The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This IHA authorizes Scripps to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment, marine mammals during a low-energy marine geophysical survey in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. This Authorization is valid from September 22, 2017, through September 19, 2018. Click here more detail and relevant links.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Hawaii Southern California Training and Testing Study Area for a period of five years, from December 26, 2018 through December 25, 2023. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS has published receipt of the Navy’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy’s application and request. Comments and information must be received by NMFS no later than November 20, 2017. Click here for more details and relevant links.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Hawaii/Southern California Training and Testing Study Area for a period of five years, from December 26, 2018 through December 25, 2023. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy’s application and request. Click here for more details and relevant links.
The International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) and International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) are holding their annual Joint HSSE Forum on Wednesday, 15 November & Thursday, 16 November 2017 in Houston, TX at Schlumberger WesternGeco. This forum will include presentations on offshore oil health, safety, environment and security. Click here for more details and relevant links.
The International association of Geophysical contractors published the following article:
“Seismic surveyors follow rules to protect marine life
By Gail Adams
My Word columnist
OCTOBER 9, 2017, 10:00 AM
The United States has an 80-year history of discovering helpful scientific data from marine seismic surveying. Currently, less than 10 percent of federal waters are open for energy exploration due to current regulations. Also, to date, there is no scientific data indicating any risks to marine life associated with sound from seismic exploration activities.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has published notice that NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take, by harassment, of marine mammals incidental to conducting pier construction at the Navy Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, beginning October 2018 and ending March 2022. Pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS requests comments on the Navy’s request. NMFS must receive any comments and information no later than November 1, 2017. Click here for more information and relevant links.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget is reviewing draft proposed rules authorizing the Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Conducting Geological and Geophysical Exploration of Mineral and Energy Resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. These draft proposed rules were developed and sent to OMB by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS has not yet published them for public comment yet. OMB is reviewing the draft proposed rules under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563. Click here for OMB’s website for this review.
The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness has filed comments on the U.N.’s Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals document “Addressing the adverse impact of underwater noise on migratory species.” CRE’s comments made the following points, among others.
The technical guidance documents for this UN Voluntary Commitment use and rely on a recent U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Document that CMS refers to as “(NOAA, 2016).” This NOAA document is often referred to as NOAA’s Acoustic Guidance.
The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness recommends that CMS not use or rely on (NOAA, 2016) at this time for several reasons, including the following.
