Free Declaration in Support - District Court of California - California

Case 3:07-cv-04771-EDL

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Case 3:07-cv-04771-EDL

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Application for Letters of Authorization Under Section 101 (a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act for Activities Associated with the Employment of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar

Department of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations May 2006

Case 3:07-cv-04771-EDL

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA

species of fish that have been studied. Nevertheless, the 180-dB criterion is maintained for the analyses presented in the Draft SEIS, with emphasis that this value is highly conservative and protective of fish. Therefore, it is unlikely that prey availability (for mysticetes, odontocetes, and pinnipeds) would be altered for more than a few hours. Given the geographic restrictions and mitigation measures incorporated into all SURTASS LFA sonar employments, and the fact that operations would not occur close to offshore biologically important areas during biologically important seasons for marine mammals (e.g., recognized feeding grounds), the potential for significant indirect effects is negligible.

7.2

Summary of Effects on Stocks Under the Current Rule

In the Annual Reports, the Navy provides a post-operational assessment of any incidental harassments that have occurred within the LFA mitigation and buffer zones and estimates of the percentages of marine mammal stocks possibly harassed incidentally using predictive modeling based on dates/times/location of operations, system characteristics, oceanographic/environmental conditions, and animal demographics. As of May 2005, three annual reports have been submitted to NMFS (DON, 2003a; 2004a; 2005a). Table 7-1 summarizes these operations by LOA. Tables 7-2 through 7-8 provide post-operational risk estimates for marine mammal stocks as reported in the first three Annual Reports (DON, 2003a; 2004a; 2005a). The durations of each mission were based on actual transmission times, and oceanographic environmental conditions were based on the date/time/location of the actual operations. Animal density and stock/abundance estimates were updated based on current literature reviews of the operational areas. ESA-listed species are shown in bold italics. These analyses demonstrate that the estimated percent risk for exposure of 180 dB or greater received levels (RL) with mitigation was zero and the estimated percent risk for exposure of 120 to 180 dB RL with mitigation was minimal.

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA

Table 7-1 Summary of SURTASS LFA sonar operations. Length of Mission (days) 1.6 5.9 0.7 13.2 2.7 1.7 8.4 7.3 17.0 4.9 3.6 13.4 8.2 3.5 9.0 3.1 2.5 0.8 8.9 3.4 7.5 1.9 Mitigation Protocol Suspensions/ delays 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 11 1 0 1

Mission Number LOA 1 R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest LOA 2 R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest USNS IMPECCABLE USNS IMPECCABLE USNS IMPECCABLE USNS IMPECCABLE USNS IMPECCABLE LOA No. 3 R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest R/V Cory Chouest USNS IMPECCABLE USNS IMPECCABLE 1 See Figure 7-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2

Site1

Season

Active Transmission Time (hours) 3.8 14.4 1.6 31.7 6.5 4.1 20.1 17.4 40.7 11.7 8.7 32.2 19.7 8.4 21.5 7.4 6.0 1.8 21.5 8.1 18.1 4.6

2 2 2 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 4 7 2 2

Winter Winter Spring Spring Summer Summer Summer Fall Winter Winter Spring Spring Spring Spring Spring Summer Summer Summer Summer Summer Winter Winter

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA

Figure 7-1 SURTASS LFA Sonar Western Pacific Operational Areas

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA Table 7-2. ANNUAL REPORT 1: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 2.

North Philippine Sea (1 Mission)
Site 2 Animal Minke whale Bryde's whale Sperm whale Kogia Ginko-toothed beaked whale Hubb's beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Blainvill'e beaked whale Killer whale Pygmy killer whale False killer whale Short-finned pilot whale Bottlenose dolphin Risso's dolphin Pantropical dolphin Striped dolphin # Animals in Area 1080 180 300 30 240 0 360 240 30 30 870 4590 4380 3180 4110 9870 # Animals Stock 25000 22000 102112 3000 10000 10000 10000 10000 8500 15000 16668 53608 168791 83289 438064 570038 % Risk (w/mit) 120180 dB 0.12 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.07 0.00 0.10 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.16 0.26 0.10 0.14 0.03 0.06 % Risk (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA Table 7-3. ANNUAL REPORT 2: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 2.

North Philippine Sea (2 Missions)
Site 2 Animal Minke whale Bryde's whale Sperm whale Kogia Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Blainville's beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Killer whale Pygmy killer whale False killer whale Short-finned pilot whale Bottlenosed dolphin Risso's dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphin Striped dolphin # Animals in Area 1080 180 300 930 240 240 360 120 630 870 4590 4380 3180 4110 9870 # Animals Stock 25000 22000 102112 166553 10000 10000 10000 12256 30214 16668 53608 168791 83289 438064 570038 % Risk (w/mit) 120180 dB 0.27 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.15 0.15 0.22 0.07 0.14 0.34 0.56 0.20 0.30 0.07 0.12 % Risk (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA Table 7-4. ANNUAL REPORT 2: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 3

West Philippine Sea (1 Mission)
Site 3 Animal # Animals in Area 60 180 540 0 300 510 240 360 240 870 630 630 2280 2070 4110 3180 4380 4110 510 4920 3180 3180 # Animals Stock 9250 22000 25000 394 102112 166553 10000 10000 10000 16668 30214 36770 53608 219032 219032 83289 168791 438064 145900 570038 83289 83289 % Risk (w/mit) 120-180 dB 0.06 0.08 0.20 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.15 0.29 0.19 0.49 0.20 0.16 0.40 0.10 0.19 0.40 0.29 0.24 0.04 0.09 0.42 0.40 % Risk (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Fin whale Bryde's whale Minke whale Humpback whale (winter only) Sperm whale Kogia Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Blainville's beaked whale False killer whale Pygmy killer whale Melon-headed whale Short-finned pilot whale Spinner dolphin Fraser's dolphin Common dolphin Bottlenose dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Striped dolphin Risso's dolphin Pacific white-sided dolphin

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA Table 7-5. ANNUAL REPORT 2: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 4.

Guam (4 Missions)
Site 4 Animal Blue whale Fin whale Bryde's whale Humpback whale (winter only) Minke whale Sperm whale Cuvier's beaked whale Blainville's beaked whale Kogia Spinner dolphin Spotted dolphin Striped dolphin Bottlenose dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Risso's dolphin False killer whale Melon-headed whale Short-finned pilot whale # Animals in Area 60 60 270 0 60 300 360 240 510 13290 12210 480 3090 510 210 510 630 7110 # Animals Stock 4048 1898 5765 4005 25000 39200 90725 8032 166553 1015059 2195353 1820958 299434 145729 258084 35132 36770 89334 % Risk (w/mit) 120-180 dB 0.25 0.56 0.88 0.00 0.05 0.12 0.06 0.47 0.05 0.36 0.16 0.01 0.31 0.10 0.02 0.34 0.40 1.85 % Risk (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA

Table 7-6.

ANNUAL REPORT 3: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 1.

East of Japan 2 Missions

Site 1

Animal

# Animals in Area 60 60 180 180 1080 3 300 930 150 1620 87 150 1080 630 60 3840 150 1200 22830 5130 7770 1770 3330 2910 2460

# Animals Stock 9250 9250 37000 22000 25000 922 102112 350553 22799 90725 8000 22799 16668 30214 15000 53608 1015059 220789 3286163 168791 438064 145729 570038 83289 67769

% Affected 120180 dB 0.14 0.14 0.10 0.17 0.94 0.07 0.05 0.05 0.13 0.35 0.14 0.13 1.58 0.51 0.19 1.67 0.00 0.15 0.19 0.86 0.48 0.33 0.15 0.99 0.99

% Affected (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Blue whale Fin whale Sei whale Bryde's whale Minke whale N. Pacific right whale Sperm whale Kogia Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Baird's beaked whale Hubbs' beaked whale False killer whale Pygmy killer whale Melon-headed whale Short-finned pilot whale Spinner dolphin Fraser's dolphin Common dolphin Bottlenose dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Striped dolphin Risso's dolphin Pacific white-sided dolphin

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Table 7-7.

ANNUAL REPORT 3: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 2.

North Philippine Sea 2 Missions

Site 2

Animal Minke whale Bryde's whale N. Pacific right whale Sperm whale Kogia Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Blainville's beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Killer whale Pygmy killer whale False killer whale Short-finned pilot whale Bottlenose dolphin Risso's dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphin Striped dolphin Melon-headed Common dolphin Spinner dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Fraser's dolphin Pacific white-sided dolphin

# Animals in Area 1080 180 3 300 930 150 150 1620 120 630 870 4590 4380 3180 4110 9870 360 16860 150 1770 1200 3570

# Animals Stock 25000 22000 922 102112 166553 22799 8032 90725 12256 30241 16668 53608 168791 83289 438064 570038 36770 3286163 1015059 145729 220789 67769

% Affected 120180 dB 0.70 0.14 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.11 0.30 0.29 0.17 0.37 0.92 1.50 0.55 0.80 0.18 0.33 0.17 0.10 0.00 0.23 0.10 0.99

% Affected (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

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LOA Application Under MMPA for SURTASS LFA

Table 7-8.

ANNUAL REPORT 3: Post-operational estimates of marine mammal stocks potentially affected for Site 3.

West Philippine Sea 5 Missions

Site 3

Animal

# Animals in Area 60 180 540 0 300 510 150 90 150 870 630 4290 2280 150 1200 16860 4380 4110 1770 4920 3180 7350

# Animals Stock 9250 22000 25000 394 102112 350553 22799 90725 8032 16668 30241 36770 53608 1015059 220789 3286163 168791 438064 145729 570038 83289 100757

% Affected 120180 dB 0.53 0.67 1.75 3.27 0.19 0.09 0.44 0.07 1.27 4.22 1.69 9.46 3.46 0.01 0.49 0.46 2.45 0.84 1.10 0.77 3.60 9.72

% Affected (w/mit) 180 dB 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Fin whale Bryde's whale Minke whale Humpback whale (winter only) Sperm whale Kogia Ginkgo-toothed beaked whale Cuvier's beaked whale Blainville's beaked whale False killer whale Pygmy killer whale Melon-headed whale Short-finned pilot whale Spinner dolphin Fraser's dolphin Common dolphin Bottlenose dolphin Pantropical spotted dolphin Rough-toothed dolphin Striped dolphin Risso's dolphin Pacific white-sided dolphin

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