CONTACT:  Stephanie Dorezas                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                             10/19/98     

The Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking comment on an application and proposed permit that would authorize the U.S. Air Force to potentially disturb and harass a small number of bottlenose dolphins and spotted dolphins while conducting explosive testing of four obstacle and mine clearance systems on the beaches of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Eglin applied for an authorization to incidentally disturb a small numbers of dolphins and possibly other cetacean species as it conducts 10 underwater detonation tests and a series of additional explosive testing at Eglin.

It is estimated that up to 34 dolphins could be potentially disturbed and harassed by the noise from the explosives. However, mitigation measures are expected to eliminate any potential injury to the dolphins. In order to avoid impacting additional marine life such as sea turtles, tests are to be conducted in the fall and winter months when the animals are less prevalent.

Marine mammal interactions are expected to be minimal during the time of testing, but an authorization would require Eglin to reduce disturbance to marine mammals by following these mitigation measures:

Establishing safety zones to prevent marine mammal injuries.

Conducting a 30-minute pre-detonation aerial monitoring survey immediately prior to each test to ensure no marine mammals are within the test area's designated safety zone.

Refraining from testing if marine mammals, sea turtles or sargassum rafts (seaweed mats associated with sea turtles) are within the designated safety zone.

Refraining from testing if sea conditions are greater than state three and water clarity is not adequate for conducting surveys. With water depths less than 18 m (59 ft), low turbidity, and white sand bottom, exceptional marine mammal visibility is ensured.

According to the Defense Department, the current way to clear obstacles and mines in the surf zone is limited to hand placement of explosive charges by Navy combat swimmers. This type of operation is highly hazardous and reliability is very poor. During the Gulf War, U.S. forces were prevented from landing on the beaches of Kuwait because of the nature and density of the mines and obstacles present. To facilitate future amphibious assaults, the U.S. is committed to developing and testing methods to safely and effectively clear a path through such obstacles.

The Fisheries Service will accept comments on the application and proposed authorization through Nov. 12, 1998. Comments should be addressed to Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225.