REQUEST FOR REGULATIONS AND LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION FOR THE INCIDENTAL TAKING OF MARINE MAMMALS RESULTING FROM U.S. NAVY TESTING AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN THE POINT MUGU SEA RANGE STUDY AREA Submitted to: Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3226 Submitted by: Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Code: EB2R00M 575 I Street, Suite 1 M/S 0460 Point Mugu, CA 93042-5049 August 2020 Request for Letter of Authorization for the Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals Resulting from U.S. Navy Testing and Training Activities in the Point Mugu Sea Range Study Area Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIED ACTIVITY ...................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.3 PRIMARY MISSION AREAS ............................................................................................................................... 1-4 1.3.1 Air Warfare .......................................................................................................................................... 1-4 1.3.1.1 Air-to-Air ...................................................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.1.2 Surface-to-Air ............................................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.2 Electronic Warfare ............................................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3.3 Surface Warfare ................................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.3.3.1 Air-to-Surface ............................................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.3.3.2 Surface-to-Surface ....................................................................................................................................... 1-6 1.3.3.3 Subsurface-to-Surface .................................................................................................................................. 1-6 1.4 DESCRIPTION OF STRESSORS ............................................................................................................................ 1-7 1.4.1 Acoustic Stressors (Surface Explosives; Target and Missile Launches from San Nicolas Island) .......... 1-7 1.4.1.1 Context for Explosives as Acoustic Stressors in the PMSR Study Area ......................................................... 1-7 1.4.1.2 Explosive Stressors ....................................................................................................................................... 1-8 1.4.1.3 Land-based Launch Noise on San Nicolas Island ........................................................................................ 1-11 1.5 PROPOSED ACTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1-11 1.5.1 Current and Proposed Activities ......................................................................................................... 1-11 1.5.1.1 Combat Systems Tests ............................................................................................................................... 1-12 1.5.1.2 Fleet Training ............................................................................................................................................. 1-13 1.5.1.3 Explosives At or Near the Surface .............................................................................................................. 1-13 2 DATES, DURATION, AND SPECIFIED GEOGRAPHIC REGION ....................................................................... 2-1 2.1 POINT MUGU SEA RANGE............................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Special Use Airspace ............................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.2 Point Mugu Sea Range Controlled Sea Space Operating Areas ........................................................... 2-2 3 SPECIES AND NUMBERS OF MARINE MAMMALS ..................................................................................... 3-1 4 AFFECTED SPECIES STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION ....................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES WITHIN THE STUDY AREA ......................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) .................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1.1.1 Status and Management .............................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1.1.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1.1.3 Population and Abundance .......................................................................................................................... 4-5 4.1.2 Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera brydei/edeni) ........................................................................................ 4-5 4.1.2.1 Status and Management .............................................................................................................................. 4-5 4.1.2.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ............................................................................................................. 4-5 4.1.2.3 Population and Abundance .......................................................................................................................... 4-6 4.1.3 Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) ..................................................................................................... 4-6 4.1.3.1 Status and Management .............................................................................................................................. 4-6 4.1.3.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ............................................................................................................. 4-6 4.1.3.3 Population and Abundance .......................................................................................................................... 4-7 4.1.4 Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) ..................................................................................................... 4-8 4.1.4.1 Status and Management .............................................................................................................................. 4-8 4.1.4.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ............................................................................................................. 4-8 4.1.4.3 Population and Abundance ........................................................................................................................ 4-12 4.1.5 Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) ................................................................................... 4-13 4.1.5.1 Status and Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-13 4.1.5.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ........................................................................................................... 4-13 4.1.5.3 Population and Abundance ........................................................................................................................ 4-17 4.1.6 Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) ...................................................................................... 4-18 i Request for Letter of Authorization for the Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals Resulting from U.S. Navy Testing and Training Activities in the Point Mugu Sea Range Study Area Table of Contents 4.1.6.1 Status and Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-18 4.1.6.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ........................................................................................................... 4-18 4.1.6.3 Population and Abundance ........................................................................................................................ 4-18 4.1.7 Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) .................................................................................................... 4-18 4.1.7.1 Status and Management ............................................................................................................................ 4-18 4.1.7.2 Geographic Range and Distribution ........................................................................................................... 4-19 4.1.7.3 Population and Abundance .......................................................................................................................