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

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 4Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus)The sperm whale is listed as endangered under the ESA and the California/Oregon/Washington Stock isconsidered depleted and strategic under the MMPA. There is a minimum population estimate of 885(CV=0.41) for the California/Oregon/Washington Stock based on ship-based surveys during summers of1991 and 1993 (Carretta et al. 2005). The acoustic effects analysis estimates that COMPTUEX/JTFEXmid-frequency sonar training events will result in 63 incidents of exposure of sperm whales toaccumulated acoustic energy in excess of 173 dB re 1 μPa 2 -s (59 behavioral and 4 physiological). Nosperm whales will be exposed to impulsive noise or pressures from underwater detonations that couldcause TTS or physical injury.Table 4.3-37. Raw Acoustic Model Output of Sperm Whale Exposures During Training ExercisesBehavioral173-