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Environmental Assessment PROPOSED ACTION: Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to the United States Geological Service to Take Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to a Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean 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: Jonathan Molineaux National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources Permits and Conservation Division 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-427-8401 LOCATION: Northwest Atlantic Ocean ABSTRACT: This Environmental Assessment analyzes the environmental impacts of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources proposals to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the United States Geological Service by Level B harassment of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to a marine geophysical survey in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. The IHA would be valid from August 8, 2018 through August 7, 2019. DATE: July 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction and Purpose and Need ................................................................................. 4 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Applicant’s Incidental Take Authorization Request ..................................................................... 4 1.2.1. Marine Mammals in the Proposed Action Area .................................................................... 5 1.3. Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1. Description of Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 6 1.3.2. Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.3.3. Need ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.4. Scoping and Public Involvement .......................................................................................... 7 1.4. Other Environmental Laws or Consultations ................................................................................ 8 1.4.1. The Endangered Species Act ................................................................................................ 8 1.4.2. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ......................................... 9 1.5. Document Scope ......................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................ 11 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2. Considerations for Selecting Alternatives ................................................................................... 11 2.3. Description of Applicant’s Specified Activity ............................................................................ 12 2.3.1. Specified Time and Specified Area..................................................................................... 14 2.4. Alternative 1 – Issuance of an Authorization with Mitigation Measures ................................... 15 2.4.1. Proposed Mitigation and Monitoring Measures .................................................................. 15 2.5. Alternative 2 – No Action ........................................................................................................... 21 2.6. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Consideration ........................................ 21 Chapter 3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................... 22 3.1. Physical Environment ................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.1. Ambient Sound ................................................................................................................... 23 3.2. Biological Environment .............................................................................................................. 24 3.2.1. Marine Mammals ................................................................................................................ 24 3.3. Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 33 3.3.1. Subsistence .......................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................... 34 4.1. Effects of Alternative 1 – Issuance of an IHA with Mitigation Measures .................................. 34 4.1.1. Impacts to Marine Mammal Habitat ................................................................................... 34 4.1.2. Impacts to Marine Mammals .............................................................................................. 36 4.1.3. Estimated Takes of Marine Mammals by Level B Harassment .......................................... 47 4.2. Effects of Alternative 2- No Action Alternative ......................................................................... 50 4.3. Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................................................... 50 4.3.1. Past, Present, and Future Marine Geophysical Survey Activities in the Survey Area ........ 51 4.3.2. Vessel Traffic ...................................................................................................................... 56 4.3.3. Fisheries .............................................................................................................................. 56 4.3.4. Disease ................................................................................................................................ 57 4.3.5. Marine Pollution ................................................................................................................. 57 4.3.6. Military Activities ............................................................................................................... 58 4.3.7. Climate Change ................................................................................................................... 58 4.3.8. Marine Mammal Watching ................................................................................................. 59 Chapter 5 List of Preparers and Agencies Consulted ...................................................................... 60 Chapter 6 Literature Cited................................................................................................................. 61 USGS MARINE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2 July 2018 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 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 NSF National Science Foundation NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OPR Office of Protected Resources OMB Office of Management and Budget PSO Protected Species Observer rms root-mean-square USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service USGS US Geological Survey USGS MARINE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 3 July 2018 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 has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns (Level B harassment). Disruption of behavioral patterns includes, but is not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding or sheltering. However, there are exceptions to the prohibition on take in Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA that gives the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) the authority to authorize the incidental but not intentional take of small numbers of marine mammals by harassment, provided certain determinations are made and statutory and regulatory procedures are met. Refer to Chapter 2 for details regarding this exception and NMFS incidental harassment authorization (IHA)
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