The federal government today gave the Scripps Institution of Oceanography approval for a two-year research plan to determine the effects of low frequency sound on marine animals in an area 53 miles off the California coast, the Business Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced.
Scripps, of La Jolla, Calif., is authorized to conduct a suggested two-year pilot plan that will attempt to assess and evaluate the potential effects of certain sound transmissions on the distribution and behavior of marine animals, and to identify ways to avoid any potential disruption that the transmissions may cause. This plan is part of a larger effort by Scripps to monitor long-term changes to ocean temperature by measuring transmission times of low frequency sound.
Scripps must follow nearly 50 special measures to protect marine life, including safeguards formally agreed to by Scripps and 6 environmental organizations on the location and operation of the research. Signatories to the arrangement were Scripps, the Humane Society of the U.S., American Oceans Campaign, Earth Island Institute, Environmental Defense Fund, League for Coastal Protection, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The 2 N.O.A.A. agencies involved conclude that the marine mammal research should have little effect on marine life if a number of protective measures are followed. However, N.O.A.A. will require Scripps to modify their research if significant adverse effects to marine life are observed.
N.O.A.A. held California public hearings and extended several review periods over 2 years to collect all accessible scientific data about the potential effects of Scripps?oposed Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) research. In addition, the Advanced Research Plans Agency, sponsor of the Scripps project, and NOAA?ational Marine Fisheries Service developed an environmental impact statement under the Countrywide Environmental Policy Act.
NOAA?ational Marine Fisheries Service added protective measures to an agency permit that will allow the acoustical research to occur without violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. N.O.A.A. officials believe the special conditions of the permit will minimize potential adverse effects to marine mammals and sea turtles.
For example, the fisheries service permit conditions require Scripps to document and report all changes in marine mammal distribution and behavior within 80 kilometers of the research area, and Scripps must halt research operations and contact the fisheries service if adverse effects to marine mammals are observed. Additionally, Scripps must submit bi-monthly progress reports and a six-month report detailing observations of the marine mammals and sea turtles in response to the sound transmissions. The report will be reviewed by an advisory board that consists of marine mammal scientists and representatives from NOAA?ational Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA's Countrywide Ocean Service and Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, environmental organizations, the Marine Mammal Commission, Scripps, Marine Mammal Center, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishing Association and others.
Additionally, NOAA?ational Ocean Service issued a permit to Scripps to lay 53 miles of electronic cable across the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary with conditions to protect sanctuary resources on the sea floor and within surrounding waters. The power cable is required to be installed on sandy substrate, avoiding kelp beds, hard bottom and ship wrecks. The sanctuary permit further protects all living sanctuary resources by requiring Scripps to notify sanctuary personnel immediately of any evidence of harm to any mobile sanctuary resources that may come in contact with the sound transmission. A sanctuary staff member will participate in the ATOC marine mammal research plan advisory board, which oversees progress and approves any modifications.
Originally, Scripps suggested to place the sound source in the sanctuary, but later agreed to move the sound source outside its boundaries to an area called the Pioneer Seamount after the Countrywide Ocean Service sanctuary plan and environmental groups expressed concerns about the potential effects on sanctuary resources in the specially protected area.
