Composite Training Unit Exercises and Joint Task ... - Govsupport.us

Composite Training Unit Exercises and Joint Task ... - Govsupport.us Composite Training Unit Exercises and Joint Task ... - Govsupport.us

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COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 4The exposures depicted in Table 4.3-10 would not necessarily occur to 64 different individuals. The sameindividual could experience behavioral disruption more than once over the course of a year, particularly ifthe animal is resident in the area of the range. Thus, the estimated number of individual gray whalesexperiencing Level B harassment may be fewer than 64. Mitigation measures detailed in Chapter 5would further reduce the potential for any effect on gray whales. The Navy therefore concludes that theproposed action would not affect annual rates of recruitment or survival for gray whales, and would nothave a significant impact on this species and stock.Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)The minke whale is not listed as endangered under the ESA, and the California/Oregon/ WashingtonStock and is not considered depleted or strategic under the MMPA. They occur year-round off California(Dohl et al. 1983; Barlow 1995; Forney et al. 1995). The minke whales found in waters off California,Oregon, and Washington appear to be resident in that area, and to have home ranges, whereas thosefarther north are migratory. The population abundance for offshore California, Oregon, and Washingtonas a whole was estimated to be 585 (CV=0.73) individuals (Carretta et al. 2005). The modeling effortsand harassment analysis for mid-frequency active sonar estimate that no Level A harassment of minkewhales would occur. The analysis estimates that up to 24 incidents of non-injurious behavioralharassment (Level B harassment) may be experienced by minke whales on annual basis (Table 4.3-11).No minke whales would be exposed to impulsive noise or pressures from underwater detonations thatwould cause TTS or physical injury.Table 4.3-11. Raw Annual Acoustic Model Output of Minke WhaleBehavioral173-

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 4amplitude-modulated call with greatest energy at 1.4 kHz, with slight frequency modulation over aduration of 2.5 sec (Anonymous 2002; Rankin and Barlow 2003). While no data on hearing ability forthis species are available, Ketten (1997) hypothesized that mysticetes have acute infrasonic hearing.Based on this information, if they do no hear these sounds, they are not likely to respond physiologicallyor behaviorally to those received levels, such that effects would be insignificant.The exposures depicted in Table 4.3-11 would not necessarily occur to 24 different individuals. The sameindividual could experience behavioral disruption more than once over the course of a year, particularly ifthe animal is resident in the area of the range. Thus, the estimated number of individual minke whalesexperiencing Level B harassment may be fewer than 24. Mitigation measures detailed in Chapter 5would further reduce the potential for any effect on minke whales. The Navy therefore concludes that theproposed action would not affect annual rates of recruitment or survival for minke whales, and would nothave a significant impact on this species and stock.4.3.1.7.21 Estimated Acoustic Effects on Odontocetes not listed under ESABaird’s Beaked Whale (Berardius bairdii)Baird’s beaked whale is not listed as endangered under the ESA, and the California/Oregon/WashingtonStock is not considered strategic under the MMPA. The minimum population estimate for theCalifornia/Oregon/Washington Stock is 152 (CV=0.51) individuals (Carretta et al. 2005). The modelingefforts and harassment analysis for mid-frequency active sonar estimate that no Level A harassment ofBaird’s whales would occur. The analysis estimates that up to four incidents of non-injurious behavioralharassment (Level B harassment) may be experienced by Baird’s whales on annual basis (Table 4.3-12).Although modeling predicts non-injurious Level B exposures, all beaked whale exposures are counted asLevel A. No Baird’s whales would be exposed to impulsive noise or pressures from underwaterdetonations that would cause TTS or physical injury.Table 4.3-12. Raw Annual Acoustic Model Output of Baird’s Beaked WhaleBehavioral173-

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 4The exposures depicted in Table 4.3-10 would not necessarily occur to 64 different individuals. The sameindividual could experience behavioral disruption more than once over the course of a year, particularly ifthe animal is resident in the area of the range. Th<strong>us</strong>, the estimated number of individual gray whalesexperiencing Level B harassment may be fewer than 64. Mitigation measures detailed in Chapter 5would further reduce the potential for any effect on gray whales. The Navy therefore concludes that theproposed action would not affect annual rates of recruitment or survival for gray whales, <strong>and</strong> would nothave a significant impact on this species <strong>and</strong> stock.Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)The minke whale is not listed as endangered under the ESA, <strong>and</strong> the California/Oregon/ WashingtonStock <strong>and</strong> is not considered depleted or strategic under the MMPA. They occur year-round off California(Dohl et al. 1983; Barlow 1995; Forney et al. 1995). The minke whales found in waters off California,Oregon, <strong>and</strong> Washington appear to be resident in that area, <strong>and</strong> to have home ranges, whereas thosefarther north are migratory. The population abundance for offshore California, Oregon, <strong>and</strong> Washingtonas a whole was estimated to be 585 (CV=0.73) individuals (Carretta et al. 2005). The modeling efforts<strong>and</strong> harassment analysis for mid-frequency active sonar estimate that no Level A harassment of minkewhales would occur. The analysis estimates that up to 24 incidents of non-injurio<strong>us</strong> behavioralharassment (Level B harassment) may be experienced by minke whales on annual basis (Table 4.3-11).No minke whales would be exposed to impulsive noise or pressures from underwater detonations thatwould ca<strong>us</strong>e TTS or physical injury.Table 4.3-11. Raw Annual Aco<strong>us</strong>tic Model Output of Minke WhaleBehavioral173-

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