Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/06/02/2015-13350/takes-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-specified-activities-us-navy-joint-logistics-over-the-shore
Timestamp: 2018-03-24 05:32:52
Document Index: 255533784

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009216', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009216', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009216', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009216', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009218', '§\u2009216', '§\u2009218']

A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 06/02/2015
31310-31323 (14 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-13350 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-13350
Upon application from the U.S. Navy (Navy), we (the National Marine Fisheries Service) are issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) training activities conducted in Virginia and North Carolina, from June 2015 through June 2020. These regulations allows us to issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the Navy's specified activities and Start Printed Page 31311timeframes, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.
To obtain an electronic copy of the Navy's application or other referenced documents, visit the Internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​pr/​permits/​incidental.htm#applications. Documents cited in this rule may also be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Response 1: The Navy will use the existing Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program and the study-based approach that Navy and NMFS agreed to during a prior adaptive management session to satisfy monitoring requirements for the JLOTS MMPA authorization. The Navy's LOA application provided details on the Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Plan, as well as the Web site where the public can obtain further information on all of the Navy's marine species monitoring work (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​pr/​permits/​incidental.htm#applications).
Table 1 shows Navy projects that help achieve the Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program's top level goals. There may be future unforeseen budget or other logistical issues that require modification to study design, scope, or direction of one or more of these projects. However, the Navy has currently either planned for or is currently undertaking these projects as described. The first two projects will investigate the sound source level of pile driving and its effects on marine species and the remaining four projects help advance scientific knowledge of presence, density, distribution, and movement of marine species found in the Chesapeake Bay and along the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. Information on these projectsand all Navy monitoring projects can be found at http://www.navymarinespeciesmonitoring.us/​.
Therefore, NMFS does not believe that an additional monitoring plan in support of JLOTS training activities or additional comment period is warranted.Start Printed Page 31312
Title: Responses of Marine Mammals to Vibratory Pile Driving Location: Marine Mammal Program (MMP) Research Facility, San Diego, CA Objectives: Determine potential effects to marine mammals from vibratory pile driving noise Methods: Source measurements and acoustic propagation modelling Performing Organizations: Navy Marine Mammal Program Timeline: 2013-2015. Observe and record potential effects to marine mammals from vibratory pile driving noise. This entails a controlled exposure experiment with the bottlenose dolphin as a representative species. Their behavioral responses are evaluated at various received levels and durations of pre-recorded vibratory pile driving noise playback 2013-14: MMP developed experimental design and performed experimental trials with five dolphins. 2014-2015: MMP conducting trials and analyzing dolphin responses.
Title: Sound Source Measurements from Pile Driving Location: Navy installations along the U.S. East Coast Objectives: Determine the source levels produced by impact and vibratory driving of different size and material piles during construction projects Methods: Source measurements and acoustic propagation modelling Performing Organizations: HDR Inc., Illingworth and Rodkin Inc. Timeline: 2012-2015. Measure the sound produced by both vibratory and impact pile driving methods on various types of piles at Navy installations along the U.S. East Coast. This data will support sound source measurement and propagation modelling for assessing the impacts of pile driving Field work 2013-2015. Reports available for measurements at JEB Little Creek, NS Norfolk, and Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Additional measurements to be completed at NS Mayport and SUBASE Kings Bay in 2015.
Title: Lower Chesapeake Bay Sea Turtle Tagging and Tracking Location: Hampton Roads. Objectives: Assess occurrence and behavior of loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the Chesapeake Bay Methods: Satellite, GPS, and acoustic transmitter tags Performing Organizations: Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Foundation, NAVFAC Atlantic Timeline: 2013 through 2016—anticipated 3 field seasons. The project will estimate the density of sea turtles in Navy training areas by using a combination of satellite and acoustic transmitters. Satellite tags provide spatial locations, and dive and environmental data, allowing for habitat and home range modeling. The acoustic transmitter data will provide residency time and seasonality. Combination of the two tags types will yield a robust data set, providing greater insight into marine turtle use of the area Field work summers 2013-15. Technical progress reports for 2013 and 2014 are available on Marine Species Monitoring Web site.
Title: Occurrence, Distribution, and Density of Marine Mammals Near Naval Station Norfolk and Virginia Beach Location: Hampton Roads coastal Atlantic Ocean, W-50 MINEX training range Objectives: Assess occurrence, seasonality, and stock structure of Tursiops in the coastal waters off military installations Methods: Small vessel visual line transect surveys, photo ID, PAM Performing Organizations: HDR Inc. Timeline: 2012 through 2015. This project will conduct monthly line-transect surveys to determine distribution of marine near Norfolk and Virginia Beach and conduct monthly photo-ID vessel surveys to determine the site fidelity of marine mammals utilizing these areas Field work summers 2013-15 Technical progress reports for 2013 and 2014 are available on Marine Species Monitoring Web site.
Title: Baseline Monitoring for Marine Mammals in the East Coast Range Complexes Location: Virginia Capes, Cherry Point, and Jacksonville Range Complexes Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat associations, density, stock structure, and vocal activity of marine mammal and sea turtle in key areas of Navy range complexes Methods: Aerial and vessel visual surveys, biopsy sampling, photo ID, PAM Performing Organizations: Duke University, UNC Wilmington, University of St. Andrews, Scripps Institute of Oceanography Timeline: Ongoing. This project will use aerial and vessel surveys to determine species and estimate density of marine mammals and sea turtles present in Navy range complexes and will ultimately evaluate trends in distribution and abundance of populations that are regularly exposed to sonar and underwater explosives Ongoing. Began in 2008 as preliminary Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR) baseline monitoring. Yearly reports can be found on the Marine Species Monitoring Web site. Monitoring will continue for FY16 and beyond but plans have not been finalized yet.
Title: Mid-Atlantic Humpback Whale Monitoring Location: VACAPEs Range Complex. Objectives: Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of humpback whales in the mid-Atlantic region Methods: Focal follow observational methods, photo ID, biopsy sampling Performing Organizations: HDR Inc. Timeline: 2014 through 2017—anticipated 3 field seasons. This project will establish baseline occurrence and behavior data for humpback whales in the Hampton Roads Mid-Atlantic region through boat surveys, photo ID, and biopsy sampling New start (FY14). First field season winter 2015.
bottlenose dolphin.3 Tursiops truncatus strategic Northern North Carolina Estuarine System 950 (0.23)/785 0.159 0.169871
NMFS has reviewed the information compiled by the Navy on the abundance, status, and distribution of marine mammal species in the waters of the JLOTS training areas of the North Atlantic coast, which was derived from peer reviewed literature, the Navy Marine Resource Assessments, and NMFS Stock Assessment Reports. NMFS considers this information to be the best available. This information may be viewed in the Navy's LOA application and the Navy's EA (see Availability). Additional information is available in the NMFS Stock Assessment Reports, which may be viewed at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​pr/​sars/​species.htm.
Mid-frequency cetaceans (32 species of dolphins, six species of larger toothed whales, and 19 species of Start Printed Page 31314beaked and bottlenose whales): Functional hearing is estimated to occur between approximately 150 Hz and 160 kHz;
No permanent impacts to marine mammal habitat are anticipated to occur as a result of the training activities. The Navy's JLOTS training activities would Start Printed Page 31315not modify the existing habitat. Therefore, no restoration of the habitat would be necessary. A temporary, small-scale loss of foraging habitat may occur for marine mammals, if the marine mammals leave the area during pile extraction and driving activities.
The practicability of the measure for applicant implementation, including consideration of personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and Start Printed Page 31316impact on the effectiveness of the military readiness activity.
All vessels use extreme caution and proceed at a “safe speed” so they can take proper and effective action to avoid a collision with any sighted object or disturbance and can be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.Start Printed Page 31317
Currently, NMFS uses 120 dB re 1 μ Pa and 160 dB re 1 μ Pa at the received levels for the onset of Level B harassment from non-impulse (vibratory pile driving and removal) and impulse sources (impact pile driving) underwater, respectively. Table 3 summarizes the current NMFS marine mammal take criteria.Start Printed Page 31318
Level A Harassment (Injury) Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS) (Any level above that which is known to cause TTS) 180 dB re 1 μ Pa (cetaceans) 190 dB re 1 μ Pa (pinnipeds) root mean square (rms).
Level B Harassment Behavioral Disruption (for impulse noises) 160 dB re 1 μ Pa (rms).
Level B Harassment Behavioral Disruption (for non-impulse noise) 120 dB re 1 μ Pa (rms).
dB re 1μ Pa rms
TL = B * log10 (R1/R2) + C * R1,
The range to effects (Table 5) for underwater noise is assumed to take a circular shape around the notional pile bring driven at the furthest offshore point of the ELCAS (M) (approximately 1,500 ft. [457 m] from shore). Zones with radii larger than 1,500 ft. (457 m) will be truncated by the shoreline, and were modeled as semicircles extending to the west, north, and east in the case Start Printed Page 31319of JEB Little Creek-Fort Story; and north, east, and south at Camp Lejeune since the beaches at each of the locations would represent the boundary for underwater propagation. The calculated ranges assume no obstructions, and sounds will attenuate as they encounter land or other solid obstacles. As a result, the distances calculated may not actually be attained at the two installations.
Impact Pile Drive Injury: 180 dB re 1 μ Pa rms 37 yds (34 m) 44 yds (40 m) 0.001 mi 2 (0.0037 km 2) 0.002 mi 2 (0.005 km 2).
Behavioral: 160 dB re 1 μ Pa rms 805 yds (736 m) 938 yds (858 m) 0.328 mi 2 (0.85 km 2) 0.446 mi 2 (1.156 km 2).
Vibratory Pile Removal Injury: 180 dB re 1 μ Pa rms n/a n/a.
Behavioral: 120 dB re 1 μ Pa rms 5,077 yds (4,642 m) 13.07 mi 2 (33.84 km 2).
Note: All sound levels expressed in dB re 1 μ PA rms; dB = decibel; rms = root mean square; m = meter; mi2 = square mile; km2 = square kilometer; behavioral zones of influence are semi-circles based on notional distance from shore of the pile being driven; injury zones of influence are circular since they will not extend to and therefore be attenuated by land.
In-water construction activities would occur in nearshore shallow waters at the Start Printed Page 31320JEB Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia and at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The training areas are not considered significant habitat for marine mammals. Marine mammals approaching the action area would likely be traveling or opportunistically foraging. There are no rookeries or major haul-out sites nearby, foraging hotspots, or other ocean bottom structure of significant biological importance to marine mammals that may be present in the marine waters in the vicinity of the training areas. The training areas are not prime habitats for marine mammals, nor are they considered areas frequented by marine mammals. Therefore, behavioral disturbances that could result from anthropogenic noise associated with the JLOTS training activities are expected to affect only relatively small numbers of marine mammals on an infrequent basis. Although it is possible that some individual marine mammals may be exposed to sounds from in-water pile driving activities more than once, the duration of these multi-exposures is expected to be low since animals would be constantly moving in and out of the area and in-water pile driving activities would not occur continuously throughout the day.
NMFS has participated as a cooperating agency on the JLOTS EA, which was published on March 6, 2015. The JLOTS EA is posted on NMFS' Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/​pr/​permits/​incidental.htm#applications. NMFS has reviewed the EA and concluded that the EA includes alternatives relevant to NMFS' action of an incidental take authorization and the environmental consequences analyzed reflect NMFS' action. Therefore, NMFS determined to adopt the Navy's EA and prepared its own Finding of No Significant Impact. Accordingly, an EIS is not required and will not be prepared for this action.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that there is good cause under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3)) to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of the measures contained in this rule. A 30-day delay in the effective date of the rule from the date of publication in the Federal Register would cause an impracticable interruption to the U.S. Navy's scheduled training events. Congress has mandated that the Chief of Naval Operations organize, train, and equip all naval forces for combat (10 U.S.C. 5062). In order to meet the congressional mandate, the U.S. Navy must continually train to maintain its ability to operate in challenging at-sea environments and conduct military operations. The training requirements analyzed in the JLOTS EA will be implemented immediately into the training cycle to reinstate Naval Beach Group TWO's certification for the construction of the Elevated Causeway System—Modular. This training must occur in order for the Naval Beach Group TWO to be able report if directed to an overseas theater of operations. Based on the preceding discussion, it is impracticable to delay implementation of this rule for 30 days. This agency finds good cause for excepting the 30-Start Printed Page 31321day delay. The measures contained in this rule will become effective upon publication.
(a) Under Letters of Authorization (LOAs) issued pursuant to § 218.17, the Holder of the Letter of Authorization may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals by sound in the water from pile driving activities within the area described in § 218.10, provided the activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations and the appropriate LOA.
(c) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activities identified in § 218.10(c) is limited to Level B behavioral harassment:
Notwithstanding takings contemplated in § 218.12 and authorized by an LOA issued under § 216.106 of this chapter and § 218.17, no person in connection with the activities described in § 218.10 may:
(c) Take a marine mammal specified in § 218.12(c) if a finding is made that such taking is having more than a negligible impact on the species or stocks of such marine mammal; or
(d) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations or an LOA issued under § 216.106 of this chapter and § 218.17.
(a) When conducting training and testing activities identified in § 218.10, the mitigation measures contained in the LOA issued under § 216.106 of this chapter and § 218.17 must be implemented. These mitigation measures include, but are not limited to:
(d) North Atlantic Right Whale Protection. When transiting within the following areas between November 1 and April 30, the Navy must practice increased vigilance, exercise extreme Start Printed Page 31322caution, and proceed at the slowest speed that is consistent with safety, mission, and training objectives:
(a) Monitoring measures—(1) Standard watch personnel. (i) Ships operated by or for the Navy must have personnel assigned to stand watch at all times, day and night, when moving through the water.
To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to the regulations in this subpart, the U.S. Navy must apply for and obtain either an initial LOA in accordance with § 218.17.
(a) An LOA, unless suspended or revoked, must be valid for a period of Start Printed Page 31323time not to exceed the period of validity of this subpart.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no substantive modification (including withdrawal or suspension) to the LOA by NMFS, issued pursuant to § 216.106 of this chapter and § 218.17 and subject to the provisions of this subpart must be made until after notification and an opportunity for public comment has been provided.
(b) If the Assistant Administrator determines that an emergency exists that poses a significant risk to the well-being of the species or stocks of marine mammals specified in § 218.12(c), an LOA issued pursuant to § 216.106 of this chapter and § 218.17 may be substantively modified without prior notification and an opportunity for public comment. Notification will be published in the Federal Register within 30 days subsequent to the action.