1/18 SF Meeting Regarding OCEAN NOISE CRITERIA

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There is a meeting in SF for anyone interested --

 

 

Cathy Liss, Legislative Director [action] Saturday, January 15, 2005 10:47 AMtSubject: SAPL eALERT - PUBLIC MEETINGS TO ANNOUNCE REVISIONS TO OCEAN NOISE CRITERIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 15, 2005

PUBLIC MEETINGS TO ANNOUNCE REVISIONS TO OCEAN NOISE CRITERIA

Dear Humanitarian:

The US Government is pushing to revise the allowable levels of ocean noise that affect marine mammals. Four public meetings are being held in the next few weeks to present the proposal and to receive public comment, and we encourage you to attend to show your support for lowering, NOT raising the levels. The meetings are scheduled for:

 

 

 

January 18, 2005 - San Francisco, CA

Hilton Fisherman's Wharf

2620 Jones Street

San Francisco, CA 94133

 

January 20, 2005 - Seattle, WA

NOAA Western Regional Center, Bldg. 9 Auditorium

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

 

January 25, 2005 - Boston, MA

New England Aquarium

Conference Center

Central Wharf

Boston, MA 02110

 

January 27, 2005 - Silver Spring, MD

NOAA Auditorium

1301 East West Highway

Silver Spring, MD 20910

 

All meetings are 5pm to 8pm local time.

Background:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NFMS) has a duty under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to regulate those who emit noise into the ocean. This includes the military, with their use of ordinance and sonar; the oil and gas industry with their seismic explorations; and research scientists who use seismic energy to study the oceans. The current maximum noise level that NMFS use in their authorizations is 180dB SPL.

 

The Issues:

NMFS is looking to revise the noise level criteria, upwards. Key arguments against this move include:

 

 

Since 1997 when NMFS started using 180 dB SPL, the following strandings coincide with the use of sonar or seismic airguns: the U.S. Virgin Islands (1998, 1999), the Bahamas (2000), Madeira (2000), the Canary Islands (2002 and 2004), Baja California (2002), and the NW coast of the United States (2003);

 

The US Navy guidance for human divers exposed to noise is a level of 145 dB SPL;

 

According to the US Navy in their investigation into the Bahamas stranding event, the level that the whales reacted to and died was 138 dB SPL;

 

Most of the scientists that are advising NMFS are navy scientist, navy contractors, or have received funding at some time from the Office of Naval Research;

 

The approach used to determine the new criteria disregards the long term effects of noise, does not account for noise damage to non-hearing organs, and does not take into account recent findings that suggest that certain whales get the 'bends' and die as a result of rising too quickly in response to noise levels just over background;

 

Over the last year, strong cautionary statements about the threat that loud ocean noise poses to marine mammals have been issued by: the European Parliament; the International Whaling Commission; the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS); the Spanish government in relation to the Canary Islands; and the World Conservation Union.

The marine mammals of the world need your help to protect them from this deadly threat. You are encouraged to contact Susan Tomiak of our staff if you can attend a meeting or have any questions at: (703) 836-4300 (collect if necessary) and by email at: susan.

 

If you cannot attend a meeting, and still wish to give NMFS your opinion, you may submit written comments to NMFS by mail, e-mail, or fax to:

 

By Mail:

Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS (F/PR2), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910

 

By Email:

AcousticEIS.Comments

 

By Facsimile:

(301) 427-2581

 

Please include in the subject line the following identifier requested by NMFS: I.D. 060804F. The deadline for written comments is March 4, 2005.

 

Further information may be obtained at the following NMFS website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Acoustics_Program

 

 

As always, thanks for everything you are doing on behalf of animals.Sincerely,Cathy LissLegislative Directorwww.saplonline.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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