Supplemental environmental assessment on the effects of issuing an amendment to scientific research permit no. 16109-01 for protected sea turtles and marine mammals

Wieting, Donna

i

Supplemental environmental assessment on the effects of issuing an amendment to scientific research permit no. 16109-01 for protected sea turtles and marine mammals

Supporting Files

2016
By Wieting, Donna

Details

Personal Author:

Wieting, Donna
Corporate Authors:

United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration., Office of General Counsel, ; United States, National Marine Fisheries Service., Office of Protected Resources., Permits Division,
NOAA Program & Office:

NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) ; NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)
Description:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to issue a major amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 16109-01 for takes of marine mammals and sea turtles in the wild, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Permit No. 16109-01 authorizes harassment during close approach via vessel for photo-identification, behavioral observations, and incidental harassment of marine mammals and sea turtles from New Jersey to North Carolina. The proposed permit amendment would: (1) extend the action area to include all U.S. waters from Maine to Florida to the to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone; (2) authorize harassment during aerial surveys; (3) change the frequency of vessel-based surveys currently authorized from once per season to twice a month, year-round; (4) increase take numbers of currently authorized marine mammals and sea turtles; and (5) add six species [i.e., Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles]. The requested changes would allow Versar, Inc. (fonnerly GeoMarine, Inc.) to collect the necessary data for generating abundance/density estimates for sea turtles and marine mammals. The amended permit would expire on May 15, 2017.
Keywords:

Behavior Conservation Effect Of Human Beings On Effect Of Noise On Environmental Impact Analysis Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Policy Government Policy Marine Mammals Migration Monitoring Pinnipedia Sea Turtles Effect Of Human Beings On Effect Of Noise On Environmental Impact Analysis Environmental Impact Statements Environmental Policy Government Policy Marine Mammals Sea Turtles
Format:

pdf
Document Type:

Environmental Assessment
Place as Subject:

United States ; North Atlantic Ocean
Rights Information:

Public Domain
Compliance:

Submitted
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:f29bbdbe7a9a5cdc081991d780cf8739c59b4cfd1a89912b1bf31ffa17a3a6cc5dba672379bf7fa2c809e57536ed7f5c2d288f89e5addc0a05ebc3a5f6d7c5cd
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/15120/noaa_15120_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.23 MB ]

NOAA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) home page

Download bin

ON THIS PAGE

Details Supporting Files

The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners. As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.