ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE ISSUANCE OF AN INCIDENTAL HARASSMENT AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE MARINE MAMMALS BY HARASSMENT INCIDENTAL TO CONDUCTING OPEN WATER SEISMIC SURVEYS IN THE SIMPSON LAGOON AREA OF THE BEAUFORT SEA June 2012 LEAD AGENCY: USDOC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Helen Golde, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 427-8400 LOCATION: Beaufort Sea ABSTRACT: The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc. (BPXA) for the taking, by Level B harassment, of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to conducting open water seismic surveys in the Simpson Lagoon area of the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. - ii - TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND INITIALISMS .................................................................... IV CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Description of Action ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Purpose And Need ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Scoping Summary .................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Comments on Proposed IHA ................................................................................................................. 3 1.2.2 Issues within the Scope of this EA ........................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Applicable Laws and Necessary Federal Permits, Licenses, and Entitlements .................................. 3 1.3.1 National Environmental Policy Act ....................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 Endangered Species Act ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3.3 Marine Mammal Protection Act ............................................................................................................ 4 1.3.4 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act........................................................... 5 1.3.5 Coastal Zone Management Act .............................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Description of the BPXA’s Proposed OBC Seismic Survey ................................................................. 6 1.4.1 Seismic Source Arrays ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 Receivers and Recording Units .............................................................................................................. 7 1.4.3 Survey Design ........................................................................................................................................ 7 1.4.4 Vessels and Other Equipment ................................................................................................................ 8 1.4.5 Crew Housing and Transfer ................................................................................................................... 9 1.4.6 Dates, Duration and Action Area ........................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2 ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION ................................................ 11 2.1 Alternative 1—No Action Alternative .................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Alternative 2—Issuance of an IHA with Required Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Measures (Preferred Alternative) ........................................................................................................................ 11 2.3 Alternative 3—Issuance of an IHA with Additional Mitigation and Monitoring Measures ............ 12 2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Consideration ............................................. 12 CHAPTER 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................... 13 3.1 Physical Environment ........................................................................................................................... 13 3.1.1 Geology and Oceanography ................................................................................................................. 13 3.1.2 Air Quality ........................................................................................................................................... 14 3.1.3 Acoustic Environment ......................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.3.1 Sources of Natural Ocean Sounds .................................................................................................. 16 3.1.3.2 Sources of Anthropogenic Sounds ................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Biological Environment ......................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1 Lower Trophic Organisms ................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1.1 Pelagic Community ........................................................................................................................ 24 3.2.1.2 Benthic Community ....................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.1.3 Epontic Community ....................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.2 Fish, Fishery Resources, and Essential Fish Habitat ............................................................................ 25 3.2.2.1 Fish Resources of Arctic Alaska and Their Ecology ..................................................................... 26 3.2.2.2 Pacific Salmon and Essential Fish Habitat ..................................................................................... 27 3.2.2.3 Invertebrate Fishery Resources ...................................................................................................... 28 3.2.3 Marine Birds ........................................................................................................................................ 29 3.2.3.1 Threatened and Endangered Marine Birds ..................................................................................... 29 3.2.3.2 Other Marine Birds ........................................................................................................................ 31 3.2.4 Marine Mammals ................................................................................................................................. 35 3.2.4.1 Threatened and Endangered Marine Mammals .............................................................................. 35 3.2.4.2 Non-ESA-Listed Marine Mammals ............................................................................................... 45 3.3 Socioecomic Environment ..................................................................................................................... 62 - i - 3.3.1 Traditional Knowledge ........................................................................................................................ 62 3.3.2 Community and Economy ................................................................................................................... 63 3.3.2.1 North Slope Borough ..................................................................................................................... 63 3.3.2.2 Northwest Arctic Borough ............................................................................................................. 64 3.3.2.3 Economic Development ................................................................................................................. 66 3.3.3 Subsistence .......................................................................................................................................... 67 3.3.3.1 Whales ........................................................................................................................................... 68 3.3.3.2 Pinnipeds ........................................................................................................................................ 69 3.3.3.3 Polar Bears ..................................................................................................................................... 69 3.3.3.4 Birds and Waterfowl .....................................................................................................................