[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44565-44581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20362]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF330


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Geophysical Survey in the Central 
Pacific Ocean

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

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given 
that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to 
the University of Hawaii (UH) to incidentally take, by Level A and 
Level B harassment only, marine mammals during a marine geophysical 
survey in the Central Pacific Ocean.

DATES: This Authorization is valid from September 14, 2017 through 
September 13, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jordan Carduner, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. Electronic copies of the application 
and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in 
this document, may be obtained online at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/research.htm. In case of problems accessing these documents, 
please call the contact listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 44566]]

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) 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.
    An 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 MMPA states that the term ``take'' means to harass, hunt, 
capture, kill or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine 
mammal.
    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the 
MMPA defines ``harassment'' as: Any act of pursuit, torment, or 
annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering (Level B harassment).

National Environmental Policy Act

    To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A, 
NMFS must review our proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an 
incidental harassment authorization) with respect to potential impacts 
on the human environment. Accordingly, NMFS prepared an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to consider the environmental impacts associated with 
the issuance of the IHA to UH. We reviewed all comments submitted in 
response to the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA (82 FR 
34352; July 24, 2017) prior to concluding our NEPA process and deciding 
whether or not to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). 
NMFS concluded that issuance of an IHA to UH would not significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment and prepared and issued a 
FONSI in accordance with NEPA and NAO 216-6A. NMFS' EA and FONSI for 
this activity are available on our Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.

Summary of Request

    On March 15, 2016, NMFS received a request from the UH for an IHA 
to take marine mammals incidental to conducting a marine geophysical 
survey in the central Pacific Ocean. On May 16, 2017, we deemed UH's 
application for authorization to be adequate and complete. UH's request 
is for take of a small number of 24 species of marine mammals by Level 
B harassment and Level A harassment. Neither UH nor NMFS expects 
mortality to result from this activity, and, therefore, an IHA is 
appropriate. The planned activity is not expected to exceed one year, 
hence, we do not expect subsequent MMPA incidental harassment 
authorizations would be issued for this particular activity.

Description of Activity

Overview

    UH, in collaboration with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science 
and Technology (JAMSTEC), proposes to conduct a marine seismic survey 
north of Hawaii in the central Pacific Ocean over the course of five 
and a half days in September 2017. The survey would occur north of the 
Hawaiian Islands, in the approximate area 22.6-25.0[deg] N and 153.5-
157.4[deg] W (See Figure 1 in IHA application). The project area is 
partly within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the United States 
and partly in adjacent international waters. Water depths in the area 
range from 4,000 to 5,000 meters (m). The survey would involve one 
source vessel, the Japan-flagged R/V (research vessel) Kairei. The 
Kairei would deploy a 32-airgun array with a total volume of ~7800 
cubic inches (in\3\) as an energy source. A detailed description of 
UH's planned activity is provided in the Federal Register notice for 
the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017). Since that time, no 
changes have been made to the planned activities. Therefore, a detailed 
description is not provided here. Please refer to that Federal Register 
notice for the description of the specific activity.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS published a notice of proposed IHA in the Federal Register on 
July 24, 2017 (82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017). During the 30-day public 
comment period, NMFS received a comment letter from the Marine Mammal 
Commission (Commission) as well as one comment from a member of the 
general public. NMFS has posted the comments online at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental. NMFS addresses any comments 
specific to UH's application related to the statutory and regulatory 
requirements or findings that NMFS must make under the MMPA in order to 
issue an Authorization. The following is a summary of the public 
comments and NMFS' responses.
    Comment 1: The Commission expressed concerns regarding UH's method 
to estimate the extent of the Level A and B harassment zones and the 
numbers of marine mammal takes. The Commission stated that the model is 
not the best available science because it assumes spherical spreading, 
a constant sound speed, and no bottom interactions for surveys in deep 
water. In light of their concerns, the Commission recommended that NMFS 
require UH, in collaboration with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of 
Columbia University (LDEO) (which performed the modeling of Level A and 
Level B harassment zones and estimated takes) to re-estimate the Level 
A and Level B harassment zones and associated takes of marine mammals 
using both operational (including number/type/spacing of airguns, tow 
depth, source level/operating pressure, operational volume) and site-
specific environmental (including sound speed profiles, bathymetry, and 
sediment characteristics at a minimum) parameters. The Commission also 
expressed concern that LDEO used a high-pass filter for modeling the 
unweighted peak sound pressure level (SPLpeak) thresholds, 
and stated that use of the full bandwidth is appropriate given that the 
thresholds themselves were based on responses of the animals to the 
full frequency spectrum of the airgun pulses, not a filtered bandwidth.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges the Commission's concerns about LDEO's 
current modeling approach for estimating Level A and Level B harassment 
zones and takes. UH's application (LGL, 2017) and the Federal Register 
notice for the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017) describe the 
applicant's approach to modeling Level A and Level B harassment zones. 
The model LDEO currently uses does not allow for the consideration of

[[Page 44567]]

environmental and site-specific parameters as requested by the 
Commission. NMFS continues to work with LDEO to address the issue of 
incorporating site-specific information to further inform the analysis 
and development of mitigation measures in oceanic and coastal areas for 
future seismic surveys. The use of models for estimating the size of 
ensonified areas and for developing take estimates is not a requirement 
of the MMPA incidental take authorization process, and NMFS does not 
provide specific guidance on model parameters nor prescribe a specific 
model for applicants at this time. We recognize that there is no model 
or approach that is always the most appropriate and that there may be 
multiple approaches that may be considered acceptable and, in this 
case, LDEO's current modeling approach represents the best available 
information to inform authorized take levels and also NMFS' 
determinations under the MMPA. NMFS finds that the Level A and Level B 
harassment zone calculations conducted by LDEO are reasonable for use 
in this particular IHA. Further, the results of modeling (e.g., take 
estimates) is just one component of the analysis during the MMPA 
authorization process as NMFS also takes into consideration other 
factors associated with the activity (e.g., geographic location, 
duration of activities, context, sound source intensity, etc.).
    With regard to the Commission's concern regarding LDEO's use of a 
high-pass filter for modeling the unweighted SPLpeak 
thresholds, NMFS has reviewed the best available information and we 
agree that the Commission's concern is valid. Since the thresholds were 
based on responses of the animals to the full frequency spectrum of the 
airgun pulses, not a filtered bandwidth, we agree that use of the full 
bandwidth is appropriate. Therefore, we have revised the modeled 
distances to the Level A harassment threshold (SPLpeak) that 
we rely on for estimating Level A takes, from those described in the 
Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 
2017) to those shown in Table 6 in this document, which have no band 
pass filtering applied.
    Comment 2: The Commission expressed concern that the method used to 
estimate the numbers of takes, which summed fractions of takes for each 
species across project days, does not account for and negates the 
intent of NMFS' 24-hour reset policy.
    NMFS Response: We appreciate the Commission's ongoing concern in 
this matter. Calculating predicted takes is not an exact science and 
there are arguments for taking different mathematical approaches in 
different situations, and for making qualitative adjustments in other 
situations. We believe, however, that the methodology used for take 
calculation in this IHA remains appropriate and is not at odds with the 
24-hour reset policy the Commission references.
    Comment 3: The Commission questioned why NMFS did not propose to 
prohibit the use of power downs and recommended that NMFS use a 
consistent approach for requiring all geophysical survey operators to 
abide by the same general mitigation measures, including prohibiting UH 
from using power downs during its survey.
    NMFS Response: NMFS agrees with the Commission that consistency in 
mitigation measures across ITAs for similar activities is a worthwhile 
goal, to the extent practicable. NMFS also agrees with the Commission 
that limiting the use of power downs can be beneficial in reducing the 
overall sound input in the marine environment from geophysical surveys; 
as such, NMFS is requiring that power downs in this IHA occur for no 
more than a maximum of 30 minutes at any time. The requirement for a 30 
minute maximum for power downs represents a change to the mitigation 
measures from those proposed in the Federal Register notice of the 
proposed IHA (82 FR 34352, July 24, 2017) and is reflected in the 
mitigation measures in the issued IHA. NMFS is still in the process of 
determining best practice, via solicitation of public comment, for the 
use of power downs as a mitigation measure in ITAs for geophysical 
surveys. We will take into consideration the Commission's 
recommendation that power downs be eliminated as a mitigation measure 
as we work toward a determination on best practices for the use of 
power downs in IHAs for marine geophysical surveys. We will also review 
the comments received in response to the Federal Register notice for 
proposed IHAs for marine geophysical surveys in the Atlantic Ocean (82 
FR 26244, June 6, 2017) to help inform that determination; we are still 
reviewing those comments at this time. Ultimately our determination 
will be based on the best available science and will be communicated 
clearly to ITA applicants.
    Comment 4: The Commission expressed concern that reporting of the 
manner of taking and the numbers of animals incidentally taken should 
account for all animals in the various survey areas, including those 
animals directly on the trackline that are not detected and how well 
animals are detected based on the distance from the observer (accounted 
for by g(0) and f(0) values). The Commission has recommended a method 
for estimating the number of cetaceans in the vicinity of geophysical 
surveys based on the number of groups detected and recommended that 
NMFS require UH to use this method for estimating g(0) and f(0) values 
to better estimate the numbers of marine mammals taken by Level A and 
Level B harassment.
    NMFS response: NMFS agrees that reporting of the manner of taking 
and the numbers of animals incidentally taken should account for all 
animals taken, including those animals directly on the trackline that 
are not detected and how well animals are detected based on the 
distance from the observer, to the extent practicable. NMFS has 
provided the Commission's recommended method for estimating g(0) and 
f(0) values to previous applicants for similar activities (i.e., 
research-based geophysical surveys). We have received feedback in 
response that those applicants are concerned with some aspects of the 
Commission's method, including that the probability values recommended 
by the Commission's recommended method involve assumptions that are not 
met by the surveys conducted aboard research geophysical vessels and 
that, as such, derived f(0) values for research geophysical surveys 
would not be suitable for refining the number of cetaceans potentially 
taken incidentally during these surveys. NMFS requires in this IHA that 
takes reported in UH's monitoring report include an estimate that 
accounts for all animals incidentally taken, including those on the 
trackline but not detected, but at this time we do not prescribe a 
particular method for accomplishing this task.

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of Specified Activities

    Section 4 of the application summarizes available information 
regarding status and trends, distribution and habitat preferences, and 
behavior and life history, of the potentially affected species. 
Additional information regarding population trends and threats may be 
found in NMFS' Stock Assessment Reports (SAR; www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/), and more general information about these species (e.g., 
physical and behavioral descriptions) may be found on NMFS' Web site 
(www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/).
    Table 1 lists all species with expected potential for occurrence in 
the central Pacific Ocean and summarizes information related to the 
population or

[[Page 44568]]

stock, including regulatory status under the MMPA and ESA and potential 
biological removal (PBR), where known. For taxonomy, we follow 
Committee on Taxonomy (2016). PBR is defined by the MMPA as the maximum 
number of animals, not including natural mortalities, that may be 
removed from a marine mammal stock while allowing that stock to reach 
or maintain its optimum sustainable population (as described in NMFS' 
SARs). While no mortality is anticipated or authorized here, PBR and 
annual serious injury and mortality from anthropogenic sources are 
included here as gross indicators of the status of the species and 
other threats.
    Marine mammal abundance estimates presented in this document 
represent the total number of individuals that make up a given stock or 
the total number estimated within a particular study or survey area. 
NMFS' stock abundance estimates for most species represent the total 
estimate of individuals within the geographic area, if known, that 
comprises that stock. For some species, this geographic area may extend 
beyond U.S. waters. All managed stocks in this region are assessed in 
NMFS' U.S. Pacific SARs (e.g., Carretta et al., 2017). All values 
presented in Table 1 are the most recent available at the time of 
publication and are available in the 2016 SARs (Carretta et al., 2017), 
available online at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars, except where noted 
otherwise.

                          Table 1--Marine Mammals That Could Occur in the Project Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Stock abundance
                                                      ESA/MMPA      \2\  (CV, Nmin,                 Relative
            Species                   Stock           status;         most recent     PBR \4\    occurrence  in
                                                   strategic  (Y/      abundance                  project area
                                                       N) \1\         survey) \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Mysticeti (baleen whales)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Family: Balaenopteridae
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Humpback whale (Megaptera       Central North     -/-; N           10,103 (0.300;           83  Seasonal;
 novaeangliae) \5\.              Pacific.                           7,890; 2006).                throughout
                                                                                                 known breeding
                                                                                                 grounds during
                                                                                                 winter and
                                                                                                 spring (most
                                                                                                 common November
                                                                                                 through April).
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera        Central North     E/D; Y           81 (1.14; 38;           0.1  Seasonal;
 musculus).                      Pacific.                           2010).                       infrequent
                                                                                                 winter migrant;
                                                                                                 few sightings,
                                                                                                 mainly fall and
                                                                                                 winter;
                                                                                                 considered
                                                                                                 rare.
Fin whale (Balaenoptera         Hawaii..........  E/D; Y           58 (1.12; 27;           0.1  Seasonal, mainly
 physalus.                                                          2010).                       fall and
                                                                                                 winter;
                                                                                                 considered
                                                                                                 rare.
Sei whale (Balaenoptera         Hawaii..........  E/D; Y           178 (0.90; 93;          0.2  Rare; limited
 borealis).                                                         2010).                       sightings of
                                                                                                 seasonal
                                                                                                 migrants that
                                                                                                 feed at higher
                                                                                                 latitudes.
Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera     Hawaii..........  -/-; N           798 (0.28; 633;         6.3  Uncommon;
 brydei/edeni).                                                     2010).                       distributed
                                                                                                 throughout the
                                                                                                 Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Exclusive
                                                                                                 Economic Zone.
Minke whale (Balaenoptera       Hawaii..........  -/-; N           n/a (n/a; n/a;       Undet.  Seasonal, mainly
 acutorostrata).                                                    2010).                       fall and
                                                                                                 winter;
                                                                                                 considered
                                                                                                 rare.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Family: Physeteridae
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sperm whale (Physeter           Hawaii..........  E/D; Y           3,354 (0.34;           10.2  Widely
 macrocephalus).                                                    2,539; 2010).                distributed
                                                                                                 year round.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Family: Kogiidae
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pygmy sperm whale \6\ (Kogia    Hawaii..........  -/-; N           7,139 (2.91; n/      Undet.  Widely
 breviceps).                                                        a; 2006).                    distributed
                                                                                                 year round.
Dwarf sperm whale \6\ (Kogia    Hawaii..........  -/-; N           17,519 (7.14; n/     Undet.  Widely
 sima).                                                             a; 2006).                    distributed
                                                                                                 year round.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Family delphinidae
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killer whale (Orcinus orca)...  Hawaii..........  -/-; N           101 (1.00; 50;            1  Uncommon;
                                                                    2010).                       infrequent
                                                                                                 sightings.
False killer whale (Pseudorca   Hawaii Pelagic..  -/-; N           1,540 (0.66;            9.3  Regular.
 crassidens).                                                       928; 2010).
Pygmy killer whale (Feresa      Hawaii..........  -/-; N           3,433 (0.52;             23  Year-round
 attenuata).                                                        2,274; 2010).                resident.

[[Page 44569]]

 
Short-finned pilot whale        Hawaii..........  -/-; N           12,422 (0.43;            70  Commonly
 (Globicephala macrorhynchus).                                      8,872; 2010).                observed around
                                                                                                 Main Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Islands and
                                                                                                 Northwestern
                                                                                                 Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Islands.
Melon headed whale              Hawaiian Islands  -/-; N           5,794 (0.20;              4  Regular.
 (Peponocephala electra).                                           4,904; 2010).
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops    Hawaii pelagic..  -/-; N           5,950 (0.59;             38  Common in deep
 truncatus).                                                        3,755; 2010).                offshore
                                                                                                 waters.
Pantropical spotted dolphin     Hawaii pelagic..  -/-; N           15,917 (0.40;           115  Common; primary
 (Stenella attenuata).                                              11,508; 2010).               occurrence
                                                                                                 between 100 and
                                                                                                 4,000 m depth.
Striped dolphin (Stenella       Hawaii..........  -/-; N           20,650 (0.36;           154  Occurs regularly
 coeruleoala).                                                      15,391; 2010).               year round but
                                                                                                 infrequent
                                                                                                 sighting during
                                                                                                 survey.
Spinner dolphin \6\ (Stenella   Hawaii pelagic..  -/-; N           3,351 (0.74; n/      Undet.  Common year-
 longirostris).                                                     a; 2006).                    round in
                                                                                                 offshore
                                                                                                 waters.
Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno    Hawaii..........  -/-; N           6,288 (0.39;             46  Common
 bredanensis).                                                      4,581; 2010).                throughout the
                                                                                                 Main Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Islands and
                                                                                                 Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Islands EEZ.
Fraser's dolphin                Hawaii..........  -/-; N           16,992 (0.66;           102  Tropical species
 (Lagenodelphis hosei).                                             10,241; 2010).               only recently
                                                                                                 documented
                                                                                                 within Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Islands EEZ
                                                                                                 (2002 survey).
Risso's dolphin (Grampus        Hawaii..........  -/-; N           7,256 (0.41;             42  Previously
 griseus).                                                          5,207; 2010).                considered rare
                                                                                                 but multiple
                                                                                                 sightings in
                                                                                                 Hawaiian
                                                                                                 Islands EEZ
                                                                                                 during various
                                                                                                 surveys
                                                                                                 conducted from
                                                                                                 2002-2012.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Family: Ziphiidae
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius  Hawaii..........  -/-; N           1,941 (n/a;            11.4  Year-round
 cavirostris).                                                      1,142; 2010).                occurrence but
                                                                                                 difficult to
                                                                                                 detect due to
                                                                                                 diving
                                                                                                 behavior.
Blainville's beaked whale       Hawaii..........  -/-; N           2,338 (1.13;             11  Year-round
 (Mesoplodon densirostris).                                         1,088; 2010).                occurrence but
                                                                                                 difficult to
                                                                                                 detect due to
                                                                                                 diving
                                                                                                 behavior.
Longman's beaked whale          Hawaii..........  -/-; N           4,571 (0.65;             28  Considered rare;
 (Indopacetus pacificus).                                           2,773; 2010).                however,
                                                                                                 multiple
                                                                                                 sightings
                                                                                                 during 2010
                                                                                                 survey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Endangered Species Act (ESA) status: Endangered (E), Threatened (T)/MMPA status: Depleted (D). A dash (-)
  indicates that the species is not listed under the ESA or designated as depleted under the MMPA. Under the
  MMPA, a strategic stock is one for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds PBR (see footnote
  3) or which is determined to be declining and likely to be listed under the ESA within the foreseeable future.
  Any species or stock listed under the ESA is automatically designated under the MMPA as depleted and as a
  strategic stock.
\2\ Abundance estimates from Carretta et al. (2017) unless otherwise noted.
\3\ CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of stock abundance. In some cases, CV is not
  applicable. For certain stocks, abundance estimates are actual counts of animals and there is no associated
  CV. The most recent abundance survey that is reflected in the abundance estimate is presented; there may be
  more recent surveys that have not yet been incorporated into the estimate.
\4\ Potential biological removal (PBR), defined by the MMPA as the maximum number of animals, not including
  natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while allowing that stock to reach or
  maintain its optimum sustainable population size (OSP).
\5\ Values for humpback whale are from the 2015 Alaska SAR (Muto et al., 2015).
\6\ Values for spinner dolphin, dwarf and pygmy sperm whale are from Barlow et al. (2006).

    All species that could potentially occur in the survey area are 
included in Table 1. We have reviewed UH's species descriptions, 
including life history information, distribution, regional 
distribution, diving behavior, and acoustics and hearing, for accuracy 
and completeness. We refer the reader to Section 4 of UH's IHA 
application, rather than reprinting the information here. A detailed 
description of the species likely to be affected by UH's survey, 
including brief introductions to the species and relevant stocks as 
well as available information regarding population trends and threats, 
and information regarding local occurrence, were provided in the 
Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 
2017). Since that time, we are not aware of any changes in the status 
of these species and stocks; therefore, detailed descriptions are not 
provided here. Please refer to that Federal Register notice for these 
descriptions. Please also refer to NMFS' Web site (www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
pr/

[[Page 44570]]

species/mammals/) for generalized species accounts

Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and Their 
Habitat

    The effects of underwater noise from marine geophysical survey 
activities have the potential to result in behavioral harassment and, 
in a limited number of instances, auditory injury (PTS) of marine 
mammals in the vicinity of the action area. The Federal Register notice 
for the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017) included a discussion 
of the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals and their 
habitat, therefore that information is not repeated here; please refer 
to the Federal Register notice (82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017) for that 
information. No instances of serious injury or mortality are expected 
as a result of UH's survey activities.

Estimated Take

    This section provides an estimate of the number of incidental takes 
authorized through the IHA, which informs both NMFS' consideration of 
whether the number of takes is ``small'' and the negligible impact 
determination.
    Harassment is the only type of take expected to result from these 
activities. Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent 
here, section 3(18) of the MMPA defines ``harassment'' as: any act of 
pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a 
marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); 
or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal 
stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, 
including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 
feeding, or sheltering (Level B harassment).
    Authorized takes would primarily be by Level B harassment, as use 
of the seismic airguns have the potential to result in disruption of 
behavioral patterns for individual marine mammals. There is also some 
potential for auditory injury (Level A harassment) to result, primarily 
for mysticetes and high frequency cetaceans (i.e., kogiidae spp.), due 
to larger predicted auditory injury zones for those functional hearing 
groups. Auditory injury is unlikely to occur for mid-frequency species 
given very small modeled zones of injury for those species. The 
mitigation and monitoring measures are expected to minimize the 
severity of such taking to the extent practicable.
    As described previously, no mortality is anticipated or authorized 
for this activity. Below we describe how the take is estimated.
    Described in the most basic way, we estimate take by considering: 
(1) Acoustic thresholds above which NMFS believes the best available 
science indicates marine mammals will be behaviorally harassed or incur 
some degree of permanent hearing impairment; (2) the area or volume of 
water that will be ensonified above these levels in a day; (3) the 
density or occurrence of marine mammals within these ensonified areas; 
and (4) and the number of days of activities. Below, we describe these 
components in more detail and present the exposure estimate and 
associated numbers of take authorized.

Acoustic Thresholds

    Using the best available science, NMFS has developed acoustic 
thresholds that identify the received level of underwater sound above 
which exposed marine mammals would be reasonably expected to be 
behaviorally harassed (equated to Level B harassment) or to incur 
permanent threshold shift (PTS) of some degree (equated to Level A 
harassment).
    Level B Harassment for non-explosive sources--Though significantly 
driven by received level, the onset of behavioral disturbance from 
anthropogenic noise exposure is also informed to varying degrees by 
other factors related to the source (e.g., frequency, predictability, 
duty cycle), the environment (e.g., bathymetry), and the receiving 
animals (hearing, motivation, experience, demography, behavioral 
context) and can be difficult to predict (Southall et al., 2007, 
Ellison et al., 2011). Based on the best available science and the 
practical need to use a threshold based on a factor that is both 
predictable and measurable for most activities, NMFS uses a generalized 
acoustic threshold based on received level to estimate the onset of 
behavioral harassment. NMFS predicts that marine mammals are likely to 
be behaviorally harassed in a manner we consider to fall under Level B 
harassment when exposed to underwater anthropogenic noise above 
received levels of 120 decibels (dB) re 1 micropascal ([mu]Pa) root 
mean square (rms) for continuous (e.g. vibratory pile-driving, 
drilling) and above 160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) for non-explosive 
impulsive (e.g., seismic airguns) or intermittent (e.g., scientific 
sonar) sources. UH's activity includes the use of impulsive seismic 
sources. Therefore, the 160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) criteria is applicable 
for analysis of level B harassment.
    Level A harassment for non-explosive sources--NMFS' Technical 
Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine 
Mammal Hearing (NMFS, 2016) identifies dual criteria to assess auditory 
injury (Level A harassment) to five different marine mammal groups 
(based on hearing sensitivity) (Table 2) as a result of exposure to 
noise from two different types of sources (impulsive or non-impulsive). 
The Technical Guidance identifies the received levels, or thresholds, 
above which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience 
changes in their hearing sensitivity for all underwater anthropogenic 
sound sources, reflects the best available science, and better predicts 
the potential for auditory injury than does NMFS' historical criteria.

 Table 2--Marine Functional Mammal Hearing Groups and Their Generalized
                             Hearing Ranges
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Hearing group                 Generalized hearing range *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low frequency (LF) cetaceans        7Hz to 35 kHz.
 (baleen whales).
Mid-frequency (MF) cetaceans        150 Hz to 160 kHz.
 (dolphins, toothed whales, beaked
 whales, bottlenose whales).
High-frequency (HF) cetaceans       275 Hz to 160 kHz.
 (true porpoises, Kogia, river
 dolphins, cephalorhynchid,
 Lagenorhynchus cruciger and L.
 australis).
Phocid pinnipeds (PW) (underwater)  50 Hz to 86 kHz.
 (true seals).
Otariid pinnipeds (OW)              60 Hz to 39 kHz.
 (underwater) (sea lions and fur
 seals).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Represents the generalized hearing range for the entire group as a
  composite (i.e., all species within the group), where individual
  species' hearing ranges are typically not as broad. Generalized
  hearing range chosen based on ~65 dB threshold from normalized
  composite audiogram, with the exception for lower limits for LF
  cetaceans (Southall et al., 2007) and PW pinniped (approximation).


[[Page 44571]]

    These thresholds were developed by compiling and synthesizing the 
best available science and soliciting input multiple times from both 
the public and peer reviewers to inform the final product, and are 
provided in Table 3 below. The references, analysis, and methodology 
used in the development of the thresholds are described in NMFS 2016 
Technical Guidance, which may be accessed at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/guidelines.htm. As described above, UH's activity includes 
the use of intermittent and impulsive seismic sources.

 Table 3--Thresholds Identifying the Onset of Permanent Threshold Shift
                            in Marine Mammals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           PTS onset thresholds
          Hearing Group          ---------------------------------------
                                      Impulsive *        Non-impulsive
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency (LF) Cetaceans....  Lpk,flat: 219 dB,   LE,LF,24h: 199 dB.
                                   LE,LF,24h: 183 dB.
Mid-Frequency (MF) Cetaceans....  Lpk,flat: 230 dB,   LE,MF,24h: 198 dB.
                                   LE,MF,24h: 185 dB.
High-Frequency (HF) Cetaceans...  Lpk,flat: 202 dB,   LE,HF,24h: 173 dB.
                                   LE,HF,24h: 155 dB.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: * Dual metric acoustic thresholds for impulsive sounds: Use
  whichever results in the largest isopleth for calculating PTS onset.
  If a non-impulsive sound has the potential of exceeding the peak sound
  pressure level thresholds associated with impulsive sounds, these
  thresholds should also be considered.
Note: Peak sound pressure (Lpk) has a reference value of 1 [mu]Pa, and
  cumulative sound exposure level (LE) has a reference value of
  1[mu]Pa2s. In this Table, thresholds are abbreviated to reflect
  American National Standards Institute standards (ANSI 2013). However,
  peak sound pressure is defined by ANSI as incorporating frequency
  weighting, which is not the intent for this Technical Guidance. Hence,
  the subscript ``flat'' is being included to indicate peak sound
  pressure should be flat weighted or unweighted within the generalized
  hearing range. The subscript associated with cumulative sound exposure
  level thresholds indicates the designated marine mammal auditory
  weighting function (LF, MF, and HF cetaceans, and PW and OW pinnipeds)
  and that the recommended accumulation period is 24 hours. The
  cumulative sound exposure level thresholds could be exceeded in a
  multitude of ways (i.e., varying exposure levels and durations, duty
  cycle). When possible, it is valuable for action proponents to
  indicate the conditions under which these acoustic thresholds will be
  exceeded.

Ensonified Area

    Here, we describe operational and environmental parameters of the 
activity that will feed into estimating the area ensonified above the 
acoustic thresholds.
    The survey would entail use of a 32-airgun array with a total 
discharge of 7,800 in\3\ at a tow depth of 10 m. The distance to the 
predicted isopleth corresponding to the threshold for Level B 
harassment (160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa) was calculated based on results of 
modeling performed by LDEO. Received sound levels were predicted by 
LDEO's model (Diebold et al. 2010) as a function of distance from the 
full 32-airgun array as well as for a single 100 in\3\ airgun, which 
would be used during power-downs. The LDEO modeling approach uses ray 
tracing for the direct wave traveling from the array to the receiver 
and its associated source ghost (reflection at the air-water interface 
in the vicinity of the array), in a constant-velocity half-space 
(infinite homogeneous ocean layer unbounded by a seafloor). LDEO's 
modeling methodology is described in greater detail in the IHA 
application (LGL 2017) and we refer to the reader to that document 
rather than repeating it here. The estimated distances to the Level B 
harassment isopleth for the Kairei's full airgun array and for the 
single 100-in\3\ airgun are shown in Table 4. The total area estimated 
to be ensonified to the Level B harassment threshold for the entire 
survey is 24,408 square kilometers (km\2\).

  Table 4--Predicted Radial Distances From R/V Kairei Seismic Source to
         Isopleth Corresponding to Level B Harassment Threshold
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Predicted  distance to
             Source and volume                 threshold  (160 dB re 1
                                                       [mu]Pa)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 airgun, 100 in \3\......................  722 m.
4 strings, 32 airguns, 7800 in \3\........  9,289 m.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Predicted distances to Level A harassment isopleths, which vary 
based on marine mammal hearing groups (Table 2), were calculated based 
on modeling performed by LDEO using the Nucleus software program and 
the NMFS User Spreadsheet, described below. The updated acoustic 
thresholds for impulsive sounds (such as airguns) contained in the 
Technical Guidance (NMFS 2016) were presented as dual metric acoustic 
thresholds using both cumulative sound exposure level 
(SELcum) and peak sound pressure metrics. As dual metrics, 
NMFS considers onset of PTS (Level A harassment) to have occurred when 
either one of the two metrics is exceeded (i.e., metric resulting in 
the largest isopleth). The SELcum metric considers both 
level and duration of exposure, as well as auditory weighting functions 
by marine mammal hearing group. In recognition of the fact that the 
requirement to calculate Level A harassment ensonified areas could be 
more technically challenging to predict due to the duration component 
and the use of weighting functions in the new SELcum 
thresholds, NMFS developed an optional User Spreadsheet that includes 
tools to help predict a simple isopleth that can be used in conjunction 
with marine mammal density or occurrence to facilitate the estimation 
of take numbers.
    The values for SELcum and peak SPL for the Kairei airgun 
array were derived from calculating the modified farfield signature 
(Table 5). The farfield signature is often used as a theoretical 
representation of the source level. To compute the farfield signature, 
the source level is estimated at a large distance below the array 
(e.g., 9 km), and this level is back projected mathematically to a 
notional distance of 1 m from the array's geometrical center. However, 
when the source is an array of multiple airguns separated in space, the 
source level from the theoretical farfield signature is not necessarily 
the best measurement of the source level that is physically achieved at 
the source (Tolstoy et al. 2009). Near the source (at short ranges, 
distances <1 km), the pulses of sound pressure from each individual 
airgun in the source array do not stack constructively, as they do for 
the theoretical farfield signature. The pulses from the different 
airguns spread out in time such that the source levels observed or 
modeled are the result of the summation of pulses from a few airguns, 
not the full array (Tolstoy et al. 2009). At larger distances, away 
from the source array center, sound pressure of all the airguns in the 
array stack coherently, but not within one time

[[Page 44572]]

sample, resulting in smaller source levels (a few dB) than the source 
level derived from the farfield signature. Because the farfield 
signature does not take into account the large array effect near the 
source and is calculated as a point source, the modified farfield 
signature is a more appropriate measure of the sound source level for 
distributed sound sources, such as airgun arrays. UH used the acoustic 
modeling developed by LDEO (same as used for Level B takes) with a 
small grid step of 1 m in both the inline and depth directions (for 
example, see Figure 5 in the IHA application). The propagation modeling 
takes into account all airgun interactions at short distances from the 
source, including interactions between subarrays which are modeled 
using the NUCLEUS software to estimate the notional signature and 
MATLAB software to calculate the pressure signal at each mesh point of 
a grid.

  Table 5--Modeled Source Levels for R/V Kairei 7,800 in\3\ Airgun Array and 100 in\3\ Airgun Based on Modified
                                               Farfield Signature
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    7,800 in\3\
                                                   airgun array     7,800 in\3\      100 in\3\       100 in\3\
            Functional hearing group              (peak SPLflat)   airgun array    airgun  (peak      airgun
                                                                     (SELcum)        SPLflat)        (SELcum)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low frequency cetaceans (Lpk,flat: 219 dB;             256.36 dB       235.01 dB       229.46 dB      208.41 dB.
 LE,LF,24h: 183 dB).............................
Mid frequency cetaceans (Lpk,flat: 230 dB;             245.59 dB       235.12 dB       229.47 dB      208.44 dB.
 LE,MF,24h: 185 dB).............................
High frequency cetaceans (Lpk,flat: 202 dB;            256.26 dB       235.16 dB       229.59 dB      209.01 dB.
 LE,HF,24h: 155 dB).............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In order to more realistically incorporate the Technical Guidance's 
weighting functions over the seismic array's full acoustic band, 
unweighted spectrum data for the Kairei's airgun array (modeled in 1 
hertz (Hz) bands) was used to make adjustments (dB) to the unweighted 
spectrum levels, by frequency, according to the weighting functions for 
each relevant marine mammal hearing group. These adjusted/weighted 
spectrum levels were then converted to pressures (micropascals) in 
order to integrate them over the entire broadband spectrum, resulting 
in broadband weighted source levels by hearing group that could be 
directly incorporated within the User Spreadsheet (i.e., to override 
the Spreadsheet's more simple weighting factor adjustment). Using the 
User Spreadsheet's ``safe distance'' methodology for mobile sources 
(described by Sivle et al., 2014) with the hearing group-specific 
weighted source levels, and inputs assuming spherical spreading 
propagation, a source velocity of 2.315 meters/second, and shot 
interval of 21.59 seconds (LGL 2017), potential radial distances to 
auditory injury zones were then calculated for SELcum 
thresholds.
    To estimate Peak SPL thresholds, LDEO performed modeling for a 
single shot and then a high pass filter was applied for each hearing 
group. A high pass filter is a type of band band-pass filter, which 
pass frequencies within a defined range without reducing amplitude and 
attenuate frequencies outside that defined range (Yost 2007). In their 
IHA application (LGL 2017) UH presented modeled distances to level A 
isopleths (Peak SPL) both with and without the high pass filter 
applied. In the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA (82 FR 
34352; July 24, 2017) NMFS presented distances to the Level A 
harassment thresholds for Peak SPL based on LDEO's modeling, including 
the application of the high pass filter. At the time that Federal 
Register notice was published, we agreed that application of the high 
pass filter was appropriate, and we accepted LDEO's modeling 
methodology and its application for take estimation. However, in 
response to feedback we received in the form of public comments 
submitted in response to that Federal Register notice (see Comments and 
Responses section) we have subsequently determined that the application 
of the high pass filter is, in fact, not appropriate (see Comments and 
Responses section for further discussion of this issue). As such, the 
estimated distances to Level A harassment isopleths (for Peak SPL) 
shown in Table 6 have revised from those shown in the Federal Register 
notice for the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017) to reflect no 
band pass filtering.
    Inputs to the User Spreadsheet are shown in Table 5; outputs from 
the User Spreadsheet in the form of estimated distances to Level A 
harassment isopleths are shown in Table 6. The User Spreadsheet used by 
UH is shown in Table 3 of the IHA application.

   Table 6--Modeled Radial Distances From R/V Kairei 7800 in\3\ Airgun Array and 100 in\3\ Airgun to Isopleths
                                 Corresponding to Level A Harassment Thresholds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    7,800 in\3\
                                                   airgun array     7,800 in\3\      100 in\3\       100 in\3\
            Functional hearing group              (peak SPLflat)   airgun array    airgun  (peak      airgun
                                                                     (SELcum)        SPLflat)        (SELcum)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low frequency cetaceans (Lpk,flat: 219 dB;                73.8 m         752.8 m           3.3 m          4.48 m
 LE,LF,24h: 183 dB).............................
Mid frequency cetaceans (Lpk,flat: 230 dB;                   6.0           0.0 m             0.9             n/a
 LE,MF,24h: 185 dB).............................
High frequency cetaceans (Lpk,flat: 202 dB;              516.5 m           1.7 m            24 m             n/a
 LE,HF,24h: 155 dB).............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note that because of some of the assumptions included in the 
methods used, isopleths produced may be overestimates to some degree, 
which will ultimately result in some degree of overestimate of Level A 
take. However, these tools offer the best way to predict appropriate 
isopleths when more sophisticated 3D modeling methods are not 
available, and NMFS continues to develop ways to quantitatively refine 
these tools and will qualitatively address the output where 
appropriate. For mobile sources, such as UH's survey, the User 
Spreadsheet predicts the closest distance at which a stationary animal 
would not incur PTS if the sound source traveled by the animal in a 
straight line at a constant speed.

Marine Mammal Occurrence

    In this section we provide the information about the presence, 
density, or group dynamics of marine mammals that will inform the take 
calculations.

[[Page 44573]]

    The best available scientific information was considered in 
conducting marine mammal exposure estimates (the basis for estimating 
take). For most cetacean species, densities calculated by Bradford et 
al. (2017) from summer-fall vessel-based surveys that are part of the 
Hawaiian Island Cetacean Ecosystem Assessment Survey (HICEAS) were 
used. The surveys were conducted by NMFS' Southwest Fisheries Science 
Center (SWFSC) and Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) in 
2010 using two NOAA research vessels, one during August 13--December 1 
and the other during September 2--October 29. The densities were 
estimated using a multiple-covariate line-transect approach (Buckland 
et al. 2001; Marques and Buckland 2004). Density estimates for pygmy 
and dwarf sperm whales and spinner dolphins, which were not calculated 
from the 2010 surveys, were derived from the ``Outer EEZ stratum'' of 
the vessel-based HICEAS survey conducted in summer-fall 2002 by SWFSC 
(Barlow 2006) using line-transect methodology (Buckland et al. 2001). 
The density estimate for the false killer whale was based on the 
pelagic stock density calculated by Bradford et al. (2015) using line-
transect methodology (Buckland et al. 2001).
    All densities were corrected for trackline detection probability 
bias (f(0)) and availability (g(0)) bias by the authors. Bradford et 
al. (2017) used g(0) values estimated by Barlow (2015), whose analysis 
indicated that g(0) had previously been overestimated, particularly for 
high sea states. Barlow (2006) used earlier estimates of g(0), so 
densities used here for pygmy and dwarf sperm whales and spinner 
dolphins likely are underestimates. The density for the ``Sei or 
Bryde's whale'' category identified by Bradford et al. (2017) was 
allocated between sei and Bryde's whales according to their 
proportionate densities. Density estimates for humpback and minke 
whales were not available.
    There is some uncertainty related to the estimated density data and 
the assumptions used in their calculations, as with all density data 
estimates. However, the approach used is based on the best available 
data.

Take Calculation and Estimation

    Here we describe how the information provided above is brought 
together to produce a quantitative take estimate. In order to estimate 
the number of marine mammals predicted to be exposed to sound levels 
that would result in Level B harassment or Level A harassment, radial 
distances to predicted isopleths corresponding to the Level A 
harassment and Level B harassment thresholds are calculated, as 
described above. We then use those distances to calculate the area(s) 
around the airgun array predicted to be ensonified to sound levels that 
exceed the Level A and Level B harassment thresholds. The total 
ensonified area for the survey is then calculated, based on the areas 
predicted to be ensonified around the array and the trackline distance. 
The marine mammals predicted to occur within these respective areas, 
based on estimated densities, are expected to be incidentally taken by 
UH's survey.
    To summarize, the estimated density of each marine mammal species 
within an area (animals/km\2\) is multiplied by the daily ensonified 
areas (km\2\) that correspond to the Level A and Level B harassment 
thresholds for the species. The product (rounded) is the number of 
instances of take for each species within one day. The number of 
instances of take for each species within one day is then multiplied by 
the number of survey days (plus 25 percent contingency, as described 
below). The result is an estimate of the number of instances that 
marine mammals are predicted to be exposed to airgun sounds above the 
Level B harassment threshold and the Level A harassment threshold over 
the duration of the survey. Estimated takes for all marine mammal 
species are shown in Table 7.
    The planned survey would occur both within the U.S. EEZ and outside 
the U.S. EEZ. We authorize incidental take that is expected to occur as 
a result of the survey both within and outside the U.S. EEZ.

                                            Table 7--Numbers of Incidental Take of Marine Mammals Authorized
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                               Total
                                                                                                                                            authorized
                                                             Estimated    Estimated  and                                       Total        Level A and
                         Species                           density  (#/     authorized       Estimated      Authorized      authorized    Level B  takes
                                                            1,000 km2)    Level A  takes  Level B  takes  Level B  takes    Level A and        as a
                                                                                                                           Level B takes  percentage  of
                                                                                                                                            population
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Humpback whale \1\......................................               0               0               0               2               2            <0.1
Minke whale \1\.........................................               0               0               0               1               1             n/a
Bryde's whale...........................................            0.97               2              25              25              27             3.4
Sei whale...............................................            0.22               0               6               6               6             3.4
Fin whale...............................................            0.06               0               2               2               2             3.4
Blue whale \1\..........................................            0.05               0               1               3               3             3.7
Sperm whale.............................................            1.86               0              51              51              51             1.5
Cuvier's beaked whale...................................            0.30               0               8               8               8            <0.1
Longman's beaked whale..................................            3.11               0              85              85              85             1.9
Blainville's beaked whale...............................            1.89               0              76              76              76             3.3
Rough-toothed dolphin...................................            29.6               0             812             812             812            12.9
Bottlenose dolphin......................................            8.99               0             246             246             246             4.1
Pantropical spotted dolphin.............................            23.3               0             639             639             639             4.0
Spinner dolphin \1\.....................................            0.83               0              23              32              32             0.9
Striped dolphin.........................................            25.0               0             685             685             685             3.3
Fraser's dolphin........................................            21.0               0             577             577             577             3.4
Risso's dolphin.........................................            4.74               0             130             130             130             1.8
Melon-headed whale......................................            3.54               0              97              97              97             1.7
Pygmy killer whale......................................            4.35               0             119             119             119             3.5
False killer whale......................................            0.60               0              16              16              16             1.0
Killer whale \1\........................................            0.06               0               2               5               5             4.9
Short-finned pilot whale................................            7.97               0             218             218             218             1.8
Pygmy sperm whale.......................................            3.19               7              87              87              94             7.4

[[Page 44574]]

 
Dwarf sperm whale.......................................            7.82              18             214             214             232             7.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The number of authorized takes (Level B harassment only) for these species has been increased from the calculated take to mean group size. Sources
  for mean group sizes are as follows: blue whale (Bradford et al. 2017); minke whale (Jackson et al. 2008); humpback whale (Mobley et al. 2001);
  spinner dolphin (Barlow 2006); killer whale (Bradford et al. 2017).

    Species with Take Estimates Less than Mean Group Size: Using the 
approach described above to estimate take, the take estimates for the 
blue whale, killer whale, and spinner dolphin (Table 7) were less than 
the average group sizes estimated for these species. However, 
information on the social structures and life histories of these 
species indicates it is common for them to be encountered in groups. As 
the results of take calculations support the likelihood that UH's 
survey would be expected to encounter and to incidentally take these 
species, and we believe it is likely that these species may be 
encountered in groups, it is reasonable to conservatively assume that 
one group of each of these species will be taken during the survey. We 
therefore propose to authorize the take of the average (mean) group 
size for the blue whale, killer whale, and spinner dolphin to account 
for the possibility that UH's survey encounters a group of any of these 
species (Table 7).
    Species with No Available Density Data: No density data were 
available for humpback and minke whales. Both species would typically 
be found further north than the survey area during the time of year 
that the survey is planned to occur, based on sightings data around the 
Hawaiian Islands (Carretta et al. 2017). However, based on input from 
subject matter experts, we believe it is reasonable to assume that both 
species may be encountered by UH during the survey. Humpback whales 
have typically not been observed in the project area in the fall 
(Carretta et al. 2017). However, there are increasing anecdotal reports 
of confirmed sightings of humpback whales from early September through 
October in areas near the planned project area (pers. comm. E. Lyman, 
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, to J. Carduner, NMFS, June 
20, 2017). Like humpback whales, sightings data does not indicate that 
minke whales would typically be expected to be present in the project 
area in the fall (Carretta et al. 2017). However, detections of minke 
whales are common in passive acoustic recordings from various locations 
around the main Hawaiian Islands, including during the fall (pers. 
comm. E. Oleson, NOAA PIFSC, to J. Carduner, NMFS, June 20, 2017). 
Additionally, as minke whales in the North Pacific do not have a 
visible blow, they can be easily missed by visual observers, suggesting 
a lack of sightings is likely related to misidentification or low 
detection capability in poor sighting conditions (Rankin et al. 2007). 
Though no density data are available, we believe it is reasonable to 
conservatively assume that UH's survey may encounter and incidentally 
take minke and humpback whales. We therefore propose to authorize the 
take of the average (mean) group size (weighted by effort and rounded 
up) for the humpback and minke whale (Table 7).
    It should be noted that the take numbers shown in Table 7 are 
believed to be conservative for several reasons. First, in the 
calculations of estimated take, 25 percent has been added in the form 
of operational survey days (equivalent to adding 25 percent to the line 
km to be surveyed) to account for the possibility of additional seismic 
operations associated with airgun testing, and repeat coverage of any 
areas where initial data quality is sub-standard. Additionally, marine 
mammals would be expected to move away from a sound source that 
represents an aversive stimulus. However, the extent to which marine 
mammals would move away from the sound source is difficult to quantify 
and is therefore not accounted for in take estimates shown in Table 7.
    Level A take estimates (Table 7) have been revised from the take 
estimates provided in the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHA 
(82 FR 34352; July 24, 2017) based on our decision to rely on modeled 
distances to Level A harassment isopleths for Peak SPL (Table 6) 
without band pass filtering applied, as described above. The only 
species for which Level A take numbers were affected by this revision 
were the pygmy sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale (Level A takes changed 
from 0 to 7 and from 0 to 18, respectively).

Mitigation

    In order to issue an IHA under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA, 
NMFS must set forth the permissible methods of taking pursuant to such 
activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable impact on 
such species or stock and its habitat, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on 
the availability of such species or stock for taking for certain 
subsistence uses (latter not applicable for this action). NMFS 
regulations require applicants for incidental take authorizations to 
include information about the availability and feasibility (economic 
and technological) of equipment, methods, and manner of conducting such 
activity or other means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact upon the affected species or stocks and their habitat (50 CFR 
216.104(a)(11)).
    In evaluating how mitigation may or may not be appropriate to 
ensure the least practicable adverse impact on species or stocks and 
their habitat, as well as subsistence uses where applicable, we 
carefully consider two primary factors:
    (1) The manner in which, and the degree to which, the successful 
implementation of the measure(s) is expected to reduce impacts to 
marine mammals, marine mammal species or stocks, and their habitat. 
This considers the nature of the potential adverse impact being 
mitigated (likelihood, scope, range). It further considers the 
likelihood that the measure will be effective if implemented 
(probability of accomplishing the mitigating result if implemented as 
planned) the likelihood of effective implementation (probability 
implemented as planned); and
    (2) The practicability of the measures for applicant 
implementation, which may consider such things as cost, impact on 
operations, and, in the case

[[Page 44575]]

of a military readiness activity, personnel safety, practicality of 
implementation, and impact on the effectiveness of the military 
readiness activity.
    UH has reviewed mitigation measures employed during seismic 
research surveys authorized by NMFS under previous incidental 
harassment authorizations, as well as recommended best practices in 
Richardson et al. (1995), Pierson et al. (1998), Weir and Dolman 
(2007), Nowacek et al. (2013), Wright (2014), and Wright and Cosentino 
(2015), and has incorporated a suite of mitigation measures into their 
project description based on the above sources.
    To reduce the potential for disturbance from acoustic stimuli 
associated with the activities, UH will implement the following 
mitigation measures for marine mammals:
    (1) Vessel-based visual mitigation monitoring;
    (2) Vessel-based passive acoustic monitoring;
    (3) Establishment of an exclusion zone;
    (4) Power down procedures;
    (5) Shutdown procedures;
    (6) Ramp-up procedures; and
    (7) Ship strike avoidance measures.

Vessel-Based Visual Mitigation Monitoring

    Protected Species Observer (PSO) observations will take place 
during all daytime airgun operations and nighttime start ups (if 
applicable) of the airguns. Airgun operations will be suspended when 
marine mammals are observed within, or about to enter, designated 
Exclusion Zones (as described below). PSOs will also watch for marine 
mammals near the vessel for at least 30 minutes prior to the planned 
start of airgun operations. PSOs will monitor the entire extent of the 
modeled Level B harassment zone (Table 4) (or, as far as they are able 
to see, if they cannot see to the extent of the estimated Level B 
harassment zone). Observations will also be made during daytime periods 
when the Kairei is underway without seismic operations, such as during 
transits, to allow for comparison of sighting rates and behavior with 
and without airgun operations and between acquisition periods.
    During seismic operations, a minimum of four visual PSOs will be 
based aboard the Kairei. PSOs will be appointed by JAMSTEC with NMFS 
approval. During the majority of seismic operations, two PSOs will 
monitor for marine mammals around the seismic vessel. Use of two 
simultaneous observers will increase the effectiveness of detecting 
marine mammals around the source vessel. However, during meal times, 
only one PSO may be on duty. PSO(s) would be on duty in shifts of 
duration no longer than 4 hours. Other crew will also be instructed to 
assist in detecting marine mammals and in implementing mitigation 
requirements (if practical). Before the start of the seismic survey, 
the crew will be given additional instruction in detecting marine 
mammals and implementing mitigation requirements. The Kairei is a 
suitable platform for marine mammal observations. When stationed on the 
observation platform, PSOs will have a good view around the entire 
vessel. During daytime, the PSO(s) will scan the area around the vessel 
systematically with reticle binoculars (e.g., 7x50 Fujinon), Big-eye 
binoculars (25x150), and with the naked eye.
    The PSOs must have no tasks other than to conduct observational 
effort, record observational data, and communicate with and instruct 
relevant vessel crew with regard to the presence of marine mammals and 
mitigation requirements. PSO resumes will be provided to NMFS for 
approval. At least two PSOs must have a minimum of 90 days at-sea 
experience working as PSOs during a high energy seismic survey, with no 
more than eighteen months elapsed since the conclusion of the at-sea 
experience. One ``experienced'' visual PSO will be designated as the 
lead for the entire protected species observation team. The lead will 
coordinate duty schedules and roles for the PSO team and serve as 
primary point of contact for the vessel operator. The lead PSO will 
devise the duty schedule such that ``experienced'' PSOs are on duty 
with those PSOs with appropriate training but who have not yet gained 
relevant experience, to the maximum extent practicable.
    The PSOs must have successfully completed relevant training, 
including completion of all required coursework and passing a written 
and/or oral examination developed for the training program, and must 
have successfully attained a bachelor's degree from an accredited 
college or university with a major in one of the natural sciences and a 
minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent in the biological sciences 
and at least one undergraduate course in math or statistics. The 
educational requirements may be waived if the PSO has acquired the 
relevant skills through alternate training, including (1) secondary 
education and/or experience comparable to PSO duties; (2) previous work 
experience conducting academic, commercial, or government-sponsored 
marine mammal surveys; or (3) previous work experience as a PSO; the 
PSO should demonstrate good standing and consistently good performance 
of PSO duties.
    In summary, a typical daytime cruise will have scheduled two 
observers (visual) on duty from the observation platform, and an 
acoustic observer on the passive acoustic monitoring system.

Vessel-Based Passive Acoustic Mitigation Monitoring

    Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) will take place to complement the 
visual monitoring program. Visual monitoring typically is not effective 
during periods of poor visibility or at night, and even with good 
visibility, is unable to detect marine mammals when they are below the 
surface or beyond visual range. Acoustic monitoring can be used in 
addition to visual observations to improve detection, identification, 
and localization of cetaceans. The acoustic monitoring will serve to 
alert visual observers (if on duty) when vocalizing cetaceans are 
detected. It is only useful when marine mammals vocalize, but it can be 
effective either by day or by night and does not depend on good 
visibility. It will be monitored in real time so that visual observers 
can be alerted when marine mammals are detected acoustically.
    The PAM system consists of hardware (i.e., hydrophones) and 
software. The ``wet end'' of the system consists of a towed hydrophone 
array that is connected to the vessel by a tow cable. A deck cable will 
connect the tow cable to the electronics unit on board where the 
acoustic station, signal conditioning, and processing system would be 
located. The acoustic signals received by the hydrophones are 
amplified, digitized, and then processed by the software.
    At least one acoustic PSO (in addition to the four visual PSOs) 
will be on board. The towed hydrophones would be monitored 24 hours per 
day (either by the acoustic PSO or by a visual PSO trained in the PAM 
system if the acoustic PSO is on break) while at the seismic survey 
area during airgun operations, and during most periods when the Kairei 
is underway while the airguns are not operating. However, PAM may not 
be possible if damage occurs to the array or back-up systems during 
operations. One PSO will monitor the acoustic detection system at any 
one time, in shifts no longer than six hours, by listening to the 
signals via headphones and/or speakers and watching the real-time 
spectrographic display for frequency ranges produced by cetaceans.

[[Page 44576]]

    When a vocalization is detected, while visual observations are in 
progress, the acoustic PSO will contact the visual PSOs immediately, to 
alert them to the presence of marine mammals (if they have not already 
been detected visually), in order to facilitate a power down or shut 
down, if required. The information regarding the marine mammal acoustic 
detection will be entered into a database.

Exclusion Zone and Buffer Zone

    An exclusion zone (EZ) is a defined area within which occurrence of 
a marine mammal triggers mitigation action intended to reduce the 
potential for certain outcomes, e.g., auditory injury, disruption of 
critical behaviors. The PSOs will establish a minimum EZ with a 500 m 
radius for the full array. The 500 m EZ will be based on radial 
distance from any element of the airgun array (rather than being based 
on the center of the array or around the vessel itself). With certain 
exceptions (described below), if a marine mammal appears within, 
enters, or appears on a course to enter this zone, the acoustic source 
will be powered down (see Power Down Procedures below). In addition to 
the 500 m EZ for the full array, a 100 m exclusion zone will be 
established for the single 100 in\3\ airgun. With certain exceptions 
(described below), if a marine mammal appears within, enters, or 
appears on a course to enter this zone the acoustic source will be shut 
down entirely (see Shutdown Procedures below). Additionally, power down 
of the full array will last no more than 30 minutes maximum at any 
given time; thus the array will be shut down entirely if, after 30 
minutes of power down, a marine mammal remains inside the 500 m EZ.
    Potential radial distances to auditory injury zones were calculated 
on the basis of maximum peak pressure using values provided by the 
applicant (Table 6). The 500 m radial distance of the standard EZ is 
intended to be precautionary in the sense that it would be expected to 
contain sound exceeding peak pressure injury criteria for all cetacean 
hearing groups, while also providing a consistent, reasonably 
observable zone within which PSOs would typically be able to conduct 
effective observational effort. Although significantly greater 
distances may be observed from an elevated platform under good 
conditions, we believe that 500 m is likely regularly attainable for 
PSOs using the naked eye during typical conditions.
    An appropriate EZ based on cumulative sound exposure level 
(SELcum) criteria would be dependent on the animal's applied 
hearing range and how that overlaps with the frequencies produced by 
the sound source of interest (i.e., via marine mammal auditory 
weighting functions) (NMFS, 2016), and may be larger in some cases than 
the zones calculated on the basis of the peak pressure thresholds (and 
larger than 500 m) depending on the species in question and the 
characteristics of the specific airgun array. In particular, the EZ 
radii would be larger for low-frequency cetaceans, because their most 
susceptible hearing range overlaps the low frequencies produced by 
airguns, but the zones would remain very small for mid-frequency 
cetaceans (i.e., including the ``small delphinoids'' described below), 
whose range of best hearing largely does not overlap with frequencies 
produced by airguns.
    Consideration of exclusion zone distances is inherently an 
essentially instantaneous proposition--a rule or set of rules that 
requires mitigation action upon detection of an animal. This indicates 
that consideration of peak pressure thresholds is most relevant, as 
compared with cumulative sound exposure level thresholds, as the latter 
requires that an animal accumulate some level of sound energy exposure 
over some period of time (e.g., 24 hours). A PSO aboard a mobile source 
will typically have no ability to monitor an animal's position relative 
to the acoustic source over relevant time periods for purposes of 
understanding whether auditory injury is likely to occur on the basis 
of cumulative sound exposure and, therefore, whether action should be 
taken to avoid such potential. Therefore, definition of an exclusion 
zone based on SELcum thresholds is of questionable relevance 
given relative motion of the source and receiver (i.e., the animal). 
Cumulative SEL thresholds are likely more relevant for purposes of 
modeling the potential for auditory injury than they are for informing 
real-time mitigation. We recognize the importance of the accumulation 
of sound energy to an understanding of the potential for auditory 
injury and that it is likely that, at least for low-frequency 
cetaceans, some potential auditory injury is likely impossible to 
mitigate and should be considered for authorization.
    In summary, our intent in prescribing a standard exclusion zone 
distance is to (1) encompass zones for most species within which 
auditory injury could occur on the basis of instantaneous exposure; (2) 
provide additional protection from the potential for more severe 
behavioral reactions (e.g., panic, antipredator response) for marine 
mammals at relatively close range to the acoustic source; (3) provide 
consistency for PSOs, who need to monitor and implement the exclusion 
zone; and (4) to define a distance within which detection probabilities 
are reasonably high for most species under typical conditions.
    Our use of 500 m as the EZ is a reasonable combination of factors. 
This zone is expected to contain all potential auditory injury for all 
cetaceans (high-frequency, mid-frequency and low-frequency functional 
hearing groups) as assessed against peak pressure thresholds (NMFS, 
2016) (Table 6), and to contain all potential auditory injury for high-
frequency and mid-frequency cetaceans as assessed against 
SELcum thresholds (NMFS, 2016) (Table 6), It has also proven 
to be practicable through past implementation in seismic surveys 
conducted for the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico (as 
regulated by BOEM pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 
(OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356)). In summary, a practicable criterion 
such as this has the advantage of simplicity while still providing in 
most cases a zone larger than relevant auditory injury zones, given 
realistic movement of source and receiver.
    The PSOs will also establish and monitor a 1,000 m buffer zone. 
During use of the acoustic source, occurrence of marine mammals within 
the buffer zone (but outside the exclusion zone) will be communicated 
to the vessel operator to prepare for potential power down or shutdown 
of the acoustic source. The buffer zone is discussed further under Ramp 
Up Procedures below. PSOs will monitor the entire extent of the modeled 
Level B harassment zone (Table 4) (or, as far as they are able to see, 
if they cannot see to the extent of the estimated Level B harassment 
zone).

Power Down Procedures

    A power down involves decreasing the number of airguns in use such 
that the radius of the mitigation zone is decreased to the extent that 
marine mammals are no longer in, or about to enter, the 500 m EZ. 
During a power down, one 100-in\3\ airgun would be operated. The 
continued operation of one 100-in\3\ airgun is intended to alert marine 
mammals to the presence of the seismic vessel in the area, and to allow 
them to leave the area of the seismic vessel if they choose. In 
contrast, a shutdown occurs when all airgun activity is suspended 
(shutdown procedures are discussed below). If a marine mammal is 
detected outside the 500 m EZ but appears likely to enter the 500 m EZ, 
the airguns will be powered

[[Page 44577]]

down before the animal is within the 500 m EZ. Likewise, if a mammal is 
already within the 500 m EZ when first detected, the airguns will be 
powered down immediately. During a power down of the airgun array, the 
100-in\3\ airgun will be operated.
    Following a power down, airgun activity will not resume until the 
marine mammal has cleared the 500 m EZ. The animal will be considered 
to have cleared the 500 m EZ if the following conditions have been met:

 It is visually observed to have departed the 500 m EZ, or
 it has not been seen within the 500 m EZ for 15 min in the 
case of small odontocetes, or
 it has not been seen within the 500 m EZ for 30 min in the 
case of mysticetes and large odontocetes, including sperm, pygmy sperm, 
dwarf sperm, and beaked whales.

    This power down requirement will be in place for all marine 
mammals, with the exception of small delphinoids under certain 
circumstances. As defined here, the small delphinoid group is intended 
to encompass those members of the Family Delphinidae most likely to 
voluntarily approach the source vessel for purposes of interacting with 
the vessel and/or airgun array (e.g., bow riding). This exception to 
the power down requirement will apply solely to specific genera of 
small dolphins--Steno, Tursiops, Stenella and Lagenodelphis--and will 
only apply if the animals were traveling, including approaching the 
vessel. If, for example, an animal or group of animals is stationary 
for some reason (e.g., feeding) and the source vessel approaches the 
animals, the power down requirement applies. An animal with sufficient 
incentive to remain in an area rather than avoid an otherwise aversive 
stimulus could either incur auditory injury or disruption of important 
behavior. If there is uncertainty regarding identification (i.e., 
whether the observed animal(s) belongs to the group described above) or 
whether the animals are traveling, the power down will be implemented.
    We include this small delphinoid exception because power-down/
shutdown requirements for small delphinoids under all circumstances 
represent practicability concerns without likely commensurate benefits 
for the animals in question. Small delphinoids are generally the most 
commonly observed marine mammals in the specific geographic region and 
would typically be the only marine mammals likely to intentionally 
approach the vessel. As described below, auditory injury is extremely 
unlikely to occur for mid-frequency cetaceans (e.g., delphinids), as 
this group is relatively insensitive to sound produced at the 
predominant frequencies in an airgun pulse while also having a 
relatively high threshold for the onset of auditory injury (i.e., 
permanent threshold shift). Please see Potential Effects of the 
Specified Activity on Marine Mammals above for further discussion of 
sound metrics and thresholds and marine mammal hearing.
    A large body of anecdotal evidence indicates that small delphinoids 
commonly approach vessels and/or towed arrays during active sound 
production for purposes of bow riding, with no apparent effect observed 
in those delphinoids (e.g., Barkaszi et al., 2012). The potential for 
increased shutdowns resulting from such a measure would require the 
Kairei to revisit the missed track line to reacquire data, resulting in 
an overall increase in the total sound energy input to the marine 
environment and an increase in the total duration over which the survey 
is active in a given area. Although other mid-frequency hearing 
specialists (e.g., large delphinoids) are no more likely to incur 
auditory injury than are small delphinoids, they are much less likely 
to approach vessels. Therefore, retaining a power-down/shutdown 
requirement for large delphinoids would not have similar impacts in 
terms of either practicability for the applicant or corollary increase 
in sound energy output and time on the water. We do anticipate some 
benefit for a power-down/shutdown requirement for large delphinoids in 
that it simplifies somewhat the total range of decision-making for PSOs 
and may preclude any potential for physiological effects other than to 
the auditory system as well as some more severe behavioral reactions 
for any such animals in close proximity to the source vessel.
    At any distance, power down of the acoustic source will also be 
required upon observation of a large whale (i.e., sperm whale or any 
baleen whale) with a calf, or upon observation of an aggregation of 
large whales of any species (i.e., sperm whale or any baleen whale) 
that does not appear to be traveling (e.g., feeding, socializing, 
etc.). These are the only two potential situations that would require 
power down of the array for marine mammals observed beyond the 500 m 
EZ.
    A power down could occur for no more than 30 minutes maximum at any 
given time. If, after 30 minutes of the array being powered down, 
marine mammals had not cleared the 500 m EZ (as described above), a 
shutdown of the array will be implemented (see Shut Down Procedures, 
below). Power down is only allowed in response to the presence of 
marine mammals within the designated EZ. Thus, the single 100 in\3\ 
airgun, which will be operated during power downs, may not be operated 
continuously throughout the night or during transits from one line to 
another.

Shut Down Procedures

    The single 100-in\3\ operating airgun will be shut down if a marine 
mammal is seen within or approaching the 100 m EZ for the single 100-
in\3\ airgun. Shutdown will be implemented if (1) an animal enters the 
100 m EZ of the single 100-in\3\ airgun after a power down has been 
initiated, or (2) an animal is initially seen within the 100 m EZ of 
the single 100-in\3\ airgun when more than one airgun (typically the 
full array) is operating. Airgun activity will not resume until the 
marine mammal has cleared the 500 m EZ. Criteria for judging that the 
animal has cleared the EZ will be as described above. A shutdown of the 
array will be implemented if, after 30 minutes of the array being 
powered down, marine mammals have not cleared the 500 m EZ (as 
described above).
    The shutdown requirement, like the power down requirement, will be 
waived for dolphins of the following genera: Steno, Tursiops, Stenella 
and Lagenodelphis. The shutdown waiver only applies if the animals are 
traveling, including approaching the vessel. If animals are stationary 
and the source vessel approaches the animals, the shutdown requirement 
would apply. If there is uncertainty regarding identification (i.e., 
whether the observed animal(s) belongs to the group described above) or 
whether the animals are traveling, the shutdown would be implemented. A 
shutdown will be implemented if a North Pacific right whale is sighted, 
regardless of the distance from the Kairei. Ramp-up procedures would 
not be initiated until the right whale has not been seen at any 
distance for 30 minutes.

Ramp-Up Procedures

    Ramp-up of an acoustic source is intended to provide a gradual 
increase in sound levels following a power down or shutdown, enabling 
animals to move away from the source if the signal is sufficiently 
aversive prior to its reaching full intensity. The ramp-up procedure 
involves a step-wise increase in the number of airguns firing and total 
array volume until all operational airguns are activated and the full 
volume is achieved. Ramp-up will be required after the array is powered 
down or

[[Page 44578]]

shutdown due to mitigation. If the airgun array has been shut down for 
reasons other than mitigation (e.g., mechanical difficulty) for a 
period of less than 30 minutes, it may be activated again without ramp-
up if PSOs have maintained constant visual and acoustic observation and 
no visual detections of any marine mammal have occurred within the 
buffer zone and no acoustic detections have occurred.
    Ramp-up will begin by activating a single airgun of the smallest 
volume in the array and would continue in stages by doubling the number 
of active elements at the commencement of each stage, with each stage 
of approximately the same duration.
    If airguns have been powered down or shut down due to PSO detection 
of a marine mammal within or approaching the 500 m EZ, ramp-up will not 
be initiated until all marine mammals have cleared the EZ, during the 
day or night. Visual and acoustic PSOs are required to monitor during 
ramp-up. If a marine mammal were detected by visual PSOs within or 
approaching the 500 m EZ during ramp-up, a power down (or shut down if 
appropriate) would be implemented as though the full array were 
operational. Criteria for clearing the EZ would be as described above.
    Thirty minutes of pre-clearance observation are required prior to 
ramp-up for any power down or shutdown of longer than 30 minutes (i.e., 
if the array were shut down during transit from one line to another). 
This 30 minute pre-clearance period may occur during any vessel 
activity (i.e., transit). If a marine mammal is observed within or 
approaching the 500 m EZ during this pre-clearance period, ramp-up will 
not be initiated until all marine mammals have cleared the EZ. Criteria 
for clearing the EZ will be as described above.
    Ramp-up will be planned to occur during periods of good visibility 
when possible. However, ramp-up will be allowed at night and during 
poor visibility if the 500 m EZ and 1,000 m buffer zone have been 
monitored by visual PSOs for 30 minutes prior to ramp-up and if 
acoustic monitoring has occurred for 30 minutes prior to ramp-up with 
no acoustic detections during that period.
    The operator will be required to notify a designated PSO of the 
planned start of ramp-up as agreed-upon with the lead PSO. A designated 
PSO must be notified again immediately prior to initiating ramp-up 
procedures and the operator must receive confirmation from the PSO to 
proceed. The operator must provide information to PSOs documenting that 
appropriate procedures were followed. Following deactivation of the 
array for reasons other than mitigation, the operator will be required 
to communicate the near-term operational plan to the lead PSO with 
justification for any planned nighttime ramp-up.
    Based on our evaluation of the applicant's proposed measures, NMFS 
has determined that the mitigation measures provide the means effecting 
the least practicable impact on the affected species or stocks and 
their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating 
grounds, and areas of similar significance.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an IHA for an activity, Section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth, requirements pertaining to 
the monitoring and reporting of such taking. The MMPA implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 216.104 (a)(13) indicate that requests for 
authorizations must include the suggested means of accomplishing the 
necessary monitoring and reporting that will result in increased 
knowledge of the species and of the level of taking or impacts on 
populations of marine mammals that are expected to be present in the 
action area. Effective reporting is critical both to compliance as well 
as ensuring that the most value is obtained from the required 
monitoring.
    Monitoring and reporting requirements prescribed by NMFS should 
contribute to improved understanding of one or more of the following:
     Occurrence of marine mammal species or stocks in the area 
in which take is anticipated (e.g., presence, abundance, distribution, 
density).
     Nature, scope, or context of likely marine mammal exposure 
to potential stressors/impacts (individual or cumulative, acute or 
chronic), through better understanding of: (1) Action or environment 
(e.g., source characterization, propagation, ambient noise); (2) 
affected species (e.g., life history, dive patterns); (3) co-occurrence 
of marine mammal species with the action; or (4) biological or 
behavioral context of exposure (e.g., age, calving or feeding areas).
     Individual marine mammal responses (behavioral or 
physiological) to acoustic stressors (acute, chronic, or cumulative), 
other stressors, or cumulative impacts from multiple stressors.
     How anticipated responses to stressors impact either: (1) 
Long-term fitness and survival of individual marine mammals; or (2) 
populations, species, or stocks.
     Effects on marine mammal habitat (e.g., marine mammal prey 
species, acoustic habitat, or other important physical components of 
marine mammal habitat).
     Mitigation and monitoring effectiveness.
    UH submitted a marine mammal monitoring and reporting plan in 
section XIII of their IHA application. Monitoring that is designed 
specifically to facilitate mitigation measures, such as monitoring of 
the EZ to inform potential power downs or shutdowns of the airgun 
array, are described above and are not repeated here.
    UH's monitoring and reporting plan includes the following measures:

Vessel-Based Visual Monitoring

    As described above, PSO observations will take place during daytime 
airgun operations and nighttime start ups (if applicable) of the 
airguns. During seismic operations, at least four visual PSOs would be 
based aboard the Kairei. PSOs will be appointed by JAMSTEC with NMFS 
approval. During the majority of seismic operations, two PSOs will 
monitor for marine mammals around the seismic vessel. Use of two 
simultaneous observers would increase the effectiveness of detecting 
animals around the source vessel. However, during meal times, only one 
PSO may be on duty. PSOs will be on duty in shifts of duration no 
longer than 4 hours. Other crew will also be instructed to assist in 
detecting marine mammals and in implementing mitigation requirements 
(if practical). During daytime, PSOs will scan the area around the 
vessel systematically with reticle binoculars (e.g., 7x50 Fujinon), 
Big-eye binoculars (25x150), and with the naked eye.
    PSOs will record data to estimate the numbers of marine mammals 
exposed to various received sound levels and to document apparent 
disturbance reactions or lack thereof. Data will be used to estimate 
numbers of animals potentially `taken' by harassment (as defined in the 
MMPA). They will also provide information needed to order a power down 
or shutdown of airguns when a marine mammal is within or near the EZ.
    When a sighting is made, the following information about the 
sighting will be recorded:
    1. Species, group size, age/size/sex categories (if determinable), 
behavior when first sighted and after initial sighting, heading (if 
consistent), bearing and distance from seismic vessel, sighting cue, 
apparent reaction to the airguns or vessel (e.g., none, avoidance,

[[Page 44579]]

approach, paralleling, etc.), and behavioral pace.
    2. Time, location, heading, speed, activity of the vessel, sea 
state, visibility, and sun glare.
    All observations and power downs or shutdowns will be recorded in a 
standardized format. Data will be entered into an electronic database. 
The accuracy of the data entry will be verified by computerized data 
validity checks as the data are entered and by subsequent manual 
checking of the database. These procedures will allow initial summaries 
of data to be prepared during and shortly after the field program and 
will facilitate transfer of the data to statistical, graphical, and 
other programs for further processing and archiving. The time, 
location, heading, speed, activity of the vessel, sea state, 
visibility, and sun glare will also be recorded at the start and end of 
each observation watch, and during a watch whenever there is a change 
in one or more of the variables.
    Results from the vessel-based observations will provide:
    1. The basis for real-time mitigation (airgun power down or shut 
down).
    2. Information needed to estimate the number of marine mammals 
potentially taken by harassment, which must be reported to NMFS.
    3. Data on the occurrence, distribution, and activities of marine 
mammals and turtles in the area where the seismic study is conducted.
    4. Information to compare the distance and distribution of marine 
mammals and turtles relative to the source vessel at times with and 
without seismic activity.
    5. Data on the behavior and movement patterns of marine mammals and 
turtles seen at times with and without seismic activity.

Vessel-Based Passive Acoustic Monitoring

    PAM will take place to complement the visual monitoring program as 
described above. Please see the Mitigation section above for a 
description of the PAM system and the acoustic PSO's duties. The 
acoustic PSO will record data collected via the PAM system, including 
the following: An acoustic encounter identification number, whether it 
was linked with a visual sighting, date, time when first and last heard 
and whenever any additional information was recorded, position and 
water depth when first detected, bearing if determinable, species or 
species group (e.g., unidentified dolphin, sperm whale), types and 
nature of sounds heard (e.g., clicks, continuous, sporadic, whistles, 
creaks, burst pulses, strength of signal, etc.), and any other notable 
information. Acoustic detections will also be recorded for further 
analysis.

Reporting

    A report will be submitted to NMFS within 90 days after the end of 
the cruise. The report will describe the operations that were conducted 
and sightings of marine mammals near the operations. The report will 
provide full documentation of methods, results, and interpretation 
pertaining to all monitoring. The 90-day report will summarize the 
dates and locations of seismic operations, and all marine mammal 
sightings (dates, times, locations, activities, associated seismic 
survey activities). The report will also include estimates of the 
number and nature of exposures that occurred above the harassment 
threshold based on PSO observations.

Negligible Impact Analysis and Determination

    NMFS has defined negligible impact 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 (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. In addition to 
considering estimates of the number of marine mammals that might be 
``taken'' through harassment, NMFS considers other factors, such as the 
likely nature of any responses (e.g., intensity, duration), the context 
of any responses (e.g., critical reproductive time or location, 
migration), as well as effects on habitat, and the likely effectiveness 
of the mitigation. We also assess the number, intensity, and context of 
estimated takes by evaluating this information relative to population 
status. Consistent with the 1989 preamble for NMFS' implementing 
regulations (54 FR 40338; September 29, 1989), the impacts from other 
past and ongoing anthropogenic activities are incorporated into this 
analysis via their impacts on the environmental baseline (e.g., as 
reflected in the regulatory status of the species, population size and 
growth rate where known, ongoing sources of human-caused mortality, or 
ambient noise levels).
    To avoid repetition, our analysis applies to all the species listed 
in Table 1, given that NMFS expects the anticipated effects of the 
planned seismic survey to be similar in nature. Where there are 
meaningful differences between species or stocks, or groups of species, 
in anticipated individual responses to activities, impact of expected 
take on the population due to differences in population status, or 
impacts on habitat, NMFS has identified species-specific factors to 
inform the analysis.
    NMFS does not anticipate that serious injury or mortality would 
occur as a result of UH's survey, even in the absence of mitigation. 
Thus the authorization does not authorize any mortality. Non-auditory 
physical effects, stranding, and vessel strike are not expected to 
occur.
    We authorize a limited number of instances of Level A harassment of 
three marine mammal species (Table 7). However, we believe that any PTS 
incurred in marine mammals as a result of the activity would be in the 
form of only a small degree of PTS and not total deafness that would 
not be likely to affect the fitness of any individuals, because of the 
constant movement of both the Kairei and of the marine mammals in the 
project area, as well as the fact that the vessel is not expected to 
remain in any one area in which individual marine mammals would be 
expected to concentrate for an extended period of time (i.e., since the 
duration of exposure to loud sounds will be relatively short). Also, as 
described above, we expect that marine mammals would be likely to move 
away from a sound source that represents an aversive stimulus, 
especially at levels that would be expected to result in PTS, given 
sufficient notice of the Kairei's approach due to the vessel's 
relatively low speed when conducting the survey. We expect that the 
majority of takes would be in the form of short-term Level B behavioral 
harassment in the form of temporary avoidance of the area or decreased 
foraging (if such activity were occurring), reactions that are 
considered to be of low severity and with no lasting biological 
consequences (e.g., Southall et al., 2007).
    Potential impacts to marine mammal habitat were discussed in the 
Federal Register noticed for the proposed IHA (82 FR 34352; July 24, 
2017) (see Potential Effects of the Specified Activity on Marine 
Mammals and their Habitat). Marine mammal habitat may be impacted by 
elevated sound levels, but these impacts would be temporary. Feeding 
behavior is not likely to be significantly impacted, as marine mammals 
appear to be less likely to exhibit behavioral reactions or

[[Page 44580]]

avoidance responses while engaged in feeding activities (Richardson et 
al., 1995). Prey species are mobile and are broadly distributed 
throughout the project area; therefore, marine mammals that may be 
temporarily displaced during survey activities are expected to be able 
to resume foraging once they have moved away from areas with disturbing 
levels of underwater noise. Because of the temporary nature of the 
disturbance, the availability of similar habitat and resources in the 
surrounding area, and the lack of important or unique marine mammal 
habitat, the impacts to marine mammals and the food sources that they 
utilize are not expected to cause significant or long-term consequences 
for individual marine mammals or their populations. In addition, there 
are no mating or calving areas known to be biologically important to 
marine mammals within the project area.
    The activity is expected to impact a very small percentage of all 
marine mammal stocks that would be affected by UH's survey (less than 
two percent for all marine mammal stocks). Additionally, the acoustic 
``footprint'' of the survey would be very small relative to the ranges 
of all marine mammals that would potentially be affected. Sound levels 
would increase in the marine environment in a relatively small area 
surrounding the vessel compared to the range of the marine mammals 
within the survey area. The seismic array would be active 24 hours per 
day throughout the duration of the survey. However, the very brief 
overall duration of the survey (5.5 days) would further limit potential 
impacts that may occur as a result of the activity.
    The mitigation measures are expected to reduce the number and/or 
severity of takes by allowing for detection of marine mammals in the 
vicinity of the vessel by visual and acoustic observers, and by 
minimizing the severity of any potential exposures via power downs and/
or shutdowns of the airgun array. Based on previous monitoring reports 
for substantially similar activities that have been previously 
authorized by NMFS, we expect that the mitigation will be effective in 
preventing at least some extent of potential PTS in marine mammals that 
may otherwise occur in the absence of mitigation.
    Of the marine mammal species under our jurisdiction that are likely 
to occur in the project area, the following species are listed as 
endangered under the ESA: blue, fin, sei, and sperm whales. There are 
currently insufficient data to determine population trends for blue, 
fin, sei, and sperm whales (Carretta et al., 2016); however, we are 
authorizing very small numbers of takes for these species (Table 7), 
relative to their population sizes, therefore we do not expect 
population-level impacts to any of these species. The other marine 
mammal species that may be taken by harassment during UH's seismic 
survey are not listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. There 
is no designated critical habitat for any ESA-listed marine mammals 
within the project area; and of the non-listed marine mammals for which 
we propose to authorize take, none are considered ``depleted'' or 
``strategic'' by NMFS under the MMPA.
    NMFS concludes that exposures to marine mammal species and stocks 
due to UH's seismic survey would result in only short-term (temporary 
and short in duration) effects to individuals exposed. Animals may 
temporarily avoid the immediate area, but are not expected to 
permanently abandon the area. Major shifts in habitat use, 
distribution, or foraging success are not expected. NMFS does not 
anticipate the take estimates to impact annual rates of recruitment or 
survival.
    In summary and as described above, the following factors primarily 
support our determination that the impacts resulting from this activity 
are not expected to adversely affect the marine mammal species or 
stocks through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival:
     No mortality is anticipated or authorized;
     The anticipated impacts of the activity on marine mammals 
would primarily be temporary behavioral changes due to avoidance of the 
area around the survey vessel. The relatively short duration of the 
survey (5.5 days) would further limit the potential impacts of any 
temporary behavioral changes that would occur;
     PTS is only anticipated to occur for one species and the 
number of instances of PTS that may occur are expected to be very small 
in number (Table 7). Instances of PTS that are incurred in marine 
mammals would be of a low level, due to constant movement of the vessel 
and of the marine mammals in the area, and the nature of the survey 
design (not concentrated in areas of high marine mammal concentration);
     The availability of alternate areas of similar habitat 
value for marine mammals to temporarily vacate the survey area during 
the survey to avoid exposure to sounds from the activity;
     The project area does not contain areas of significance 
for mating or calving;
     The potential adverse effects on fish or invertebrate 
species that serve as prey species for marine mammals from the survey 
would be temporary and spatially limited;
     The mitigation measures, including visual and acoustic 
monitoring, power-downs, and shutdowns, are expected to minimize 
potential impacts to marine mammals.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into 
consideration the implementation of the monitoring and mitigation 
measures, NMFS finds that the total marine mammal take from the planned 
activity will have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal 
species or stocks.

Small Numbers

    As noted above, only small numbers of incidental take may be 
authorized under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA for specified 
activities other than military readiness activities. The MMPA does not 
define small numbers; so, in practice, where estimated numbers are 
available, NMFS compares the number of individuals taken to the most 
appropriate estimation of abundance of the relevant species or stock in 
our determination of whether an authorization is limited to small 
numbers of marine mammals. Additionally, other qualitative factors may 
be considered in the analysis, such as the temporal or spatial scale of 
the activities. Table 7 provides numbers of take by Level A harassment 
and Level B harassment authorized. These are the numbers we use for 
purposes of the small numbers analysis.
    The numbers of marine mammals that we authorize to be taken, for 
all species and stocks, would be considered small relative to the 
relevant stocks or populations (approximately 13 percent for rough-
toothed dolphin, and less than 8 percent for all other species and 
stocks). For the blue whale, killer whale, humpback whale, minke whale 
and spinner dolphin we propose to authorize take resulting from a 
single exposure of one group of each species or stock, as appropriate 
(using best available information on mean group size for these species 
or stocks). We believe that a single incident of take of one group of 
any of these species represents take of small numbers for that species
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the activity (including 
the mitigation and monitoring measures) and the anticipated take of 
marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals will be

[[Page 44581]]

taken relative to the population size of the affected species or 
stocks.

Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of the affected marine 
mammal stocks or species 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.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency insure that any 
action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize 
the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or 
result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated 
critical habitat. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, 
NMFS consults internally, in this case with the ESA Interagency 
Cooperation Division, whenever we propose to authorize take for 
endangered or threatened species.
    We (the NMFS OPR Permits and Conservation Division) are authorizing 
the incidental take of four species of marine mammals which are listed 
under the ESA: The sei, fin, blue and sperm whale. Under Section 7 of 
the ESA, we initiated consultation with the NMFS OPR Interagency 
Cooperation Division for the issuance of this IHA. In September, 2017, 
the NMFS OPR Interagency Cooperation Division issued a Biological 
Opinion with an incidental take statement, which concluded that the 
issuance of the IHA was not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of sei, fin, blue and sperm whales. The Biological Opinion 
also concluded that the issuance of the IHA would not destroy or 
adversely modify designated critical habitat for these species.

Authorization

    NMFS has issued an IHA to the University of Hawaii for the 
potential harassment of small numbers of 24 marine mammal species 
incidental to a marine geophysical survey in the central Pacific Ocean, 
provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring and reporting 
requirements are incorporated.

    Dated: September 19, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20362 Filed 9-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P