard to implementation of military readiness activities, and 
result in unacceptable impacts on readiness for the following reasons: 
The Navy must train in the same manner as it will fight. Submarines 
have long been known to exploit the phenomena associated with surface 
ducting. Therefore, training in surface ducting conditions is a 
critical component to military readiness because sonar operators need 
to learn how sonar transmissions are altered due to surface ducting, 
how submarines may take advantage of them, and how to operate sonar 
effectively in this environment. Avoiding activities during periods 
with surface ducting conditions or requiring the use of power-downs 
during surface ducting conditions would reduce a sonar operator's 
ability to effectively operate in a real world combat situation, 
thereby resulting in an unacceptable increased risk to personnel safety 
and the ability to achieve military readiness. Furthermore, avoiding 
surface ducting would be impractical to implement because ocean 
conditions contributing to surface ducting change frequently, and 
surface ducts can be of varying duration. See section 5.3.4.1.9 of the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS for more information on avoiding or reducing activities 
during surface ducting conditions.
    Comment 30: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested that the 
Navy plan their ship tracks to avoid embayments and provide escape 
routes for marine mammals.
    Response: First, NMFS notes that the Navy has particular set of 
monitoring measures (intended to help reduce the chance of a stranding) 
that would be applied if a combination of circumstances exist that are 
thought to make a stranding more likely (e.g., steep bathymetry, 
multiple vessels in a single area over an extended period of time, and 
in areas of constricted channels or embayments). However, a combination 
of these environmental and operational features is not present in the 
NWTT Study Area. Further, the majority of Navy training activities 
involving ``ship tracks'' would occur in the offshore portion of the 
Study Area and therefore not involve embayments. In inland waters where 
there may be areas that could be considered embayments, ship tracks are 
generally constrained by the vessel traffic separation scheme, safety 
of operation, and mission requirements. See Section 5.3.4.1.6 of the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Limiting Activities to a Few Specific Locations) for 
further information regarding limiting the location of activities.
    Comment 31: Several commenters suggested that the Navy limit their 
activities to periods of good visibility. More specifically, the Animal 
Legal

[[Page 73587]]

Defense Fund et al. suggested that all weapons firing in missile and 
bombing exercises involving detonations exceeding 20 lb. net explosive 
weight take place during the period 1 hour after sunrise to 30 minutes 
before sunset.
    Response: NMFS believes that effective mitigation measures are 
already in place to address missile and bombing exercises. The Navy 
must train at night and in low-visibility conditions to ensure 
personnel may operate in similar conditions when required for actual 
operations. After sunset and prior to sunrise, watch personnel employ 
night visual search techniques, which could include the use of night 
vision devices. Please see the Mitigation section of the rule for 
further information. Section 5.3.4.1.8 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Avoiding 
or Reducing Active Sonar at Night and During Periods of Low Visibility) 
also discusses activities conducted during varying environmental 
conditions.
    NMFS clarifies that historically, Navy bombing exercises in the 
NWTT Study area are very infrequent and have occurred greater than 50 
nm from shore in order to avoid other users and for marine safety 
purposes. Conducting these exercises greater than 50 nm from shore has 
the practical effort of affording environmental protections to certain 
species such as southern resident killer whale, salmonids, and harbor 
porpoise that generally are not in these areas. The Navy proposes to 
continue to conduct bombing and missile exercises with high explosives 
at least 50 nm off shore in the NWTT study area. In addition, Bombex 
and other events using non-explosive practice munitions are not 
anticipated to occur within 20 nm of shore in NWTT Study area, and 
SINKEX are not proposed to occur in the NWTT Study area.
    Comment 32: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested 
suspension or postponement of chokepoint exercises during surface 
ducting conditions and scheduling of such exercises during daylight 
hours.
    Response: There are no chokepoint exercises in the NWTT Study Area. 
See our Responses to Comment 29 regarding avoiding or reducing 
activities during surface ducting conditions. See our Response to 
Comment 31 regarding avoidance of activities at night.
    Comment 33: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested use of 
dedicated aerial monitors during chokepoint exercises, major exercises, 
and near-coastal exercises.
    Response: There are no chokepoint or Major Training Exercises 
proposed for the NWTT Study Area. Please refer to Section 2 of the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS for a detailed description of the action. As described 
throughout Chapter 5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and in this rule (see 
``Mitigation'' section), visual observation (aerial and vessel-based) 
would be conducted in association with Navy activities. Specific aerial 
monitoring is not typically feasible given the limited duration of 
typical monitoring flights (less than 4 hours). In addition, there are 
significant flight safety considerations and airspace restrictions 
during many Navy exercises when larger groups of military aircraft are 
present in high numbers at various altitudes.
    Comment 34: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested use of 
dedicated passive acoustic monitoring to detect vocalizing species, 
through established and portable range instrumentation and the use of 
hydrophone arrays off instrumented ranges. The Commission also 
recommended that NMFS require the Navy to use passive and active 
acoustics, whenever practicable, to supplement visual monitoring during 
the implementation of its mitigation measures for all activities that 
could cause PTS, injury, or mortality beyond those explosive activities 
for which passive acoustics already was proposed. The Commission 
questioned why passive and active acoustic monitoring used during the 
Navy's Surveillance Towed Array Sensory System Low Frequency Active 
(SURTASS LFA) activities is not applied here.
    Response: As described in Section 5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and this 
rule, the Navy will conduct passive acoustic monitoring during several 
activities. The Navy will use passive acoustic monitoring to supplement 
visual observations during IEER sonobuoy activities, explosive 
sonobouys using >0.5-2.5 lb net explosive weight, and torpedo 
(explosive) testing exercises, to detect marine mammal vocalizations. 
The Navy does not have the resources to construct and maintain passive 
acoustic monitoring systems for each training and testing activity. See 
Section 5.3.4.1.13 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Increasing Visual and Passive 
Acoustic Observations) for more information regarding the use of 
passive sensors. For additional information on the Navy's marine mammal 
monitoring efforts, see http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/.
    The active sonar system used by SURTASS LFA is unique to the 
platforms that use SURTASS LFA. Moreover, this system requires the 
platforms that carry SURTASS LFA to travel at very slow speeds for the 
system to be effective. For both of these reasons it is not possible 
for the Navy to use this system for the platforms analyzed in the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS.
    Comment 35: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested 
modification of sonobuoys for passive acoustic detection of vocalizing 
species.
    Response: Modifying sonobuoys to increase their bandwidth is 
considered impractical for the Navy because it would require 
significant modification to the sonobuoy receiving equipment at a 
substantial cost and reduce the effectiveness of the sonobuoy system's 
ability to detect submarines. See section 5.3.4.1.13 of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS (Increasing Visual and Passive Acoustic Observations) for further 
information regarding the use of passive sensors.
    Comment 36: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested use of 
aerial surveys and ship-based surveys before, during, and after multi-
unit exercises.
    Response: There are no Major Training Exercises proposed for NWTT. 
See Chapter 2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS for a discussion of the Proposed 
Action and a description of events that may involve more than one unit, 
such as a helicopter coordinating with a surface vessel. As described 
throughout Chapter 5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and this rule, visual 
observation (aerial and vessel-based) would be conducted in association 
with Navy activities. Specific aerial monitoring is not typically 
effective or feasible given the limited duration of typical monitoring 
flights (less than 4 hours). In addition, there are significant flight 
safety considerations and airspace restrictions during Navy training 
when military aircraft are present in high numbers at various 
altitudes. Ship-based surveys before, during, and after multi-unit 
exercises are impractical due to the large amount of resources required 
and the significant impact such a requirement would have on readiness. 
In addition to the mitigation and monitoring required by this rule, 
which have proven to be effective, the Navy is also committed to a 
robust marine mammal monitoring program designed to answer specific 
questions about the effects of the Navy's activities on marine mammals.
    Comment 37: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested use of 
all available range assets for marine mammal monitoring.
    Response: NMFS has worked with the Navy over the years to help 
develop the most effective mitigation protocols using the platforms and 
assets that are available for monitoring. The required mitigation 
measures in this document represent the maximum level of effort

[[Page 73588]]

(e.g., numbers of Lookouts and passive sonobuoys) that the Navy can 
commit to observing mitigation zones given the number of personnel that 
will be involved and the number and type of assets and resources 
available.
    Comment 38: Some commenters believe that using Lookouts as the 
primary strategy for limiting potential impacts from Navy activities is 
inadequate. The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested the use of 
additional Lookouts, and the use of NMFS-certified observers for marine 
mammal detection. Several commenters requested further information on 
the Navy's Lookout effectiveness study. More specifically, the Animal 
Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested that the Navy complete a Lookout 
effectiveness study comparing the abilities of Navy vessel-based 
Lookouts and third-party protected species observers.
    Response: One key component of the monitoring and mitigation 
required by this rule is the shipboard Lookouts (also known as 
watchstanders), who are part of the standard operating procedure that 
ships use to detect objects (including marine mammals) within a 
specific area around the ship during events. The Lookouts are an 
element of the Navy's monitoring plan, as required by NMFS and 
specified in the LOAs. The goal of Lookouts is to detect marine mammals 
entering ranges of 200, 500, and 1,000 yd (183, 457, and 914 m) around 
the vessel, which correspond to distances at which various mitigation 
actions should be performed. In addition to the Lookouts, officers on 
the bridge search visually and sonar operators listen for marine mammal 
vocalizations.
    NMFS disagrees that using Lookouts as the primary strategy for 
limiting potential impacts from Navy activities is inadequate. Navy 
Lookouts are qualified and experienced observers of the marine 
environment. All Lookouts take part in Marine Species Awareness 
Training so that they are better prepared to spot marine mammals. Their 
duties require that they report all objects sighted in the water to the 
Office of the Deck (OOD) and all disturbances that may be indicative of 
a threat to the vessel and its crew. Lookouts are on duty at all times, 
day and night, when a ship or surfaced submarine is moving through the 
water. Visual detections of marine mammals would be communicated 
immediately to a watch station for information disseminations and 
appropriate mitigation action. The number of Lookouts required for each 
activity represents the maximum level of effort (e.g., numbers of 
Lookouts and passive sonobuoys) that the Navy can commit to observing 
mitigation zones given the number of personnel that will be involved in 
an activity and the number and type of assets and resources available. 
The number of Lookouts that the Navy uses for each activity often 
represents the maximum capacity based on limited resources (e.g., space 
and manning restrictions). NMFS has carefully considered Navy's use of 
Lookouts and determined that, in combination with the other mitigation 
measures identified, the Navy's mitigation plan will effect the least 
practicable adverse impacts on marine mammal species or stocks and 
their habitat.
    The Navy has determined that the use of third-party observers 
(e.g., NMFS-certified protected species observers) in air or on surface 
platforms in lieu of or in addition to existing Navy Lookouts for the 
purposes of mitigation is impractical for the following reasons: The 
use of third-party observers would compromise security for some 
activities involving active sonar due to the requirement to provide 
advance notification of specific times and locations of Navy platforms; 
reliance on the availability of third-party personnel could impact 
training and testing flexibility; the presence of additional aircraft 
in the vicinity of naval activities would raise safety concerns; and 
there is limited space aboard Navy vessels. Furthermore, Navy personnel 
are extensively trained in spotting items on or near the water surface 
and receive more hours of training than many third-party personnel.
    In 2010, the Navy initiated a study designed to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the Navy Lookout team. The University of St. Andrews, 
Scotland, under contract to the Navy, developed an initial data 
collection protocol for use during the study. Between 2010 and 2012, 
trained Navy marine mammal observers collected data during nine field 
trials as part of a ``proof of concept'' phase. The goal of the proof 
of concept phase was to develop a statistically valid protocol for 
quantitatively analyzing the effectiveness of Lookouts during Navy 
training exercises. Field trials were conducted in the HRC, SOCAL Range 
Complex, and Jacksonville Range Complex onboard one frigate, one 
cruiser, and seven destroyers. Preliminary analysis of the proof of 
concept data is ongoing. The Navy is also working to finalize the data 
collection process for use during the next phase of the study. While 
data was collected as part of this proof of concept phase, those data 
are not fairly comparable because protocols were being changed and 
assessed, nor are those data statistically significant. Therefore, it 
is improper to use these data to draw any conclusions on the 
effectiveness of Navy Lookouts at this time.
    Comment 39: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested the use 
of dedicated aerial monitoring for all Navy explosive activities using 
time-delay firing devices and/or all activities involving explosives 
greater than 20 lb net explosive weight.
    Response: There are no time-delay devices proposed for use in the 
NWTT Study Area. Further, the largest charge weight (NEW) proposed for 
use in the NWTT Study Area during Mine Warfare training exercises is a 
2.5 lb. charge. Please see Chapter 2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS for a 
detailed description of the action.
    Comment 40: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. suggested the use 
of gliders or other platforms for pre-activity monitoring to avoid 
significant aggregations of marine mammals.
    Response: The development of passive acoustic detectors on gliders 
and other platforms is still in the research and development stages 
under funding from the Office of Naval Research and the Navy's Living 
Marine Resources programs. While promising, many of the various 
technologies are still being tested and not ready for transition to 
compliance monitoring where a higher degree of performance is needed. 
Gliders, even if able to report in real-time or delayed near real-time, 
would only be able to document the presence of marine mammals, not the 
distance of the marine mammals from the glider or individual animal 
movement. Moreover, gliders would only provide an indication that 
animals are in the area, but these same animals could easily move 
substantial distances over the course of just a few hours. In some 
cases, use of gliders in and around where Navy submarines also operate 
is an underwater safety hazard to the submarine and to the glider. 
Gliders and other passive acoustic platforms, therefore, are more 
appropriate for broad area searches within Navy ranges to document 
marine mammal seasonal occurrence, but are not practical as a 
mitigation tool.
    Comment 41: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended that 
the Navy comply with underwater detonation and gunnery exercise 
mitigation measures as set forth in NMFS' 2009 final rule for the SOCAL 
Range Complex.
    Response: The commenters do not elaborate on why the mitigation 
measures for underwater explosives and gunnery exercises--which are 
unrelated

[[Page 73589]]

activities--for the SOCAL Range Complex would be more protective than 
those currently proposed for similar activities in the NWTT Study Area. 
Moreover, mitigation measures designed for training and testing 
activities in the SOCAL Range Complex are not directly applicable to 
NWTT activities. Mitigation measures for underwater detonations and 
gunnery exercises for NWTT are described in the Mitigation section and 
regulatory text of this rule. NMFS has determined that these mitigation 
measures are adequate means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impacts on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat.
    Comment 42: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
avoidance and reduction in the use of timer delays in favor of 
explosives with positive controls.
    Response: There are no time-delay devices proposed for use in the 
NWTT Study Area. Please see Chapter 2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS for a 
detailed description of the action.
    Comment 43: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
application of ship-speed restriction (e.g., of 10 knots) for support 
vessels and/or other vessels while transiting high-value habitat for 
baleen whales and endangered species, or other areas of biological 
significance, and/or shipping lanes.
    Response: The Navy typically chooses to run vessels at slower 
speeds for efficiency to conserve fuel when possible, which may include 
speeds less than 5 knots or completely stopped for launching small 
boats, certain tactical maneuvers, target launch, or retrievals of 
unmanned underwater vehicles, etc. However, some operational 
requirements mean that Navy vessels must exceed 10 knots due to unique 
training, testing, or safety requirements for a given event. Further, 
imposing an artificial speed restriction only on Navy vessels, which 
represent an extremely small percentage of ship traffic, particularly 
in areas of high commercial traffic where no other limits exist, could 
create safety or navigation concerns where Navy vessels are not 
traveling at speeds consistent with surrounding traffic.
    As discussed earlier in this rule in the Mitigation section, the 
Navy is clarifying its existing speed protocol: While in transit, Navy 
vessels shall be alert at all times, use extreme caution, and proceed 
at a ``safe speed'' so that the vessel can take proper and effective 
action to avoid a collision with any sighted object or disturbance, 
including any marine mammal or sea turtle and can be stopped within a 
distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. 
Other mitigation measures will be implemented to avoid vessel strikes, 
such as maneuvering to keep at least 500 yards from whales observed in 
a vessel's path, and not approaching whales head-on, provided it is 
safe to do so. The Navy will also be required to report any vessel 
strike.
    Navy ship speed has not been implicated in impacts to marine 
mammals in the NWTT Study Area. As discussed in the Take Request 
section and elsewhere in this rule, there has never been a recorded 
vessel strike of marine mammals during any training or testing 
activities in the Study Area. There has been only one whale strike in 
the Pacific Northwest by the Navy since such records have been kept 
(June 1994-present). In August 2012, a San Diego homeported DDG 
(destroyer) at-sea about 35 nm west of Coos Bay, Oregon struck a whale 
(believed to be a minke) while transiting to San Diego from Seattle. A 
detailed analysis of strike data is contained in Section 6.7 (Estimated 
Take of Large Whales by Navy Vessel Strike) of the LOA application. The 
Navy's proposed actions would not result in any appreciable changes in 
locations or frequency of vessel activity, and there have been no 
recorded whale strikes during any training and testing activities in 
the Study Area. The manner in which the Navy has trained would remain 
consistent with the range of variability observed over the last decade 
so the Navy does not anticipate vessel strikes would occur within the 
Study Area during training events.
    Navy vessel transit potentially occurring within biologically 
important areas in the NWTT Study Area is discussed in the 
Consideration of Time/Area Limitations section of this rule. In 
general, there is a very small likelihood of Navy vessel movement in 
the gray whale feeding area mapped along the northern coast of 
Washington as ships transit to the offshore training and testing areas. 
Where there is overlap between vessel movement and gray whale feeding 
areas in the Study Area (Northern Puget Sound), the potential for Navy 
vessels to interact with feeding gray whales within this area is low, 
especially given the proportion of Navy vessels and the short time 
period (March-May) that whales will be present. Navy vessel traffic is 
extremely minimal in comparison to commercial ship traffic within the 
Northern Washington humpback whale feeding area, and there is an 
extremely low likelihood of any Navy vessel movements occurring within 
the two southern humpback whale feeding areas.
    Comment 44: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
application of mitigation prescribed by state regulators, by the 
courts, by other navies or research centers, or by the U.S. Navy in the 
past or in other contexts.
    Response: NMFS and the Navy worked together on developing a 
comprehensive suite of mitigation measures to reduce the impacts from 
Navy training and testing activities on marine mammal species or stocks 
and their habitat. During the process of developing mitigation 
measures, NMFS and the Navy considered all potentially applicable 
mitigation measures. Evaluation of past and present Navy mitigation 
measures, alternative mitigation measures, and mitigation measures of 
foreign navies is discussed Chapter 5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. As 
discussed in the Mitigation section, NMFS has determined that the 
mitigation measures required by this rule are adequate means of 
effecting the least practicable adverse impacts on marine mammal 
species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, while 
also considering personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and 
impact on the effectiveness of the military readiness activity.
    Comment 45: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
avoidance of fish spawning grounds and of important habitat for fish 
species potentially vulnerable to significant behavioral change, such 
as wide-scale displacement within the water column or changes in 
breeding behavior.
    Response: NMFS considered impacts to prey species as a component of 
marine mammal habitat. Please see the ``Marine Mammal Habitat'' section 
of the proposed rule, which included an extensive discussion of the 
potential impact of the Navy's activities on fish. In summary, long-
term consequences to fish populations are not expected. Impacts to fish 
spawning grounds and habitat use are also considered under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) as it 
relates to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The effect of the Navy's 
activities on threatened and endangered fish was also addressed in 
NMFS' Biological Opinion, which concluded that the Navy's activities 
would not reasonably be expected to reduce appreciably the likelihood 
of the survival and recovery of any listed fish species.
    Section 5.3.4.1.11 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Avoiding Marine Species

[[Page 73590]]

Habitats) discusses habitat avoidance. Section 3.9 of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS (Fish) provides the effects determinations on fish. As noted in 
Chapter 3.9 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the current science regarding 
behavioral impacts to fish from sonar is that the potential for effects 
within the near field (within few tens of meters of the source), 
intermediate, or far distances is low (Popper et al., 2014). For 
explosives, the potential for behavioral effects is high within a few 
tens of meters from the source, moderate to high within intermediate 
distances (100s of meters from the source), and low within the far 
field (thousands of meters from the source) (Popper et al., 2014). 
Therefore, the type of wide-scale displacement being described by the 
commenter is unlikely to occur based on the current state of the 
science.
    Comment 46: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
evaluating before each multi-unit exercise whether reductions in sonar 
use are possible, given the readiness status of the units involved.
    Response: There are no MTEs in the NWTT Study Area. The Navy uses 
active sonar at the lowest practicable source level consistent with 
mission requirements. See Section 5.3.4.1.3 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
(Reducing Sonar Source Levels and Total Number of Hours) for more 
information.
    Comment 47: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
dedicated research and development of technology to reduce impacts of 
active acoustic sources on marine mammals.
    Response: The Navy has provided a significant amount of funding for 
marine mammal research. For example, from 2004 to 2012, the Navy 
provided over $230 million for marine species research and currently 
sponsors 70 percent of all U.S. research concerning the effects of 
human-generated sound on marine mammals and 50 percent of such research 
conducted worldwide. The Navy's research and development efforts have 
significantly improved our understanding of the effects of Navy-
generated sound in the marine environment. These studies have supported 
the modification of acoustic criteria to more accurately assess 
behavioral impacts to beaked whales and the thresholds for auditory 
injury for all species, and the adjustment of mitigation zones to 
better avoid injury. In addition, Navy scientists work cooperatively 
with other government researchers and scientists, universities, 
industry, and non-governmental conservation organizations in 
collecting, evaluating, and modeling information on marine resources. 
Navy scientists work cooperatively with other government researchers 
and scientists, universities, industry, and nongovernmental 
conservation organizations in collecting, evaluating, and modeling 
information on marine resources. Further, the adaptive management 
process required by this rule regularly considers and evaluates the 
development and use of new science and technologies for Navy 
applications. For additional information on the Navy's marine mammal 
monitoring efforts, see http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/. For 
the Navy's Living Marine Resources Applied Research Program see http://www.lmr.navy.mil. For the Office of Naval Research's Marine Mammals and 
Biology Basic Research Program see http://www.onr.navy.mil/Science-Technology/Departments/Code-32/All-Programs/Atmosphere-Research-322/Marine-Mammals-Biology.aspx.
    Comment 48: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
establishment of a plan and a timetable for maximizing synthetic 
training in order to reduce the use of active sonar training.
    Response: Section 5.3.4.1.2 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Replacing 
Training and Testing with Simulated Activities) discusses simulated 
activities. As described in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Navy currently uses 
computer simulation for training and testing whenever possible. 
Computer simulation can provide familiarity and complement live 
training and testing; however, it cannot provide the fidelity and level 
of training necessary to prepare naval forces for deployment. The Navy 
is required to provide a ready and capable force. In doing so, the Navy 
must operationally test major platforms, systems, and components of 
these platforms and systems in realistic combat conditions before full-
scale production can occur. Substituting simulation for live training 
and testing fails to meet the Navy's statutory requirement to properly 
prepare forces for national defense.
    Comment 49: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
prescription of specific mitigation requirements for individual classes 
(or sub-classes) of testing and training activities, in order to 
maximize mitigation given varying sets of operational needs.
    Response: The Navy and NMFS have already developed mitigation 
requirements by activity type to reduce potential impacts from the 
proposed training and testing activities while not causing an 
unacceptable impact on readiness. Chapter 5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and 
the Mitigation section of this final rule discuss these mitigation 
measures.
    Comment 50: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended 
timely, regular reporting to NOAA, state coastal management 
authorities, and the public to describe and verify use of mitigation 
measures during testing and training activities.
    Response: NMFS has long required the Navy to submit timely, regular 
reports regarding the use of mitigation measures during training and 
testing activities. Section 3.4.4.1 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Summary of 
Monitoring and Observations During Navy Activities) provides the 
results from regular reporting that has occurred since 2006. These 
reports are publically available at the Navy Web site (http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/) and from the NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources Web site (www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm). Navy reporting requirements, including exercise and 
monitoring reporting, are described in the Monitoring and Reporting 
section of this final rule and in Section 5.5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
(Monitoring and Reporting).
    Comment 51: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. recommended that 
the Navy agree to additional clean-up and retrieval of discarded debris 
and expended materials associated with its proposed activities.
    Response: The Navy conducted a full analysis of the potential 
impacts of military expended materials on marine mammals and will 
implement several mitigation measures to help avoid or reduce those 
impacts. This analysis is contained throughout Chapter 3 (Affected 
Environment and Environmental Consequences) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. The 
Navy determined that military expended materials related to training 
exercises under a worst-case scenario will have no more than a 
negligible impact on the available soft bottom habitat annually within 
any of the range complexes. The Navy has standard operating procedures 
in place to reduce the amount of military expended materials to the 
maximum extent practical, including recovering targets and associated 
parachutes.
    Comment 52: Some commenters suggested that NMFS did not propose any 
additional mitigation measures beyond what the Navy included in their 
LOA application.
    Response: NMFS worked closely with the Navy to develop mitigation 
measures for the Navy's training and testing activities in the NWTT 
Study Area. The measures that the Navy

[[Page 73591]]

proposed reflect years of experience and consideration of extensive 
monitoring results. NMFS and the Navy considered mitigation additional 
measures, both before and after the public comment period. A 
description of some of the additional measures that were considered, 
and how they were analyzed in the context of the ``least practicable 
adverse impact on the species and/or stock'' finding, is included in 
this document as well as the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS. As described, NMFS 
has determined that the Navy's proposed mitigation measures (especially 
when the adaptive management component is taken into consideration (see 
previous Adaptive Management discussion)), along with the additional 
requirements detailed in the Mitigation section, are adequate means of 
effecting the least practicable adverse impacts on marine mammal 
species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, while 
also considering personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and 
impact on the effectiveness of the military readiness activity.

Effects Analysis/Takes

    Comment 53: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy 
to request the total numbers of model-estimated Level A harassment (PTS 
and slight lung and gastrointestinal tract injuries) and mortality 
takes rather than reducing the estimated numbers of Level A harassment 
and mortality takes based on the Navy's proposed post-model analysis 
and base the negligible impact determination analyses on those adjusted 
takes. Other commenters, including Animal Legal Defense Fund et al., 
were also critical of the Navy's post-model analysis, claiming that 
post-model adjustments in takes resulted in underrepresented total 
takes. Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. and other commenters requested 
further explanation of, or more information on, the post-model 
reduction process. Both the Commission and the Animal Legal Defense 
Fund et al. expressed concern with observer effectiveness in the Navy's 
development of mitigation effectiveness scores or g(0) values.
    Response: See Section 3.4.3.1.15 (Marine Mammal Avoidance of Sound 
Exposures) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS for the discussion of the science 
regarding the avoidance of sound sources by marine mammals. In 
addition, the Post-Model Quantitative Analysis of Animal Avoidance 
Behavior and Mitigation Effectiveness for Northwest Training and 
Testing Technical Report, available at http://www.nwtteis.com, provides 
additional details regarding how the avoidance and mitigation factors 
were used and provides scientific support from peer-reviewed research. 
A comprehensive discussion of the Navy's quantitative analysis of 
acoustic impacts, including the post-model analysis to account for 
mitigation and avoidance, is also presented in Chapter 6 of the LOA 
application, which is available on NMFS' Web site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm.
    NMFS believes that the post-modeling analysis is an effective 
method for quantifying the implementation of mitigation measures to 
reduce impacts on marine mammals and the science regarding the 
avoidance of sound sources by marine mammals which cannot be captured 
within the modeling process itself, and that the resulting exposure 
estimates are, nevertheless, a conservative estimate of impacts on 
marine mammals from the Navy's proposed activities. As explained in the 
above-referenced documents, as part of the post-modeling analysis the 
Navy reduced some predicted Level A (PTS) exposures based on the 
potential for marine mammals to be detected and mitigation implemented, 
and the potential for marine mammals to avoid a sound source. Given 
this potential, not taking into account some possible reduction in 
Level A exposures would result in a less realistic, overestimation of 
possible Level A takes, as if there were no mitigation measures 
implemented. For example, with respect to mitigation effectiveness, the 
period of time between clearing the impact area of any non-participants 
or marine mammals and weapons release is on the order of minutes, 
making it highly unlikely that a marine mammal would enter the 
mitigation zone. Information provided in Section 3.4.3.1.16 
(Implementing Mitigation to Reduce Sound Exposures) of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS indicates how much of a reduction each factor represents for 
specific activities. As explained in the documents referenced above, 
the adjustments move a percentage of the model predicted Level A (PTS) 
effects at close range to more likely behavioral effects (Level B 
harassment) and do not conclude that all modeled mortalities or non-PTS 
injuries will be avoided. This process represents peer-reviewed and 
accepted scientific process.
    The assignment of mitigation effectiveness scores and the 
appropriateness of consideration of sightability using detection 
probability, g(0), when assessing the mitigation in the quantitative 
analysis of acoustic impacts is discussed in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
(Section 3.4.3.1.16, Implementing Mitigation to Reduce Sound 
Exposures). Additionally, the activity category, mitigation zone size, 
and number of Lookouts are provided in the proposed rule (80 FR 31738, 
June 3, 2015, pages 31772-31773) and NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Section 5, Tables 
5.3-2 and 5.4-1). In addition to the information already contained 
within the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Post-Model Quantitative Analysis of 
Animal Avoidance Behavior and Mitigation Effectiveness for the 
Northwest Training and Testing Technical Report (http://www.nwtteis.com) and Chapter 6 of the Navy's LOA application describe 
the process for the post-modeling analysis in further detail. There is 
also information on visual detection leading to the implementation of 
mitigation in the annual exercise reports provided to NMFS and briefed 
annually to NMFS and the Commission. These annual exercise reports have 
been made available and can be found at http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/ in addition to http://www.nmfs.noaa/pr/permits/incidental.
    The Navy is in the process of assessing Lookout effectiveness at 
detecting marine mammals during Navy exercises. Lookouts will not 
always be effective at avoiding impacts on all species. However, 
Lookouts are expected to increase the overall likelihood that certain 
marine mammal species and some sea turtles will be detected at the 
surface of the water, when compared to the likelihood that these same 
species would be detected if Lookouts are not used. The continued use 
of Lookouts contributes to helping reduce potential impacts on these 
species from training and testing activities. Results from the Lookout 
effectiveness study will be reviewed and any recommendations for 
improving Lookout effectiveness will be considered at that time. In 
summary, NMFS and the Navy believe that consideration of marine mammal 
sightability and activity-specific mitigation effectiveness is 
appropriate in the Navy's quantitative analysis in order to provide 
decision makers a reasonable assessment of potential impacts from the 
Navy's proposed activities.
    Comment 54: The Commission recommended that NMFS require the Navy 
to round its takes based on model-estimated takes to the nearest whole 
number or zero in all of its take tables.
    Response: The exposure numbers presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
Criteria and Thresholds Technical

[[Page 73592]]

Report are raw model outputs that have not been adjusted by post-
processing to account for likely marine mammal behavior or the effect 
from implementation of mitigation measures. All fractional post-
processed exposures for a species across all events within each 
category subtotal (Training, Testing, Impulse, and Non-Impulse) are 
summed to provide an annual total predicted number of effects. The 
final exposure numbers presented in the LOA application and the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS incorporate post-processed exposures numbers that have been 
rounded down to the nearest integer so that subtotals correctly sum to 
total annual effects rather than exceed the already conservative total 
exposure numbers.
    Comment 55: Some commenters recommended that NMFS fully examine the 
impacts from sonar, underwater detonations, and other stressors on all 
organisms (e.g., salmonids and other fish) living within the Study 
Area.
    Response: NMFS considered impacts to marine mammal prey species as 
a component of their habitat. The effects of the Navy's activities on 
threatened and endangered fish was also addressed in NMFS' Biological 
Opinion, which concluded that the Navy's activities would not 
reasonably be expected to reduce appreciably the likelihood of the 
survival and recovery of any listed fish species. Impacts to fish 
spawning grounds and habitat are also addressed under the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) as it relates 
to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Navy consulted with NMFS under the 
MSFCMA.
    Comment 56: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy and NMFS failed to adequately assess the impacts of stress on 
marine mammals.
    Response: NMFS fully considered in the proposed rule the potential 
for physiological responses, particularly stress responses, that could 
potentially result from exposure to MFAS/HFAS or underwater explosive 
detonations (see Stress Response in the Potential Effects section). 
NMFS' analysis identifies the probability of lethal responses, physical 
trauma, sensory impairment (permanent and temporary threshold shifts 
and acoustic masking), physiological responses (including stress 
responses), behavioral disturbance (that rises to the level of 
harassment), and social responses (effects to social relationships) 
that would be classified as a take and whether such take would have a 
negligible impact on such species or stocks. This analysis is included 
in the Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination in this final rule, 
and results of the analysis of physiological stress responses are 
summarized below. The Navy's analysis also considered secondary and 
indirect impacts, including impacts from stress (see the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
Section 3.4 (Marine Mammals)). See for example, Section 3.4.3.1.5 
(Physiological Stress), Section 3.4.3.1.9 (Long-Term Consequences to 
the Individual and the Population), and Section 3.4.3.7 (Impacts from 
Secondary Stressors). For a discussion of biotoxins, see Section 
3.4.2.4 (General Threats).
    The studies referenced by the commenters of North Atlantic right 
whales (e.g., Rolland et al., 2012) impacted by chronic noise were 
cited and considered in the Navy's and NMFS' analysis, as well as 
similar studies such as Hatch et al. (2012) and Parks et al. (2007) 
(see Section 3.4.3.1, Acoustic Stressors in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS; see 
Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals in the 
proposed rule). Similar findings for blue whales from the Pacific 
(Melcon et al., 2012) were also considered for mysticetes, as well as 
similar findings for other marine mammals groups with regard to 
potential chronic stressors. Note, however, that these studies (and 
similar studies from the Pacific Northwest such as Williams et al. 
(2013)) involve chronic noise resulting from the pervasive presence of 
commercial vessels. The Navy activities in the NWTT Study Area 
involving active sonar or underwater detonations are infrequent, short-
term, and generally unit level. Unit level events occur over a small 
spatial scale (one to a few 10s of square miles) and with few 
participants (usually one or two). Single-unit unit level training 
would typically involve a few hours of sonar use, with a typical 
nominal ping of every 50 seconds (duty cycle). Even though an animal's 
exposure to active sonar may be more than one time, the intermittent 
nature of the sonar signal, its low duty cycle, and the fact that both 
the vessel and animal are moving provide a very small chance that 
exposure to active sonar for individual animals and stocks would be 
repeated over extended periods of time. Since the impact from noise 
exposure and the Navy's training and testing events in general should 
be transitory given the movement of the participants, any stress 
responses should be short in duration and have less than biologically 
significant consequences. Consequently, NMFS has determined that the 
Navy's activities in the NWTT Study Area do not create conditions of 
chronic, continuous underwater noise and are unlikely to lead to 
habitat abandonment or long-term hormonal or physiological stress 
responses in marine mammals.
    Comment 57: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy would release a host of toxic chemicals, hazardous materials and 
waste into the marine environment that could pose a threat to marine 
mammals over the life of the range. They also commented that the Navy 
plans to abandon cables, wires, and other items that could entangle 
marine wildlife, including parachutes. The Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak also 
commented that the analysis of these materials in the NWTT DEIS/OEIS 
was inadequate.
    Response: The Navy is not proposing to release toxic chemicals, 
hazardous material, or waste into the marine environment. The NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS analysis concluded that material expended during training and 
testing would not result in water or sediment toxicity, and that no 
adverse effects on marine organisms would be expected.
    In the course of training and testing activities, military expended 
material is released into the marine environment as detailed in the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS Chapter 3.1 (Sediments and Water Quality). The NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS presents a thorough description and analysis in Section 3.1.3 
(Environmental Consequences) of amounts and types of specific training 
materials as well as chemical composition and breakdown processes of 
expended materials. The analysis concludes that chemical, physical, or 
biological changes to sediment or water quality, while measurable, are 
below applicable standards, regulations, and guidelines, and would be 
within existing conditions or designated uses. Neither state nor 
federal standards or guidelines would be violated. Further, as 
discussed in Section 3.4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, military expended 
materials are not expected to result in mortality, Level A, or Level B 
harassment of marine mammals. This conclusion is supported by studies 
referenced in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS that have investigated the fate of the 
constituents of military expended materials; see for example the 
discussion presented in Section 3.4.3.7 (Explosion By-Products and 
Unexploded Ordnance) and citations to Rosen and Lotufo (2010) and 
University of Hawaii at Manoa (2010).
    In addition, Section 3.1 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS analyzed the impact 
from explosives, explosive byproducts, and metals using the best 
available science. The analysis concluded that the impact of 
explosives, explosion byproducts, and metals on sediment and water 
quality would be both short- and long-term, and localized. As above, 
chemical,

[[Page 73593]]

physical, or biological changes in sediment or water quality would be 
measurable, but below applicable standards and guidelines, and would be 
below or within existing conditions or designated uses. Further, as 
discussed in Section 3.4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, secondary stressors are 
not expected to result in mortality, Level A, or Level B harassment of 
marine mammals.
    Finally, the NWTT FEIS/OEIS analyzed other potential stressors, 
such as entanglement in cables, wires, and parachutes, in Section 
3.4.3.5 (Entanglement Stressors). As discussed in that section, the 
chance that an individual animal would encounter expended cables or 
wires is likely low, and it is unlikely that an animal would get 
entangled even if it encountered a wire. For example, the majority of 
the ``parachutes'' expended are 18-inch (in.) diameter cruciform (``X'' 
shaped) decelerators attached with short lines to the top of sonobuoys. 
These are designed to sink and, given their small size, are very 
unlikely entanglement hazards for most marine mammals.
    Comment 58: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy does not adequately analyze the potential for and impact of oil 
spills (the Commenters make reference to the Exxon Valdez and Cosco 
Busan oil spill incidents).
    Response: The analysis presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS is limited 
to the activities and reasonable outcomes of such activities. As 
accidents involving large oil spills from commercial oil tankers are 
not reasonably foreseeable outcomes of proposed Navy training or 
testing, this scenario is not addressed or analyzed. It is noteworthy 
that the two examples provided by the comment did not occur in the NWTT 
Action Area, and neither had any connection to Navy training or 
testing, nor does the commenter offer any example of large oil spills 
related to Navy training or testing activities. The Exxon Valdez 
spilled occurred in Alaska as a result of improper ship manning and 
handling, and the Cosco Busan incident that occurred in San Francisco 
resulted from an impaired pilot. Neither incident is connected to Navy 
training and testing.
    Comment 59: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that the 
Navy's analysis cannot be limited only to direct effects, i.e., effects 
that occur at the same time and place as the training exercises that 
would be authorized, but must also take into account the activity's 
indirect effects. The commenters assert that this requirement is 
critical given the potential for sonar exercises to cause significant 
long-term impacts not clearly observable in the short term.
    Response: NMFS and the Navy analyzed both direct and indirect 
effects from Navy training and testing activities. A discussion of 
potential indirect effects may be found in the proposed rule (see 
Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals) and this 
rule (see Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination). As depicted in 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Figure G-1 in Appendix G (Biological Resource 
Methods), the Navy's analysis also considers all potential impacts 
resulting from exposure to acoustic sources, including indirect 
effects. In Figure G-1, the effects are shown in terms of physiological 
responses, behavioral responses, potential costs to the animal, 
recovery, and long-term consequences.
    With respect to long-term impacts, see the discussion in Section 
3.4.3.1.9 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Long-Term Consequences to the 
Individual and the Population) and the Long-Term Consequences section 
of this rule. Also see Section 3.4.4.1 (Summary of Monitoring and 
Observations During Navy Activities) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS presenting 
the evidence collected from the intensive monitoring of Navy training 
and testing at range complexes nationwide since 2006 which provides 
support for the conclusions that it is unlikely there would be any 
population level or long-term consequences resulting from the proposed 
training and testing activities and implementation of this final rule. 
The scientific authorities presented in the comment (the National 
Research Council) are discussed in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, and do not 
support the contention that there is a link between the use of sonar 
and any population-level effects. For example, the number of blue 
whales has been increasing at 3% annual rate in the Southern California 
waters where the most frequent and intensive sonar use occurs in the 
Pacific (Calambokidis et al., 2009a). For further examples see our 
Response to Comment 61.
    Comment 60: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS failed to adequately assess the cumulative impacts of the Navy's 
activities in its negligible impact determination. More specifically, 
see the commenters' four comments in Comments 61 to 64 below.
    Response: Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA requires NMFS to make a 
determination that the take incidental to a specified activity will 
have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks of marine 
mammals, and will not result in an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of marine mammals for taking for subsistence uses. Neither 
the MMPA nor NMFS' implementing regulations specify how to consider 
other activities and their impacts on the same populations. However, 
consistent with the preamble for NMFS' implementing regulations (54 FR 
40338, September 29, 1989), the impacts from other past and ongoing 
anthropogenic activities are incorporated into the negligible impact 
analysis via their impacts on the environmental baseline (e.g., as 
reflected in the density/distribution and status of the species, 
population size and growth rate, and ambient noise).
    As discussed in the Analysis and Negligible Impact determination 
section of this final rule, Chapter 4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS contains a 
comprehensive assessment of potential cumulative impacts, including 
analyzing the potential for cumulatively significant impacts to the 
marine environment and marine mammals. The Navy used the best available 
science and a comprehensive review of past, present, and reasonably 
foreseeable actions to develop a robust cumulative impacts analysis. 
The cumulative impacts analysis focused on impacts that are ``truly 
meaningful.'' This was accomplished by reviewing the direct and 
indirect impacts that have the potential to occur on each resource 
under each of the alternatives. Key factors considered were the current 
status and sensitivity of the resource and the intensity, duration, and 
spatial extent of the impacts of each potential stressor. In general, 
long-term rather than short-term impacts and widespread rather than 
localized impacts were considered more likely to contribute to 
cumulative impacts. Those impacts to a resource that were considered to 
be negligible were not considered further in the analysis. As required 
under NEPA, the level and scope of the analysis are commensurate with 
the potential impacts of the action as reflected in the resource-
specific discussions in Chapter 3 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Affected 
Environment and Environmental Consequences). The NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
considered its activities alongside those of other activities in the 
region whose impacts are truly meaningful to the analysis.
    In addition, NMFS' Biological Opinion concludes that NMFS' proposed 
rulemaking and LOAs and any take associated with activities authorized 
by the rulemaking and LOAs are not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of threatened or endangered species (or species proposed for 
listing) in the action area during any

[[Page 73594]]

single year or as a result of the cumulative impacts of a 5-year 
authorization. The Biological Opinion includes an explanation of how 
the results of NMFS' baseline and effects analyses in Biological 
Opinions relate to those contained in the cumulative impact section of 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS.
    Comment 61: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. assert that there 
is a lack of any population analysis or quantitative assessment of 
long-term effects in the proposed rule. Several other commenters also 
suggested that NMFS and the Navy underestimate the effects of the 
Navy's activities and fail to consider longer term effects or conduct a 
population-level analysis.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that impacts to marine mammals from the 
Navy's training and testing activities are underestimated. The Navy's 
model uses the best available science to analyze impacts and often 
overestimates the potential effects of their activities by considering 
the worst case scenario (e.g., modeling for the loudest sound source 
within a source bin). Further, NMFS and the Navy fully considered 
potential long-term and population-level effects. Analysis of these 
effects is presented in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS in Section 3.4.3.1.9 (Long-
Term Consequences to the Individual and the Population) and in the 
Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination in this final rule (see 
Long-Term Consequences and Final Determination sections). NMFS' 
assessment is that the Navy training and testing activities involving 
active sonar or underwater detonations are infrequent, short-term, and 
generally unit level. Unit level events occur over a small spatial 
scale (one to a few 10s of square miles) and with few participants 
(usually one or two). Consequently, the Navy's activities do not create 
conditions of chronic, continuous underwater noise and are unlikely to 
lead to habitat abandonment or long-term hormonal or physiological 
stress responses in marine mammals. Based on the findings from surveys 
in Puget Sound and research efforts and monitoring before, during, and 
after training and testing events across the Navy since 2006, NMFS' 
assessment is that it is unlikely there would be impacts to populations 
of marine mammals having any long-term consequences as a result of the 
proposed continuation of training and testing in the ocean areas 
historically used by the Navy, including the Study Area. NMFS concludes 
that exposures to marine mammal species and stocks due to NWTT 
activities would result in primarily short-term (temporary and short in 
duration) and relatively infrequent effects to most individuals 
exposed, and not of the type or severity that would be expected to be 
additive for the portion of the stocks and species likely to be 
exposed.
    Additionally, NMFS notes that, even in areas where the Navy uses 
sonar frequently, such as instrumented ranges, marine mammal 
populations are present, not diminishing, and in some cases, thriving. 
NMFS and the Navy relied on actual trends in marine mammal populations 
and the best available science regarding marine mammals, including 
behavioral response studies and the satellite tracking of tagged marine 
mammals in areas of higher sonar use.
    NMFS has reporting and monitoring data from the Navy on training 
and testing events occurring around the U.S. since 2006. For example, 
results from 2 years (2009-2010) of intensive monitoring by independent 
scientists and Navy observers in Southern California Range Complex and 
Hawaii Range Complex recorded an estimated 161,894 marine mammals with 
no evidence of distress or unusual behavior observed during Navy 
activities. Additional information and data summarized in the NWTT 
FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.4.1 (Summary of Monitoring and Observations 
During Navy Activities) provide support for the conclusions that it is 
unlikely there would be any population level or long-term consequences 
resulting from implementation of final rule.
    Comment 62: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS does not consider the potential for acute synergistic effects from 
multiple Navy activities taking place at one time, or from Navy 
activities in combination with other actions. As an example, the 
Commenters state that NMFS does not consider the greater susceptibility 
to vessel strike of animals that have been temporarily harassed or 
disoriented. The commenters cite a Nowacek et al. (2004) study in which 
exposure to a mid-frequency sound source provoked interruption of 
foraging dives and the surfacing of five North Atlantic right whales 
and presumably increased risk of vessel strike.
    Response: The Navy's and NMFS' analysis and acoustic impact 
modeling does consider and quantify the potential for additive effects 
from multiple activities involving acoustic stressors. Unlike the 
method used previously that modeled acoustic sources individually, the 
Navy's acoustic effects model (NAEMO) has the capability to run all 
sound sources within a scenario simultaneously, which accounts for 
accumulative sound and provides a more realistic depiction of the 
potential effects of an activity (See Section 3.4.3.1.14.3 (Navy 
Acoustic Effects Model) of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS).
    In addition, there is no scientific basis for the suggestion that 
animals taken by harassment would have ``greater susceptibility to 
vessel strike.'' NMFS considered Nowacek et al. (2004), cited by the 
commenters, which is discussed in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Section 
3.4.3.1.6.2, Behavioral Reactions to Sonar and Other Active Acoustic 
Sources). Unlike Navy sonar, the sound source used in the Nowacek et 
al. (2004) study was intended to be an alarm signal that lasted several 
minutes in duration, and was purposely designed to elicit a reaction 
from the animals as a prospective means to protect them from ship 
strikes. In contrast, Navy sonar is used intermittently for short 
durations, and is not aimed at or designed to be an alarm signal for 
low frequency mysticetes. In addition, the experimental sound source 
used in the Nowacek study had an extremely different frequency, 
duration, and temporal pattern of signal presentation from anything 
used by or proposed for use by the Navy. Of note, and in contrast to 
the comment's assertion, an equally plausible interpretation of the 
study is that an active mid-frequency sound source could potentially 
alert marine mammals to the presence of a Navy vessel and therefore 
reduce the potential for ship strikes.
    Regarding ship strike generally, see the Response to Comment 20.
    Comment 63: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
proposed rule makes no attempt to analyze the cumulative and 
synergistic effects of the Navy's proposed activities or for the Navy's 
activities combined with other activities affecting the same marine 
mammal species and populations, and NMFS makes no attempt to 
incorporate the effects of reasonably foreseeable activities impacting 
the same species and populations into its impact analysis.
    Response: As described in the Response to Comment 62, the Navy's 
acoustic impact modeling does consider and quantify the potential for 
additive effects from multiple activities involving acoustic stressors 
by modeling all sound sources within a scenario simultaneously, which 
accounts for accumulative sound and provides a more realistic depiction 
of the potential effects of an activity. Further, as explained 
throughout this rule, NMFS' assessment is that the cumulative impacts 
of active sonar would be extremely small because the exercises would 
occur for relatively short periods

[[Page 73595]]

of time; the sources of active sonar would most often not be 
stationary; and the effects of any LF/MFAS/HFAS exposure would stop 
when transmissions stop. Additionally, the vast majority of impacts 
expected from sonar exposure and underwater detonations are behavioral 
in nature, temporary and comparatively short in duration, relatively 
infrequent, and not of the type or severity that would be expected to 
be additive for the portion of the stocks and species likely to be 
exposed. NMFS' final rule is specifically designed to reduce the 
effects of the Navy's activity on marine mammal species and stocks to 
the least practicable impact, through the inclusion of appropriate 
mitigation and monitoring measures, and the issuance of an 
Authorization with those conditions does not result in significant 
cumulative impacts when considered with all other past, present, and 
reasonably foreseeable projects.
    Chapter 4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS contains a comprehensive assessment 
of potential cumulative impacts, including analyzing the potential for 
cumulatively significant impacts to the marine environment and marine 
mammals. Specifically, the Navy concluded, and NMFS concurs, that their 
proposed action is likely to result in generally no more than temporary 
changes to the noise environment and sediment and water quality. 
Therefore, there is limited potential for those effects to interact 
cumulatively with the effects of other past, present, and reasonably 
foreseeable projects. Implementation of the proposed action, in 
conjunction with other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future 
actions, would not be expected to result in significant cumulative 
impacts to the environment. As such, the proposed action will not 
result in cumulative adverse effects that could have a substantial 
effect on species and populations in the action area.
    In addition, we note that the Navy has been training in the same 
relative area for decades using substantially similar training and 
testing systems for decades, and coupled with the multitude of other 
activities taking place in the area, there is no evidence of long term 
consequences to marine mammal populations or stocks.
    Comment 64: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS must account for the additive impact of its activities in light of 
changing ocean conditions.
    Response: NMFS and the Navy have considered changing ocean 
conditions. As discussed in the NWT FEIS/OEIS (Section 3.4, Marine 
Mammals), NMFS and the Navy are aware that marine mammals will shift 
their habitat based on changing ocean conditions. Please see 
specifically Section 3.4.2.5 (Marine Mammal Density Estimates) of the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS discussing the integration of habitat modeling into the 
analysis; also see the Navy's Pacific Marine Species Density Database 
Technical Report. The predictive habitat models reflect the interannual 
variability and associated redistribution of marine mammals as a result 
of changing environmental conditions during the survey years used to 
develop the models. The analysis presented in the Navy Marine Species 
Density Database includes density data for periods of warmer water and 
potentially shifting ranges of marine mammals as a result of those 
conditions.
    While climate change may result in changes in the distribution of 
marine mammals, it is currently not possible to predict how or under 
what conditions such changes might occur without engaging in 
unsupported conjecture. Therefore, it is not possible to reasonably 
determine what hypothetical future marine mammal distributions may look 
like as a result of climate change or otherwise factor such changes 
into an analysis of resulting potential effects and impacts from Navy 
activities.
    Comment 65: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al., and other 
commenters, commented that NMFS failed to properly analyze the 
potential for serious injury and mortality, particularly with regard to 
sonar-related injury and mortality (i.e., strandings) during the Navy's 
use of mid-frequency active sources and other sources. The commenters 
cited several stranding events (e.g., Bahamas, 2000; Washington State, 
2003) that they assert occurred coincident with military mid-frequency 
sonar use. The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that beaked 
whales ``seem to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of active 
sonar'' and that beaked whale mortalities are likely to go undetected.
    Response: NMFS uses best available science to analyze the Navy's 
activities. The Stranding and Mortality section of the proposed rule 
(80 FR 31738, June 3, 2015; pages 31761-31767) summarized the stranding 
events referenced in the Animal Legal Defense Fund et al.'s comment, 
including the association between stranding events and exposure to 
MFAS. Also, see the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.1.8 (Stranding) and the 
U.S. Department of the Navy (2013c) ``Marine Mammal Strandings 
Associated with U.S. Navy Sonar Activities'' technical report available 
at http://www.nwtteis.com. The modeling of acoustic effects takes into 
consideration all applicable environmental factors and all applicable 
sound sources to predict the likely effects to beaked whales and all 
other species. Please also see Southall et al. (2007), Finneran and 
Jenkins (2012), and the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.3.1.11 (Frequency 
Weighting) to understand the implementation of frequency weighting as 
it applies to the analysis of effects from mid-frequency and high 
frequency sound sources.
    The environmental conditions in the NWTT Study Area and the types 
of activities proposed in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS have no relationship to 
those present in the Bahamas incident fourteen years ago in unique and 
warm tropical waters. The environmental conditions otherwise 
differentiating the Atlantic tropical Bahamas environment present in 
2000 from the Pacific Northwest NWTT Study Area include the unique 
bathymetry of the Bahamas Providence Channels that are steep sided, 
narrow, and very deep--ranging from approximately 2,000 to 12,000 in 
depth. On that day in 2000 in the Bahamas, there was also a 200 meter 
thick layer of near constant water temperature, calm seas, as well as 
the presence of beaked whales. The Strait of Juan de Fuca, by 
comparison, is not steep sided, is relatively shallow (approximately 
600 feet depth), is unlikely to ever have a uniformly mixed 
thermocline, and beaked whales are not known to inhabit its waters. 
Additionally and also unlike the Bahamas, there will be no Navy 
training or testing activities involving multiple ships using hull 
mounted tactical mid-frequency active sonar over an extended period of 
time in a single area.
    With regard to the harbor porpoise strandings in Washington State 
(2003), NMFS has since determined that these strandings were unrelated 
to Navy sonar use. There was a lack of evidence of any acoustic trauma 
among the harbor porpoises, and the identification of probable causes 
(e.g., entanglement in a fishing net, disease processes) of stranding 
or death in several animals supports the conclusion that the harbor 
porpoise strandings were unrelated to the sonar activities by the USS 
SHOUP. Refer to the discussion in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS Section 3.4.1.8 
(Stranding) and the U.S. Department of the Navy (2013c) ``Marine Mammal 
Strandings Associated with U.S. Navy Sonar Activities'' technical 
report for a discussion of other previous strandings and note that the 
other stranding events in this comment did not occur in, and were not 
associated with, the NWTT Study Area and did not involve any of

[[Page 73596]]

the training or testing scenarios proposed for the NWTT Study Area.
    Lastly, while not referenced by the commenters and not related to 
active sonar exposure, NMFS considered an investigation into a long-
finned pilot whale mass stranding event at Kyle of Durness, Scotland on 
July 22, 2011 (Brownlow et al., 2015). The investigation considered 
unexploded ordnance detonation activities at a Ministry of Defense 
bombing range, conducted by the Royal Navy prior to and during the 
strandings, as a plausible contributing factor in the mass stranding 
event. While Brownlow et al. (2015) concluded that the serial 
detonations of underwater ordnance were an influential factor in the 
mass stranding event (along with presence of a potentially compromised 
animal and navigational error in a topographically complex region) they 
also suggest that mitigation measures--which included observations from 
a zodiac only and by personnel not experienced in marine mammal 
observation, among other deficiencies--were likely insufficient to 
assess if cetaceans were in the vicinity of the detonations. The 
authors also cite information from the Ministry of Defense indicating 
``an extraordinarily high level of activity'' (i.e., frequency and 
intensity of underwater explosions) on the range in the days leading up 
to the stranding.
    The NWTT FEIS/OEIS provides an analysis of potential impacts 
occurring in the NWTT Study Area. While most of the world's coastlines 
lack coverage by a stranding network, the Navy's analysis of impacts 
has focused on scientific data collected in and around the Navy range 
complexes, which are the proposed locations for the continuation of 
historically occurring training and testing activities including the 
use of sonar. A summary of the compendium of the research in that 
regard is presented in NWTT FEIS/OEIS in Section 3.4.4.1 (Summary of 
Monitoring and Observations During Navy Activities). Unlike the rest of 
the world's oceans, there has not been an absence of observation where 
the U.S. Navy has been routinely training and testing for years. In 
particular and as ongoing for approximately the last 8 years, the Navy, 
NMFS, and an independent group of scientists have been engaged in 
implementing a comprehensive monitoring program and associated research 
that includes monitoring before, during, and after Navy activities on 
U.S. Navy range complexes. In short, the research and monitoring 
associated with Navy training and testing activities makes the Navy 
range complexes different than the remainder of the world's oceans.
    For beaked whales in particular, not only have there been no 
mortalities or strandings associated with Navy sonar use during the 
past approximately 8 years of monitoring, but to the contrary there has 
been overwhelming evidence from research and monitoring indicating the 
continued presence or residence of individuals and populations in Navy 
range complexes and no clear evidence indicating long-term effects from 
Navy training and testing in those locations. For example, photographic 
records spanning more than 2 decades demonstrated re-sightings of 
individual beaked whales (from two species: Cuvier's and Blainville's 
beaked whales), suggesting long-term site fidelity to the area west of 
the Island of Hawaii where intensive swept-channel exercises 
historically occurred (McSweeney et al., 2007). In the most intensively 
used training and testing ranges in the Pacific, photo identification 
of animals associated with the SOCAL Range Complex have identified 
approximately 100 individual Cuvier's beaked whale individuals with 40 
percent having been seen in one or more prior years, with re-sightings 
up to 7 years apart (Falcone and Schorr, 2014). Data from visual 
surveys documenting the presence of Cuvier's beaked whales for the 
ocean basin west of San Clemente Island (Falcone et al., 2009; Falcone 
and Schorr, 2012, 2014; Smultea and Jefferson, 2014) is also consistent 
with concurrent results from passive acoustic monitoring that estimated 
regional Cuvier's beaked whale densities were higher than indicated by 
NMFS's broad scale visual surveys for the United States west coast 
(Hildebrand and McDonald, 2009). Falcone and Schorr (2012) suggested 
that these beaked whales may have population sub-units with higher than 
expected residency to the Navy's instrumented Southern California Anti-
Submarine Warfare Range in particular. For over 3 decades, this ocean 
area west of San Clemente has been the location of the Navy's 
instrumented training range and is one of the most intensively used 
training and testing areas in the Pacific, given the proximity to the 
Naval installations in San Diego. In summary, the best available 
science indicates the Navy's continued use of Navy range complexes have 
not precluded beaked whales from also continuing to inhabit areas where 
sonar use has been occurring, and there is no evidence to suggest that 
undocumented mortalities are occurring in the NWTT Study Area or on the 
range complexes where the U.S. Navy routinely conducts training and 
testing activities.
    In the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the sensitivity of beaked whales is taken 
into consideration both in the application of Level B harassment 
thresholds and in how beaked whales are expected to avoid sonar sources 
at higher levels. No beaked whales were predicted in the acoustic 
analysis to be exposed to sound levels associated with PTS, other 
injury, or mortality (note: There is no data from which to develop or 
set a mortality criterion and there is no evidence that sonar can lead 
to a direct mortality due to lack of a shock wave). After decades of 
the Navy conducting similar activities in the NWTT Study Area without 
incident, NMFS does not expect strandings, injury, or mortality of 
beaked whales or any other species to occur as a result of training and 
testing activities. Additionally, through the MMPA rulemaking (which 
allows for adaptive management), NMFS and the Navy will determine the 
appropriate way to proceed in the event that a causal relationship were 
to be found between Navy activities and a future stranding.
    Comment 66: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS dismisses the leading explanation about the mechanism of sonar-
related injuries--that whales suffer from bubble growth in organs that 
is similar to decompression sickness, or ``the bends'' in human 
divers--as one of several controversial hypotheses. They cite numerous 
papers in support of this explanation.
    Response: The comment assumes injury from sonar use, and discounts 
the best available science. The publications cited for this comment are 
generally old and do not constitute the most recent best available 
science in this subject area. Please see the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
Section 3.4.3.1.2.1 (Direct Injury) in general and specifically Section 
3.4.3.1.2.2 (Nitrogen Decompression) where the latest scientific 
findings have been presented.

NEPA

    Comment 67: The Animal Legal Defense Fund et al. commented that 
NMFS cannot rely on adoption of the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS to fulfill 
its obligation under NEPA due to the inadequacy of the document. The 
Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak commented that NMFS has not independently 
fulfilled its NEPA obligations. Some of the commenters also submitted 
or referenced comments on the NWTT DEIS/OEIS that were submitted to the 
Navy during the public comment period on that document.

[[Page 73597]]

    Response: NMFS disagrees with the commenters' assertion that the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS is inadequate for our adoption and to meet our 
responsibilities under NEPA for the issuance of regulations and LOAs, 
or that NMFS has not fulfilled its NEPA obligations. NMFS notes that 
comments submitted on the NWTT DEIS/OEIS during its public comment 
period are addressed by the Navy in Appendix I of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS.
    NMFS' Office of Protected Resources has thoroughly reviewed the 
Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS and concluded that the impacts evaluated by the 
Navy are substantially the same as the impacts of NMFS' proposed action 
to issue regulations (and associated LOAs) governing the take of marine 
mammals incidental to Navy training and testing activities in the NWTT 
Study Area from November 2015 through November 2020. In addition, the 
Office of Protected Resources has evaluated the NWTT FEIS/OEIS and 
found that it includes all required components for adoption by NOAA 
including: a discussion of the purpose and need for the action; a 
listing of the alternatives to the proposed action; a description of 
the affected environment; a succinct description of the environmental 
impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, including cumulative 
impacts; and a listing of agencies and persons consulted, and to whom 
copies of the FEIS are sent.
    Per the cooperating agency commitment, the Navy provided NMFS with 
early preliminary drafts of the NWTT DEIS/OEIS and the FEIS/OEIS and a 
designated (and adequate) timeframe within which NMFS could provide 
comments. The Office of Protected Resources circulated the Navy's 
preliminary NEPA documents to other interested NOAA line offices and 
NMFS' regional and science center offices, compiled any comments 
received, and submitted them to the Navy. Subsequently, the Navy and 
NMFS participated in comment resolution meetings, in which the Navy 
addressed NMFS' comments, and in which any outstanding issues were 
resolved. The Navy has incorporated the majority of NMFS' comments into 
the FEIS, and adequately addressed those comments that were not 
incorporated. As a result of this review, the Office of Protected 
Resources has determined that it is not necessary to prepare a separate 
Environmental Assessment or EIS to issue regulations or LOAs 
authorizing the incidental take of marine mammals pursuant to the MMPA, 
and that adoption of the Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS is appropriate. Based on 
NMFS' review of the FEIS, NMFS has adopted the FEIS under the Council 
on Environmental Quality's Regulations for Implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1506.3). Furthermore, in accordance 
with NEPA, its implementing regulations, and the NOAA's Administrative 
Order (NAO) 216-6 ``Environmental Review Procedures for Implementing 
the National Environmental Policy Act,'' we have prepared a Record 
Decision (ROD) which addresses NMFS' determination to issue regulations 
and LOAs to the Navy pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA, for 
the taking of marine mammals incidental to the conduct of Navy's 
training and testing activities.
    Comment 68: Several commenters felt that the Navy should wait until 
after the NEPA process is complete and a Record of Decision (ROD) 
signed before requesting an incidental take authorization from NMFS.
    Response: The Navy prepared the NWTT FEIS/OEIS in accordance with 
the President's CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508). NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347) requires federal agencies to prepare 
an EIS for a proposed action with the potential to significantly affect 
the quality of the human environment, disclose significant 
environmental impacts, inform decision makers and the public of the 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, and consider comments 
to the EIS. The Navy initiated (i.e., submitted a request for 
regulations and Letters of Authorization) MMPA consultation with NMFS 
early on in the NEPA process, so that development of both the FEIS/
OEIS, of which NMFS is a cooperating agency because of its expertise 
and regulatory authority over marine resources, and the rule could 
occur concurrently. Moreover, because the FEIS/OEIS must also be 
prepared in accordance with the applicable regulations of the MMPA (and 
ESA) to evaluate all components of the proposed training and testing 
activities that have the potential to take marine mammals, the Navy 
cannot select its preferred alternative, or issue its final decision 
through the ROD, until all the regulatory requirements of the MMPA have 
been met and the regulations to take marine mammals incidental to the 
proposed activities has been issued. Note that NMFS did not issue these 
regulations until the Navy released the NWTT FEIS/OEIS to the public 
and allowed the public to comment on the notice of availability (NOA). 
Further, NMFS fully considered any relevant comments on the NOA prior 
to the finalization of this rule and the issuance of regulations.
    Comment 69: One commenter questioned why the Navy's NWTT DEIS/OEIS 
would include an assessment of the effects on the human environment.
    Response: An EIS is required when there is the potential for a 
proposed action to have a significant impact on the human environment 
(40 CFR 1508.18). NEPA requires that the human environment shall be 
interpreted comprehensively to include the natural and physical 
environment and the relationship of people with that environment (40 
CFR 1508.14). When an EIS is prepared and economic or social and 
natural or physical environmental effects are interrelated, then the 
environmental impact statement will discuss all of these effects on the 
human environment.

General Opposition

    Comment 70: The vast majority of comments received by NMFS were 
from commenters expressing general opposition to Navy training and 
testing activities and NMFS' issuance of an MMPA authorization. Many 
commenters claimed that the Navy's activities would result in the 
``killing of marine mammals'' or the ``deaths of thousands of marine 
mammals'' during NWTT training and testing activities using sonar.
    Response: NMFS appreciates the commenters' concern for the marine 
environment. However, the commenters' assertion that the Navy's 
activities in the NWTT Study Area will result in the deaths of 
thousands of marine mammals is incorrect. As discussed throughout this 
rule and in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the vast majority of predicted takes 
are by behavioral harassment (behavioral reactions and TTS), and there 
are no mortality takes predicted or authorized for any training or 
testing activities in the NWTT Study area. Further, any impacts from 
the Navy's activities are expected to be short term and would not 
result in significant changes in behavior, growth, survival, annual 
reproductive success, lifetime reproductive success (fitness), or 
species recruitment. The Navy has conducted active sonar training and 
testing activities in the Study Area for decades, and there is no 
evidence that routine Navy training and testing has negatively impacted 
marine mammal populations in the Study Area or at any Navy Range 
Complex. Based on the best available science, NMFS has determined that 
the Navy's training and testing activities will have a negligible 
impact on the affected species or stocks and, therefore, we plan to 
issue the requested MMPA authorization.

[[Page 73598]]

    Comment 71: Several commenters opposed the Navy's activities within 
Olympic National Park.
    Response: The Navy does not conduct any ship or submarine 
activities, including active sonar or explosives training and testing, 
within Olympic National Park. Other Navy activities within the Park 
would not impact marine resources. As such, these concerns are outside 
the scope of this rulemaking.

General

    Comment 72: Some commenters requested access to, or copies of, 
NMFS' response to public comments on the proposed rule. Other 
commenters voiced concerns with the difficulty of viewing documents in 
person at NMFS headquarters in Silver Spring, MD.
    Response: As stated in the Addresses section of the proposed rule, 
all comments received on the proposed rule are part of the public 
record and are posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without 
change. NMFS' responses to these comments are set forth in this Federal 
Register document. All documents prepared as part of the rulemaking, 
including the Navy's LOA application, Federal Register proposed and 
final rules, the issued LOAs, and related NMFS NEPA documents, may be 
obtained by visiting the Internet at: http://nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. The Navy's NWTT FEIS/OEIS and supporting 
technical documents (e.g., Criteria and Thresholds for U.S. Navy 
Acoustic and Explosive Effects Analysis Technical Report) are available 
at http://www.nwtteis.com.
    Comment 73: One commenter requested that NMFS provide a ``master 
list'' of all species-specific takes currently authorized by NMFS for 
all activities, whether military or non-military, occurring annually in 
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and Gulf of Mexico. The same commenter 
requested that NMFS assess the cumulative effects of all military and 
non-military activities in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and Gulf of 
Mexico for which an MMPA authorization has been issued.
    Response: This request is beyond the scope of this rulemaking; 
however, all currently active MMPA authorizations issued by NMFS, and 
associated NEPA documents, may be obtained by visiting the Internet at: 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental. Each incidental take 
authorization provides a list of annual takes for each species 
authorized to be taken for a given activity.
    Comment 74: Several people commented on other active rulemakings 
and LOAs for Navy training and testing activities, including HSTT, 
NWTRC, and AFTT.
    Response: These comments are beyond the scope of this rulemaking. 
Commenters with concerns or questions regarding other Navy training and 
testing activities and related MMPA authorizations should visit NMFS' 
Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm.
    Comment 75: One commenter suggested that Navy training and testing 
activities could be significantly reduced while still maintaining 
military readiness.
    Response: The Navy has identified the level of training and testing 
activities necessary to meet its legally mandated requirements. As 
described in Section 5.3.4.1.1 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, the Navy's 
proposed training activities do not include training beyond levels 
required for maintaining satisfactory levels of readiness due to the 
need to efficiently use limited resources (e.g., fuel, personnel, and 
time). Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary of 
Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental taking of small numbers 
of marine mammals if certain findings are made and regulations are 
issued. NMFS has made the requisite findings and therefore must issue 
regulations and LOAs for the Navy's activities.

Estimated Take of Marine Mammals

    In the Estimated Take of Marine Mammals section of the proposed 
rule, NMFS described the potential effects to marine mammals from 
active sonar and underwater detonations in relation to the MMPA 
regulatory definitions of Level A and Level B harassment (80 FR 31738, 
June 3, 2015, pages 31785-31790). That information has not changed and 
is not repeated here. It is important to note that, as Level B 
Harassment is interpreted here and quantified by the behavioral 
thresholds described below, the fact that a single behavioral pattern 
(of unspecified duration) is abandoned or significantly altered and 
classified as a Level B take does not mean, necessarily, that the 
fitness of the harassed individual is affected either at all or 
significantly, or that, for example, a preferred habitat area is 
abandoned. Further analysis of context and duration of likely exposures 
and effects is necessary to determine the impacts of the estimated 
effects on individuals and how those may translate to population-level 
impacts, and is included in the Analysis and Negligible Impact 
Determination.
    Tables 11 and 12 provide a summary of non-impulsive and impulsive 
thresholds to TTS and PTS for marine mammals. Behavioral thresholds for 
impulsive sources are summarized in Table 13. A detailed explanation of 
how these thresholds were derived is provided in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS 
Criteria and Thresholds Technical Report (http://www.nwtteis.com) and 
summarized in Chapter 6 of the LOA application (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm).

                          Table 11--Onset TTS and PTS Thresholds for Non-Impulse Sound
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Group                          Species                 Onset TTS                Onset PTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency Cetaceans..............  All mysticetes.........  178 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec   198 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec
                                                                 (LFII).                  (LFII).
Mid-Frequency Cetaceans..............  Most delphinids, beaked  178 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec   198 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec
                                        whales, medium and       (MFII).                  (MFII).
                                        large toothed whales.
High-Frequency Cetaceans.............  Porpoises, Kogia spp...  152 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec   172 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-
                                                                 (HFII).                  secSEL (HFII).
Phocidae In-water....................  Harbor, Hawaiian monk,   183 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec   197 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec
                                        elephant seals.          (PWI).                   (PWI).
Otariidae & Obodenidae In-water......  Sea lions and fur seals  206 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec   220 dB re 1[mu]Pa2-sec
                                                                 (OWI).                   (OWI).
Mustelidae In-water..................  Sea otters.............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LFII, MFII, HFII: New compound Type II weighting functions; PWI, OWI: Original Type I (Southall et al., 2007)
  for pinniped and mustelid in water.

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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           Table 13--Behavioral Thresholds for Impulsive Sound
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Impulsive behavioral threshold
             Hearing group                    for >2 pulses/24 hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency Cetaceans................  167 dB SEL (LFII).
Mid-Frequency Cetaceans................  167 dB SEL (MFII).
High-Frequency Cetaceans...............  141 dB SEL (HFII).
Phocid Seals (in water)................  172 dB SEL (PWI).
Otariidae & Mustelidae (in water)......  195 dB SEL (OWI).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: (1) LFII, MFII, HFII are New compound Type II weighting
  functions; PWI, OWI = Original Type I (Southall et al. 2007) for
  pinniped and mustelid in water (see Finneran and Jenkins 2012). (2)
  SEL = re 1 [mu]Pa\2\-s; SEL = Sound Exposure Level, dB = decibel.

Take Request

    The NWTT FEIS/OEIS considered all training and testing activities 
proposed to occur in the Study Area that have the potential to result 
in the MMPA defined take of marine mammals. The potential stressors 
associated with these activities included the following:
     Acoustic (sonar and other active non-impulse sources, 
explosives, swimmer defense airguns, weapons firing, launch and impact 
noise, vessel noise, aircraft noise);
     Energy (electromagnetic devices);
     Physical disturbance or strikes (vessels, in-water 
devices, military expended materials, seafloor devices);
     Entanglement (fiber optic cables, guidance wires, 
parachutes);
     Ingestion (munitions, military expended materials other 
than munitions); and
     Secondary stressors (sediments and water quality).
    NMFS has determined that two stressors could potentially result in 
the incidental taking of marine mammals from training and testing 
activities within the Study Area: (1) Non-impulsive stressors (sonar 
and other active acoustic sources) and (2) impulsive stressors 
(explosives). Non-impulsive and impulsive stressors have the potential 
to result in incidental takes of marine mammals by harassment, injury, 
or mortality. NMFS also considered the potential for vessel strikes to 
impact marine mammals, and that assessment is presented below.
    In order to account for the accidental nature of vessel strikes to 
large whales in general, and the potential risk from any vessel 
movement within the NWTT Study Area, lethal takes of large whales were 
originally conservatively requested in the Navy's original LOA 
application for NWTT training and testing activities over the 5-year 
period of NMFS' final authorization. However, after further 
consideration of the Navy's ship strike analysis, the unlikelihood of a 
ship strike to occur and the fact that there has never been a ship 
strike to marine mammals in the Study Area, the Navy removed their 
request for mortality takes from vessel strike in the final LOA 
application. Therefore, NMFS is not authorizing takes (by injury or 
mortality) from vessel strikes during the 5-year period of the NWTT 
regulations, as discussed below.

Training Activities

    A detailed analysis of effects due to marine mammal exposures to 
impulsive and non-impulsive sources in the Study Area is presented in 
Chapter 6 of the LOA application. Based on the model and post-model 
analysis described in Chapter 6 of the LOA application, Table 14 
summarizes the authorized takes for training activities for a year (a 
12-month period) and the summation over a 5-year period (annual events 
occurring five times and the non-annual event occurring three times). 
The Civilian Port Defense exercise (Maritime Homeland Defense/Security 
Mine Countermeasure exercise) is a non-annual event and is analyzed as 
occurring every other year, or three times during the 5-year period 
considered in this analysis. Annual totals presented in the tables are 
the summation of all annual events plus all the proposed non-annual 
events occurring in a 12-month period as a maximum year.

                    Table 14--Summary of Annual and 5-Year Takes for NWTT Training Activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Training activities
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
           MMPA category                    Source            Annual authorization        5-Year authorization
                                                                     sought                      sought
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level A...........................  Impulsive and Non-     11--Species specific data   55--Species specific data
                                     Impulsive.             shown in Tables 15 and 67.  shown in Tables 15 and
                                                                                        16.
Level B...........................  Impulsive and Non-     107,459--Species specific   533,543--Species specific
                                     Impulsive.             data shown in Tables 15     data shown in Tables 15
                                                            and 16.                     and 16.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Impulsive and Non-Impulsive Sources

    Table 15 provides the Navy's take request for training activities 
by species from the acoustic effects modeling estimates. The numbers 
provided in the annual columns are the totals for a maximum year (i.e., 
a year in which a Civilian Port Defense (Maritime Homeland Defense/
Security Mine Countermeasure exercise) occurs). Table 16 provides the 
contribution to the maximum year total (1,876 Level B exposures) 
resulting from the biennial Civilian Port Defense exercise (Maritime 
Homeland Defense/Security Mine Countermeasure exercise). The 5-year 
totals presented assume the biennial event would occur three times over 
the 5-year period (in the first, third, and fifth years). Derivations 
of the numbers presented in Tables 15 and 16 are described in more 
detail within Chapter 6 of the LOA application. There are no 
mortalities predicted for any training activities resulting from the 
use of impulsive or non-impulsive sources. Values shown in Table 15 
also include Level B values from non-annual Civilian Port Defense 
(Maritime Homeland Defense/Security Mine Countermeasure exercise) 
training events.

[[Page 73601]]



  Table 15--Species-Specific Takes From Modeling and Post-Model Estimates of Impulsive and Non-Impulsive Source
                                       Effects for All Training Activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Annual                          5-year
            Species                   Stock      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Level B         Level A         Level B         Level A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Pacific right whale.....  Eastern North                  0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
Humpback whale................  Central North                  0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
                                California,                   12               0              60               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Blue whale....................  Eastern North                  5               0              25               0
                                 Pacific.
Fin whale.....................  Northeast                      0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
                                California,                   25               0             125               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Sei whale.....................  Eastern North                  0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
Minke whale...................  Alaska..........               0               0               0               0
                                California,                   18               0              90               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Gray whale....................  Eastern North                  6               0              30               0
                                 Pacific.
                                Western North                  0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
Sperm whale...................  North Pacific...               0               0               0               0
                                California,                   81               0             405               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Kogia (spp.)..................  California,                   73               0             365               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Killer whale..................  Alaska Resident.               0               0               0               0
                                Northern                       0               0               0               0
                                 Resident.
                                West Coast                     9               0              39               0
                                 Transient.
                                East N. Pacific               13               0              65               0
                                 Offshore.
                                East N. Pacific                2               0               6               0
                                 Southern
                                 Resident.
Short-finned pilot whale......  California,                    0               0               0               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Short-beaked common dolphin...  California,                  734               0           3,670               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Bottlenose dolphin............  California,                    0               0               0               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Striped dolphin...............  California,                   22               0             110               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Pacific white-sided dolphin...  North Pacific...               0               0               0               0
                                California,                3,482               0          17,408               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Northern right whale dolphin..  California,                1,332               0           6,660               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Risso's dolphin...............  California,                  657               0           3,285               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Harbor porpoise...............  Southeast Alaska               0               0               0               0
                                Northern OR/WA            35,006               0         175,030               0
                                 Coast.
                                Northern CA/              52,509               0         262,545               0
                                 Southern OR.
                                WA Inland Waters           1,417               1           4,409               5
Dall's porpoise...............  Alaska..........               0               0               0               0
                                California,                3,730               4          18,178              20
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Cuvier's beaked whale.........  Alaska..........               0               0               0               0
                                California,                  353               0           1,765               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Baird's beaked whale..........  Alaska..........               0               0               0               0
                                California,                  591               0           2,955               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Mesoplodon beaked whales......  California,                1,417               0           7,085               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Steller sea lion..............  Eastern U.S.....             404               0           1,986               0
Guadalupe fur seal............  Mexico..........               7               0              35               0
California sea lion...........  U.S. Stock......             814               0           4,038               0
Northern fur seal.............  Eastern Pacific.           2,495               0          12,475               0
                                California......              37               0             185               0
Northern elephant seal........  California                 1,271               0           6,353               0
                                 Breeding.
Harbor seal...................  Southeast Alaska               0               0               0               0
                                 (Clarence
                                 Strait).
                                OR/WA Coast.....               0               0               0               0
                                California......               0               0               0               0
                                WA Northern                  427               4           1,855              20
                                 Inland Waters.
                                Southern Puget                58               0             252               0
                                 Sound.
                                Hood Canal......             452               2           2,054              10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Table 16--Training Exposures Specific to the Biennial Civilian Port Defense Exercise (Maritime Homeland Defense/
                                     Security Mine Countermeasure Exercise)
        [Values provided for informational purposes and are included in Table 15 species-specific totals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Biennial
                  Species                                   Stock                -------------------------------
                                                                                      Level B         Level A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Pacific right whale..................  Eastern North Pacific..............               0               0
Humpback whale.............................  Central North Pacific..............               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Blue whale.................................  Eastern North Pacific..............               0               0
Fin whale..................................  Northeast Pacific..................               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Sei whale..................................  Eastern North Pacific..............               0               0
Minke whale................................  Alaska.............................               0               0

[[Page 73602]]

 
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Gray whale.................................  Eastern North Pacific..............               0               0
                                             Western North Pacific..............               0               0
Sperm whale................................  North Pacific......................               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Kogia (spp.)...............................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Killer whale...............................  Alaska Resident....................               0               0
                                             Northern Resident..................               0               0
                                             West Coast Transient...............               3               0
                                             East N. Pacific Offshore...........               0               0
                                             East N. Pacific Southern Resident..               2               0
Short-finned pilot whale...................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Short-beaked common dolphin................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Bottlenose dolphin.........................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Striped dolphin............................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Pacific white-sided dolphin................  North Pacific......................               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               1               0
Northern right whale dolphin...............  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Risso's dolphin............................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Harbor porpoise............................  Southeast Alaska...................               0               0
                                             Northern OR/WA Coast...............               0               0
                                             Northern CA/Southern OR............               0               0
                                             WA Inland Waters...................           1,338               0
Dall's porpoise............................  Alaska.............................               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...             236               0
Cuvier's beaked whale......................  Alaska.............................               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Baird's beaked whale.......................  Alaska.............................               0               0
                                             California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Mesoplodon beaked whales...................  California, Oregon, & Washington...               0               0
Steller sea lion...........................  Eastern U.S........................              17               0
Guadalupe fur seal.........................  Mexico.............................               0               0
California sea lion........................  U.S. Stock.........................              16               0
Northern fur seal..........................  Eastern Pacific....................               0               0
                                             California.........................               0               0
Northern elephant seal.....................  California Breeding................               1               0
Harbor seal................................  Southeast Alaska (Clarence Strait).               0               0
                                             OR/WA Coast........................               0               0
                                             California.........................               0               0
                                             WA Northern Inland Waters..........             140               0
                                             Southern Puget Sound...............              19               0
                                             Hood Canal.........................             103               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vessel Strike

    There has never been a recorded vessel strike of marine mammals 
during any training activities in the Study Area. A detailed analysis 
of strike data is contained in Section 6.7 (Estimated Take of Large 
Whales by Navy Vessel Strike) of the LOA application. The Navy's 
proposed actions would not result in any appreciable changes in 
locations or frequency of vessel activity, and there have been no whale 
strikes during any previous training activities in the Study Area. The 
manner in which the Navy has trained would remain consistent with the 
range of variability observed over the last decade so the Navy does not 
anticipate vessel strikes would occur within the Study Area during 
training events. Neither the Navy nor NMFS anticipates vessel strikes 
of marine mammals within the Study Area, nor were takes by injury or 
mortality resulting from vessel strike predicted in the Navy's 
quantitative analysis. Therefore, takes by injury or mortality 
resulting from vessel strikes are not authorized by NMFS in this final 
rule. However, the Navy has proposed measures (see Mitigation) to 
mitigate potential impacts to marine mammals from vessel strikes during 
training activities in the Study Area.

Testing Activities

    A detailed analysis of effects due to marine mammal exposures to 
impulsive and non-impulsive sources in the Study Area is presented in 
Chapter 6 of the LOA application. Based on the model and post-model 
analysis described in Chapter 6 of the LOA application, Table 17 
summarizes the authorized takes for testing activities for an annual 
(12-month) period and the summation over a 5-year period. There are no 
non-annual testing events.

[[Page 73603]]



                    Table 17--Summary of Annual and 5-Year Takes for NWTT Testing Activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Testing activities
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
          MMPA  category                    Source            Annual authorization        5-Year authorization
                                                                     sought                      sought
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level A...........................  Impulsive and Non-     184--Species specific data  920--Species specific
                                     Impulsive.             shown in Tables 18.         data shown in Tables 18.
Level B...........................  Impulsive and Non-     140,377--Species specific   701,885--Species specific
                                     Impulsive.             data shown in Tables 18.    data shown in Tables 18.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Impulsive and Non-Impulsive Sources

    Table 18 summarizes the authorized takes for testing activities by 
species. There are no non-annual testing events. Derivation of these 
values is described in more detail within Chapter 6 of the LOA 
application. There are no mortalities predicted for any testing 
activities based on the analysis of impulsive and non-impulsive 
sources.

  Table 18--Species-Specific Takes From Modeling and Post-Model Estimates of Impulsive and Non-Impulsive Source
                                       Effects for All Testing Activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Annual                          5-Year
            Species                   Stock      ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Level B         Level A         Level B         Level A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Pacific right whale.....  Eastern North                  0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
Humpback whale................  Central North                  1               0               5               0
                                 Pacific.
                                California,                   44               0             220               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Blue whale....................  Eastern North                  6               0              30               0
                                 Pacific.
Fin whale.....................  Northeast                      2               0              10               0
                                 Pacific.
                                California,                   34               0             170               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Sei whale.....................  Eastern North                  2               0              10               0
                                 Pacific.
Minke whale...................  Alaska..........               0               0               0               0
                                California,                   18               0              90               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Gray whale....................  Eastern North               * 12               0            * 60               0
                                 Pacific.
                                Western North                  0               0               0               0
                                 Pacific.
Sperm whale...................  North Pacific...               0               0               0               0
                                California,                   78               0             390               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Kogia (spp.)..................  California,                  106               1             530               5
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Killer whale..................  Alaska Resident.               2               0              10               0
                                Northern                       0               0               0               0
                                 Resident.
                                West Coast                   207               0           1,035               0
                                 Transient.
                                East N. Pacific               22               0             110               0
                                 Offshore.
                                East N. Pacific                0               0               0               0
                                 Southern
                                 Resident.
Short-finned pilot whale......  California,                    0               0               0               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Short-beaked common dolphin...  California,                1,628               0           8,140               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Bottlenose dolphin............  California,                    0               0               0               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Striped dolphin...............  California,                   14               0              70               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Pacific white-sided dolphin...  North Pacific...               3               0              15               0
                                California,                4,869               0          24,345               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Northern right whale dolphin..  California,                2,038               0          10,190               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Risso's dolphin...............  California,                1,154               0           5,770               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Harbor porpoise...............  Southeast Alaska             926               0           4,630               0
                                Northern OR/WA            17,212              15          86,060              75
                                 Coast.
                                Northern CA/              25,819              23         129,095             115
                                 Southern OR.
                                WA Inland Waters         * 5,409               6        * 27,045              30
Dall's porpoise...............  Alaska..........           1,200               0           6,000               0
                                California,             * 10,157              43        * 50,785             215
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Cuvier's beaked whale.........  Alaska..........              15               0              75               0
                                California,                   91               0             455               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Baird's beaked whale..........  Alaska..........              25               0             125               0
                                California,                  149               0             745               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Mesoplodon beaked whales......  California,                  369               0           1,845               0
                                 Oregon, &
                                 Washington.
Steller sea lion..............  Eastern U.S.....           * 521               0         * 2,605               0
Guadalupe fur seal............  Mexico..........               3               0              15               0
California sea lion...........  U.S. Stock......         * 2,146               0        * 10,730               0
Northern fur seal.............  Eastern Pacific.           1,830               0           9,150               0
                                California......              27               0             135               0
Northern elephant seal........  California                 1,325               2            6625              10
                                 Breeding.
Harbor seal...................  Southeast Alaska              22               0             110               0
                                 (Clarence
                                 Strait).
                                OR/WA Coast.....           1,655               4           8,275              20
                                California......               0               0               0               0
                                WA Northern              * 1,823            * 22        ** 9,115           * 110
                                 Inland Waters.
                                Southern Puget               196               1             980               5
                                 Sound.

[[Page 73604]]

 
                                Hood Canal......          59,217              67         296,085             335
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These numbers have been updated since the proposed rule to reflect Navy corrections to the number of hours and
  the location of sonar use attributed to life cycle pierside sonar testing events.

Vessel Strike

    There has never been a recorded vessel strike to marine mammals 
during any testing activities in the Study Area. A detailed analysis of 
strike data is contained in Section 6.7 (Estimated Take of Large Whales 
by Navy Vessel Strike) of the LOA application. Testing activities 
involving vessel movement could mainly occur in the Inland Waters and 
in Western Behm Canal with some additional testing activities in the 
offshore region. The majority of vessels used in the Inland Waters and 
Western Behm Canal are smaller vessels, which are less likely to be 
involved in a whale strike. The Navy's proposed actions would not 
result in any appreciable changes in locations or frequency of vessel 
activity, and there have been no whale strikes during any previous 
testing activities in the Study Area. The manner in which the Navy has 
tested would remain consistent with the range of variability observed 
over the last decade, so neither the Navy nor NMFS anticipates vessel 
strikes would occur within the Study Area during testing events. 
Further, takes by injury or mortality resulting from vessel strike were 
not predicted in the Navy's quantitative analysis. As such, NMFS is not 
authorizing take by injury or mortality resulting from vessel strike 
for this final rule. However, the Navy has proposed measures (see 
Mitigation) to mitigate potential impacts to marine mammals from vessel 
strikes during testing activities in the Study Area.

Marine Mammal Habitat

    The Navy's proposed training and testing activities could 
potentially affect marine mammal habitat through the introduction of 
sound into the water column, impacts to the prey species of marine 
mammals, bottom disturbance, or changes in water quality. Each of these 
components was considered in Chapter 3 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS. Based on 
the information in the Marine Mammal Habitat section of the proposed 
rule (80 FR 31737, June 3, 2015; pages 31769-31771) and the supporting 
information included in the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, NMFS has determined that 
training and testing activities would not have adverse or long-term 
impacts on marine mammal habitat. In summary, expected effects to 
marine mammal habitat will include transitory elevated levels of 
anthropogenic sound in the water column; short-term physical alteration 
of the water column or bottom topography; brief disturbances to marine 
invertebrates; localized and infrequent disturbance to fish; a limited 
number of fish mortalities; and temporary marine mammal avoidance.

Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination

    Negligible impact is ``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'' (50 CFR 216.103). 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 takes, alone, is not 
enough information on which to base an impact determination, as the 
severity of harassment may vary greatly depending on the context and 
duration of the behavioral response, many of which would not be 
expected to have deleterious impacts on the fitness of any individuals. 
In determining whether the expected takes will have a negligible 
impact, in addition to considering estimates of the number of marine 
mammals that might be ``taken,'' 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.), as well as the number and nature (e.g., 
severity) of estimated Level A harassment takes, the number of 
estimated mortalities, and the status of the species.
    The Navy's specified activities have been described based on best 
estimates of the maximum amount of sonar and other acoustic source use 
or detonations that the Navy would conduct. There may be some 
flexibility in that the exact number of hours, items, or detonations 
may vary from year to year, but take totals are not authorized to 
exceed the 5-year totals indicated in Tables 14-18. We base our 
analysis and NID on the maximum number of takes authorized.
    To avoid repetition, we provide some general analysis immediately 
below that applies to all the species listed in Tables 14-18, given 
that some of the anticipated effects (or lack thereof) of the Navy's 
training and testing activities on marine mammals are expected to be 
relatively similar in nature. However, below that, we break our 
analysis into species, or groups of species where relevant similarities 
exist, to provide more specific information related to the anticipated 
effects on individuals or where there is information about the status 
or structure of any species that would lead to a differing assessment 
of the effects on the population.
    The Navy's take request is based on its model and post-model 
analysis. In the discussions below, the ``acoustic analysis'' refers to 
the Navy's modeling results and post-model analysis. The model 
calculates sound energy propagation from sonar, other active acoustic 
sources, and explosives during naval activities; the sound or impulse 
received by animat dosimeters representing marine mammals distributed 
in the area around the modeled activity; and whether the sound or 
impulse received by a marine mammal exceeds the thresholds for effects. 
The model estimates are then further analyzed to consider animal 
avoidance and implementation of highly effective mitigation measures to 
prevent Level A harassment, resulting in final estimates of effects due 
to Navy training and testing. NMFS provided input to the Navy on this 
process and the Navy's qualitative analysis is described in detail in 
Chapter 6 of its LOA application (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/militry.htm).
    Generally speaking, and especially with other factors being equal, 
the Navy and NMFS anticipate more severe effects from takes resulting 
from exposure to higher received levels (though this is in no way a 
strictly linear relationship throughout species, individuals, or 
circumstances) and less severe effects from takes resulting from 
exposure to lower received levels. The

[[Page 73605]]

requested number of Level B takes does not equate to the number of 
individual animals the Navy expects to harass (which is lower), but 
rather to the instances of take (i.e., exposures above the Level B 
harassment threshold) that would occur. Additionally, these instances 
may represent either a very brief exposure (seconds) or, in some cases, 
longer durations of exposure within a day. Depending on the location, 
duration, and frequency of activities, along with the distribution and 
movement of marine mammals, individual animals may be exposed to 
impulse or non-impulse sounds at or above the Level B harassment 
threshold on multiple days. However, the Navy is currently unable to 
estimate the number of individuals that may be taken during training 
and testing activities. The model results estimate the total number of 
takes that may occur to a smaller number of individuals. While the 
model shows that an increased number of exposures may take place due to 
an increase in events/activities and ordnance, the types and severity 
of individual responses to training and testing activities are not 
expected to change.

Behavioral Harassment

    As discussed previously in this document, marine mammals can 
respond to LF/MFAS/HFAS in many different ways, a subset of which 
qualifies as behavioral harassment. As described in the proposed rule, 
the Navy uses the behavioral response function to quantify the number 
of behavioral responses that would qualify as Level B behavioral 
harassment under the MMPA. As the statutory definition is currently 
applied, a wide range of behavioral reactions may qualify as Level B 
harassment under the MMPA, including but not limited to avoidance of 
the sound source, temporary changes in vocalizations or dive patterns, 
temporary avoidance of an area, or temporary disruption of feeding, 
migrating, or reproductive behaviors. The estimates calculated using 
the behavioral response function do not differentiate between the 
different types of potential reactions. Nor do the estimates provide 
information regarding the potential fitness or other biological 
consequences of the reactions on the affected individuals. We therefore 
consider the available scientific evidence to determine the likely 
nature of the modeled behavioral responses and the potential fitness 
consequences for affected individuals.
    For LF/MFAS/HFAS, the Navy provided information (Table 19) 
estimating the percentage of the total number of takes by behavioral 
harassment that would occur within the 6-dB bins (without considering 
mitigation or avoidance). As mentioned above, an animal's exposure to a 
higher received level is more likely to result in a behavioral response 
that is more likely to adversely affect the health of the animal. As 
illustrated below, the majority (about 80 percent, at least for hull-
mounted sonar, which is responsible for a large portion of the sonar 
takes) of calculated takes from MFAS result from exposures between 150 
dB and 162 dB. Less than 0.5 percent of the takes are expected to 
result from exposures above 174 dB. Specifically, given a range of 
behavioral responses that may be classified as Level B harassment, to 
the degree that higher received levels are expected to result in more 
severe behavioral responses, only a small percentage of the anticipated 
Level B harassment from Navy activities might necessarily be expected 
to potentially result in more severe responses, especially when the 
distance from the source at which the levels below are received is 
considered (see Table 19). Marine mammals are able to discern the 
distance of a given sound source, and given other equal factors 
(including received level), they have been reported to respond more to 
sounds that are closer (DeRuiter et al., 2013). Further, the estimated 
number of responses do not reflect either the duration or context of 
those anticipated responses, some of which will be of very short 
duration, and other factors should be considered when predicting how 
the estimated takes may affect individual fitness. A recent study by 
Moore and Barlow (2013) emphasizes the importance of context (e.g., 
behavioral state of the animals, distance from the sound source, etc.) 
in evaluating behavioral responses of marine mammals to acoustic 
sources.

                                  Table 19--Non-Impulsive Ranges in 6-dB Bins and Percentage of Behavioral Harassments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Sonar bin MF1  (e.g., SQS-53; ASW   Sonar bin MF4  (e.g., AQS-22; ASW   Sonar bin MF5  (e.g., SSQ-62; ASW
                                                      hull mounted sonar)                   dipping sonar)                         sonobuoy)
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Distance at      Percentage of      Distance at      Percentage of      Distance at      Percentage of
               Received level                   which levels       behavioral       which levels       behavioral       which levels       behavioral
                                                occur within       harassments      occur within       harassments      occur within       harassments
                                                  radius of       occurring at        radius of       occurring at        radius of       occurring at
                                                 source (m)       given levels       source (m)       given levels       source (m)       given levels
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Low Frequency Cetaceans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
120 <= SPL <126.............................   178,750-156,450             0.00%    100,000-92,200             0.00%     22,800-15,650             0.00%
126 <= SPL <132.............................   156,450-147,500              0.00     92,200-55,050              0.11     15,650-11,850              0.05
132 <= SPL <138.............................   147,500-103,700              0.21     55,050-46,550              1.08      11,850-6,950              2.84
138 <= SPL <144.............................    103,700-97,950              0.33     46,550-15,150             35.69       6,950-3,600             16.04
144 <= SPL <150.............................     97,950-55,050             13.73      15,150-5,900             26.40       3,600-1,700             33.63
150 <= SPL <156.............................     55,050-49,900              5.28       5,900-2,700             17.43         1,700-250             44.12
156 <= SPL <162.............................     49,900-10,700             72.62       2,700-1,500              9.99           250-100              2.56
162 <= SPL <168.............................      10,700-4,200              6.13         1,500-200              9.07           100-<50              0.76
168 <= SPL <174.............................       4,200-1,850              1.32           200-100              0.18               <50              0.00
174 <= SPL <180.............................         1,850-850              0.30           100-<50              0.05               <50              0.00
180 <= SPL <186.............................           850-400              0.07               <50              0.00               <50              0.00
186 <= SPL <192.............................           400-200              0.01               <50              0.00               <50              0.00
192 <= SPL <198.............................           200-100              0.00               <50              0.00               <50              0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Mid Frequency Cetaceans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
120 <= SPL <126.............................   179,400-156,450              0.00    100,000-92,200              0.00     23,413-16,125              0.00

[[Page 73606]]

 
126 <= SPL <132.............................   156,450-147,500              0.00     92,200-55,050              0.11     16,125-11,500              0.06
132 <= SPL <138.............................   147,500-103,750              0.21     55,050-46,550              1.08      11,500-6,738              2.56
138 <= SPL <144.............................    103,750-97,950              0.33     46,550-15,150             35.69       6,738-3,825             13.35
144 <= SPL <150.............................     97,950-55,900             13.36      15,150-5,900             26.40       3,825-1,713             37.37
150 <= SPL <156.............................     55,900-49,900              6.12       5,900-2,700             17.43         1,713-250             42.85
156 <= SPL <162.............................     49,900-11,450             71.18       2,700-1,500              9.99           250-150              1.87
162 <= SPL <168.............................      11,450-4,350              7.01         1,500-200              9.07           150-<50              1.93
168 <= SPL <174.............................       4,350-1,850              1.42           200-100              0.18               <50              0.00
174 <= SPL <180.............................         1,850-850              0.29           100-<50              0.05               <50              0.00
180 <= SPL <186.............................           850-400              0.07               <50              0.00               <50              0.00
186 <= SPL <192.............................           400-200              0.01               <50              0.00               <50              0.00
192 <= SPL <198.............................           200-100              0.00               <50              0.00               <50              0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: (1) ASW = anti-submarine warfare, m = meters, SPL = sound pressure level; (2) Odontocete behavioral response function is also used for high-
  frequency cetaceans, phocid seals, otariid seals and sea lions, and sea otters.

    Although the Navy has been monitoring the effects of LF/MFAS/HFAS 
on marine mammals since 2006, and research on the effects of MFAS is 
advancing, our understanding of exactly how marine mammals in the Study 
Area will respond to LF/MFAS/HFAS is still improving. The Navy has 
submitted more than 80 reports, including Major Exercise Reports, 
Annual Exercise Reports, and Monitoring Reports, documenting hundreds 
of thousands of marine mammals across Navy range complexes, and there 
are only two instances of overt behavioral disturbances that have been 
observed. One cannot conclude from these results that marine mammals 
were not harassed from MFAS/HFAS, as a portion of animals within the 
area of concern were not seen (especially those more cryptic, deep-
diving species, such as beaked whales or Kogia spp.), the full series 
of behaviors that would more accurately show an important change is not 
typically seen (i.e., only the surface behaviors are observed), and 
some of the non-biologist watchstanders might not be well-qualified to 
characterize behaviors. However, one can say that the animals that were 
observed did not respond in any of the obviously more severe ways, such 
as panic, aggression, or anti-predator response.

Diel Cycle

    As noted previously, many animals perform vital functions, such as 
feeding, resting, traveling, and socializing on a diel cycle (24-hour 
cycle). Behavioral reactions to noise exposure (when taking place in a 
biologically important context, such as disruption of critical life 
functions, displacement, or avoidance of important habitat) are more 
likely to be significant if they last more than one diel cycle or recur 
on subsequent days (Southall et al., 2007). Consequently, a behavioral 
response lasting less than one day and not recurring on subsequent days 
is not considered severe unless it could directly affect reproduction 
or survival (Southall et al., 2007). Note that there is a difference 
between multiple-day substantive behavioral reactions and multiple-day 
anthropogenic activities. For example, just because at-sea exercises 
last for multiple days does not necessarily mean that individual 
animals are either exposed to those exercises for multiple days or, 
further, exposed in a manner resulting in a sustained multiple day 
substantive behavioral response. Moreover, there are no MTE in the NWTT 
Study Area. Navy sonar exercises typically include assets that travel 
at high speeds (typically 10-15 knots, or higher) and likely cover 
large areas that are relatively far from shore, in addition to the fact 
that marine mammals are moving as well, which would make it unlikely 
that the same animal could remain in the immediate vicinity of the ship 
for the entire duration of the exercise. Additionally, the Navy does 
not necessarily operate active sonar the entire time during an 
exercise. While it is certainly possible that these sorts of exercises 
could overlap with individual marine mammals multiple days in a row at 
levels above those anticipated to result in a take, because of the 
factors mentioned above, it is considered not to be likely for the 
majority of takes, does not mean that a behavioral response is 
necessarily sustained for multiple days, and still necessitates the 
consideration of likely duration and context to assess any effects on 
the individual's fitness.
    Durations for non-impulsive activities utilizing tactical sonar 
sources vary and are fully described in Appendix A of the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS. ASW training and testing exercises using MFAS/HFAS generally last 
for 2-16 hours, and may have intervals of non-activity in between. 
Because of the need to train in a large variety of situations, the Navy 
does not typically conduct successive ASW exercises in the same 
locations. Given the average length of ASW exercises (times of 
continuous sonar use) and typical vessel speed, combined with the fact 
that the majority of the cetaceans in the Study Area would not likely 
remain in an area for successive days, it is unlikely that an animal 
would be exposed to MFAS/HFAS at levels likely to result in a 
substantive response that would then be carried on for more than one 
day or on successive days. Further, as stated above, there are no MTEs 
proposed in the NWTT Study Area.
    Most planned explosive exercises are of a short duration (1-6 
hours). Although explosive exercises may sometimes be conducted in the 
same general areas repeatedly, because of their short duration and the 
fact that they are in the open ocean and animals can easily move away, 
it is similarly unlikely that animals would be exposed for long, 
continuous amounts of time.

[[Page 73607]]

Furthermore, most explosive activities in NWTT are conducted at least 
20 nm off shore and most over 50 nm offshore. Since densities for most 
marine mammals decrease further from the shelf break, and these 
activities are conducted in areas of generally lower marine mammal 
densities thus further reducing potential impacts.

TTS

    As mentioned previously, TTS can last from a few minutes to days, 
be of varying degree, and occur across various frequency bandwidths, 
all of which determine the severity of the impacts on the affected 
individual, which can range from minor to more severe. The TTS 
sustained by an animal is primarily classified by three 
characteristics:
    1. Frequency--Available data (of mid-frequency hearing specialists 
exposed to mid- or 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). The more powerful MF sources used have center frequencies 
between 3.5 and 8 kHz and the other unidentified MF sources are, by 
definition, less than 10 kHz, which suggests that TTS induced by any of 
these MF sources would be in a frequency band somewhere between 
approximately 2 and 20 kHz. There are fewer hours of HF source use and 
the sounds would attenuate more quickly, plus they have lower source 
levels, but if an animal were to incur TTS from these sources, it would 
cover a higher frequency range (sources are between 20 and 100 kHz, 
which means that TTS could range up to 200 kHz; however, HF systems are 
typically used less frequently and for shorter time periods than 
surface ship and aircraft MF systems, so TTS from these sources is even 
less likely). TTS from explosives would be broadband. Vocalization data 
for each species, which would inform how TTS might specifically 
interfere with communications with conspecifics, was provided in the 
LOA application.
    2. Degree of the shift (i.e., by how many dB the sensitivity of the 
hearing is reduced)--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). The threshold for the onset of TTS was 
discussed previously in this document. An animal would have to approach 
closer to the source or remain in the vicinity of the sound source 
appreciably longer to increase the received SEL, which would be 
difficult considering the Lookouts and the nominal speed of an active 
sonar vessel (10-15 knots). In the TTS studies (see Threshold Shift 
section in the proposed rule), some using exposures of almost an hour 
in duration or up to 217 SEL, most of the TTS induced was 15 dB or 
less, though Finneran et al. (2007) induced 43 dB of TTS with a 64-
second exposure to a 20 kHz source. However, MFAS emits a nominal ping 
every 50 seconds, and incurring those levels of TTS is highly unlikely.
    3. Duration of TTS (recovery time)--In the TTS laboratory studies 
(see Threshold Shift) section in the proposed rule), some using 
exposures of almost an hour in duration or up to 217 SEL, almost all 
individuals recovered within 1 day (or less, often in minutes), 
although in one study (Finneran et al., 2007), recovery took 4 days.
    Based on the range of degree and duration of TTS reportedly induced 
by exposures to non-pulse sounds of energy higher than that to which 
free-swimming marine mammals in the field are likely to be exposed 
during MFAS/HFAS training exercises in the Study Area, it is unlikely 
that marine mammals would ever sustain a TTS from MFAS that alters 
their sensitivity by more than 20 dB for more than a few days (and any 
incident of TTS would likely be far less severe due to the short 
duration of the majority of the exercises and the speed of a typical 
vessel). Also, for the same reasons discussed in the Diel Cycle 
section, and because of the short distance within which animals would 
need to approach the sound source, it is unlikely that animals would be 
exposed to the levels necessary to induce TTS in subsequent time 
periods such that their recovery is impeded. Additionally, though the 
frequency range of TTS that marine mammals might sustain would overlap 
with some of the frequency ranges of their vocalization types, the 
frequency range of TTS from MFAS (the source from which TTS would most 
likely be sustained because the higher source level and slower 
attenuation make it more likely that an animal would be exposed to a 
higher received level) would not usually span the entire frequency 
range of one vocalization type, much less span all types of 
vocalizations or other critical auditory cues. If impaired, marine 
mammals would typically be aware of their impairment and are sometimes 
able to implement behaviors to compensate (see Acoustic Masking or 
Communication Impairment section), though these compensations may incur 
energetic costs.

Acoustic Masking or Communication Impairment

    Masking only occurs during the time of the signal (and potential 
secondary arrivals of indirect rays), versus TTS, which continues 
beyond the duration of the signal. Standard MFAS nominally pings every 
50 seconds for hull-mounted sources. For the sources for which we know 
the pulse length, most are significantly shorter than hull-mounted 
active sonar, on the order of several microseconds to tens of 
microseconds. For hull-mounted active sonar, though some of the 
vocalizations that marine mammals make are less than one second long, 
there is only a 1 in 50 chance that they would occur exactly when the 
ping was received, and when vocalizations are longer than one second, 
only parts of them are masked. Alternately, when the pulses are only 
several microseconds long, the majority of most animals' vocalizations 
would not be masked. Masking effects from MFAS/HFAS are expected to be 
minimal. If masking or communication impairment were to occur briefly, 
it would be in the frequency range of MFAS, which overlaps with some 
marine mammal vocalizations; however, it would likely not mask the 
entirety of any particular vocalization, communication series, or other 
critical auditory cue, because the signal length, frequency, and duty 
cycle of the MFAS/HFAS signal does not perfectly mimic the 
characteristics of any marine mammal's vocalizations. The other sources 
used in Navy training and testing, many of either higher frequencies 
(meaning that the sounds generated attenuate even closer to the source) 
or lower amounts of operation, are similarly not expected to result in 
masking.

PTS, Injury, or Mortality

    NMFS believes that many marine mammals would deliberately avoid 
exposing themselves to the received levels of active sonar necessary to 
induce injury by moving away from or at least modifying their path to 
avoid a close approach. Additionally, in the unlikely event that an 
animal approaches the sonar vessel at a close distance, NMFS believes 
that the mitigation measures (i.e., shutdown/powerdown zones for MFAS/
HFAS) would typically ensure that animals would not be exposed to 
injurious levels of sound. As discussed previously, the Navy utilizes 
both aerial (when available) and passive acoustic monitoring (during 
all ASW exercises) in addition to watchstanders on vessels

[[Page 73608]]

to detect marine mammals for mitigation implementation.
    If a marine mammal is able to approach a surface vessel within the 
distance necessary to incur PTS, the likely speed of the vessel 
(nominal 10-15 knots) would make it very difficult for the animal to 
remain in range long enough to accumulate enough energy to result in 
more than a mild case of PTS. As mentioned previously and in relation 
to TTS, the likely consequences to the health of an individual that 
incurs PTS can range from mild to more serious, depending upon the 
degree of PTS and the frequency band it is in, and many animals are 
able to compensate for the shift, although it may include energetic 
costs. Only 11 Level A PTS takes per year are predicted from NWTT 
training activities and 176 Level A (PTS) takes per year from testing 
activities.
    As discussed previously, marine mammals (especially beaked whales) 
could potentially respond to MFAS at a received level lower than the 
injury threshold in a manner that indirectly results in the animals 
stranding. The exact mechanism of this potential response, behavioral 
or physiological, is not known. When naval exercises have been 
associated with strandings in the past, it has typically been when 
three or more vessels are operating simultaneously, in the presence of 
a strong surface duct, and in areas of constricted channels, semi-
enclosed areas, and/or steep bathymetry. A combination of these 
environmental and operational parameters is not present in the NWTT 
action. Further, as stated earlier, there are no MTEs proposed in the 
Study Area. When this is combined with consideration of the number of 
hours of active sonar training that will be conducted and the nature of 
the exercises--which do not typically include the use of multiple hull-
mounted sonar sources--we believe that the probability is small that 
this will occur. Furthermore, given that there has never been a 
stranding in the Study Area associated with sonar use and based on the 
number of occurrences where strandings have been definitively 
associated with military sonar versus the number of hours of active 
sonar training that have been conducted, we believe that the 
probability is small that this will occur as a result of the Navy's 
proposed training and testing activities. Lastly, an active sonar 
shutdown protocol for strandings involving live animals milling in the 
water minimizes the chances that these types of events turn into 
mortalities.
    As stated previously, there have been no recorded Navy vessel 
strikes of any marine mammals during training or testing in the NWTT 
Study Area to date, nor were takes by injury or mortality resulting 
from vessel strike predicted in the Navy's quantitative analysis.

Group and Species-Specific Analysis

    Predicted harassment of marine mammals from sonar and other active 
acoustic sources and explosions during annual training and testing 
activities are shown in Tables 14-18. The vast majority of predicted 
exposures (greater than 99 percent) are expected to be Level B 
harassment (non-injurious TTS and behavioral reactions) from sonar and 
other active acoustic sources at relatively low received levels (less 
than 156 dB) (Table 19). As mentioned earlier in the Analysis and 
Negligible Impact Determination section, an animal's exposure to a 
higher received level is more likely to adversely affect the health of 
the animal. Only low numbers of harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, Kogia 
spp., Northern elephant seal, and harbor seal are expected to have 
injurious take(s), in the form of PTS, resulting from sonar and other 
active acoustic sources.
    For explosive (impulsive) sources, the acoustic analysis predicts 
only ten annual exposures that would exceed thresholds associated with 
Level B (from training or testing activities) and only 2 annual 
exposures at levels that exceed the threshold for injury (only from 
training activities). Only harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, Northern 
elephant seal, and harbor seals are predicted to have Level B (TTS) 
exposures resulting from explosives. The two Level A exposures would be 
of Dall's porpoise and would be in the form of PTS (Table 12). There 
are no mortality takes predicted for any marine mammal species for the 
NWTT activities.
    The analysis below may in some cases (e.g., mysticetes, porpoises, 
pinnipeds) address species collectively if they occupy the same 
functional hearing group (i.e., low, mid, and high-frequency cetaceans 
and pinnipeds in water), have similar hearing capabilities, and/or are 
known to generally behaviorally respond similarly to acoustic 
stressors. Where there are meaningful differences between species or 
stocks in anticipated individual responses to activities, impact of 
expected take on the population due to differences in population 
status, or impacts on habitat, they will either be described within the 
section or the species will be included as a separate sub-section.
    Mysticetes--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts that 185 
instances of Level B harassment of mysticete whales may occur in the 
Study Area each year from sonar and other active acoustic stressors 
during training and testing activities. Species-specific Level B take 
estimates are as follows: 57 humpback whales (Central North Pacific and 
California/Oregon/Washington stocks); 11 blue whales (Eastern North 
Pacific stock); 61 fin whales (Northeast Pacific and California/Oregon/
Washington stocks); 2 sei whales (Eastern North Pacific stock); 36 
minke whales (Alaska and California/Oregon/Washington stocks); and 18 
gray whales (Eastern North Pacific and Western North Pacific stocks). 
Based on the distribution information presented in the LOA application, 
it is highly unlikely that North Pacific right whales would be 
encountered in the Study Area during events involving use of sonar and 
other active acoustic sources. The acoustic analysis did not predict 
any takes of North Pacific right whales, and NMFS is not authorizing 
any takes of this species. Of these species, humpback, blue, fin, and 
sei whales are currently listed as endangered under the ESA and 
depleted under the MMPA. ESA-listed humpback whales in the Study Area 
were proposed as a threatened Central America Distinct Population 
Segment and unlisted Distinct Population Segments on April 21, 2015 (80 
FR 22304).
    These exposure estimates represent a limited number of takes 
relative to population estimates for all mysticete stocks in the Study 
Area. When the numbers of behavioral takes are compared to the 
estimated stock abundance and if one assumes that each take happens to 
a separate animal, less than 20 percent of each of these stocks would 
be behaviorally harassed during the course of a year. Because the 
estimates given above represent the total number of exposures and not 
necessarily the number of individuals exposed, it is more likely that 
fewer individuals would be taken, but a subset would be taken more than 
one time per year. In the ocean, the use of sonar and other active 
acoustic sources is transient and is unlikely to repeatedly expose the 
same population of animals over a short period. Around heavily 
trafficked Navy ports and on fixed ranges, the possibility is greater 
for animals that are resident during all or part of the year to be 
exposed multiple times to sonar and other active acoustic sources. 
However, as discussed in the proposed rule, because neither the vessels 
nor the animals are stationary, significant long-term effects from 
repeated exposure are not expected.
    Level B harassment takes are anticipated to be in the form of TTS 
and behavioral reactions and no injurious

[[Page 73609]]

takes of humpback, blue, fin, minke, gray, or sei whales from sonar and 
other active acoustic stressors or explosives are expected. The 
majority of acoustic effects to mysticetes from sonar and other active 
sound sources during training activities would be primarily from anti-
submarine warfare events involving surface ships and hull mounted 
sonar. Research and observations show that if mysticetes are exposed to 
sonar or other active acoustic sources they may react in a number of 
ways depending on the characteristics of the sound source, their 
experience with the sound source, and whether they are migrating or on 
seasonal grounds (i.e., breeding or feeding). Reactions may include 
alerting, breaking off feeding dives and surfacing, diving or swimming 
away, or no response at all (Richardson, 1995; Nowacek, 2007; Southall 
et al., 2007; Finneran and Jenkins, 2012). Richardson et al. (1995) 
noted that avoidance (temporary displacement of an individual from an 
area) reactions are the most obvious manifestations of disturbance in 
marine mammals. Avoidance is qualitatively different from the startle 
or flight response, but also differs in the magnitude of the response 
(i.e., directed movement, rate of travel, etc.). Oftentimes avoidance 
is temporary, and animals return to the area once the noise has ceased. 
Additionally, migrating animals may ignore a sound source, or divert 
around the source if it is in their path.
    Specific to U.S. Navy systems using low frequency sound, studies 
were undertaken in 1997-98 pursuant to the Navy's Low Frequency Sound 
Scientific Research Program. These studies found only short-term 
responses to low frequency sound by mysticetes (fin, blue, and humpback 
whales) including changes in vocal activity and avoidance of the source 
vessel (Clark, 2001; Miller et al., 2000; Croll et al., 2001; Fristrup 
et al., 2003; Nowacek et al., 2007). Baleen whales exposed to moderate 
low-frequency signals demonstrated no variation in foraging activity 
(Croll et al., 2001). Low-frequency signals of the Acoustic Thermometry 
of Ocean Climate sound source were not found to affect dive times of 
humpback whales in Hawaiian waters (Frankel and Clark, 2000).
    Specific to mid-frequency sound, studies by Melc[oacute]n et al. 
(2012) in the Southern California Bight found that the likelihood of 
blue whale low-frequency calling (usually associated with feeding 
behavior) decreased with an increased level of MFAS, beginning at a SPL 
of approximately 110-120 dB re 1 [mu]Pa. However, it is not known 
whether the lower rates of calling actually indicated a reduction in 
feeding behavior or social contact since the study used data from 
remotely deployed, passive acoustic monitoring buoys. Preliminary 
results from the 2010-2011 field season of an ongoing behavioral 
response study in Southern California waters indicated that in some 
cases and at low received levels, tagged blue whales responded to MFAS 
but that those responses were mild and there was a quick return to 
their baseline activity (Southall et al., 2012b). Blue whales responded 
to a mid-frequency sound source, with a source level between 160 and 
210 dB re 1 [mu]Pa at 1 m and a received sound level up to 160 dB re 1 
[mu]Pa, by exhibiting generalized avoidance responses and changes to 
dive behavior during the exposure experiments (CEE) (Goldbogen et al., 
2013). However, reactions were not consistent across individuals based 
on received sound levels alone, and likely were the result of a complex 
interaction between sound exposure factors such as proximity to sound 
source and sound type (MFAS simulation vs. pseudo-random noise), 
environmental conditions, and behavioral state. Surface feeding whales 
did not show a change in behavior during CEEs, but deep feeding and 
non-feeding whales showed temporary reactions that quickly abated after 
sound exposure. Distances of the sound source from the whales during 
CEEs were sometimes less than a mile. Blue whales have been documented 
exhibiting a range of foraging strategies for maximizing feeding 
dependent on the density of their prey at a given location (Goldbogen 
et al., 2015), so it may be that a temporary behavioral reaction or 
avoidance of a location where feeding was occurring is not meaningful 
to the life history of an animal. The preliminary findings from 
Goldbogen et al. (2013) and Melc[oacute]n et al. (2012) are generally 
consistent with the Navy's criteria and thresholds for predicting 
behavioral effects to mysticetes from sonar and other active acoustic 
sources used in the quantitative acoustic effects analysis for NWTT. 
The Navy's behavioral response function predicts the probability of a 
behavioral response that rises to a Level B take for individuals 
exposed to a received SPL of 120 dB re 1 [mu]Pa or greater, with an 
increasing probability of reaction with increased received level as 
demonstrated in Melc[oacute]n et al. (2012).
    High-frequency systems are notably outside of mysticetes' ideal 
hearing and vocalization range and it is unlikely that they would cause 
a significant behavioral reaction.
    Most Level B harassments to mysticetes from sonar in the Study Area 
would result from received levels less than 156 dB SPL (Table 19). 
Therefore, the majority of Level B takes are expected to be in the form 
of milder responses (i.e., lower-level exposures that still rise to the 
level of take, but would likely be less severe in the range of 
responses that qualify as take) of a generally short duration. As 
mentioned earlier in the Analysis and Negligible Impact Determination 
section, we anticipate more severe effects from takes when animals are 
exposed to higher received levels. Most low-frequency (mysticetes) 
cetaceans observed in studies usually avoided sound sources at levels 
of less than or equal to 160 dB re 1[mu]Pa. Occasional milder 
behavioral reactions are unlikely to cause long-term consequences for 
individual animals or populations. Even if sound exposure were to be 
concentrated in a relatively small geographic area over a long period 
of time (e.g., days or weeks during major training exercises), we would 
expect that some individual whales would avoid areas where exposures to 
acoustic stressors are at higher levels. For example, Goldbogen et al. 
(2013) indicated some horizontal displacement of deep foraging blue 
whales in response to simulated MFA sonar. Given these animal's 
mobility and large ranges, we would expect these individuals to 
temporarily select alternative foraging sites nearby until the exposure 
levels in their initially selected foraging area have decreased. 
Therefore, even temporary displacement from initially selected foraging 
habitat is not expected to impact the fitness of any individual animals 
because we would expect equivalent foraging to be available in close 
proximity. Because we do not expect any fitness consequences from any 
individual animals, we do not expect any population level effects from 
these behavioral responses.
    As explained above, recovery from a threshold shift (TTS) can take 
a few minutes to a few days, depending on the exposure duration, sound 
exposure level, and the magnitude of the initial shift, with larger 
threshold shifts and longer exposure durations requiring longer 
recovery times (Finneran et al., 2005; Finneran and Schlundt, 2010; 
Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et al., 2009b). However, large threshold 
shifts are not anticipated for these activities because of the 
unlikelihood that animals will remain within the ensonified area (due 
to the short duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the 
vessels, and the short distance within which the animal would need to

[[Page 73610]]

approach the sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to 
induce larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily 
affect all hearing frequencies equally, so some threshold shifts may 
not interfere with an animal's hearing of biologically relevant sounds. 
Furthermore, the implementation of mitigation and the sightability of 
mysticetes (due to their large size) reduces the potential for a 
significant behavioral reaction or a threshold shift to occur.
    There is no designated critical habitat for mysticetes in the NWTT 
Study Area. There are also no known specific breeding or calving areas 
for mysticete species within the Study Area. Some biologically-
important seasonal feeding and migration areas for mysticetes (Northern 
Puget Sound Feeding Area for gray whales; Northwest Feeding Area for 
gray whales; Northbound Migration Phase A for gray whales; Northbound 
Migration Phase B for gray whales; Northern Washington Feeding Area for 
humpback whales; Stonewall and Heceta Bank Feeding Area for humpback 
whales; and Point St. George Feeding Area for humpback whales 
(Calambokidis et al., 2015) overlap slightly with portions of the Study 
Area (see Figures 3.4-3-3.4-5 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS). However, the Navy 
and NMFS conducted an assessment of these known biologically important 
areas (compiled and designated as BIAs in Van Parijs et al., 2015) for 
humpback whales and gray whales against areas where most Navy acoustic 
activities (including those that involve ASW hull-mounted sonar, 
sonobuoys, and use of explosive munitions) have historically occurred 
or are proposed in the Study Area for 2015-2020 and identified that 
there is generally limited to no spatial overlap. Refer to the 
Consideration of Time/Area Limitations section within this final rule 
for a detailed assessment of the potential spatial and activity overlap 
with these gray and humpback whale feeding areas. NMFS and the Navy 
(see Chapter 3.4.3 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS) have fully considered any 
potential impacts from Navy training and testing activities on a given 
BIA and have determined that the overall risk to species in these areas 
is extremely low or biologically insignificant, in part due to the 
generally infrequent, temporally and spatially variable, and extreme 
offshore nature of sonar-related activities and sound propagation 
relative to the more coastally distributed biologically important 
areas; the probability that propagated receive levels within these 
areas would be relatively low in terms of behavioral criteria (Debich 
et al., 2014; U.S. Department of the Navy, 2013d); the likelihood of 
TTS or PTS sound levels being extremely low; and the overall 
application of Navy mitigation procedures for marine mammals sighted 
within prescribed mitigation zones if such activities were to occur 
near these areas. Thus, Navy training and testing activities using 
sonar and other active acoustic sources and explosives are unlikely to 
have an adverse effect on the ability of gray and humpback whales to 
engage in those activities for which the BIAs have been identified 
(feeding or migration).
    The potential for the most overlap between Navy activities and the 
gray and humpback feeding areas will be in the following three feeding 
areas--the Humpback Whale Northern Washington feeding area, Stonewall 
Heceta Bank feeding area, and the Gray Whale Northern Puget Sound 
feeding area. As described in the Navy's and NMFS' analysis discussed 
in the Consideration of Time/Area Limitations section of this rule, 
though, very few takes are expected to result from activities within 
these feeding areas, and the nature of these activities along with the 
proposed mitigation measures would result in the least practicable 
adverse impacts on the species and their habitat. However, the Navy has 
agreed to monitor, and provide NMFS with reports of, hull-mounted mid-
frequency and high frequency active sonar use during training and 
testing in the months specified in the following three feeding areas to 
the extent that active sonar training or testing does occur in these 
feeding areas: Humpback Whale Northern Washington feeding area (May 
through November); Stonewall and Heceta Bank feeding area (May through 
November) and Gray Whale Northern Puget Sound Feeding Area (March 
through May). The Navy will provide this information annually in the 
classified exercise report to the extent sonar use in those areas can 
be distinguished from data retrieved in Navy's system. The intent would 
be to inform future adaptive management discussions about future 
mitigation adjustments should sonar use increase above the existing low 
use/low overlap description provided by the Navy or if new science 
provides a biological basis for increased protective measures. If 
additional biologically important areas are identified by NMFS after 
finalization of this rule and the Navy's NWTT EIS/OEIS, the Navy and 
NMFS will use the Adaptive Management process to assess whether any 
additional mitigation should be considered in those areas.
    Finally, the Navy has previously affirmed that it is not conducting 
nor is it proposing to conduct training with mid-frequency active hull-
mounted sonar on vessels while underway in Puget Sound and the Strait 
of Juan de Fuca. The Navy's process since 2003 requires approval prior 
to operating mid-frequency active hull-mounted sonar in Puget Sound and 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Navy will continue the permission and 
approval process, in place since 2003, through U.S. Pacific Fleet's 
designated authority for all mid-frequency active hull-mounted sonar on 
vessels while training underway in Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de 
Fuca. Pierside maintenance/testing of sonar systems within Puget Sound 
and the Strait of Juan de Fuca will also require approval by U.S. 
Pacific Fleet's designated authority or Systems Command designated 
authority as applicable, and must be conducted in accordance with PMAP 
for ship and submarine active sonar use, to include the use of 
Lookouts. The use of active sonar for anti-terrorism/force protection 
or for safe navigation within the Puget Sound or Strait of Juan de Fuca 
is always permitted for safety of ship/national security reasons. These 
mitigation measures are incorporated within this final rule and 
continue to minimize sonar use within these areas.
    There has never been a recorded vessel strike of a mysticete whale 
during any active training or testing activities in the Study Area. A 
detailed analysis of strike data is contained in Chapter 6 (Section 
6.7, Estimated Take of Large Whales by Navy Vessel Strike) of the LOA 
application. The Navy and NMFS do not anticipate vessel strikes to any 
marine mammals during training or testing activities within the Study 
Area, nor were takes by injury or mortality resulting from vessel 
strike predicted in the Navy's analysis. Therefore, NMFS is not 
authorizing mysticete takes (by injury or mortality) from vessel 
strikes during the 5-year period of the NWTT regulations.
    Sperm Whales--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts that 159 
instances of Level B harassment of sperm whales (California/Oregon/
Washington stock) may occur in the Study Area each year from sonar or 
other active acoustic stressors during training and testing activities. 
These Level B takes are anticipated to be in the form of TTS and 
behavioral reactions and no injurious takes of sperm whales from sonar 
and other active acoustic stressors or explosives are requested or 
proposed for authorization. Sperm whales have shown resilience to 
acoustic and human disturbance, although they may react to

[[Page 73611]]

sound sources and activities within a few kilometers. Sperm whales that 
are exposed to activities that involve the use of sonar and other 
active acoustic sources may alert, ignore the stimulus, avoid the area 
by swimming away or diving, or display aggressive behavior (Richardson, 
1995; Nowacek, 2007; Southall et al., 2007; Finneran and Jenkins, 
2012). Some (but not all) sperm whale vocalizations might overlap with 
the MFAS/HFAS TTS frequency range, which could temporarily decrease an 
animal's sensitivity to the calls of conspecifics or returning 
echolocation signals. However, as noted previously, NMFS does not 
anticipate TTS of a long duration or severe degree to occur as a result 
of exposure to MFAS/HFAS. Recovery from a threshold shift (TTS) can 
take a few minutes to a few days, depending on the exposure duration, 
sound exposure level, and the magnitude of the initial shift, with 
larger threshold shifts and longer exposure durations requiring longer 
recovery times (Finneran et al., 2005; Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et 
al., 2009b; Finneran and Schlundt, 2010). Large threshold shifts are 
not anticipated for these activities because of the unlikelihood that 
animals will remain within the ensonified area (due to the short 
duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the vessels, and 
the short distance within which the animal would need to approach the 
sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to induce 
larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily affect all 
hearing frequencies equally, so some threshold shifts may not interfere 
with an animal's hearing of biologically relevant sounds. No sperm 
whales are predicted to be exposed to MFAS/HFAS sound levels associated 
with PTS or injury.
    The majority of Level B takes are expected to be in the form of 
mild responses (low-level exposures) and of a generally short duration. 
Relative to the population size, this activity is anticipated to result 
only in a limited number of Level B harassment takes. When the number 
of behavioral takes is compared to the estimated stock abundance and if 
one assumes that each take happens to a separate animal, less than 8 
percent of the California/Oregon/Washington stock would be behaviorally 
harassed during the course of a year. Because the estimates given above 
represent the total number of exposures and not necessarily the number 
of individuals exposed, it is more likely that fewer individuals would 
be taken, but a subset would be taken more than one time per year. In 
the ocean, the use of sonar and other active acoustic sources is 
transient and is unlikely to repeatedly expose the same population of 
animals over a short period. Around heavily trafficked Navy ports and 
on fixed ranges, the possibility is greater for animals that are 
resident during all or part of the year to be exposed multiple times to 
sonar and other active acoustic sources. However, as discussed in the 
proposed rule, because neither the vessels nor the animals are 
stationary, significant long-term effects from repeated exposure are 
not expected. Overall, the number of predicted behavioral reactions are 
unlikely to cause long-term consequences for individual animals or 
populations. The NWTT activities are not expected to occur in an area/
time of specific importance for reproductive, feeding, or other known 
critical behaviors for sperm whales. Consequently, the activities are 
not expected to adversely impact annual rates of recruitment or 
survival of sperm whales. Sperm whales are listed as depleted under the 
MMPA and endangered under the ESA; however, there is no designated 
critical habitat in the Study Area.
    There has never been a recorded vessel strike of a sperm whale 
during any active training or testing activities in the Study Area. A 
detailed analysis of strike data is contained in Chapter 6 (Section 
6.7, Estimated Take of Large Whales by Navy Vessel Strike) of the LOA 
application. The Navy and NMFS do not anticipate vessel strikes to any 
marine mammals during training or testing activities within the Study 
Area, nor were takes by injury or mortality resulting from vessel 
strikes predicted in the Navy's analysis. Therefore, NMFS is not 
authorizing sperm whale takes (by injury or mortality) from vessel 
strikes during the 5-year period of the NWTT regulations.
    Porpoises--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts that 15,087 
instances of Level B harassment of Dall's porpoises (Alaska and 
California/Oregon/Washington stocks) and 138,298 instances of Level B 
harassment of harbor porpoises (Southeast Alaska, Northern Oregon/
Washington Coast, Northern California/Southern Oregon, and Washington 
Inland Waters stocks) (mainly non-TTS behavioral harassment) may occur 
each year from sonar and other active acoustic stressors and explosives 
associated with training and testing activities in the Study Area. 
These estimates represent the total number of exposures and not 
necessarily the number of individuals exposed, as a single individual 
may be exposed multiple times over the course of a year. Behavioral 
responses can range from a mild orienting response, or a shifting of 
attention, to flight and panic (Richardson, 1995; Nowacek, 2007; 
Southall et al., 2007).
    Acoustic analysis (factoring in the post-model correction for 
avoidance and mitigation) also predicted that 47 Dall's porpoises and 
45 harbor porpoises might be exposed to sound levels likely to result 
in PTS or injury (Level A harassment) from mainly sonar and other 
active acoustic stressors; only 2 level A takes are predicted to Dall's 
porpoise from explosives. In the case of all explosive exercises, it is 
worth noting that the amount of explosive and acoustic energy entering 
the water, and therefore the effects on marine mammals, may be 
overestimated, as many explosions actually occur upon impact with 
above-water targets--nonetheless, here we analyze the effects of the 
takes authorized. However, sources such as these were modeled as 
exploding at 1-meter depth. Furthermore, in the case of all explosive 
exercises, the exclusion zones are considerably larger than the 
estimated distance at which an animal would be exposed to injurious 
sounds or pressure waves. Furthermore, in the case of all explosive 
exercises, the exclusion zones are considerably larger than the 
estimated distance at which an animal would be exposed to injurious 
sounds or pressure waves. When the numbers of takes for Dall's porpoise 
are compared to the estimated stock abundances and if one assumes that 
each take happens to a separate animal, approximately 33 percent of the 
Alaska stock and less than 2 percent of the California/Oregon/
Washington stock would be harassed (behaviorally) during the course of 
a year. Because the estimates given above represent the total number of 
exposures and not necessarily the number of individuals exposed, it is 
more likely that fewer individuals would be taken, but a subset would 
be taken more than one time per year.
    The number of harbor porpoises--in particular, Northern Oregon/
Washington Coast and Northern California/Southern Oregon stocks--
behaviorally harassed by exposure to MFAS/HFAS in the Study Area is 
higher than the other species (and, in fact, suggests that every member 
of the stock could potentially be taken by Level B harassment multiple 
times, although it is more likely that fewer individuals are harassed 
but a subset are harassed more than one time during the course of the 
year). This is due to the low Level B harassment threshold (we assume 
for the purpose of estimating take that all harbor porpoises exposed to

[[Page 73612]]

120 dB or higher MFAS/HFAS will be taken by Level B behavioral 
harassment), which essentially makes the ensonified area of effects 
significantly larger than for the other species. However, the fact that 
the threshold is a step function and not a curve (and assuming uniform 
density) means that the vast majority of the takes occur in the very 
lowest levels that exceed the threshold (it is estimated that 
approximately 80 percent of the takes are from exposures to 120 dB-126 
dB), which means that anticipated behavioral effects are not expected 
to be severe (e.g., temporary avoidance). As mentioned above, an 
animal's exposure to a higher received level is more likely to result 
in a behavioral response that is more likely to adversely affect the 
health of an animal.
    Animals that do experience hearing loss (TTS or PTS) may have 
reduced ability to detect relevant sounds such as predators, prey, or 
social vocalizations. Some porpoise vocalizations might overlap with 
the MFAS/HFAS TTS frequency range (2-20 kHz). Recovery from a threshold 
shift (TTS; partial hearing loss) can take a few minutes to a few days, 
depending on the exposure duration, sound exposure level, and the 
magnitude of the initial shift, with larger threshold shifts and longer 
exposure durations requiring longer recovery times (Finneran et al., 
2005; Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et al., 2009b; Finneran and 
Schlundt, 2010). More severe shifts may not fully recover and thus 
would be considered PTS. However, large degrees of PTS are not 
anticipated for these activities because of the unlikelihood that 
animals will remain within the ensonified area (due to the short 
duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the vessels, and 
the short distance within which the animal would need to approach the 
sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to induce 
larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily affect all 
hearing frequencies equally, so some threshold shifts may not interfere 
with an animal hearing biologically relevant sounds. The likely 
consequences to the health of an individual that incurs PTS can range 
from mild to more serious, depending upon the degree of PTS and the 
frequency band it is in, and many animals are able to compensate for 
the shift, although it may include energetic costs. Furthermore, likely 
avoidance of intense activity and sound coupled with mitigation 
measures would further reduce the potential for severe PTS exposures to 
occur. If a marine mammal is able to approach a surface vessel within 
the distance necessary to incur PTS, the likely speed of the vessel 
(nominal 10-15 knots) would make it very difficult for the animal to 
remain in range long enough to accumulate enough energy to result in 
more than a mild case of PTS.
    Harbor porpoises have been observed to be especially sensitive to 
human activity (Tyack et al., 2011; Pirotta et al., 2012). The 
information currently available regarding harbor porpoises suggests a 
very low threshold level of response for both captive (Kastelein et 
al., 2000; Kastelein et al., 2005) and wild (Johnston, 2002) animals. 
Southall et al. (2007) concluded that harbor porpoises are likely 
sensitive to a wide range of anthropogenic sounds at low received 
levels (~ 90 to 120 dB). Research and observations of harbor porpoises 
for other locations show that this small species is wary of human 
activity and will display profound avoidance behavior for anthropogenic 
sound sources in many situations at levels down to 120 dB re 1 [mu]Pa 
(Southall, 2007). Harbor porpoises routinely avoid and swim away from 
large motorized vessels (Barlow et al., 1988; Evans et al., 1994; Palka 
and Hammond, 2001; Polacheck and Thorpe, 1990). The vaquita, which is 
closely related to the harbor porpoise in the Study Area, appears to 
avoid large vessels at about 2,995 ft. (913 m) (Jaramillo-Legorreta et 
al., 1999). The assumption is that the harbor porpoise would respond 
similarly to large Navy vessels, possibly prior to commencement of 
sonar or explosive activity (i.e., pre-activity avoidance). Harbor 
porpoises may startle and temporarily leave the immediate area of the 
training or testing until after the event ends. Since a large 
proportion of training and testing activities occur within harbor 
porpoise habitat in the Study Area and given their very low behavioral 
threshold, predicted effects are more likely than with most other 
odontocetes, especially at closer ranges (within a few kilometers). 
Since this species is typically found in nearshore and inshore 
habitats, resident animals that are present throughout the Study Area 
could receive multiple exposures over a short period of time year 
round. As mentioned earlier in the Analysis and Negligible Impact 
Determination section, we anticipate more severe effects from takes 
when animals are exposed to higher received levels. Animals that do not 
exhibit a significant behavioral reaction would likely recover from any 
incurred costs, which reduces the likelihood of long-term consequences, 
such as reduced fitness, for the individual or population.
    ASW training and testing exercises using MFAS/HFAS generally last 
for 2-16 hours, and may have intervals of non-activity in between. In 
addition, the Navy does not typically conduct ASW exercises in the same 
locations. Given the average length of ASW exercises (times of 
continuous sonar use) and typical vessel speed, combined with the fact 
that the majority of the harbor porpoises in the Study Area would not 
likely remain in an area for successive days, it is unlikely that an 
animal would be exposed to MFAS/HFAS at levels likely to result in a 
substantive response (e.g., interruption of feeding) that would then be 
carried on for more than one day or on successive days. Thompson et al. 
(2013) showed that seismic surveys conducted over a 10-day period in 
the North Sea did not result in the broad-scale displacement of harbor 
porpoises away from preferred habitat. The harbor porpoises were 
observed to leave the area at the onset of survey, but returned within 
a few hours, and the overall response of the porpoises decreased over 
the 10-day period.
    The harbor porpoise is a common species in the nearshore coastal 
waters of the Study Area year-round (Barlow, 1988; Green et al., 1992; 
Osmek et al., 1996, 1998; Forney and Barlow, 1998; Carretta et al., 
2009). Since 1999, Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program data and 
stranding data documented increasing numbers of harbor porpoise in 
Puget Sound, indicating that the species may be returning to the area 
(Nysewander, 2008; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2008; 
Jeffries, 2013a). Sightings in northern Hood Canal (north of the Hood 
Canal Bridge) have increased in recent years (Calambokidis, 2010). 
Harbor porpoise continue to inhabit the waters of Hood Canal (including 
Dabob Bay), which has for decades served as the location for training 
and testing events using sonar and other active acoustic sources.
    Considering the information above, the predicted effects to Dall's 
and harbor porpoises are unlikely to cause long-term consequences for 
individual animals or the population. The NWTT activities are not 
expected to occur in an area/time of specific importance for 
reproductive, feeding, or other known critical behaviors for Dall's and 
harbor porpoises. Pacific stocks of Dall's and harbor porpoises are not 
listed as depleted under the MMPA. Consequently, the activities are not 
expected to adversely impact annual rates of recruitment or survival of 
porpoises.

[[Page 73613]]

    Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales (Kogia spp.)--Due to the difficulty in 
differentiating these two species at sea, an estimate of the effects on 
the two species have been combined. The Navy's acoustic analysis 
predicts that 179 instances of Level B harassment (TTS and behavioral 
reaction) of the California/Oregon/Washington stock of Kogia spp. may 
occur each year from sonar and other active acoustic stressors 
associated with training and testing activities in the Study Area. The 
Navy's acoustics analysis (factoring in the post-model correction for 
avoidance and mitigation) also indicates that 1 exposure of Kogia to 
sound levels from non-impulsive acoustic sources likely to result in 
level A harassment (PTS) may occur during testing activities in the 
Study Area. Relative to population size these likely represent only a 
limited number of takes if one assumes that each take happens to a 
separate animal. Because the estimates given above represent the total 
number of exposures and not necessarily the number of individuals 
exposed, it is more likely that fewer individuals would be taken, but a 
subset would be taken more than one time per year.
    Recovery from a threshold shift (TTS; partial hearing loss) can 
take a few minutes to a few days, depending on the exposure duration, 
sound exposure level, and the magnitude of the initial shift, with 
larger threshold shifts and longer exposure durations requiring longer 
recovery times (Finneran et al., 2005; Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et 
al., 2009b; Finneran and Schlundt, 2010). An animal incurring PTS would 
not fully recover. However, large degrees of threshold shifts (PTS or 
TTS) are not anticipated for these activities because of the 
unlikelihood that animals will remain within the ensonified area (due 
to the short duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the 
vessels, and the short distance within which the animal would need to 
approach the sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to 
induce larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily 
affect all hearing frequencies equally, so some threshold shifts may 
not interfere with an animal hearing biologically relevant sounds. The 
likely consequences to the health of an individual that incurs PTS can 
range from mild to more serious, depending upon the degree of PTS and 
the frequency band it is in, and many animals are able to compensate 
for the shift, although it may include energetic costs. Furthermore, 
likely avoidance of intense activity and sound coupled with mitigation 
measures would further reduce the potential for more-severe PTS 
exposures to occur. If a pygmy or dwarf sperm whale is able to approach 
a surface vessel within the distance necessary to incur PTS, the likely 
speed of the vessel (nominal 10-15 knots) would make it very difficult 
for the animal to remain in range long enough to accumulate enough 
energy to result in more than a mild case of PTS.
    Some Kogia spp. vocalizations might overlap with the MFAS/HFAS TTS 
frequency range (2-20 kHz), but the limited information for Kogia spp. 
indicates that their clicks are at a much higher frequency and that 
their maximum hearing sensitivity is between 90 and 150 kHz.
    Research and observations on Kogia spp. are limited. These species 
tend to avoid human activity and presumably anthropogenic sounds. Pygmy 
and dwarf sperm whales may startle and leave the immediate area of 
activity, reducing potential impacts. Pygmy and dwarf sperm whales have 
been observed to react negatively to survey vessels or low altitude 
aircraft by quick diving and other avoidance maneuvers, and none were 
observed to approach vessels (Wursig et al., 1998). Based on their 
tendency to avoid acoustic stressors (e.g., quick diving and other 
vertical avoidance maneuvers) coupled with the short duration and 
intermittent nature (e.g., sonar pings during ASW activities occur 
about every 50 seconds) of the majority of training and testing 
exercises and the speed of the Navy vessels involved, it is unlikely 
that animals would receive multiple exposures over a short period of 
time, allowing animals to recover lost resources (e.g., food) or 
opportunities (e.g., mating).
    The predicted effects to Kogia spp. are predominantly temporary, 
and effects are unlikely to cause long-term consequences for individual 
animals or populations. The NWTT activities are not expected to occur 
in an area/time of specific importance for reproductive, feeding, or 
other known critical behaviors. Pacific stocks of Kogia are not 
depleted under the MMPA. Consequently, the activities are not expected 
to adversely impact annual rates of recruitment or survival of pygmy 
and dwarf sperm whales.
    Beaked Whales--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts that the 
following numbers of Level B harassment of beaked whales may occur 
annually from sonar and other active acoustic stressors associated with 
training and testing activities in the Study Area: 765 Baird's beaked 
whales (California/Oregon/Washington and Alaska stocks), 459 Cuvier's 
beaked whales (California/Oregon/Washington and Alaska stocks), and 
1,786 Mesoplodon beaked whales (California/Oregon/Washington stock). 
These estimates represent the total number of exposures and not 
necessarily the number of individuals exposed, as a single individual 
may be exposed multiple times over the course of a year. These takes 
are anticipated to be in the form of behavioral harassment (TTS and 
behavioral reaction) and no injurious takes of beaked whales from 
active acoustic stressors or explosives are requested or proposed. When 
the numbers of behavioral takes are compared to the estimated stock 
abundances and if one assumes that each take happens to a separate 
animal, less than 6 percent of the California/Oregon/Washington stock 
of Cuvier's beaked whale would be behaviorally harassed during the 
course of a year (stock abundance for the Alaska stock is unknown). 
Because the estimates given above represent the total number of 
exposures and not necessarily the number of individuals exposed, it is 
more likely that fewer individuals would be taken, but a subset would 
be taken more than one time per year.
    Virtually all of the Baird's and Mesoplodon beaked whale stocks 
(California/Oregon/Washington) would potentially be behaviorally 
harassed each year, although it is more likely that fewer individuals 
would be harassed but a subset would be harassed more than one time 
during the course of the year. As is the case with harbor porpoises, 
beaked whales have been shown to be particularly sensitive to sound and 
therefore have been assigned a lower harassment threshold based on 
observations of wild animals by McCarthy et al. (2011) and Tyack et al. 
(2011). The fact that the Level B harassment threshold is a step 
function (The Navy has adopted an unweighted 140 dB re 1 [mu]Pa SPL 
threshold for significant behavioral effects for all beaked whales) and 
not a curve (and assuming uniform density) means that the vast majority 
of the takes occur in the very lowest levels that exceed the threshold 
(it is estimated that approximately 80 percent of the takes are from 
exposures to 140 dB to 146 dB), which means that the anticipated 
effects for the majority of exposures are not expected to be severe (As 
mentioned above, an animal's exposure to a higher received level is 
more likely to result in a behavioral response that is more likely to 
adversely affect the health of an animal). Further, Moretti et al. 
(2014) recently derived an empirical risk function for Blainville's 
beaked whale that predicts there is a 0.5 probability of

[[Page 73614]]

disturbance at a received level of 150 dB (CI: 144-155), suggesting 
that in some cases the current Navy step function may over-estimate the 
effects of an activity using sonar on beaked whales. Irrespective of 
the Moretti et al. (2014) risk function, NMFS' analysis assumes that 
all of the beaked whale Level B takes that are proposed for 
authorization will occur, and we base our negligible impact 
determination, in part, on the fact that these exposures would mainly 
occur at the very lowest end of the 140-dB behavioral harassment 
threshold where behavioral effects are expected to be much less severe 
and generally temporary in nature.
    Behavioral responses can range from a mild orienting response, or a 
shifting of attention, to flight and panic (Richardson, 1995; Nowacek, 
2007; Southall et al., 2007; Finneran and Jenkins, 2012). Research has 
also shown that beaked whales are especially sensitive to the presence 
of human activity (Tyack et al., 2011; Pirotta et al., 2012). Beaked 
whales have been documented to exhibit avoidance of human activity or 
respond to vessel presence (Pirotta et al., 2012). Beaked whales were 
observed to react negatively to survey vessels or low altitude aircraft 
by quick diving and other avoidance maneuvers, and none were observed 
to approach vessels (Wursig et al., 1998). Some beaked whale 
vocalizations may overlap with the MFAS/HFAS TTS frequency range (2-20 
kHz); however, as noted above, NMFS does not anticipate TTS of a 
serious degree or extended duration to occur as a result of exposure to 
MFA/HFAS. Recovery from a threshold shift (TTS) can take a few minutes 
to a few days, depending on the exposure duration, sound exposure 
level, and the magnitude of the initial shift, with larger threshold 
shifts and longer exposure durations requiring longer recovery times 
(Finneran et al., 2005; Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et al., 2009b; 
Finneran and Schlundt, 2010). Large threshold shifts are not 
anticipated for these activities because of the unlikelihood that 
animals will remain within the ensonified area (due to the short 
duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the vessels, and 
the short distance within which the animal would need to approach the 
sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to induce 
larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily affect all 
hearing frequencies equally, so some threshold shifts may not interfere 
with an animal's hearing of biologically relevant sounds.
    It has been speculated for some time that beaked whales might have 
unusual sensitivities to sonar sound due to their likelihood of 
stranding in conjunction with MFAS use. Research and observations show 
that if beaked whales are exposed to sonar or other active acoustic 
sources they may startle, break off feeding dives, and avoid the area 
of the sound source to levels of 157 dB re 1 [micro]Pa, or below 
(McCarthy et al., 2011). Acoustic monitoring during actual sonar 
exercises revealed some beaked whales continuing to forage at levels up 
to 157 dB re 1 [micro]Pa (Tyack et al. 2011). Stimpert et al. (2014) 
tagged a Baird's beaked whale, which was subsequently exposed to 
simulated MFAS. Changes in the animal's dive behavior and locomotion 
were observed when received level reached 127 dB re 1[mu]Pa. However, 
Manzano-Roth et al. (2013) found that for beaked whale dives that 
continued to occur during MFAS activity, differences from normal dive 
profiles and click rates were not detected with estimated received 
levels up to 137 dB re 1 [micro]Pa while the animals were at depth 
during their dives. And in research done at the Navy's fixed tracking 
range in the Bahamas, animals were observed to leave the immediate area 
of the anti-submarine warfare training exercise (avoiding the sonar 
acoustic footprint at a distance where the received level was ``around 
140 dB'' SPL, according to Tyack et al. [2011]) but return within a few 
days after the event ended (Claridge and Durban, 2009; Moretti et al., 
2009, 2010; Tyack et al., 2010, 2011; McCarthy et al., 2011). Tyack et 
al. (2011) report that, in reaction to sonar playbacks, most beaked 
whales stopped echolocating, made long slow ascent to the surface, and 
moved away from the sound. A similar behavioral response study 
conducted in Southern California waters during the 2010-2011 field 
season found that Cuvier's beaked whales exposed to MFAS displayed 
behavior ranging from initial orientation changes to avoidance 
responses characterized by energetic fluking and swimming away from the 
source (DeRuiter et al., 2013b). However, the authors did not detect 
similar responses to incidental exposure to distant naval sonar 
exercises at comparable received levels, indicating that context of the 
exposures (e.g., source proximity, controlled source ramp-up) may have 
been a significant factor. The study itself found the results 
inconclusive and meriting further investigation. Cuvier's beaked whale 
responses suggested particular sensitivity to sound exposure as 
consistent with results for Blainville's beaked whale.
    Populations of beaked whales and other odontocetes on the Bahamas 
and other Navy fixed ranges that have been operating for decades, 
appear to be stable. Behavioral reactions (avoidance of the area of 
Navy activity) seem likely in most cases if beaked whales are exposed 
to anti-submarine sonar within a few tens of kilometers, especially for 
prolonged periods (a few hours or more) since this is one of the most 
sensitive marine mammal groups to anthropogenic sound of any species or 
group studied to date and research indicates beaked whales will leave 
an area where anthropogenic sound is present (Tyack et al., 2011; De 
Ruiter et al., 2013; Manzano-Roth et al., 2013; Moretti et al., 2014). 
Research involving tagged Cuvier's beaked whales in the SOCAL Range 
Complex reported on by Falcone and Schorr (2012, 2014) indicates year-
round prolonged use of the Navy's training and testing area by these 
beaked whales and has documented movements in excess of hundreds of 
kilometers by some of those animals. Given that some of these animals 
may routinely move hundreds of kilometers as part of their normal 
pattern, leaving an area where sonar or other anthropogenic sound is 
present may have little, if any, cost to such an animal. Photo 
identification studies in the SOCAL Range Complex, a Navy range that is 
utilized for training and testing more frequently than the NWTT Study 
Area, have identified approximately 100 individual Cuvier's beaked 
whale individuals with 40 percent having been seen in one or more prior 
years, with re-sightings up to 7 years apart (Falcone and Schorr, 
2014). These results indicate long-term residency by individuals in an 
intensively used Navy training and testing area, which may also suggest 
a lack of long-term consequences as a result of exposure to Navy 
training and testing activities. Finally, results from passive acoustic 
monitoring estimated regional Cuvier's beaked whale densities were 
higher than indicated by the NMFS's broad scale visual surveys for the 
U.S. west coast (Hildebrand and McDonald, 2009).
    Based on the findings above, it is clear that the Navy's long-term 
ongoing use of sonar and other active acoustic sources has not 
precluded beaked whales from also continuing to inhabit those areas. In 
summary, based on the best available science, the Navy and NMFS believe 
that beaked whales that exhibit a significant TTS or behavioral 
reaction due to sonar and other active acoustic testing activities 
would generally not have long-term consequences for

[[Page 73615]]

individuals or populations. Claridge (2013) speculated that sonar use 
in a Bahamas range could have ``a possible population-level effect'' on 
beaked whales based on lower abundance in comparison to control sites. 
In summary, Claridge suggested that lower reproductive rates observed 
at the Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), 
when compared to a control site, were due to stressors associated with 
frequent and repeated use of Navy sonar. It is also important to note 
that there were some relevant shortcomings of this study. For example, 
all of the re-sighted whales during the 5-year study at both sites were 
female, which Claridge acknowledged can lead to a negative bias in the 
abundance estimation. There was also a reduced effort and shorter 
overall study period at the AUTEC site that failed to capture some of 
the emigration/immigration trends identified at the control site. 
Furthermore, Claridge assumed that the two sites were identical and 
therefore should have equal potential abundances; when in reality, 
there were notable physical differences. The author also acknowledged 
that ``information currently available cannot provide a quantitative 
answer to whether frequent sonar use at [the Bahamas range] is causing 
stress to resident beaked whales,'' and cautioned that the outcome of 
ongoing studies ``is a critical component to understanding if there are 
population-level effects.'' Moore and Barlow (2013) have noted a 
decline in beaked whale populations in a broad area of the Pacific 
Ocean area out to 300 nm from the coast and extending from the 
Canadian-U.S. border to the tip of Baja Mexico. There are scientific 
caveats and limitations to the data used for that analysis, as well as 
oceanographic and species assemblage changes on the U.S. Pacific coast 
not thoroughly addressed. Although Moore and Barlow (2013) have noted a 
decline in the overall beaked whale population along the Pacific coast, 
in the small fraction of that area where the Navy has been training and 
testing with sonar and other systems for decades (the Navy's SOCAL 
Range Complex), higher densities and long-term residency by individual 
Cuvier's beaked whales suggest that the decline noted elsewhere is not 
apparent where Navy sonar use is most intense. Navy sonar training and 
testing is not conducted along a large part of the U.S. west coast from 
which Moore and Barlow (2013) drew their survey data. In Southern 
California, based on a series of surveys from 2006 to 2008 and a high 
number encounter rate, Falcone et al. (2009) suggested the ocean basin 
west of San Clemente Island may be an important region for Cuvier's 
beaked whales given the number of animals encountered there. Follow-up 
research (Falcone and Schorr, 2012, 2014) in this same location 
suggests that Cuvier's beaked whales may have population sub-units with 
higher than expected residency, particularly in the Navy's instrumented 
Southern California Anti-Submarine Warfare Range. Encounters with 
multiple groups of Cuvier's and Baird's beaked whales indicated not 
only that they were prevalent on the range where Navy routinely trains 
and tests, but also that they were potentially present in much higher 
densities than had been reported for anywhere along the U.S. west coast 
(Falcone et al., 2009, Falcone and Schorr, 2012). This finding is also 
consistent with concurrent results from passive acoustic monitoring 
that estimated regional Cuvier's beaked whale densities were higher 
where Navy trains in the SOCAL training and testing area than indicated 
by NMFS's broad scale visual surveys for the U.S. west coast 
(Hildebrand and McDonald, 2009).
    NMFS also considered New et al. (2013) and their mathematical model 
simulating a functional link between foraging energetics and 
requirements for survival and reproduction for 21 species of beaked 
whales. However, NMFS concluded that New et al. (2013) model lacks 
critical data and accurate inputs necessary to form valid conclusions 
specifically about impacts of anthropogenic sound from Navy activities 
on beaked whale populations. The study itself notes the need for 
``future research,'' identifies ``key data needs'' relating to input 
parameters that ``particularly affected'' the model results, and states 
only that the use of the model ``in combination with more detailed 
research'' could help predict the effects of management actions on 
beaked whale species. In short, information is not currently available 
to specifically support the use of this model in a project-specific 
evaluation of the effects of navy activities on the impacted beaked 
whale species in NWTT.
    No beaked whales are predicted in the acoustic analysis to be 
exposed to sound levels associated with PTS, other injury, or 
mortality. After decades of the Navy conducting similar activities in 
the NWTT Study Area without incident, NMFS does not expect strandings, 
injury, or mortality of beaked whales to occur as a result of training 
and testing activities. Stranding events coincident with Navy MFAS use 
in which exposure to sonar is believed to have been a contributing 
factor were detailed in the Stranding and Mortality section of the 
proposed rule. However, for some of these stranding events, a causal 
relationship between sonar exposure and the stranding could not be 
clearly established (Cox et al., 2006). In other instances, sonar was 
considered only one of several factors that, in their aggregate, may 
have contributed to the stranding event (Freitas, 2004; Cox et al., 
2006). Because of the association between tactical MFAS use and a small 
number of marine mammal strandings, the Navy and NMFS have been 
considering and addressing the potential for strandings in association 
with Navy activities for years. In addition to a suite of mitigation 
measures intended to more broadly minimize impacts to marine mammals, 
the reporting requirements set forth in this rule ensure that NMFS is 
notified immediately (or as soon as clearance procedures allow) if a 
stranded marine mammal is found during or shortly after, and in the 
vicinity of, any Navy training exercise utilizing MFAS, HFAS, or 
underwater explosive detonations (see General Notification of Injured 
or Dead Marine Mammals in the regulatory text below). Additionally, 
through the MMPA process (which allows for adaptive management), NMFS 
and the Navy will determine the appropriate way to proceed in the event 
that a causal relationship were to be found between Navy activities and 
a future stranding.
    The NWTT training and testing activities are not expected to occur 
in an area/time of specific importance for reproductive, feeding, or 
other known critical behaviors for beaked whales. None of the Pacific 
stocks for beaked whales species found in the Study Area are depleted 
under the MMPA. The degree of predicted Level B harassment is expected 
to be mild, and no beaked whales are predicted in the acoustic analysis 
to be exposed to sound levels associated with PTS, other injury, or 
mortality. Consequently, the activities are not expected to adversely 
impact annual rates of recruitment or survival of beaked whales.
    Dolphins and Small Whales--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts 
the following numbers of Level B harassment of the associated species 
of delphinids (dolphins and small whales, excluding killer whales) may 
occur each year from sonar and other active acoustic sources during 
training and testing activities in the Study Area: 2,362 short-beaked 
common dolphins (California/Oregon/Washington stock); 36 striped 
dolphins (California/Oregon/Washington stock); 8,354 Pacific white-

[[Page 73616]]

sided dolphins (California/Oregon/Washington and North Pacific stocks); 
3,370 Northern right whale dolphins (California/Oregon/Washington 
stock); and 1,811 Risso's dolphins (California/Oregon/Washington 
stock). Based on the distribution information presented in the LOA 
application, it is highly unlikely that short-finned pilot whales or 
common bottlenose dolphins would be encountered in the Study Area. The 
acoustic analysis did not predict any takes of short-finned pilot 
whales or bottlenose dolphins and NMFS is not authorizing any takes of 
these species. Relative to delphinid population sizes, these activities 
are anticipated to generally result only in a limited number of level B 
harassment takes. When the numbers of behavioral takes are compared to 
the estimated stock abundance and if one assumes that each take happens 
to a separate animal, less than 30 percent of the California/Oregon/
Washington stock of Risso's dolphin; less than 30 percent of the 
California/Oregon/Washington stock and less than 0.02 percent of the 
North Pacific stock of pacific white-sided dolphin; less than 28 
percent of the California/Oregon/Washington stock of northern right 
whale dolphin; less than 0.6 percent of the California/Oregon/
Washington stock of short-beaked common dolphin; and less than 0.4 
percent of the California/Oregon/Washington stock of striped dolphin 
would be behaviorally harassed during the course of a year. More 
likely, slightly fewer individuals are harassed, but a subset are 
harassed more than one time during the course of the year. Because the 
estimates given above represent the total number of exposures and not 
necessarily the number of individuals exposed, it is more likely that 
fewer individuals would be taken, but a subset would be taken more than 
one time per year.
    All of these takes are anticipated to be in the form of behavioral 
harassment (TTS and behavioral reaction) and no injurious takes of 
delphinids from sonar and other active acoustic stressors or explosives 
are requested or proposed for authorization. Further, the majority of 
takes are anticipated to be by behavioral harassment in the form of 
mild responses (low received levels and of a short duration). 
Behavioral responses can range from alerting, to changing their 
behavior or vocalizations, to avoiding the sound source by swimming 
away or diving (Richardson, 1995; Nowacek, 2007; Southall et al., 2007; 
Finneran and Jenkins, 2012). Delphinid species generally travel in 
large pods and should be visible from a distance in order to implement 
mitigation measures and reduce potential impacts. Many of the recorded 
delphinid vocalizations overlap with the MFAS/HFAS TTS frequency range 
(2-20 kHz); however, as noted above, NMFS does not anticipate TTS of a 
serious degree or extended duration to occur as a result of exposure to 
MFAS/HFAS. Recovery from a threshold shift (TTS) can take a few minutes 
to a few days, depending on the exposure duration, sound exposure 
level, and the magnitude of the initial shift, with larger threshold 
shifts and longer exposure durations requiring longer recovery times 
(Finneran et al., 2005; Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et al., 2009b; 
Finneran and Schlundt, 2010). Large threshold shifts are not 
anticipated for these activities because of the unlikelihood that 
animals will remain within the ensonified area (due to the short 
duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the vessels, and 
the short distance within which the animal would need to approach the 
sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to induce 
larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily affect all 
hearing frequencies equally, so some threshold shifts may not interfere 
with an animal's hearing of biologically relevant sounds.
    The predicted effects to delphinids are unlikely to cause long-term 
consequences for individual animals or populations. The NWTT activities 
are not expected to occur in an area/time of specific importance for 
reproductive, feeding, or other known critical behaviors for 
delphinids. Pacific stocks of delphinid species found in the Study Area 
are not depleted under the MMPA. Consequently, the activities are not 
expected to adversely impact annual rates of recruitment or survival of 
delphinid species.
    Killer Whales--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts 255 instances 
of Level B harassment of killer whales (Alaska Resident, Northern 
Resident, West Coast Transient, Eastern North Pacific Offshore, and 
Eastern North Pacific Southern Resident stocks), including 2 Level B 
behavioral takes of southern resident killer whales (but no more than 6 
over five years), from sonar and other active acoustic sources during 
annual training activities in the Study Area. Relative to population 
sizes, these activities are anticipated to generally result only in a 
limited number of level B harassment takes. When the numbers of 
behavioral takes are compared to the estimated stock abundance and if 
one assumes that each take happens to a separate animal, less than 10 
percent of all killer whale stocks in the Study Area--and 2 percent of 
the Southern Resident stock of killer whale--would be behaviorally 
harassed during the course of a year. More likely, slightly fewer 
individuals would be harassed, but a subset would be harassed more than 
one time during the course of the year.
    All of these takes are anticipated to be in the form of behavioral 
harassment (TTS and behavioral reaction) and no injurious takes of 
killer whales from sonar and other active acoustic stressors or 
explosives are requested or proposed for authorization. Further, the 
majority of takes are anticipated to be by behavioral harassment in the 
form of mild responses. The killer whale's size and detectability makes 
it unlikely that these animals would be exposed to the higher energy or 
pressure expected to result in more severe effects. Killer whales 
generally travel in pods and should be visible from a distance in order 
to implement mitigation measures and reduce potential impacts.
    Research and observations show that if killer whales are exposed to 
sonar or other active acoustic sources they may react in a number of 
ways depending on their experience with the sound source and what 
activity they are engaged in at the time of the acoustic exposure. 
Killer whales may not react at all until the sound source is 
approaching within a few hundred meters to within a few kilometers 
depending on the environmental conditions and species. Killer whales 
that are exposed to activities that involve the use of sonar and other 
active acoustic sources may alert, ignore the stimulus, change their 
behaviors or vocalizations, avoid the sound source by swimming away or 
diving, or be attracted to the sound source. Research has demonstrated 
that killer whales may routinely move over long large distances 
(Andrews and Matkin, 2014; Fearnbach et al., 2013). In a similar 
documented long-distance movement, an Eastern North Pacific Offshore 
stock killer whale tagged off San Clemente Island, California, moved 
(over a period of 147 days) to waters off northern Mexico, then north 
to Cook Inlet, Alaska, and finally (when the tag ceased transmitting) 
to coastal waters off Southeast Alaska (Falcone and Schorr, 2014). 
Given these findings, temporary displacement due to avoidance of 
training and testing activities are therefore unlikely to have 
biological significance to individual animals. Long-term consequences 
to individual killer whales or populations are not likely due to 
exposure to sonar or other active acoustic sources.
    The vocalizations of killer whales fall directly into the frequency 
range in which TTS would be incurred from the

[[Page 73617]]

MFAS sources used during ASW exercises; however, the Navy is conducting 
ASW exercises mainly in the Offshore Area while killer whales are 
predominantly situated in the Inland Waters Area. Both behavioral and 
auditory brainstem response techniques indicate killer whales can hear 
a frequency range of 1 to 100 kHz and are most sensitive at 20 kHz. 
This is one the lowest maximum-sensitivity frequencies known among 
toothed whales (Szymanski et al., 1999). Recovery from a threshold 
shift (TTS) can take a few minutes to a few days, depending on the 
exposure duration, sound exposure level, and the magnitude of the 
initial shift, with larger threshold shifts and longer exposure 
durations requiring longer recovery times (Finneran et al., 2005; 
Mooney et al., 2009a; Mooney et al., 2009b; Finneran and Schlundt, 
2010). Large threshold shifts are not anticipated for these activities 
because of the unlikelihood that animals will remain within the 
ensonified area (due to the short duration of the majority of 
exercises, the speed of the vessels, and the short distance within 
which the animal would need to approach the sound source) at high 
levels for the duration necessary to induce larger threshold shifts. 
Threshold shifts do not necessarily affect all hearing frequencies 
equally, so some threshold shifts may not interfere with an animal's 
hearing of biologically relevant sounds.
    The southern resident killer whale is the only ESA-listed marine 
mammal species with designated critical habitat located in the NWTT 
Study Area (NMFS, 2006). The majority of the Navy's proposed training 
and testing activities would, however, not occur in the southern 
resident killer whale's designated critical habitat (NMFS, 2006). For 
all substressors that would occur within the critical habitat, those 
training and testing activities are not expected to impact the 
identified primary constituent elements of that habitat and therefore 
would have no effect on that critical habitat. Furthermore, the 
majority of testing events would occur in Hood Canal, where southern 
resident killer whales are not believed to be present (southern 
resident killer whales have not been reported in Hood Canal or Dabob 
Bay since 1995 [NMFS, 2008c]), while the majority of training 
activities would occur in the offshore portions of the Study Area where 
they are only present briefly during their annual migration period.
    The predicted effects to southern resident killer whale would occur 
in the Inland Waters area of Puget Sound as a result of the Civilian 
Port Defense exercise (Maritime Homeland Defense/Security Mine 
Countermeasures Integrated Exercise) where they could be exposed to 
sonar and other active acoustic sources that may result in two 
behavioral reactions annually. NMFS issued a Biological Opinion 
concluding that training and testing activities are likely to adversely 
affect, but are not likely to jeopardize, the continued existence of 
southern resident killer whale and are not likely to result in the 
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat in the NWTT 
Study Area. As described in the Biological Opinion, the available 
scientific information does not provide evidence that exposure to 
acoustic stressors from Navy training and testing activities will 
impact the fitness of any individuals of this species. Therefore 
exposure to acoustic stressors will not have population or species 
level impacts.
    The NWTT training and testing activities are generally not expected 
to occur in an area/time of specific importance for reproductive, 
feeding, or other known critical behaviors for killer whales. 
Consequently, the activities are not expected to adversely impact 
annual rates of recruitment or survival of killer whale species and 
will therefore not result in population-level impacts. As discussed in 
the Area-Specific Mitigation section of this rule, for Civilian Port 
Defense exercises (Maritime Homeland Defense/Security Mine 
Countermeasures Integrated Exercise) the Navy shall conduct pre-event 
planning and training to ensure environmental awareness of all exercise 
participants. When this event is proposed to be conducted in Puget 
Sound, Navy event planners shall consult with Navy biologists who shall 
contact NMFS during the planning process in order to determine 
likelihood of southern resident killer whale presence in the proposed 
exercise area as planners consider specifics of the event.
    Pinnipeds--The Navy's acoustic analysis predicts that the following 
numbers of Level B harassment (TTS and behavioral reaction) may occur 
annually from sonar and other active acoustic stressors and sound or 
energy from explosions associated with training and testing activities 
in the Study Area: 925 Steller sea lions (Eastern U.S. stock); 10 
Guadalupe fur seals (Mexico stock); 2,960 California sea lions (U.S. 
stock); 4,389 northern fur seals (Eastern Pacific and California 
stocks); 2,596 northern elephant seals (California Breeding stock); and 
63,850 harbor seals (Southeast Alaska [Clarence Strait], Oregon/
Washington Coast, Washington Northern Inland Waters, Southern Puget 
Sound, and Hood Canal stocks). These estimates represents the total 
number of exposures and not necessarily the number of individuals 
exposed, as a single individual may be exposed multiple times over the 
course of a year. Northern elephant seals are the only pinnipeds 
predicted to incur takes (one Level B take) from exposure to 
explosives. The acoustic analysis (factoring in the post-model 
correction for avoidance and mitigation) also indicates that 2 Northern 
elephant seals and 100 harbor seals would be exposed to sound levels 
likely to result in Level A harassment (PTS) from sonar or other active 
acoustic sources.
    Generally speaking, pinniped stocks in the Study Area are thought 
to be stable or increasing. Relative to population size, training and 
testing activities are anticipated to result only in a limited number 
of takes for the majority of pinniped species. When the numbers of 
takes are compared to the estimated stock abundances and if one assumes 
that each take happens to a separate animal, less than 2 percent of 
each Steller sea lion, California sea lion, northern fur seal, harbor 
seal (Southeast Alaska [Clarence Strait] only; all other harbor seal 
stock abundances are unknown), and northern elephant seal stock would 
be harassed (behaviorally) during the course of a year. Because the 
estimates given above represent the total number of exposures and not 
necessarily the number of individuals exposed, it is more likely that 
fewer individuals would be taken, but a subset would be taken more than 
one time per year. Takes of depleted (as defined under the MMPA) stocks 
of northern fur seals (Eastern Pacific) and Guadalupe fur seals 
(Mexico) represent only 0.7 percent and 0.07 percent of their 
respective stock.
    Research has demonstrated that for pinnipeds, as for other mammals, 
recovery from a hearing threshold shift (i.e., TTS; temporary partial 
hearing loss) can take a few minutes to a few days depending on the 
severity of the initial shift. More severe shifts may not fully recover 
and thus would be considered PTS. However, large degrees of PTS are not 
anticipated for these activities because of the unlikelihood that 
animals will remain within the ensonified area (due to the short 
duration of the majority of exercises, the speed of the vessels, and 
the short distance within which the animal would need to approach the 
sound source) at high levels for the duration necessary to induce 
larger threshold shifts. Threshold shifts do not necessarily affect all 
hearing frequencies equally, so threshold shifts may not

[[Page 73618]]

necessarily interfere with an animal's ability to hear biologically 
relevant sounds. The likely consequences to the health of an individual 
that incurs PTS can range from mild to more serious, depending upon the 
degree of PTS and the frequency band it is in, and many animals are 
able to compensate for the shift, although it may include energetic 
costs. Likely avoidance of intense activity and sound coupled with 
mitigation measures would further reduce the potential for severe PTS 
exposures to occur. If a marine mammal is able to approach a surface 
vessel within the distance necessary to incur PTS, the likely speed of 
the vessel (nominal 10-15 knots) would make it very difficult for the 
animal to remain in range long enough to accumulate enough energy to 
result in more than a mild case of PTS.
    Research and observations show that pinnipeds in the water may be 
tolerant of anthropogenic noise and activity (a review of behavioral 
reactions by pinnipeds to impulsive and non-impulsive noise can be 
found in Richardson et al., 1995 and Southall et al., 2007). Available 
data, though limited, suggest that exposures between approximately 90 
and 140 dB SPL do not appear to induce strong behavioral responses in 
pinnipeds exposed to nonpulse sounds in water (Jacobs and Terhune, 
2002; Costa et al., 2003; Kastelein et al., 2006c). Based on the 
limited data on pinnipeds in the water exposed to multiple pulses 
(small explosives, impact pile driving, and seismic sources), exposures 
in the approximately 150 to 180 dB SPL range generally have limited 
potential to induce avoidance behavior in pinnipeds (Harris et al., 
2001; Blackwell et al., 2004; Miller et al., 2004). If pinnipeds are 
exposed to sonar or other active acoustic sources they may react in a 
number of ways depending on their experience with the sound source and 
what activity they are engaged in at the time of the acoustic exposure. 
Pinnipeds may not react at all until the sound source is approaching 
within a few hundred meters and then may alert, ignore the stimulus, 
change their behaviors, or avoid the immediate area by swimming away or 
diving. Houser et al. (2013) performed a controlled exposure study 
involving California sea lions exposed to a simulated MFAS signal. The 
purpose of this Navy-sponsored study was to determine the probability 
and magnitude of behavioral responses by California sea lions exposed 
to differing intensities of simulated MFAS signals. Behavioral 
reactions included increased respiration rates, prolonged submergence, 
and refusal to participate, among others. Younger animals were more 
likely to respond than older animals, while some sea lions did not 
respond consistently at any level. Houser et al.'s findings are 
consistent with current scientific studies and criteria development 
concerning marine mammal reactions to MFAS. Effects on pinnipeds in the 
Study Area that are taken by Level B harassment, on the basis of 
reports in the literature as well as Navy monitoring from past 
activities, will likely be limited to reactions such as increased 
swimming speeds, increased surfacing time, or decreased foraging (if 
such activity were occurring). Most likely, individuals will simply 
move away from the sound source and be temporarily displaced from those 
areas, or not respond at all. In areas of repeated and frequent 
acoustic disturbance, some animals may habituate or learn to tolerate 
the new baseline or fluctuations in noise level. Habituation can occur 
when an animal's response to a stimulus wanes with repeated exposure, 
usually in the absence of unpleasant associated events (Wartzok et al., 
2003). While some animals may not return to an area, or may begin using 
an area differently due to training and testing activities, most 
animals are expected to return to their usual locations and behavior. 
Given their documented tolerance of anthropogenic sound (Richardson et 
al., 1995 and Southall et al., 2007), repeated exposures of individuals 
(e.g., harbor seals) to levels of sound that may cause Level B 
harassment are unlikely to result in hearing impairment or to 
significantly disrupt foraging behavior. As stated above, pinnipeds may 
habituate to or become tolerant of repeated exposures over time, 
learning to ignore a stimulus that in the past has not accompanied any 
overt threat.
    Thus, even repeated Level B harassment of some small subset of the 
overall stock is unlikely to result in any significant realized 
decrease in fitness to those individuals, and would not result in any 
adverse impact to the stock as a whole. Evidence from areas where the 
Navy extensively trains and tests provides some indication of the 
possible consequences resulting from those proposed activities. In the 
confined waters of Washington State's Hood Canal where the Navy has 
been training and intensively testing for decades and harbor seals are 
present year-round, the population level has remained stable suggesting 
the area's carrying capacity likely has been reached (Jeffries et al., 
2003; Gaydos et al., 2013). Within Puget Sound there are several 
locations where pinnipeds use Navy structures (e.g., submarines, 
security barriers) for haulouts. Given that animals continue to choose 
these areas for their resting behavior, it would appear there are no 
long-term effects or consequences to those animals as a result of 
ongoing and routine Navy activities.
    NMFS has determined that the Level A and Level B harassment 
exposures to the Hood Canal stock of harbor seals are not biologically 
significant to the population because (1) the vast majority of the 
exposures are within the non-injurious TTS or behavioral effects zones 
and none of the estimated exposures result in mortality; (2) the 
majority of predicted harbor seal exposures result from testing 
activities which are generally of an intermittent or short duration and 
should prevent animals from being exposed to stressors on a continuous 
basis; (3) there are no indications that the historically occurring 
activities resulting in these behavioral harassment exposures are 
having any effect on this population's survival by altering behavior 
patterns such as breeding, nursing, feeding, or sheltering; (4) the 
population has been stable and likely at carrying capacity (Jeffries et 
al., 2003; Gaydos et al., 2013); (5) the population continues to use 
known large haulouts in Hood Canal and Dabob Bay that are adjacent to 
Navy testing and training activities (London et al., 2012); (6) the 
population continues to use known haulouts for pupping; and (7) the 
population continues to use the waters in and around Dabob Bay and Hood 
Canal.
    The Guadalupe fur seal is the only ESA-listed pinniped species 
found within the NWTT Study Area. Guadalupe fur seals are considered 
``seasonally migrant'' and are present within the offshore portion of 
the Study Area during the warm season (summer and early autumn) and 
during that portion of the year may be exposed to sonar and other 
active acoustic sources associated with training and testing 
activities. Predicted Level B takes of Guadalupe fur seals in the Study 
Area represent a negligible percentage of the Mexico stock. 
Furthermore, critical habitat has not been designated for Guadalupe fur 
seals.
    We believe that factors described above, as well as the available 
body of evidence from past Navy activities in the Study Area, 
demonstrate that the potential effects of the specified activity will 
have only short-term effects on individuals. The NWTT training and 
testing activities are not expected to occur in an area/time of 
specific importance for reproductive, feeding, or

[[Page 73619]]

other known critical behaviors for pinnipeds. Consequently, the 
activities are not expected to adversely impact annual rates of 
recruitment or survival of pinniped species and will therefore not 
result in population-level impacts.

Revised Analysis Based on Corrections to Sonar Testing Activities

    As discussed earlier in this final rule, the Navy revised the 
number of hours and the location of sonar use attributed to life cycle 
pierside sonar testing events already described as occurring at each of 
the Navy's installations in the Pacific Northwest. The resulting 
revised predicted exposures (take) calculations for several species as 
a result of these corrections are depicted in Table 18.
    None of the species/stocks that could be affected by life cycle 
pierside testing events are listed under the ESA. Gray whale and harbor 
seal densities are somewhat higher in the vicinity of Naval Station 
Everett (Possession Sound) than they are near NBK--Bremerton (Sinclair 
Inlet). While gray whales seasonally occur in the vicinity of Naval 
Station Everett, they are rarely sighted as far inside Puget Sound as 
NBK--Bremerton. The net change in annual testing effects reflects these 
environmental differences. However, the net change represents a less 
than 5 percent increase in predicted annual Level A harassments and a 
less than 1 percent increase in predicted annual Level B harassments 
across all sonar and explosive testing activities proposed to occur 
within the NWTT Study Area.
    The species with the most potential for harassment by this 
correction--Dall's porpoise, Steller sea lions, California sea lions, 
harbor seals, and harbor porpoise--are all species/stocks with robust, 
stable populations. All these species/stocks are also predicted to be 
affected by pierside surface ship sonar maintenance events at Naval 
Station Everett, and by life cycle pierside sonar testing events at 
NBK--Bremerton already accounted for in Navy and NMFS analyses. The 
longer duration of the testing events is predicted to result in 8 Level 
A harassment exposures of harbor seals; Level A harassment would not be 
incurred from the shorter duration training events. In addition, the 
analysis shows that the longer MF1 testing events could result in 1 
Level B harassment (by temporary threshold shift [TTS]) of a gray 
whale. The shorter duration pierside surface ship sonar maintenance 
training events at Naval Station Everett would not affect this species, 
and effects to this species were not predicted for life cycle pierside 
sonar testing at NBK--Bremerton.
    As a result of the correction, the gray whale is the only species 
with predicted effects at Naval Station Everett that was not predicted 
to have effects at NBK--Bremerton. If a gray whale were to experience a 
TTS, its hearing sensitivity would only be affected for a short 
duration of time (a few minutes to a few days), and any effect on its 
hearing would be in a very narrow bandwidth equivalent to the exposure. 
Because marine mammals hear over a large range of frequencies, they are 
likely to be able to compensate for any temporary reduction in 
sensitivity over a small frequency band. Therefore, TTS is unlikely to 
affect their ability to carry out necessary life functions (i.e., 
feeding, breeding, communication), and no long-term effects on their 
fitness would be expected.
    The species with the greatest increase in predicted exposures and 
for which the only instances of Level A takes are predicted are harbor 
seals from the Washington Northern Inland Waters stock. The net change 
in annual testing exposures would not alter the conclusions of the 
analysis presented above for harbor seals in this section or in the 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS.
    In summary, correcting the number of life cycle pierside sonar 
testing event hours will result in an insignificant increase in overall 
Level B and Level A takes of a few species within the NWTT Study Area. 
All populations are healthy and exposures to sound from these events 
would be short term (no more than 4 hours) and infrequent (a maximum of 
8 times per year). These testing events are qualitatively described in 
documents released to the public as potentially occurring at both NBK--
Bremerton and Naval Station Everett. Furthermore, the testing events 
are similar to pierside surface ship sonar system maintenance training 
events using MF1 sonar systems also proposed to occur at Naval Station 
Everett that were quantitatively analyzed in public documents and pose 
similar potential effects on marine mammals. Therefore, the addition of 
life cycle pierside sonar testing events to Naval Station Everett and 
their associated predicted exposures does not reflect a significant 
departure from or a substantial change in the nature of activities or 
environmental effects already analyzed as potentially occurring there, 
and NMFS concludes that no long-term consequences to or significant 
impacts on marine mammal species/stocks would be expected.

Long-Term Consequences

    The best assessment of long-term consequences from training and 
testing activities will be to monitor the populations over time within 
a given Navy range complex. A U.S. workshop on Marine Mammals and Sound 
(Fitch et al., 2011) indicated a critical need for baseline biological 
data on marine mammal abundance, distribution, habitat, and behavior 
over sufficient time and space to evaluate impacts from human-generated 
activities on long-term population survival. The Navy has developed 
monitoring plans for protected marine mammals occurring on Navy ranges 
with the goal of assessing the impacts of training and testing 
activities on marine species and the effectiveness of the Navy's 
current mitigation practices. Continued monitoring efforts over time 
will be necessary to completely evaluate the long-term consequences of 
exposure to noise sources.
    Since 2006 across all Navy Range Complexes (in the Atlantic, Gulf 
of Mexico, and the Pacific), there have been more than 80 reports; 
including Major Exercise Reports, Annual Exercise Reports, and 
Monitoring Reports. For the Pacific since 2011, there have been 29 
monitoring and exercise reports (as shown in Table 6-1 of the LOA 
application) submitted to NMFS to further research goals aimed at 
understanding the Navy's impact on the environment as it carries out 
its mission to train and test.
    In addition to this multi-year record of reports from across the 
Navy, there have also been ongoing Behavioral Response Study research 
efforts (in Southern California and the Bahamas) specifically focused 
on determining the potential effects from Navy MFAS (Southall et al., 
2011, 2012; Tyack et al., 2011; DeRuiter et al., 2013b; Goldbogen et 
al., 2013; Moretti et al., 2014). This multi-year compendium of 
monitoring, observation, study, and broad scientific research is 
informative with regard to assessing the effects of Navy training and 
testing in general. Given that this record involves many of the same 
Navy training and testing activities being considered for the Study 
Area, and because it includes all the marine mammal taxonomic families 
and many of the same species, this compendium of Navy reporting is 
directly applicable to the Study Area. Other research findings related 
to the general topic of long-term impacts are discussed above in the 
Species/Group Specific Analysis.
    Based on the findings from surveys in Puget Sound and research 
efforts and monitoring before, during, and after

[[Page 73620]]

training and testing events across the Navy since 2006, NMFS' 
assessment is that it is unlikely there would be impacts to populations 
of marine mammals having any long-term consequences as a result of the 
proposed continuation of training and testing in the ocean areas 
historically used by the Navy, including the Study Area. This 
assessment of likelihood is based on four indicators from areas in the 
Pacific where Navy training and testing has been ongoing for decades: 
(1) Evidence suggesting or documenting increases in the numbers of 
marine mammals present (Calambokidis and Barlow, 2004; Calambokidis et 
al., 2009a; Falcone et al., 2009; Hildebrand and McDonald, 2009; 
Berman-Kowalewski et al., 2010; Moore and Barlow, 2011; Barlow et al. 
2011; Falcone and Shorr, 2012; Kerosky et al,. 2012; 
[Scaron]irovi[cacute] et al., 2015; Smultea et al., 2013), (2) examples 
of documented presence and site fidelity of species and long-term 
residence by individual animals of some species (Hooker et al., 2002; 
McSweeney et al., 2007; McSweeney et al., 2009; McSweeney et al., 2010; 
Martin and Kok, 2011; Baumann-Pickering et al., 2012; Falcone and 
Schorr, 2014), (3) use of training and testing areas for breeding and 
nursing activities (Littnan, 2010), and (4) 6 years of comprehensive 
monitoring data indicating a lack of any observable effects to marine 
mammal populations as a result of Navy training and testing activities.
    To summarize, while the evidence covers most marine mammal 
taxonomic suborders, it is limited to a few species and only suggestive 
of the general viability of those species in intensively used Navy 
training and testing areas (Barlow et al., 2011; Calambokidis et al., 
2009b; Falcone et al., 2009; Littnan, 2011; Martin and Kok, 2011; 
McCarthy et al., 2011; McSweeney et al., 2007; McSweeney et al., 2009; 
Moore and Barlow, 2011; Tyack et al., 2011; Southall et al., 2012a; 
Melcon, 2012; Goldbogen, 2013; Baird et al., 2013). However, there is 
no direct evidence that routine Navy training and testing spanning 
decades has negatively impacted marine mammal populations at any Navy 
Range Complex. Although there have been a few strandings associated 
with use of sonar in other locations (see U.S. Department of the Navy, 
2013b), Ketten (2012) has recently summarized, ``to date, there has 
been no demonstrable evidence of acute, traumatic, disruptive, or 
profound auditory damage in any marine mammal as the result of 
anthropogenic noise exposures, including sonar.'' Therefore, based on 
the best available science (Barlow et al., 2011; Falcone et al., 2009; 
Falcone and Schorr, 2012, 2014; Littnan, 2011; Martin and Kok, 2011; 
McCarthy et al., 2011; McSweeney et al., 2007; McSweeney et al., 2009; 
Moore and Barlow, 2011; Tyack et al., 2011; Southall et al., 2012; 
Manzano-Roth et al., 2013; DeRuiter et al., 2013b; Goldbogen et al., 
2013; Moretti et al., 2014; Smultea and Jefferson, 2014), including 
data developed in the series of reports submitted to NMFS, we believe 
that long-term consequences for individuals or populations are unlikely 
to result from Navy training and testing activities in the Study Area.

Final Determination

    Training and testing activities proposed in the NWTT Study Area 
would result in Level B and Level A takes, as summarized in Tables 14-
18. Based on best available science, as summarized in this rule and in 
the NWTT FEIS/OEIS (Section 3.4.4.1), NMFS concludes that exposures to 
marine mammal species and stocks due to NWTT activities would result in 
primarily short-term (temporary and short in duration) and relatively 
infrequent effects to most individuals exposed, and not of the type or 
severity that would be expected to be additive for the generally small 
portion of the stocks and species likely to be exposed.
    Chapter 4 of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS contains a comprehensive assessment 
of potential cumulative impacts, including analyzing the potential for 
cumulatively significant impacts to the marine environment and marine 
mammals. In addition, the Biological Opinion concludes that the 
proposed regulations and any take associated with activities authorized 
by those regulations are not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of threatened or endangered species (or species proposed for 
listing) in the action area during any single year or as a result of 
the cumulative impacts of a 5-year authorization. The Biological 
Opinion includes an explanation of how the results of NMFS' baseline 
and effects analyses in Biological Opinions relate to those contained 
in the cumulative impact section of the NWTT FEIS/OEIS.
    Marine mammal takes from Navy activities are not expected to impact 
annual rates of recruitment or survival and will therefore not result 
in population-level impacts for the following reasons:
     Most acoustic exposures (greater than 99 percent) are 
within the non-injurious TTS or behavioral effects zones (Level B 
harassment consisting of generally temporary modifications in behavior) 
and none of the estimated exposures result in mortality.
     As mentioned earlier, an animal's exposure to a higher 
received level is more likely to result in a behavioral response that 
is more likely to adversely affect the health of the animal. For low 
frequency cetaceans (mysticetes) in the Study Area, most Level B 
exposures will occur at received levels less than 156 dB. The majority 
of estimated odontocete takes from MFAS/HFAS (at least for hull-mounted 
sonar, which is responsible for most of the sonar-related takes) also 
result from exposures to received levels less than 156 dB. Therefore, 
the majority of Level B takes are expected to be in the form of milder 
responses (i.e., lower-level exposures that still rise to the level of 
a take, but would likely be less severe in the range of responses that 
qualify as a take) and are not expected to have deleterious impacts on 
the fitness of any individuals.
     Acoustic disturbances caused by Navy sonar and explosives 
are short-term, intermittent, and (in the case of sonar) transitory. 
Moreover, there are no MTEs in the NWTT Study Area. Navy activities are 
generally unit level. Unit level events occur over a small spatial 
scale (one to a few 10s of square miles) and with few participants 
(usually one or two). Single-unit unit level training would typically 
involve a few hours of sonar use, with a typical nominal ping of every 
50 seconds (duty cycle). Even though an animal's exposure to active 
sonar may be more than one time, the intermittent nature of the sonar 
signal, its low duty cycle, and the fact that both the vessel and 
animal are moving provide a very small chance that exposure to active 
sonar for individual animals and stocks would be repeated over extended 
periods of time. Consequently, we would not expect the Navy's 
activities to create conditions of long-term, continuous underwater 
noise leading to habitat abandonment or long-term hormonal or 
physiological stress responses in marine mammals.
     Range complexes where intensive training and testing have 
been occurring for decades have populations of multiple species with 
strong site fidelity (including highly sensitive resident beaked whales 
at some locations) and increases in the number of some species. 
Populations of beaked whales and other odontocetes in the Bahamas, and 
other Navy fixed ranges that have been operating for tens of years, 
appear to be stable.
     Years of monitoring of Navy-wide activities (since 2006) 
have documented hundreds of thousands of marine mammals on the range 
complexes and

[[Page 73621]]

there are only two instances of overt behavioral change that have been 
observed.
     Years of monitoring of Navy-wide activities on the range 
complexes have documented no demonstrable instances of injury to marine 
mammals as a direct result of non-impulsive acoustic sources.
     In at least three decades of the same type of activities, 
only one instance of injury to marine mammals (March 4, 2011; three 
long-beaked common dolphin off Southern California) has occurred as a 
known result of training or testing using an impulsive source 
(underwater explosion). Of note, the time-delay firing underwater 
explosive training activity implicated in the March 4 incident is not 
proposed for the training activities in the NWTT Study Area.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, which includes 
consideration of the materials provided in the Navy's LOA application 
and NWTT FEIS/OEIS, and dependent upon the implementation of the 
mitigation and monitoring measures, NMFS finds that the total marine 
mammal take from the Navy's training and testing activities in the NWTT 
Study Area will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal 
species or stocks. NMFS has issued regulations for these activities 
that prescribe the means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat and set 
forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of that 
taking.

Subsistence Harvest of Marine Mammals

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated 
by this action. Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of 
affected species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact 
on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for 
subsistence purposes.

ESA

    There are nine marine mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction that 
are listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA with confirmed or 
possible occurrence in the NWTT Study Area: North Pacific right whale, 
blue whale, humpback whale, fin whale, sei whale, gray whale (Western 
North Pacific stock), sperm whale, killer whale (Eastern North Pacific 
Southern Resident stock), and Guadalupe fur seal. The Navy consulted 
with NMFS pursuant to section 7 of the ESA, and NMFS also consulted 
internally on the issuance of a rule and LOAs under section 
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA for NWTT activities. NMFS issued a Biological 
Opinion concluding that the issuance of the rule and subsequent LOAs 
are likely to adversely affect, but are not likely to jeopardize, the 
continued existence of the threatened and endangered species (and 
species proposed for listing) under NMFS' jurisdiction and are not 
likely to result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat in the NWTT Study Area. The Biological Opinion for this action 
is available on NMFS' Web site (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm).

NEPA

    NMFS participated as a cooperating agency on the NWTT FEIS/OEIS, 
which was published on October 2, 2015 and is available on the Navy's 
Web site: http://www.nwtteis.com. NMFS determined that the NWTT FEIS/
OEIS is adequate and appropriate to meet our responsibilities under 
NEPA for the issuance of regulations and LOAs and adopted the Navy's 
NWTT FEIS/OEIS.

NMSA

    Some Navy NWTT activities will occur within the Olympic Coast 
National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS). Federal agency actions that are 
likely to injure sanctuary resources are subject to consultation with 
the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) under section 
304(d) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) to determine if 
there are reasonable and prudent alternatives to the proposed action 
that will protect sanctuary resources. The Navy and NMFS initiated 
joint consultation with ONMS through the submittal of a Sanctuary 
Resource Statement (SRS) on August 31, 2015, with follow-up information 
provided to ONMS on October 1, 2015. The SRS provided by the Navy and 
NMFS estimated the numbers of marine mammals within the OCNMS that 
could be exposed, annually, to acoustic transmissions associated with 
NWTT activities. The impacts of these exposures were predicted as 
numbers of marine mammals that could experience temporary and permanent 
threshold shifts and behavioral responses, all of which constitute 
``injury'' as defined by the NMSA. ONMS provided recommended 
alternatives to the Navy and NMFS to further protect sanctuary 
resources on October 23, 2015. On November 9, 2015, the Navy and NMFS 
jointly responded in writing to each of the ONMS recommendations.

Classification

    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this final 
rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the Chief Counsel 
for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration at the 
proposed rule stage that this rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Navy is 
the sole entity that would be affected by this rulemaking, and the Navy 
is not a small governmental jurisdiction, small organization, or small 
business, as defined by the RFA. Any requirements imposed by an LOA 
issued pursuant to these regulations, and any monitoring or reporting 
requirements imposed by these regulations, would be applicable only to 
the Navy. NMFS does not expect the issuance of these regulations or the 
associated LOAs to result in any impacts to small entities pursuant to 
the RFA. 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.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that there 
is good cause under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3)) to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of the 
measures contained in the final rule. NMFS is unable to accommodate the 
30-day delay of effectiveness due to delays in the release of this rule 
which resulted from an initial delay in the publication of the proposed 
rule. That delay occurred when updated species density information 
became available immediately prior to the release of the proposed rule. 
As those new data represented the best available science at the time, 
NMFS determined that it was necessary to incorporate those data, and 
the resulting analyses, into the proposed rule, which was subsequently 
delayed due to the added time needed to perform the additional analyses 
and provide the necessary revisions to the notice of the proposed rule. 
The Navy is the only entity subject to the regulations, and it has 
informed NMFS that it requests that this final rule take effect by 
November 9, 2015, when the regulations issued by NMFS to govern the 
unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to the Navy's 
activities in the Northwest Training Range Complex and the Keyport 
Range

[[Page 73622]]

Complex from 2010 to 2015 expire. A waiver of the 30-day delay of the 
effective date of the final rule will allow the Navy to finalize 
operational procedures to ensure compliance with required mitigation, 
monitoring, and reporting requirements, and have MMPA authorization in 
place prior to expiration of the existing regulations to support unit 
level training and testing activities events scheduled for November 
2015. Any delay of enacting the final rule would result in either: (1) 
A suspension of planned naval training, which would disrupt vital 
training essential to national security; or (2) the Navy's procedural 
non-compliance with the MMPA (should the Navy conduct training without 
an LOA), thereby resulting in the potential for unauthorized takes of 
marine mammals. Moreover, the Navy is ready to implement the rule 
immediately. For these reasons, the Assistant Administrator finds good 
cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date.

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: November 9, 2015.
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 follow:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

0
2. In Sec.  218.75, revise the introductory text of paragraph 
(f)(1)(ii)(F) to read as follows:


Sec.  218.75  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (F) Individual marine mammal sighting information for each sighting 
when mitigation occurred during each MTE:
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  218.85, revise the introductory text of paragraph 
(f)(1)(ii)(F) to read as follows:


Sec.  218.85  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (F) Individual marine mammal sighting information for each sighting 
when mitigation occurred during each MTE:
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  218.95, revise the introductory text of paragraph 
(g)(1)(ii)(F) to read as follows:


Sec.  218.95  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (F) Individual marine mammal sighting information for each sighting 
when mitigation occurred during each MTE:
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  218.125, revise the introductory text of paragraph 
(f)(1)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  218.125  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) Individual marine mammal sighting information for each 
sighting in each exercise when mitigation occurred:
* * * * *

Subpart R--[Removed and Reserved]

0
6. Remove and reserve subpart R, consisting of Sec. Sec.  218.170 
through 218.178.

0
7. Subpart O is added to part 218 to read as follows:
Subpart O--Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; U.S. Navy's Northwest 
Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area
Sec.
218.140 Specified activity and specified geographical region.
218.141 Applicability dates.
218.142 Permissible methods of taking.
218.143 Prohibitions.
218.144 Mitigation.
218.145 Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
218.146 Applications for Letters of Authorization
218.147 Letters of Authorization.
218.148 Renewal and Modifications of Letters of Authorization and 
Adaptive Management.

Subpart O--Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; U.S. Navy's 
Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area


Sec.  218.140  Specified activity and specified geographical region.

    (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 occurs 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 NWTT Study Area, which is composed of established 
maritime operating and warning areas in the eastern North Pacific Ocean 
region, including areas of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and 
Western Behm Canal in southeastern Alaska. The Study Area includes air 
and water space within and outside Washington state waters, and outside 
state waters of Oregon and Northern California. The Study Area includes 
four existing range complexes and facilities: The Northwest Training 
Range Complex (NWTRC), the Keyport Range Complex, Carr Inlet Operations 
Area, and SEAFAC. In addition to these range complexes, the Study Area 
also includes Navy pierside locations where sonar maintenance and 
testing occurs as part of overhaul, modernization, maintenance and 
repair activities at NAVBASE Kitsap, Bremerton; NAVBASE Kitsap, Bangor; 
and Naval Station Everett.
    (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) Sonar and other Active Sources Used During Training:
    (i) Mid-frequency (MF) Source Classes:
    (A) MF1--an average of 166 hours per year.
    (B) MF3--an average of 70 hours per year.
    (C) MF4--an average of 4 hours per year.
    (D) MF5--an average of 896 items per year.
    (E) MF11--an average of 16 hours per year.
    (ii) High-frequency (HF) Source Classes:
    (A) HF1--an average of 48 hours per year.
    (B) HF4--an average of 384 hours per year.
    (C) HF6--an average of 192 hours per year
    (iii) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Source Classes:
    (A) ASW2--an average of 720 items per year per year.

[[Page 73623]]

    (B) ASW3--an average of 78 hours per year.
    (2) Sonar and other Active Sources Used During Testing:
    (i) Low-frequency (LF) Source Classes:
    (A) LF4--an average of 110 hours per year.
    (B) LF5--an average of 71 hours per year.
    (ii) Mid-frequency (MF):
    (A) MF1--an average of 32 hours per year
    (B) MF3--an average of 145 hours per year.
    (C) MF4--an average of 10 hours per year.
    (D) MF5--an average of 273 items per year.
    (E) MF6--an average of 12 items per year.
    (F) MF8--an average of 40 hours per year.
    (G) MF9--an average of 1,183 hours per year.
    (H) MF10--an average of 1,156 hours per year.
    (I) MF11--an average of 34 hours per year.
    (J) MF12--an average of 24 hours per year.
    (iii) High-frequency (HF) and Very High-frequency (VHF):
    (A) HF1--an average of 161 hours per year.
    (B) HF3--an average of 145 hours per year.
    (C) HF5--an average of 360 hours per year.
    (D) HF6--an average of 2,099 hours per year.
    (iv) VHF:
    (A) VHF2--an average of 35 hours per year.
    (B) [Reserved]
    (v) ASW:
    (A) ASW1--an average of 16 hours per year.
    (B) ASW2--an average of 64 hours per year.
    (C) ASW2--an average of 170 items per year.
    (D) ASW3--an average of 444 hours per year.
    (E) ASW4--an average of 1,182 items per year.
    (vi) Acoustic Modems (M):
    (A) M3--an average of 1,519 hours per year.
    (B) [Reserved]
    (vii) Torpedoes (TORP):
    (A) TORP1--an average of 315 items per year.
    (B) TORP2--an average of 299 items per year.
    (viii) Swimmer Detection Sonar (SD):
    (A) SD1--an average of 757 hours per year.
    (B) [Reserved]
    (ix) Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS):
    (A) SAS2--an average of 798 hours per year.
    (B) [Reserved]
    (3) Impulsive Source Detonations During Training:
    (i) Explosive Classes:
    (A) E1 (0.1 to 0.25 pound [lb] NEW)--an average of 48 detonations 
per year.
    (B) E3 (>0.5 to 2.5 lb NEW)--an average of 6 detonations per year.
    (C) E5 (>5 to 10 lb NEW)--an average of 80 detonations per year.
    (D) E10 (>250 to 500 lb NEW)--an average of 4 detonations per year.
    (E) E12 (>650 to 1,000 lb NEW)--an average of 10 detonations per 
year.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) Impulsive Source Detonations During Testing:
    (i) Explosive Classes:
    (A) E3 (>0.5 to 2.5 lb NEW)--an average of 72 detonations per year.
    (B) E4 (>2.5 to 5 lb NEW)--an average of 140 detonations (70 
sonobuoys) per year.
    (C) E8 (>60 to 100 lb NEW)--an average of 3 detonations per year.
    (D) E11 (>500 to 650 lb NEW)--an average of 3 detonations per year.
    (ii) [Reserved]


Sec.  218.141  Applicability dates.

    Regulations in this subpart are applicable November 9, 2015, 
through November 8, 2020.


Sec.  218.142  Permissible methods of taking.

    (a) Under Letters of Authorization (LOAs) issued pursuant to Sec.  
218.147, the Holder of, and those operating under, the LOA may 
incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals within the 
area described in Sec.  218.140, provided the activity is in compliance 
with all terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations and 
the appropriate LOA.
    (b) The activities identified in Sec.  218.140(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.  218.140(c) is limited to the following species, by 
the identified method of take and the indicated number of times:
    (1) Level B Harassment for all Training Activities:
    (i) Mysticetes:
    (A) Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Eastern North Pacific--25 
(an average of 5 per year).
    (B) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), California, Oregon, and 
Washington (CA/OR/WA)--125 (an average of 25 per year).
    (C) Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), Eastern North Pacific--30 
(an average of 6 per year).
    (D) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), CA/OR/WA--60 (an 
average of 12 per year).
    (E) Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), CA/OR/WA--90 (an 
average of 18 per year).
    (ii) Odontocetes:
    (A) Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), CA/OR/WA--2,955 (an 
average of 591 per year).
    (B) Mesoplodont beaked whale (Mesoplodon spp.), CA/OR/WA--7,085 (an 
average of 1,417 per year).
    (C) Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), CA/OR/WA--1,765 
(an average of 353 per year).
    (D) Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoidea dalli), CA/OR/WA--18,178 (an 
average of 3,730 per year).
    (E) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Northern OR/WA Coast--
175,030 (an average of 35,006 per year).
    (F) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Northern CA/Southern OR--
262,545 (an average of 52,509 per year).
    (G) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), WA Inland Waters--4,409 
(an average of 1,417 per year).
    (H) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), West Coast Transient--39 (an 
average of 9 per year).
    (I) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Eastern North Pacific Offshore--65 
(an average of 13 per year).
    (J) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Eastern North Pacific Southern 
Resident--6 (an average of 2 per year).
    (K) Kogia spp., CA/OR/WA--365 (an average of 73 per year).
    (L) Northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis), CA/OR/
WA--6,660 (an average of 1,332 per year).
    (M) Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), CA/
OR/WA--17,408 (an average of 3,482 per year).
    (N) Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), CA/OR/WA--3,285 (an average 
of 657 per year).
    (O) Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), CA/OR/WA--
3,670 (an average of 734 per year).
    (P) Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), CA/OR/WA--405 (an average 
of 81 per year).
    (Q) Striped dolphin (Stenella coerulealba), CA/OR/WA--110 (an 
average of 22 per year).
    (iii) Pinnipeds:
    (A) California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), U.S.--4,038 (an 
average of 814 per year).
    (B) Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), Eastern U.S.--1,986 (an 
average of 404 per year).
    (C) Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), Mexico--35 (an 
average of 7 per year).

[[Page 73624]]

    (D) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), WA Northern Inland Waters--1,855 
(an average of 427 per year).
    (E) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Southern Puget Sound--252 (an 
average of 58 per year).
    (F) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Hood Canal--2,054 (an average of 
452 per year).
    (G) Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), CA Breeding--
6,353 (an average of 1,271 per year).
    (H) Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), Eastern Pacific--
12,475 (an average of 2,495 per year).
    (I) Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), California--185 (an 
average of 37 per year).
    (2) Level A Harassment for all Training Activities:
    (i) Mysticetes:
    (A)-(B) [Reserved]
    (ii) Odontocetes:
    (A) Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoidea dalli), CA/OR/WA--20 (an average 
of 4 per year).
    (B) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), WA Inland Waters--5 (an 
average of 1 per year).
    (iii) Pinnipeds:
    (A) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), WA Northern Inland Waters--20 (an 
average of 4 per year).
    (B) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Hood Canal--10 (an average of 2 
per year).
    (C) [Reserved]
    (3) Level B Harassment for all Testing Activities:
    (i) Mysticetes:
    (A) Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Eastern North Pacific--30 
(an average of 6 per year).
    (B) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), CA/OR/WA--170 (an average of 
34 per year).
    (C) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Northeast Pacific--10 (an 
average of 2 per year).
    (D) Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), Eastern North Pacific--60 
(an average of 12 per year).
    (E) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Central North 
Pacific--5 (an average of 1 per year).
    (F) Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), CA/OR/WA--220 (an 
average of 44 per year).
    (G) Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), CA/OR/WA--90 (an 
average of 18 per year).
    (H) Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Eastern North Pacific--10 
(an average of 2 per year).
    (ii) Odontocetes:
    (A) Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Alaska--125 (an 
average of 25 per year).
    (B) Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), CA/OR/WA--745 (an 
average of 149 per year).
    (C) Mesoplodont beaked whale (Mesoplodon spp.), CA/OR/WA--1,845 (an 
average of 369 per year).
    (D) Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Alaska--75 (an 
average of 15 per year).
    (E) Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), CA/OR/WA--455 (an 
average of 91 per year).
    (F) Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoidea dalli), Alaska--6,000 (an average 
of 1,200 per year).
    (G) Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoidea dalli), CA/OR/WA--50,785 (an 
average of 10,157 per year).
    (H) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Southeast Alaska--4,630 
(an average of 926 per year).
    (I) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Northern OR/WA Coast--
86,060 (an average of 17,212 per year).
    (J) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Northern CA/Southern OR--
129,095 (an average of 25,819 per year).
    (K) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), WA Inland Waters--27,045 
(an average of 5,409 per year).
    (L) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Alaska Resident--10 (an average of 
2 per year).
    (M) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), West Coast Transient--1,035 (an 
average of 207 per year).
    (N) Killer whale (Orcinus orca), Eastern North Pacific Offshore--
110 (an average of 22 per year).
    (O) Kogia spp., CA/OR/WA--530 (an average of 106 per year).
    (P) Northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis), CA/OR/
WA--10,190 (an average of 2,038 per year).
    (Q) Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), North 
Pacific--15 (an average of 3 per year).
    (R) Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), CA/
OR/WA--24,345 (an average of 4,869 per year).
    (S) Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), CA/OR/WA--5,770 (an average 
of 1,154 per year).
    (T) Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), CA/OR/WA--
8,140 (an average of 1,628 per year).
    (U) Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), CA/OR/WA--390 (an average 
of 78 per year).
    (V) Striped dolphin (Stenella coerulealba), CA/OR/WA--70 (an 
average of 14 per year).
    (iii) Pinnipeds:
    (A) California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), U.S.--10,730 (an 
average of 2,146 per year).
    (B) Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), Eastern U.S.--2,605 (an 
average of 521 per year).
    (C) Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), Mexico--15 (an 
average of 3 per year).
    (D) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Southeast Alaska (Clarence 
Sound)--110 (an average of 22 per year).
    (E) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), OR/WA Coast--8,275 (an average of 
1,655 per year).
    (F) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), WA Northern Inland Waters--9,115 
(an average of 1,823 per year).
    (G) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Southern Puget Sound--980 (an 
average of 196 per year).
    (H) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Hood Canal--296,085 (an average 
of 59,217 per year).
    (I) Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), CA Breeding--
6,625 (an average of 1,325 per year).
    (J) Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), Eastern Pacific--9,150 
(an average of 1,830 per year).
    (K) Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), California--135 (an 
average of 27 per year).
    (4) Level A Harassment for all Testing Activities:
    (i) Mysticetes:
    (A) Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), Eastern North Pacific--5 
(an average of 1 per year).
    (B) [Reserved]
    (ii) Odontocetes:
    (A) Kogia spp., CA/OR/WA--5 (an average of 1 per year).
    (B) Dall' porpoise (Phocoenoidea dalli), CA/OR/WA--215 (an average 
of 43 per year).
    (C) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Northern OR/WA Coast--75 
(an average of 15 per year).
    (D) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Northern CA/Southern OR--
115 (an average of 23 per year).
    (E) Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), WA Inland Waters--30 (an 
average of 6 per year).
    (iii) Pinnipeds:
    (A) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), OR/WA Coast--20 (an average of 4 
per year).
    (B) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), WA Northern Inland Waters--110 
(an average of 22 per year).
    (C) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Southern Puget Sound--5 (an 
average of 1 per year).
    (D) Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), Hood Canal--335 (an average of 67 
per year).
    (E) Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), CA Breeding--
10 (an average of 2 per year).
    (F) [Reserved]


Sec.  218.143  Prohibitions.

    Notwithstanding takings contemplated in Sec.  218.142 and 
authorized by an LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 and 218.147 of 
this chapter, no person in connection with the activities described in 
Sec.  218.140 may:

[[Page 73625]]

    (a) Take any marine mammal not specified in Sec.  218.142(c);
    (b) Take any marine mammal specified in Sec.  218.142(c) other than 
by incidental take as specified in Sec.  218.142(c);
    (c) Take a marine mammal specified in Sec.  218.142(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 these regulations or an LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  
216.106 and 218.147.


Sec.  218.144  Mitigation.

    (a) When conducting training and testing activities, as identified 
in Sec.  218.140, the mitigation measures contained in the LOA issued 
under Sec. Sec.  216.106 and 218.147 of this chapter must be 
implemented. These mitigation measures include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Lookouts--The following are protective measures concerning the 
use of Lookouts.
    (i) Lookouts positioned on surface ships will be dedicated solely 
to diligent observation of the air and surface of the water. Their 
observation objectives will include, but are not limited to, detecting 
the presence of biological resources and recreational or fishing boats, 
observing mitigation zones, and monitoring for vessel and personnel 
safety concerns.
    (ii) Lookouts positioned ashore, in aircraft or on boats will, to 
the maximum extent practicable and consistent with aircraft and boat 
safety and training and testing requirements, comply with the 
observation objectives described in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this 
section.
    (iii) Lookout Measures for Non-Impulsive Sound:
    (A) With the exception of vessels less than 65 ft (20 m) in length 
or minimally manned vessels, ships using low-frequency or hull-mounted 
mid-frequency active sonar sources associated with anti-submarine 
warfare and mine warfare activities at sea will have two Lookouts at 
the forward position of the vessel. For the purposes of this rule, low-
frequency active sonar does not include surface towed array 
surveillance system low-frequency active sonar.
    (B) While using low-frequency or hull-mounted mid-frequency active 
sonar sources associated with anti-submarine warfare and mine warfare 
activities at sea, vessels less than 65 ft (20 m) in length or 
minimally manned vessels will have one Lookout at the forward position 
of the vessel due to space and manning restrictions.
    (C) Ships conducting active sonar activities while moored or at 
anchor (including pierside or shore-based testing or maintenance) will 
maintain one Lookout.
    (D) Minimally manned vessels conducting hull-mounted mid-frequency 
testing will employ one Lookout.
    (E) Ships, small boats, range craft, or aircraft conducting non-
hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar, such as helicopter dipping 
sonar systems, will maintain one Lookout.
    (F) Surface ships or aircraft conducting high-frequency or non-
hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar activities associated with 
anti-submarine warfare and mine warfare activities at sea will have one 
Lookout.
    (iv) Lookout measures for impulsive sound (e.g., explosives):
    (A) Aircraft conducting improved extended echo ranging sonobuoy 
activities will have one Lookout.
    (B) Aircraft conducting explosive sonobuoy activities using >0.5 to 
2.5-lb net explosive weight (NEW) will have one Lookout.
    (C) General mine countermeasure and neutralization activities 
involving positive control diver placed charges using >0.5 to 2.5 lb 
NEW will have a total of two Lookouts (one Lookout positioned in each 
of the two support vessels). All divers placing the charges on mines 
will support the Lookouts while performing their regular duties. The 
divers and Lookouts will report all marine mammal sightings to their 
dive support vessel.
    (D) Surface vessels or aircraft conducting small-, medium-, and 
large-caliber gunnery exercises will have one Lookout. Towing vessels, 
if applicable, will also maintain one Lookout.
    (E) Aircraft conducting missile exercises against a surface target 
will have one Lookout.
    (F) Aircraft conducting explosive bombing exercises will have one 
Lookout and any surface vessels involved will have trained Lookouts.
    (G) During explosive torpedo testing from aircraft one Lookout will 
be used and positioned in an aircraft. During explosive torpedo testing 
from a surface ship the Lookout procedures implemented for hull-mounted 
mid-frequency active sonar activities will be used.
    (H) To mitigate effects from weapon firing noise, ships conducting 
explosive and non-explosive large-caliber gunnery exercises will have 
one Lookout. This may be the same Lookout used for small, medium, and 
large-caliber gunnery exercises using a surface target when that 
activity is conducted from a ship against a surface target.
    (v) Lookout measures for physical strike and disturbance:
    (A) While underway, surface ships and range craft will have at 
least one Lookout.
    (B) During activities using towed in-water devices towed from a 
manned platform, one Lookout will be used. During activities in which 
in-water devices are towed by unmanned platforms, a manned escort 
vessel will be included and one Lookout will be employed.
    (C) Activities involving non-explosive practice munitions (e.g., 
small-, medium-, and large-caliber gunnery exercises) using a surface 
target will have one Lookout.
    (D) During non-explosive bombing exercises one Lookout will be 
positioned in an aircraft and trained Lookouts will be positioned in 
any surface vessels involved.
    (2) Mitigation zones--The following are protective measures 
concerning the implementation of mitigation zones.
    (i) Mitigation zones will be measured as the radius from a source 
and represent a distance to be monitored.
    (ii) Visual detections of marine mammals (or sea turtles) within a 
mitigation zone will be communicated immediately to a watch station for 
information dissemination and appropriate action.
    (iii) Mitigation Zones for Non-Impulsive Sound:
    (A) The Navy shall ensure that hull-mounted mid-frequency active 
sonar transmission levels are limited to at least 6 dB below normal 
operating levels if any detected marine mammals (or sea turtles) are 
within 1,000 yd. (914 m) of the sonar dome (the bow).
    (B) The Navy shall ensure that hull-mounted mid-frequency active 
sonar transmissions are limited to at least 10 dB below the equipment's 
normal operating level if any detected marine mammals (or sea turtles) 
are within 500 yd. (457 m) of the sonar dome.
    (C) The Navy shall ensure that hull-mounted mid-frequency active 
sonar transmissions are ceased if any detected cetaceans (or sea 
turtles) are within 200 yd. (183 m) and pinnipeds are within 100 yd. 
(91 m) of the sonar dome. Transmissions will not resume until the 
marine mammal has been observed exiting the mitigation zone, is thought 
to have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and speed, has 
not been detected for 30 minutes, the vessel has transited more than 
2,000 yd. beyond the location of the last detection, or the Lookout 
concludes that dolphins are deliberately closing in on the ship to

[[Page 73626]]

ride the ship's bow wave (and there are no other marine mammal 
sightings within the mitigation zone). Active transmission may resume 
when dolphins are bow riding because they are out of the main 
transmission axis of the active sonar while in the shallow-wave area of 
the ship bow. The pinniped mitigation zone does not apply to pierside 
sonar in the vicinity of pinnipeds hauled out on or in the water near 
man-made structures and vessels.
    (D) The Navy shall ensure that low-frequency active sonar 
transmission levels are ceased if any detected cetaceans (or sea 
turtles) are within 200 yd. (183 m) and pinnipeds are within 100 yd. 
(91 m) of the source. Transmissions will not resume until the marine 
mammal has been observed exiting the mitigation zone, is thought to 
have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and speed, has not 
been detected for 30 minutes, or the vessel has transited more than 
2,000 yd. beyond the location of the last detection. The pinniped 
mitigation zone does not apply for pierside sonar in the vicinity of 
pinnipeds hauled out on or in the water near man-made structures and 
vessels.
    (E) For training, the Navy shall ensure that high-frequency and 
non-hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar transmission levels are 
ceased if any detected marine mammals are within 200 yd. (183 m) of the 
source. For testing, the Navy shall ensure that high-frequency and non-
hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar transmission levels are ceased 
if any detected cetaceans are within 200 yd. (183 m) and pinnipeds are 
within 100 yd. (91 m) of the source. Transmissions will not resume 
until the marine mammal has been observed exiting the mitigation zone, 
is thought to have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and 
speed, the mitigation zone has been clear from any additional sightings 
for a period of 10 minutes for an aircraft-deployed source, the 
mitigation zone has been clear from any additional sightings for a 
period of 30 minutes for a vessel-deployed source, the vessel or 
aircraft has repositioned itself more than 400 yd. (370 m) away from 
the location of the last sighting, or the vessel concludes that 
dolphins are deliberately closing in to ride the vessel's bow wave (and 
there are no other marine mammal sightings within the mitigation zone). 
The pinniped mitigation zone does not apply for pierside or shore-based 
testing in the vicinity of pinnipeds hauled out on or in the water near 
man-made structures and vessels.
    (iv) Mitigation Zones and Procedures for Explosive and Impulsive 
Sound:
    (A) For activities using IEER sonobuoys, mitigation will include 
pre-exercise aerial observation and passive acoustic monitoring, which 
will begin 30 minutes before the first source/receiver pair detonation 
and continue throughout the duration of the exercise. IEER sonobuoys 
will not be deployed if concentrations of floating vegetation (kelp 
paddies) are observed in the mitigation zone around the intended 
deployment location. Explosive detonations will cease if a marine 
mammal, sea turtle, or concentrations of floating vegetation are 
sighted within a 600-yd. (549 m) mitigation zone. Detonations will 
recommence if the animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, the 
animal is thought to have exited the mitigation zone based on its 
course and speed, or the mitigation zone has been clear from any 
additional sightings for a period of 30 minutes.
    (B) A mitigation zone with a radius of 350 yd. (320 m) shall be 
established for explosive signal underwater sonobuoys using >0.5 to 2.5 
lb net explosive weight. Mitigation will include pre-exercise aerial 
monitoring of the mitigation zone during deployment. Explosive SUS 
buoys will not be deployed if concentrations of floating vegetation 
(kelp paddies) are observed within the mitigation zone around the 
intended deployment location. A SUS detonation will cease if a marine 
mammal or sea turtle is sighted within the mitigation zone. Detonations 
will recommence if the animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, 
the animal is thought to have exited the mitigation zone based on its 
course and speed, or the mitigation zone has been clear from any 
additional sightings for a period of 10 minutes.
    (C) A mitigation zone with a radius of 400 yd. (366 m) shall be 
established for mine countermeasures and neutralization activities 
using positive control firing devices. For Demolition and Mine 
Countermeasures Operations, pre-exercise surveys shall be conducted 
within 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the scheduled explosive 
event. The survey may be conducted from the surface, by divers, or from 
the air, and personnel shall be alert to the presence of any marine 
mammal or sea turtle. Should a marine mammal or sea turtle be present 
within the survey area, the explosive event shall not be started until 
the animal voluntarily leaves the area. The Navy will ensure the area 
is clear of marine mammals for a full 30 minutes prior to initiating 
the explosive event. Explosive detonations will cease if a marine 
mammal is sighted in the water portion of the mitigation zone (i.e., 
not on shore). Detonations will recommence if the animal is observed 
exiting the mitigation zone, the animal is thought to have exited the 
mitigation zone based on its course and speed, or the mitigation zone 
has been clear from any additional sightings for a period of 30 
minutes.
    (D) A mitigation zone with a radius of 200 yd. (183 m) shall be 
established for small- and medium-caliber gunnery exercises with a 
surface target. Vessels will observe the mitigation zone from the 
firing position. When aircraft are firing, the aircrew will maintain 
visual watch of the mitigation zone during the activity. The exercise 
will not commence if concentrations of floating vegetation (kelp 
paddies) are observed within the mitigation zone. Firing will cease if 
a marine mammal or sea turtle is sighted within the mitigation zone. 
Firing will recommence if the animal is observed exiting the mitigation 
zone, the animal is thought to have exited the mitigation zone based on 
its course and speed, the mitigation zone has been clear from any 
additional sightings for a period of 10 minutes for a firing aircraft, 
the mitigation zone has been clear from any additional sightings for a 
period of 30 minutes for a firing ship, or the intended target location 
has been repositioned more than 400 yd. (370 m) away from the location 
of the last sighting.
    (E) A mitigation zone with a radius of 600 yd. (549 m) shall be 
established for large-caliber gunnery exercises with a surface target. 
Ships will observe the mitigation zone from the firing position. The 
exercise will not commence if concentrations of floating vegetation 
(kelp paddies) are observed in the mitigation zone. Firing will cease 
if a marine mammal or sea turtle is sighted within the mitigation zone. 
Firing will recommence if the animal is observed exiting the mitigation 
zone, the animal is thought to have exited the mitigation zone based on 
its course and speed, or the mitigation zone has been clear from any 
additional sightings for a period of 30 minutes.
    (F) A mitigation zone with a radius of 2,000 yd. (1.8 km) shall be 
established for missile exercises up to 500 lb NEW using a surface 
target. When aircraft are involved in the missile firing, mitigation 
will include visual observation by the aircrew prior to commencement of 
the activity within a mitigation zone of 2,000 yd. (1.8 km) around the 
intended impact location. The exercise will not commence if 
concentrations of floating vegetation (kelp paddies) are observed in 
the mitigation zone. Firing will not commence or will cease if a marine

[[Page 73627]]

mammal or sea turtle is sighted within the mitigation zone. Firing will 
recommence if the animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, the 
animal is thought to have exited the mitigation zone based on its 
course and speed, or the mitigation zone has been clear from any 
additional sightings for a period of 10 minutes or 30 minutes 
(depending on aircraft type).
    (G) A mitigation zone with a radius of 2,500 yd. (2.3 km) for 
explosive bombs and a mitigation zone of 1,000 yd (914 m) for non-
explosive bombs around the intended impact location shall be 
established for bombing exercises. Aircraft shall visually survey the 
target and buffer zone for marine mammals prior to and during the 
exercise. The exercise will not commence if concentrations of floating 
vegetation (kelp paddies) are observed in the mitigation zone. Bombing 
will not commence or will cease if a marine mammal or sea turtle is 
sighted within the mitigation zone. Bombing will recommence if the 
animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, the animal is thought 
to have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and speed, or 
the mitigation zone has been clear from any additional sightings for a 
period of 10 minutes.
    (H) A mitigation zone with a radius of 2,100 yd. (1.9 km) shall be 
established for torpedo (explosive) testing. Mitigation will include 
visual observation by aircraft immediately before, during, and after 
the event of the mitigation zone. The exercise will not commence if 
concentrations of floating vegetation (kelp paddies) are sighted within 
the mitigation zone. Firing will not commence or will cease if a marine 
mammal, sea turtle, or aggregation of jellyfish is sighted within the 
mitigation zone. Firing will recommence if the animal is observed 
exiting the mitigation zone, the animal is thought to have exited the 
mitigation zone based on its course and speed, or the mitigation zone 
has been clear from any additional sightings for a period of 10 minutes 
or 30 minutes (depending on aircraft type). In addition to visual 
observation, passive acoustic monitoring shall be conducted by Navy 
assets, such as passive ship sonar systems or sonobuoys already 
participating in the activity. These assets would only detect 
vocalizing marine mammals within the frequency band monitored by Navy 
personnel. Passive acoustic detections would not provide range or 
bearing to detected animals, and therefore cannot provide locations of 
these animals. Passive acoustic detections shall be reported to the 
Lookout posted in the aircraft in order to increase vigilance of the 
visual surveillance, and to the person in control of the activity for 
their consideration in determining when the mitigation zone is 
determined free of visible marine mammals.
    (I) A mitigation zone with a radius of 70 yd. (46 m) within 30 
degrees on either side of the gun target line on the firing side shall 
be established for weapons firing noise during large-caliber gunnery 
exercises. Mitigation shall include visual observation immediately 
before and during the exercise. The exercise will not commence if 
concentrations of floating vegetation (kelp paddies) are observed in 
the mitigation zone. Firing will cease if a marine mammal or sea turtle 
is sighted within the mitigation zone. Firing will recommence if the 
animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, the animal is thought 
to have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and speed, the 
mitigation zone has been clear from any additional sightings for a 
period of 30 minutes, or the vessel has repositioned itself more than 
140 yd. (128 m) away from the location of the last sighting.
    (v) Mitigation Zones for Vessels and In-Water Devices:
    (A) For all training activities and for testing activities 
involving surface ships, vessels shall avoid approaching marine mammals 
head on and shall maneuver to keep at least 500 yd. (457 m) away from 
observed whales and 200 yd (183 m) away from all other marine mammals 
(except bow riding dolphins, and pinnipeds hauled out on man-made 
navigational and port structures and vessels) during vessel movements. 
These requirements shall not apply if a vessel's safety is threatened 
and to the extent that vessels are restricted in their ability to 
maneuver. Restricted maneuverability includes, but is not limited to, 
situations when vessels are engaged in dredging, submerged activities, 
launching and recovering aircraft or landing craft, minesweeping 
activities, replenishment while underway and towing activities that 
severely restrict a vessel's ability to deviate course.
    (B) For testing activities not involving surface ships (e.g. range 
craft) vessels shall maneuver to keep at least 100 yd. (91 m) away from 
marine mammals (except bow-riding dolphins, pinnipeds hauled out on 
man-made navigational and port structures and vessels, and pinnipeds 
during test body retrieval) during vessel movements. This requirement 
shall not apply if a vessel's safety is threatened and to the extent 
that vessels are restricted in their ability to maneuver. Restricted 
maneuverability includes, but is not limited to, situations when 
vessels are engaged in dredging, submerged activities, launching and 
recovering aircraft or landing craft, minesweeping activities, 
replenishment while underway and towing activities that severely 
restrict a vessel's ability to deviate course.
    (C) The Navy shall ensure that towed in-water devices being towed 
from manned platforms avoid coming within a mitigation zone of 250 yd. 
(230 m) for all training events and testing activities involving 
surface ships, and a mitigation zone of 100 yd (91 m) for testing 
activities not involving surface ships (e.g. range craft) around any 
observed marine mammal, providing it is safe to do so.
    (vi) Mitigation zones for non-explosive practice munitions:
    (A) A mitigation zone of 200 yd. (183 m) shall be established for 
small-, medium, and large-caliber gunnery exercises using a surface 
target. Mitigation will include visual observation from a vessel or 
aircraft immediately before and during the exercise within the 
mitigation zone of the intended impact location. The exercise will not 
commence if concentrations of floating vegetation (kelp paddies) are 
observed in the mitigation zone. Firing will cease if a marine mammal 
is sighted within the mitigation zone. Firing will recommence if the 
animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, the animal is thought 
to have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and speed, the 
mitigation zone has been clear from any additional sightings for a 
period of 10 minutes for a firing aircraft, the mitigation zone has 
been clear from any additional sightings for a period of 30 minutes for 
a firing ship, or the intended target location has been repositioned 
more than 400 yd. (370 m) away from the location of the last sighting.
    (B) A mitigation zone of 1,000 yd. (914 m) shall be established for 
non-explosive bombing exercises. Mitigation shall include visual 
observation from the aircraft immediately before the exercise and 
during target approach within the mitigation zone around the intended 
impact location. The exercise will not commence if concentrations of 
floating vegetation (kelp paddies) are observed within the mitigation 
zone. Bombing will not commence or will cease if a marine mammal is 
sighted within the mitigation zone. Bombing will recommence if the 
animal is observed exiting the mitigation zone, the animal is thought 
to have exited the mitigation zone based on its course and speed, or 
the mitigation zone has been

[[Page 73628]]

clear from any additional sightings for a period of 10 minutes.
    (3) NWTT-Specific Mitigation--The following are additional measures 
the Navy shall comply with when conducting training or testing 
activities in the NWTT Study Area:
    (i) Maritime Homeland Defense/Security Mine Countermeasure 
Integrated Exercises--The Navy shall conduct pre-event planning and 
training to ensure environmental awareness of all exercise 
participants. When this event is proposed to be conducted in Puget 
Sound, Navy event planners shall consult with Navy biologists who shall 
contact NMFS during the planning process in order to determine 
likelihood of gray whale or southern resident killer whale presence in 
the proposed exercise area as planners consider specifics of the event.
    (ii) Small Boat Attack Gunnery Exercises--The Navy shall conduct 
pre-event planning and training to ensure environmental awareness of 
all exercise participants. When this event is proposed to be conducted 
in and around Naval Station Everett, Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, or Naval 
Base Kitsap Bremerton in Puget Sound, Navy event planners shall consult 
with Navy biologists who shall contact NMFS early in the planning 
process in order to determine the extent marine mammals may be present 
in the immediate vicinity of the proposed exercise area as planners 
consider the specifics of the event.
    (iii) Missile Exercise--The Navy shall conduct Missile Exercises 
using high explosives at least 50 nm from shore in the NWTT Offshore 
Area.
    (iv) BOMBEX--The Navy shall conduct BOMBEX (high explosive 
munitions) greater than 50 nm from shore.
    (v) BOMBEX (non-explosive practice munitions)--The Navy shall 
conduct BOMBEX (non-explosive practice munitions) events at least 20 nm 
from shore and shall not conduct BOMBEX events within the Olympic Coast 
National Marine Sanctuary.
    (vi) Mine Countermeasure and Neutralization Underwater 
Detonations--The Navy shall require approval from U.S. Third Fleet 
prior to conducting mine countermeasure and neutralization underwater 
detonations at Hood Canal or Crescent Harbor.
    (vii) Hull Mounted Mid-Frequency Active Sonar Training--The Navy 
shall require approval from U.S. Pacific Fleet's designated authority 
prior to conducting hull-mounted mid-frequency active sonar on vessels 
while training underway in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
    (viii) Pierside Maintenance or Testing of Sonar Systems--The Navy 
shall require approval from U.S. Pacific Fleet's designated authority 
or Systems Command designated authority (as applicable to ship and 
submarine active sonar use) prior to conducting pierside maintenance or 
testing in Puget Sound or the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
    (b) [Reserved]


Sec.  218.145  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

    (a) The Navy is required to cooperate with the NMFS, and any other 
Federal, state or local agency monitoring the impacts of the activity 
on marine mammals.
    (b) General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals--Navy 
personnel shall ensure that NMFS is notified immediately (or as soon as 
clearance procedures allow) if an injured, stranded, or dead marine 
mammal is found during or shortly after, and in the vicinity of, any 
Navy training exercise utilizing MFAS, HFAS, or 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). In 
the event that an injured, stranded, or dead marine mammal is found by 
the Navy that is not in the vicinity of, or during or shortly after, 
MFAS, HFAS, or underwater explosive detonations, the Navy will report 
the same information as listed above as soon as operationally feasible 
and clearance procedures allow.
    (c) General Notification of Ship Strike--In the event of a ship 
strike by any Navy vessel, at any time or place, the Navy shall do the 
following:
    (1) Immediately report to NMFS the species identification (if 
known), location (lat/long) of the animal (or the strike if the animal 
has disappeared), and whether the animal is alive or dead (or unknown), 
and the time of the strike.
    (2) Report to NMFS as soon as operationally feasible the size and 
length of animal, an estimate of the injury status (ex., dead, injured 
but alive, injured and moving, unknown, etc.), vessel class/type and 
operational status.
    (3) Report to NMFS the vessel length, speed, and heading as soon as 
feasible.
    (4) Provide NMFS a photo or video, if equipment is available.
    (5) Within 2 weeks of the strike, provide NMFS with a detailed 
description of the specific actions of the vessel in the 30-minute 
timeframe immediately preceding the strike, during the event, and 
immediately after the strike (e.g., the speed and changes in speed, the 
direction and changes in direction, other maneuvers, sonar use, etc., 
if not classified); a narrative description of marine mammal sightings 
during the event and immediately after, and any information as to 
sightings prior to the strike, if available; and use established Navy 
shipboard procedures to make a camera available to attempt to capture 
photographs following a ship strike.
    (d) Event Communication Plan--The Navy shall develop a 
communication plan that will include all of the communication protocols 
(phone trees, etc.) and associated contact information required for 
NMFS and the Navy to carry out the necessary expeditious communication 
required in the event of a stranding or ship strike, including as 
described in the proposed notification measures above.
    (e) The Navy must conduct all monitoring and/or research required 
under the Letter of Authorization including abiding by the NWTT 
monitoring plan. (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm).
    (f) Annual NWTT Monitoring Report--The Navy shall submit an annual 
report of the NWTT monitoring describing the implementation and results 
of the NWTT monitoring efforts from the previous calendar year. Data 
collection methods will be standardized across range complexes and 
study areas to allow for comparison in different geographic locations. 
Although additional information will be gathered, the protected species 
observers collecting marine mammal data pursuant to the NWTT monitoring 
plan shall, at a minimum, provide the same marine mammal observation 
data required in this section. The report shall be submitted either 90 
days after the calendar year, or 90 days after the conclusion of the 
monitoring year to be determined by the Adaptive Management process. 
The NWTT Monitoring Report may be provided to NMFS within a larger 
report that includes the required Monitoring Plan reports from multiple 
range complexes and study areas (the multi-Range Complex Annual 
Monitoring Report). Such a report would describe progress of knowledge 
made with respect to monitoring plan study questions across all Navy 
ranges associated with the Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program. 
Similar study questions shall be treated together so that progress on 
each topic shall be summarized across all Navy ranges. The report need 
not include analyses and content that does

[[Page 73629]]

not provide direct assessment of cumulative progress on the monitoring 
plan study questions.
    (g) Annual NWTT Exercise and Testing Reports--The Navy shall submit 
preliminary reports detailing the status of authorized sound sources 
within 21 days after the anniversary of the date of issuance of the 
LOA. The Navy shall submit detailed reports 3 months after the annual 
anniversary of the date of issuance of the LOA. The detailed annual 
reports shall describe the level of training and testing conducted 
during the reporting period, and a summary of sound sources used (total 
annual hours or quantity [per the LOA] of each bin of sonar or other 
non-impulsive source; total annual number of each type of explosive 
exercises; total annual expended/detonated rounds [missiles, bombs, 
etc.] for each explosive bin; and improved Extended Echo-Ranging System 
(IEER)/sonobuoy summary, including total number of IEER events 
conducted in the Study Area, total expended/detonated rounds (buoys), 
and total number of self-scuttled IEER rounds. The analysis in the 
detailed reports will be based on the accumulation of data from the 
current year's report and data collected from previous reports. The 
annual classified exercise reports will also include the amount of 
hull-mounted mid-frequency and high frequency active sonar use during 
training and testing activities in the Olympic Coast National Marine 
Sanctuary and in the months specified for the following three feeding 
areas (to the extent that active sonar training or testing does occur 
in these areas): The Humpback Whale Northern Washington feeding area 
(May through November); the Stonewall and Heceta Bank feeding area (May 
through November) and the Gray Whale Northern Puget Sound Feeding Area 
(March through May).
    (h) 5-year Close-out Exercise and Testing Report--This report will 
be included as part of the 2020 annual exercise or testing report. This 
report will provide the annual totals for each sound source bin with a 
comparison to the annual allowance and the 5-year total for each sound 
source bin with a comparison to the 5-year allowance. Additionally, if 
there were any changes to the sound source allowance, this report will 
include a discussion of why the change was made and include the 
analysis to support how the change did or did not result in a change in 
the EIS and final rule determinations. The report will be submitted 3 
months after the expiration of the rule. NMFS will submit comments on 
the draft close-out report, if any, within 3 months of receipt. The 
report will be considered final after the Navy has addressed NMFS' 
comments, or 3 months after the submittal of the draft if NMFS does not 
provide comments.


Sec.  218.146  Applications for Letters of Authorization.

    To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to the regulations in 
this subpart, the U.S. citizen (as defined by Sec.  216.106) conducting 
the activity identified in Sec.  218.140(c) (the U.S. Navy) must apply 
for and obtain either an initial LOA in accordance with Sec.  218.147 
or a renewal under Sec.  218.148.


Sec.  218.147  Letters of Authorization.

    (a) An LOA, unless suspended or revoked, will be valid for a period 
of time not to exceed the period of validity of this subpart.
    (b) Each LOA 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, modification, or renewals of LOAs 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.  218.148  Renewals and Modifications of Letters of Authorization 
and Adaptive Management.

    (a) A Letter of Authorization issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 and 
218.147 of this chapter for the activity identified in Sec.  218.140(c) 
will be renewed or modified upon request of the applicant, provided 
that:
    (1) The proposed specified activity and mitigation, monitoring, and 
reporting measures, as well as the anticipated impacts, are the same as 
those described and analyzed for these regulations (excluding changes 
made pursuant to the adaptive management provision of this chapter), 
and;
    (2) NMFS determines that the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
measures required by the previous LOA under these regulations were 
adequately implemented.
    (b) For LOA modification or renewal requests by the applicant that 
include changes to the activity or the mitigation, monitoring, or 
reporting (excluding changes made pursuant to the adaptive management 
provision of this chapter) that do not change the findings made for the 
regulations or result in no more than a minor change in the total 
estimated number of takes (or distribution by species or years), NMFS 
may publish a notice of proposed LOA in the Federal Register, including 
the associated analysis illustrating the change, and solicit public 
comment before issuing the LOA.
    (c) An LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 and 218.147 of this 
chapter for the activity identified in Sec.  218.144 of this chapter 
may be modified by NMFS under the following circumstances:
    (1) Adaptive Management--NMFS may modify (including add to, change, 
or remove) the existing mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures 
(after consulting with the Navy regarding the practicability of the 
modifications) if doing so creates a reasonable likelihood of more 
effectively accomplishing the goals of the mitigation and monitoring 
set forth in the preamble for these regulations.
    (i) Possible sources of data that could contribute to the decision 
to modify the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures in an LOA 
include (but are not limited to):
    (A) Results from Navy's monitoring from the previous year(s);
    (B) Results from other marine mammal and/or sound research or 
studies; or
    (C) Any information that reveals marine mammals may have been taken 
in a manner, extent, or number not authorized by these regulations or 
subsequent LOAs.
    (ii) If, through adaptive management, the modifications to the 
mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures are substantial, NMFS 
would publish a notice of proposed LOA in the Federal Register and 
solicit public comment.
    (2) Emergencies--If NMFS 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.  218.142(c), an LOA may be modified 
without prior notification and an opportunity for public comment. 
Notification would be published in the Federal Register within 30 days 
of the action.

[FR Doc. 2015-28894 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P