NMFS Biological Opinion on U.S. Navy training ... - Govsupport.us

FINAL PROGRAMMATIC BIOLOGICAL OPINION ON U.S. NAVY ACTIVITIES IN THE HAWAII RANGE COMPLEX 2008-2013
exposed to active sonar during future Rim of the Pacific exercises (<strong>NMFS</strong>’ estimate) and for 264 of those sperm
whales to exhibit behavioral responses that <strong>NMFS</strong> would classify as harassment for the purposes of the MMPA. The
narratives that follow represent <strong>NMFS</strong>’ attempt to reconcile the three approaches and estimate the number of instances
in which individuals of the different endangered species might be exposed to active sonar during the activities the
U.S. Navy plans to conduct in the Hawai'i Range Complex each year from December 2008 through December 2013.
For all of the endangered marine mammals we have discussed thus far, we start with the exposure estimates produced
by our first scenario for all species except humpback whales. As we discussed previously, these estimates
Table 19. Estimated number of exposure events in which sperm whales might be exposed to mid-frequency active
sonar associated with particular exercises the Navy plans to conduct in the Hawai'i Range Complex. Estimates
are based on <strong>NMFS</strong>’ first scenario (see text for explanation of scenarios). Estimates for Undersea Warfare
Exercises (USWEX) and anti-submarine warfare exercises (ASW) are by event, annual totals are presented in
parentheses. The row labeled “(140 – 150 dB)” represents the number of exposure events that might occur at
received levels between 140 and 150 dB.
Number of Exposure Events
Received Level
Years with RIMPAC
Years without RIMPAC
RIMPAC USWEX ASW 1 Total USWEX ASW Total
140 – 195 dB 1,952
514
(2,568)
73 (2,330)
2,539
(6,850)
514
(2,568)
73 (2,330)
587
(4,898)
(140 – 150 dB) 1,142
301
(1,503)
43 (1,363)
1,486
(4,008)
301
(1,503)
43 (1,363)
344
(2,866)
195 – 215 dB 5 1 (7) 0 (6) 6 (18) 1 (7) 0 (6) 1 (13)
> 215 dB 1 0 (1) 0 (1) 1 (3) 0 (1) 0 (1) 0 (2)
Total 1,958
816
(4,079)
116
(3,700)
4,032
(10,879)
515
(2,576)
73 (2,337)
Notes 1 These anti-submarine warfare exercises primarily represent tracing exercises
(TRACKEX) and torpedo exercises (TORPEX)
588
(4,913)
Table 20. Estimated number of exposure events in which Hawai’ian monk seals might be exposed to midfrequency
active sonar associated with particular exercises the Navy plans to conduct in the Hawai'i Range
Complex. Estimates are based on <strong>NMFS</strong>’ first scenario (see text for explanation of scenarios). Estimates for
Undersea Warfare Exercises (USWEX) and anti-submarine warfare exercises (ASW) are by event, annual totals are
presented in parentheses. The row labeled “(140 – 150 dB)” represents the number of exposure events that might
occur at received levels between 140 and 150 dB.
Number of Exposure Events
Received Level
Years with RIMPAC
Years without RIMPAC
RIMPAC USWEX ASW 1 Total USWEX ASW Total
140 – 195 dB 49 13 (64) 2 (58) 64 (171) 13 (64) 2 (58) 15 (122)
(140 – 150 dB) 29 8 (37) 1 (34) 38 (100) 8 (37) 1 (34) 9 (71)
195 – 215 dB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
> 215 dB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 49 13 (64) 2 (58) 102 (271) 13 (64 2 (58 15 (122)
Notes 1 These anti-submarine warfare exercises primarily represent tracing exercises
(TRACKEX) and torpedo exercises (TORPEX)
186