Environmental Assessment
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PROPOSED ACTION: Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to Take Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to Marine Geophysical Surveys in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, 2017/2018 TYPE OF STATEMENT: Environmental Assessment LEAD AGENCY: U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Jordan Carduner National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources Permits and Conservation Division 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-427-8401 LOCATION: Southwest Pacific Ocean ABSTRACT: This Environmental Assessment analyzes the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources’ proposal to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, for takes of small numbers of marine mammals by Level A and Level B harassment incidental to Marine Geophysical Surveys in the Southwest Pacific Ocean from 2017 to 2018 DATE: October 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction and Purpose and Need ................................................................................. 4 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.1. Applicant’s Incidental Take Authorization Request ............................................................. 4 1.1.2. Marine Mammals in the Proposed Action Area .................................................................... 8 1.2. Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.2.1. Description of Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 9 1.2.2. Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 9 1.2.3. Need ...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3. The Environmental Review Process ............................................................................................. 9 1.3.1. The National Environmental Policy Act ............................................................................. 10 1.3.2. Scoping and Public Involvement ........................................................................................ 10 1.4. Other Environmental Laws or Consultations .............................................................................. 11 1.4.1. The Endangered Species Act .............................................................................................. 11 1.4.2. E.O. 12114: Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions .............................. 12 1.5. Document Scope ......................................................................................................................... 12 1.5.1. Best Available Data and Information .................................................................................. 12 Chapter 2 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.2. Description of Applicants Proposed Activities ........................................................................... 15 2.2.1. Specified Time and Specified Area..................................................................................... 17 2.3. Alternative 1 – Issuance of an Authorization with Mitigation Measures ................................... 17 2.3.1. Proposed Mitigation and Monitoring Measures .................................................................. 18 2.3.2 Proposed Reporting Measures ............................................................................................ 20 2.4. Alternative 2 – No Action ........................................................................................................... 20 2.5. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Consideration ........................................ 21 Chapter 3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 22 3.1. Physical Environment ................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.1. Ambient Sound ................................................................................................................... 22 3.2. Biological Environment .............................................................................................................. 23 3.2.1. Marine Mammal Habitat ..................................................................................................... 23 3.2.2. Marine Mammals ................................................................................................................ 23 3.3. Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 39 3.3.1. Subsistence .......................................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 40 4.1. Effects of Alternative 1 – Issuance of an IHA with Mitigation Measures .................................. 40 4.1.1. Impacts to Marine Mammal Habitat ................................................................................... 40 4.1.2. Impacts to Marine Mammals .............................................................................................. 40 4.1.3. Estimated Takes of Marine Mammals by Level A and Level B Harassment ..................... 46 4.2. Effects of Alternative 2- No Action Alternative ......................................................................... 57 4.2.1. Impacts to Marine Mammal Habitat ................................................................................... 57 4.2.2. Impacts to Marine Mammals .............................................................................................. 57 4.3. Unavoidable Adverse Impacts .................................................................................................... 57 4.4. Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................................................... 58 4.4.1. Future Seismic Survey Activities in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean ................................ 58 4.4.2. Climate Change ................................................................................................................... 58 4.4.3. Coastal Development .......................................................................................................... 59 4.4.4. Marine Pollution ................................................................................................................. 59 4.4.5. Disease ................................................................................................................................ 59 4.4.6. Increased Vessel Traffic ...................................................................................................... 59 Chapter 5 List of Preparers and Agencies Consulted ...................................................................... 60 Chapter 6 Literature Cited................................................................................................................. 61 MMPA INCIDENTAL TAKE AUTHORIZATION TO LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2 October 2017 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations µPa microPascal CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations dB decibel EA Environmental Assessment EFH Essential Fish Habitat EIS Environmental Impact Statement FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact FR Federal Register IHA Incidental Harassment Authorization Km kilometer L-DEO Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory m meter MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act MSFCMA Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act NAO NOAA Administrative Order NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NSF National Science Foundation OPR Office of Protected Resources OMB Office of Management and Budget PAM Passive Acoustic Monitoring PSAO Protected Species Acoustic Observer PSO Protected Species Observer rms root-mean-square USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service MMPA INCIDENTAL TAKE AUTHORIZATION TO LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 3 October 2017 Chapter 1 Introduction and Purpose and Need 1.1. Background The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1631 et seq.) prohibits the incidental taking of marine mammals. The incidental take of a marine mammal falls under three categories: mortality, serious injury or harassment (i.e., injury and behavioral effects). Harassment1 is any act of pursuit, torment or annoyance that has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment) or