Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Field Operations in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico National Marine Sanctuaries
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Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Field Operations in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico National Marine Sanctuaries August 7, 2018 http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator RDML Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN Ret. (acting) Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Ocean Service Russell Callender, Ph.D. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries John Armor, Director Rebecca Holyoke, Deputy Director Matt Brookhart, Acting Southeast Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Regional Director Cover Photo Diver with sponges and gorgonians. Gray’s Reef is home to a variety of vibrant invertebrates. Photo: NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................ iii Introduction .................................................................................................. iv 1.0 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose for the Action ............................................................................... 1 1.2 Need for the Action ..................................................................................... 1 2.0 Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................2 2.1 Alternatives Considered but Not Analyzed in Further Detail .................. 3 2.2 Alternative 1: No Action/ Status Quo ........................................................ 3 2.2.1 Field Operations at Gray’s Reef NMS ............................................................................. 5 2.2.2 Field Operations at Florida Keys NMS ......................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Field Operations at Flower Garden Banks NMS ......................................................... 28 2.3 Alternative 2: Status Quo without Voluntary and Precautionary Procedures ...................................................................................................... 40 2.3.1 Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary ....................................................................... 40 2.3.2 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ..................................................................... 40 2.3.3 Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary ...................................................... 41 3.0 Affected Environment .......................................................................... 42 3.1 Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary .................................................. 43 3.1.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 43 3.1.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................. 44 3.1.3 Socioeconomic Environment ........................................................................................ 48 3.1.4 Maritime Heritage and Cultural Environment .............................................................. 49 3.2 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary ................................................ 49 3.2.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 49 3.2.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................. 51 3.2.3 Socioeconomic Environment ........................................................................................ 54 3.2.4 Maritime Heritage and Cultural Environment .............................................................. 56 3.3 Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary ................................. 56 3.3.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 56 3.3.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................. 58 3.3.3 Socioeconomic Environment ........................................................................................ 60 3.3.4 Maritime Heritage and Cultural Environment .............................................................. 61 4.0 Environmental Consequences .............................................................. 62 4.1 Alternative 1 .............................................................................................. 63 4.1.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 63 i 4.1.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................. 74 4.1.3 Socioeconomic Resources ......................................................................................... 104 4.1.4 Maritime Heritage and Cultural Resources ................................................................ 111 4.2 Alternative 2 ............................................................................................ 118 4.2.1 Biological Environment ............................................................................................... 118 4.3 Cumulative Impacts ................................................................................ 119 4.3.1 Cumulative Effects on Physical Environment ........................................................... 119 4.3.2 Cumulative Effects on Biological Environment ........................................................ 120 4.3.3 Cumulative Effects on Socioeconomic Environment ............................................... 121 4.3.4 Cumulative Effects on Maritime Heritage and Cultural Environment ..................... 122 4.4 Conclusions ............................................................................................ 122 5.0 Consultations ....................................................................................... 129 5.1 Magnuson-Stevens Act .......................................................................... 129 5.1.1 Essential Fish Habitat Assessment ............................................................................ 130 5.2 Marine Mammal Protection Act ............................................................. 135 5.3 Endangered Species Act ........................................................................ 136 5.4 National Historic Preservation Act ........................................................ 138 5.5 Executive Order 12989, Environmental Justice ................................... 140 5.6 Executive Order 13158, Marine Protected Areas ................................. 140 5.7 Coastal Zone Management Act .............................................................. 140 6.0 References ............................................................................................ 142 Appendix A: Protected Species Lists ...................................................... 147 Appendix B: ONMS Vessels in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico Region ..................................................................................................................... 155 Appendix C: Marine Mammals and Hearing Ranges in All SEGOM Sanctuaries ................................................................................................ 157 Appendix D: Consultation Letters .......................................................... 159 Appendix E: ONMS BMPs for Vessel Operations ................................ 160 ii Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries for preparing this document: Sarah Fangman, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, ONMS Emma Hickerson, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, ONMS Sarah Kinsfather, Planning and Policy Division, Headquarters, ONMS Lauri McLaughlin, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region, ONMS Matt Nichols, Planning and Policy Division, Headquarters, ONMS Helene Scalliet, Planning and Policy Division, Headquarters, ONMS Jen Lechuga, Planning and Policy Division, Headquarters, ONMS Becky Shortland, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, ONMS George Sedberry, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region, ONMS Vicki Wedell, Planning and Policy Division, Headquarters, ONMS iii Introduction The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) serves as the trustee for the thirteen national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments (Figure 1). Together these protected areas encompass more than 600,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters from Washington State to the Florida Keys, and from New England to American Samoa. National marine sanctuaries are special areas set aside for long-term protection, conservation and management, and are part of our nation’s legacy to future generations. They contain deep ocean habitats of resplendent marine life, kelp forests, coral reefs, whale migration corridors, deep-sea canyons, historically significant shipwrecks, and other underwater archaeological sites. Each sanctuary is a unique place worthy of special protection. Because they serve as natural classrooms, cherished recreational spots and places for valuable commercial activities, national marine sanctuaries represent many things to many people. Organizationally,