The Regulation of Seismic Exploration in the United States

Editors Note:   Accolades to NMFS for using its extensive regulatory authorities in a balanced and effective fashion. Critics of federal regulation should note the innovative approach taken by NMFS and its actions are a  living testimony to the fact that  when  sound science dominates the rulemaking process  the dual objectives of  marine mammal protection and national defense are both achieved in an effective manner.

Can a high-tech navy coexist with marine mammals ?

    Federal biologists propose new rule to guide naval training

 The International Quiet Ocean Experiment is a decade long study which is aimed at exploring the totality of ocean noise, including commercial shipping.

 The UNESCO  sponsored activity will provide a basis for focusing US regulators, and regulators throughout the world,  on  the major sound sources  in lieu of an undue emphasis on seismic exploration.

This material is being provided to CRE Brazil for its use in the harmonization of marine sound activities in a number of international proceedings.

 The United  States  Government has regulated oil and gas seismic in the Gulf of Mexico (“GOM”) for many years, first through the Minerals Management Service (“MMS”) and now through MMS’ successors the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”). This Government regulation has occurred primarily under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (“OCSLA”) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (“MMPA”}.

CRE Brazil Comments on:  Draft Guidance to Manage the Risk to Marine Mammals from  Man-made Sound Sources in Irish Water (“Draft Guidance”)

 available online at   http://www.npws.ie/media/npwsie/content/files/Guidance_Consultation%20Draft.pdf,

 National Parks and Wildlife Service of  Ireland’s Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (“Department”).

 Comments submitted electronically on April 26, 2012

 See Report

Editor’s Note: These commnets were originally filed in April, 2011. They are being reproduced to add to the body of scientific information presented in this Interactive Public Docket. dealing with the harmonization of seismic regulation.

UNEP is meeting within the next two weeks on a draft report dealing with the impact of noise on marine mammals.

 CRE Brazil  is  not aware  of any request by UNEP for comments from the public on the current version of the report although they might have made done so on an earlier version.

I believe you should include the attached study into your library.

The study focused on the impact of sesimic operations on whales in the Sakhalin Islands of Russia.

It concluded:

“In summary, after accounting for environmental variables, no correlation was found between seismic survey variables and the linearity of whale movements,
changes in whale swimming speed between theodolite fixes, mean direction of whale movement, mean number of whale exhalations per minute at the surface, mean time at the surface, and mean number of exhalations per minute during a whales surfaceto-dive cycle. In contrast, at higher received sound energy exposure levels, whales traveled faster, changed directions of movement less, were recorded further from shore, and stayed under water longer
between respirations.”

 Interested parties: CRE  is conducting a peer review of “A Review of the Effects of Seismic Surveys on Marine Mammals”.

 The study is available at  A Review of Sesimic Surveys.pdf (324 KB)

A library of the  studies referenced in the aforementioned Review has been compiled  to make it easier for the public to submit comments.  The library also contains many of the regulatory filings made by CRE in the past decade on marine sound.

 Studies posted on this page need not be limited to the articles referenced in the aforementiioned “Review”; please feel free to add other  studies of particular  significance by sending  copies of the  studies to CRE  by making a post with a copy of the study as an attachment to  CRE.

 Editor’s Note:  The public is encouraged to provide comments on each of the following  posts by either using the “comment” section below each post or providing a new post by using the mechanism to the right of this post. 

CRE’s involvement in marine sound issues for nearly a decade has resulted in the creation of  two  Interactive Public Dockets (IPD),  Marine Mammals, its Archives   and the Ocean  Zoning  IPD  which assist the public in formulating their comments.

CRE Brazil  has also  published numerous articles on marine sound and related issues and is invovled in a multinational  effort  to foster international harmonization on marine sound issues.

 Request to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Incidental Take regulations governing Seismic Surveys on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) (A response to Subpart I — MMPA Request Requirements at 50 CFR §216.104)

 Revision to original request package submitted December 20, 2002. Revisions cover new information that has become available since submission of the 2002 original and 2004 request packages.

 http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/permits/boemre_application2011.pdf

 Federal Register Notice   FR Notice 2011 Petition

Marine Mammal Commission  Report  MMC