Fish Agency to Approve Sonar Use by Navy
Taking and importing marine mammals, taking marine mammals incidental to U.S. Navy operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active sonar: Proposed rule, request for comments, published Jan. 6, 2012, comments and information by Feb. 6, 2012
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The National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar in areas of the world’s oceans (with the exception of Arctic and Antarctic waters and certain geographic restrictions), from Aug. 16, 2012 through Aug. 15, 2017. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the NMFS proposes regulations for that take and requests information, suggestions and comments on these proposed regulations.
Summary of Request
On August 17, 2011, NMFS received an application from the U.S. Navy
requesting authorization for the take of individuals of 94 species of
marine mammals (70 cetaceans and 24 pinnipeds), by harassment,
incidental to upcoming routine training and testing of the SURTASS LFA
sonar system, as well as the use of the system on a maximum of four
U.S. Naval ships during military operations in certain areas of the
Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea from
August 16, 2012 through August 15, 2017. These routine training and
testing and military operations are classified as military readiness
activities. The Navy states, and NMFS concurs, that these military
readiness activities may incidentally take marine mammals present
within the Navy's operation areas by exposing them to sound from low-
frequency active sonar sources. The Navy requests authorization to take
individuals of 94 species of marine mammals by Level A and Level B
Harassment, although as discussed later in this document, Level A
Harassment will likely be avoided through the implementation of the
Navy's proposed mitigation measures.
Full text here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-06/html/2011-33600.htm