PUBLIC OCS Permit 13-02 2013 CHUKCHI SEA 2D SEISMIC SURVEY ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION DOCUMENT Prepared for: TGS 2500 CityWest Boulevard Suite 2000 Houston, TX 77042 USA Tel: +1 713 860 2100 Fax: +1 713 334 3308 www.tgs.com Steve Whidden, P. Geophysist TGS Program Manager Tel: + 1 403 852 6115 Prepared by: ASRC Energy Services, Alaska Inc. 3900 C Street, Suite 700 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Tel: +1 907 339 6200 Fax: +1 907 339 5475 PUBLIC OCS Permit 13-02 PUBLIC OCS Permit 13-02 Environmental Evaluation Document Chukchi Sea, Alaska Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ ES-1 Project Description .................................................................................................................... ES-1 Purpose of the Environmental Evaluation Document ................................................................ ES-1 Regulatory Setting ..................................................................................................................... ES-2 Community Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement ................................................................. ES-2 Mitigation and Monitoring ......................................................................................................... ES-2 Biological, Physical, Socioeconomic, and Subsistence Resources Effects ................................ ES-3 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Purpose and Organization of the Environmental Evaluation Document ......................... 1-1 1.2 2013 Chukchi 2D Seismic Survey Project Description ................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 Seismic Survey Project Dates and Duration ....................................................... 1-5 1.2.2 Seismic Survey Project Region of Activity ........................................................ 1-5 1.2.3 Seismic Survey Project Components .................................................................. 1-5 1.2.3.1 Vessels ................................................................................................... 1-5 1.2.3.2 Sound Propagation Modeling ................................................................ 1-6 1.3 Community Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement ....................................................... 1-6 1.4 Chukchi Sea Marine Mammal Baseline Studies .............................................................. 1-8 1.4.1 1989–1991 Shell Western E&P Inc. Monitoring Program ................................. 1-8 1.4.2 1979–2012 Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals, Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project, and Chukchi Offshore Monitoring in Drilling Area Projects ............................................................................................................. 1-13 1.4.3 2006–2010 Joint Industry Monitoring Program ............................................... 1-13 1.4.4 2007–2011 Bowhead Whale Feeding Ecology Study....................................... 1-14 1.4.5 2010–2012 Chukchi Acoustic Oceanographic and Zooplankton Study ........... 1-14 1.4.6 2006–2012 Alaska Department of Fish & Game Satellite Tagging of Bowhead Whales .............................................................................................. 1-14 1.4.7 2008–2012 Chukchi Sea Environmental Studies Program ............................... 1-14 1.4.8 2012–2016 Hanna Shoal Ecosystem Study ...................................................... 1-15 2.0 Regulatory Framework ................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 US Regulatory Framework .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 ....................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 National Environmental Policy Act .................................................................... 2-1 2.1.3 Marine Mammal Protection Act ......................................................................... 2-2 2.1.4 Endangered Species Act ..................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.5 Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice .................................................. 2-3 2.2 Other US Regulatory Programs ....................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.1 Clean Air Act ...................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.2 Clean Water Act.................................................................................................. 2-3 2.3 Permits ............................................................................................................................. 2-4 2.3.1 Geological and Geophysical Exploration Permit ................................................ 2-4 2.3.2 Incidental Harassment Authorization ................................................................. 2-4 2.3.3 Letter of Authorization ....................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 International Environmental Treaties and Agreements ................................................... 2-5 2.4.1 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) ......................................................................................................... 2-5 TGS i February 2013 15400-07 12-203 Rev. 1 PUBLIC OCS Permit 13-02 Environmental Evaluation Document Chukchi Sea, Alaska 2.4.2 International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments .............................................................................. 2-6 2.4.3 International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships .............................................................................................................. 2-6 2.4.4 International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Cooperation ......................................................................................................... 2-6 2.4.5 Protocol on Preparedness, Response, and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances ............................................... 2-6 2.4.6 World-wide Navigational Warning System Expanded to Arctic ........................ 2-6 2.4.7 Agreement of Conservation of Polar Bears (1973) ............................................. 2-7 2.4.8 Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska–Chukotka Polar Bear Population (2005) ................ 2-7 2.4.9 International Whaling Commission and Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission ........................................................................................................ 2-7 2.5 Marine Mammal Co-management Groups in Alaska ...................................................... 2-7 3.0 Overview of Ecosystems of Northeastern Chukchi Sea ............................................................... 3-1 4.0 Physical Environment ................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Meteorology and Air Quality ........................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Air Temperature .................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1.2 Wind ................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.3 Storms ................................................................................................................. 4-4 4.1.4 Air Quality .......................................................................................................... 4-4 4.2 Physical Oceanography .................................................................................................... 4-4 4.3 Sea Ice .............................................................................................................................. 4-5 4.4 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 4-5 4.5 Acoustic Environment ..................................................................................................... 4-9 4.5.1 Natural Ocean Sound Sources .......................................................................... 4-11 4.5.1.1 Non-biological Sound Sources ............................................................ 4-11 4.5.1.2 Biological Sound Sources .................................................................... 4-12 4.5.2 Anthropogenic Sound Sources .......................................................................... 4-12 5.0 Biological Environment ................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.1 Lower Trophic Organisms ............................................................................................... 5-1 5.1.1 Baseline Conditions ............................................................................................ 5-1 5.1.1.1 Benthic Organisms ................................................................................