National Marine Fisheries Service/NOAA, Commerce § 216.184

mysticetus), and gray (Eschrichtius § 216.181 Effective dates. robustus) . Regulations in this subpart are effec- (2) Odontocete whales—harbor por- tive from August 16, 2007 through Au- poise (Phocoena phocoena), spectacled gust 15, 2012. (Phocoena dioptrica), beluga (Dephinapterus leucas), Stenella spp., § 216.182 Permissible methods of tak- Risso’s (Grampus griseus), ing. rough-toothed dolphin (Steno (a) Under Letters of Authorization bredanensis), Fraser’s dolphin issued pursuant to §§ 216.106 and 216.188, (Lagenodelphis hosei), northern right- the Holder of the Letter of Authoriza- dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis), tion may incidentally, but not inten- southern right whale dolphin tionally, take marine by (Lissodelphis peronii), short-beaked Level A and Level B harassment within common dolphin (Delphius delphis), the areas described in § 216.180(a), pro- long-beaked common dolphin vided the activity is in compliance with all terms, conditions, and require- (Delphinus capensis), very long-beaked ments of these regulations and the ap- common dolphin (Delphinus tropicalis), propriate Letter of Authorization. Lagenorhynchus spp., Cephalorhynchus (b) The activities identified in spp., bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops § 216.180 must be conducted in a manner truncatus), Dall’s porpoise that minimizes, to the greatest extent (Phocoenoides dalli), melon-headed practicable, any adverse impacts on whale (Peponocephala spp.), beaked marine mammals and their habitat. whales ( spp., Hyperoodon spp., Mesoplodon spp., Cuvier’s beaked whale § 216.183 Prohibitions. (Ziphius cavirostris), Shepard’s beaked No person in connection with the ac- whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi), tivities described in § 216.180 shall: Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus (a) Take any marine not pacificus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), specified in § 216.180(b); (Pseudorca (b) Take any marine mammal speci- crassidens), pygmy killer whale (Feresa fied in § 216.180(b) other than by inci- attenuata), (Physeter dental, unintentional Level A and macrocephalus), dwarf and pygmy sperm Level B harassment; whales (Kogia simus and K. breviceps), (c) Take a marine mammal specified and short-finned and long-finned pilot in § 216.180(b) if such taking results in more than a negligible impact on the whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and species or stocks of such marine mam- G. melas). mal; or (3) Pinnipeds—hooded seal (d) Violate, or fail to comply with, (Cystophora cristata), harbor seal (Phoca the terms, conditions, and require- vitulina), spotted seal (P. largha), rib- ments of the regulations in this sub- bon seal (P. fasciata), gray seal part or any Letter of Authorization (Halichoerus grypus), elephant seal issued under §§ 216.106 and 216.188. (Mirounga angustirostris and M. leonina), Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus § 216.184 Mitigation. schauinslandi), Mediterranean monk The activity identified in § 216.180(a) seal (Monachus monachus), northern fur must be conducted in a manner that seal (Callorhinus ursinus), southern fur minimizes, to the greatest extent prac- seal (Arctocephalus spp.), harp seal ticable, adverse impacts on marine (Phoca groenlandica), Galapagos sea mammals and their habitats. When lion (Zalophus californianus wollebaeki), conducting operations identified in Japanese sea lion (Zalophus § 216.180, the mitigation measures de- californianus japonicus), Steller sea lion scribed in this section and in any Let- (Eumetopias jubatus), California sea lion ter of Authorization issued under (Zalophus californianus), Australian sea §§ 216.106 and 216.188 must be imple- lion (Neophoca cinerea), New Zealand mented. (a) Through monitoring described sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri), and South under § 216.185, the Holder of a Letter of American sea lion (Otaria flavescens). Authorization must act to ensure, to

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the greatest extent practicable, that no part of regular SURTASS LFA sonar marine mammal is subjected to a transmissions described in paragraph sound pressure level of 180 dB or great- (c)(1) of this section; and er. (3) Anytime after the HF/M3 source (b) If a marine mammal is detected has been powered down for more than 2 within or about to enter the mitigation minutes. zone (the area subjected to sound pres- (d) The HF/M3 sound pressure level sure levels of 180 dB or greater plus the will not be increased once a marine 1 km (0.54 nm) buffer zone extending mammal is detected; ramp-up may re- beyond the 180-dB zone), SURTASS sume once marine mammals are no LFA sonar transmissions will be imme- longer detected. diately delayed or suspended. Trans- (e) The Holder of a Letter of Author- missions will not resume earlier than ization will not operate the SURTASS 15 minutes after: LFA sonar, such that: (1) All marine mammals have left the (1) the SURTASS LFA sonar sound area of the mitigation and buffer zones; field exceeds 180 dB (re 1 microPa(rms)) and at a distance less than 12 nautical (2) There is no further detection of miles (nm) (22 kilometers (km)) from any marine mammal within the miti- any coastline, including offshore is- gation and buffer zones as determined lands; by the visual and/or passive or active (2) the SURTASS LFA sonar sound acoustic monitoring described in field exceeds 180 db (re 1 microPa(rms)) § 216.185. at a distance of 1 km (0.5 nm) seaward (c) The high-frequency marine mam- of the outer perimeter of any offshore mal monitoring sonar (HF/M3) de- biologically important area designated scribed in § 216.185 will be ramped-up in 216.184(f) during the biologically im- slowly to operating levels over a period portant period specified. of no less than 5 minutes: (f) The following areas have been des- (1) At least 30 minutes prior to any ignated by NMFS as Offshore Bio- SURTASS LFA sonar transmissions; logically Important Areas (OBIAs) for (2) Prior to any SURTASS LFA sonar marine mammals (by season if appro- calibrations or testings that are not priate):

Name of area Location of area Months of importance

(1) 200-m isobath North American East Coast .... From 28° N. to 50° N., west of 40° W ...... Year-round. (2) Antarctic Convergence Zone ...... 30° E. to 80° E. to 45°; 80° E. to 150° E. to October 1±March 31. 55°; S. 150° E. to 50° W. to 60° S.; 50° W. to 30° E. to 50° S. (3) Costa Rica Dome ...... Centered at 9° N. and 88° W ...... Year-round. (4) Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Centered at 21° N. and 157° 30' W ...... November 1 through May Marine Sanctuary-Penguin Bank. 1. (5) Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary ...... Boundaries in accordance with 15 CFR Year-round. 922.110. (6) Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanc- Boundaries in accordance with 15 CFR 922.80 Year-round. tuary. (7) Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary ...... Boundaries in accordance with 15 CFR 922.30 Year-round. (8) Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary ..... Boundaries within 23 nm of the coast from December January, March 47°07′ N. to 48°30′ N. latitude. and May. (9) Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanc- Boundaries in accordance with 15 CFR Year-round. tuary. 922.120. (10) The Gully ...... 44°13′ N., 59°06′ W. to 43°47′ N.; 58°35′ W. to Year-round. 43°35′ N.; 58°35′ W. to 43°35′ N.; 59°08′ W. to 44°06′ N.; 59°20′ W.

§ 216.185 Requirements for moni- thorization issued pursuant to §§ 216.106 toring. and 216.188 must: (a) In order to mitigate the taking of (1) Conduct visual monitoring from marine mammals by SURTASS LFA the ship’s bridge during all daylight sonar to the greatest extent prac- hours (30 minutes before sunrise until ticable, the Holder of a Letter of Au- 30 minutes after sunset);

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