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EA of Hawaii-Emperor Seismic Survey

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EA of Hawaii-Emperor Seismic Survey Final Environmental Assessment/Analysis of Marine Geophysical Surveys by the R/V Marcus G. Langseth in the North Pacific Ocean, 2018/2019 Prepared for Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 61 Route 9W, P.O. Box 1000 Palisades, NY 10964-8000 and National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences 4201 Wilson Blvd., Suite 725 Arlington, VA 22230 by LGL Ltd., environmental research associates 22 Fisher St., P.O. Box 280 King City, ON L7B 1A6 22 August 2018 LGL Report FA0143-03 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................. v ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................... viii I PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Mission of NSF ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action ................................................................................. 1 1.3 Background of NSF-funded Marine Seismic Research ................................................................... 2 1.4 Regulatory Setting ........................................................................................................................... 2 II ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................................................... 2 2.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................... 2 2.1.1 Project Objectives and Context ........................................................................................... 2 2.1.2 Proposed Activities ............................................................................................................. 5 2.1.3 Monitoring and Mitigation Measures ................................................................................. 8 2.2 Alternative 1: No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 11 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Analysis .................................................... 11 2.3.1 Alternative E1: Alternative Location ................................................................................ 12 2.3.2 Alternative E2: Use of Alternative Technologies ............................................................. 12 III AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................................... 13 3.1 Oceanography ................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Protected Areas .............................................................................................................................. 14 3.3 Marine Mammals ........................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.1 Mysticetes ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Odontocetes ...................................................................................................................... 26 3.3.3 Pinnipeds ........................................................................................................................... 40 3.4 Sea Turtles ..................................................................................................................................... 43 3.4.1 Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) .................................................................... 43 3.4.2 Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) ................................................................................ 44 3.4.3 Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) ..................................................................... 45 3.4.4 Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) .................................................................... 46 3.4.5 Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) ........................................................................................ 47 3.5 Seabirds .......................................................................................................................................... 48 3.5.1 Newell’s Shearwater ......................................................................................................... 48 3.5.2 Hawaiian Petrel ................................................................................................................. 49 3.5.3 Short-tailed Albatross ....................................................................................................... 49 3.5.4 Band-rumped Storm-Petrel ............................................................................................... 50 3.6 Fish, Essential Fish Habitat, and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern ......................................... 50 3.6.1 ESA-Listed Fish Species .................................................................................................. 50 3.6.2 Essential Fish Habitat ....................................................................................................... 51 3.6.3 Habitat Areas of Particular Concern ................................................................................. 51 3.7 Fisheries ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Final Environmental Assessment/Analysis for L-DEO North Pacific Ocean, 2018/2019 Page ii Table of Contents 3.7.1 Commercial Fisheries ....................................................................................................... 54 3.7.2 Recreational and Subsistence Fisheries ............................................................................ 55 3.7.3 Aquaculture ....................................................................................................................... 55 3.8 Recreational SCUBA Diving and Shipwrecks............................................................................... 55 IV ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....................................................................................................... 55 4.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................. 55 4.1.1 Direct Effects on Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles and Their Significance ................... 55 4.1.2 Direct Effects on Marine Invertebrates, Fish, Fisheries, EFH, and Their Significance ...................................................................................................................... 78 4.1.3 Direct Effects on Seabirds and Their Significance ........................................................... 84 4.1.4 Indirect Effects on Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, Seabirds and Fish and Their Significance ...................................................................................................................... 85 4.1.5 Direct Effects on Recreational SCUBA Divers and Dive Sites and Their Significance ...................................................................................................................... 85 4.1.6 Cumulative Effects ........................................................................................................... 85 4.1.7 Unavoidable Impacts ........................................................................................................ 90 4.1.8 Coordination with Other Agencies and Processes ............................................................ 90 4.2 No Action Alternative .................................................................................................................... 91 V LIST OF PREPARERS ................................................................................................................................ 92 VI LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................................................... 93 LIST OF APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................. 141 APPENDIX A: DETERMINATION OF MITIGATION ZONES .......................................................................... A-1 APPENDIX B: MARINE MAMMAL DENSITIES ........................................................................................... B-1 APPENDIX C: MARINE MAMMAL TAKE CALCULATIONS ......................................................................... C-1 APPENDIX D: ENSONIFIED AREAS FOR MARINE MAMMAL TAKE CALCULATIONS ................................. D-1 APPENDIX E: NMFS TAKE AUTHORIZATION METHODOLOGY ................................................................ E-1 APPENDIX F: EFH LETTER OF CONCURRENCE.........................................................................................
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