Sonar testing occurring off Washington coast
3/18/12
U.S. Navy representatives are holding a public meeting in Eureka on Thursday to gather public comment a Northwest training and testing project that would engage in sonar testing off the coast of Washington.
The original project — the subject of a suit filed by public interest law firm Earthjustice — only focused on training and drew concern from local residents because it included waters off the North Coast. The expanded project now includes the testing of various equipment and vessels.
Liane Nakahara, a public affairs specialist with the Navy, said scientific experts will be present Thursday to discuss concerns and information with residents. The meeting is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way.
The Navy’s Northwest Training Range Complex has been in use since World War II. It is about 122,000 nautical square miles, stretching from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington to approximately the northern border of Mendocino County.
Nakahara said the sonar testing, which advocates said will harm marine mammals, will occur off the coast of Washington. All training in the southern part of the range occurs out beyond 12 nautical miles.
“You won’t see that out in California,” she said. “If anything, the ships will be transiting down past your area to San Diego or elsewhere.” The Navy is currently holding public meetings up and down the West Coast to gather input for a draft environmental impact statement and expects to release the draft in fall 2013. The comment period closes on April 27.
The environmental analysis looks at both training and testing. The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a permit for the training project in 2010, but the Navy is re-doing its environmental analysis of the project before the 2015 expiration date in preparation of a renewal, Nakahara said, adding that the Navy decided to include analysis for the testing activities to reduce costs.
According to the Navy, ship-mounted mid-frequency sonar would be used for a maximum of 108 hours a year. The Navy is not permitted to kill any marine mammals, but 13 incidences of injury to whales are expected each year. According to the Navy, 99 percent of the effects of sonar would disturb whales’ behavior. To mitigate the harm caused by sonar, the Navy establishes lookouts who watch for signs of whales.
When Navy lookouts spot whales within 1,000 yards of a ship using sonar, the sonar is required to be powered down, and if whales come within 200 yards, it must be immediately turned off.
The sonar testing is a key component of the Earthjustice lawsuit, which was filed against the fisheries service for issuing the Navy’s 2010 permit.
According to Earthjustice, marine mammals have been stranded or stopped feeding after being exposed to midfrequency sonar.
Earthjustice attorney Steve Mashuda — who is representing the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, Friends of the San Juans, Natural Resources Defense Council, and People For Puget Sound — said placing lookouts on ship decks with binoculars is not enough. He said mammals do not always surface, even if they are in the area.
“Our case is aimed at the fisheries service for failing to take some — what we think are very reasonable and common sense — mitigations measures to ensure that their activities don’t harm whales and other marine mammals,” Mashuda said.
A National Marine Fisheries Service spokesman said the agency does not comment on ongoing lawsuits.
Mashuda said the service should have added restrictions to when the Navy can conduct their activities based on known mammal migration schedules or where marine sanctuaries are located.
According to Mashuda, the suit’s next day in court is scheduled for May 15 before U.S. Magistrate Nandor Vadas in Eureka.
Comments on the training and testing project’s environmental impact statement can be made online at www. nwtteis.com, or sent to Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, ATTN: Mrs. Kimberly Kler — NWTT Project Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Silverdale, WA 98315-1100.
For more info: Earthjustice and Others Challenge NMFS Regulation of Navy Sonar Activity
