Peer Review Plans

Title and Description:
Proposed Noise Exposure Criteria for Marine Mammals
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be proposing new acoustic criteria to replace current criteria to determine what constitutes an acoustic ‘take’ as defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. These criteria will identify exposure levels and durations that may produce temporary or permanent shifts in hearing sensitivity of marine mammals, as well as significant behavioral modification.

ID:  43 Info. Type:  HISA
Estimated Dissemination Date:  6/30/2010
Contact Person: Rebecca Rootes  NOAA Locator

Date First Posted in Peer Review Agenda:  12/16/2005

Estimated Peer Review Start Date:  12/31/2009
Review type:  individual letters
Expected number of peer reviewers:  4-10
Peer reviewers will be selected by:  the agency

Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers?  no

Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed?  yes

How?  Proposed policy comment period; Comment period on NEPA documents.

When?  12/2009

Will the agency provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before they conduct their review?  no

Primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review:  Reviewers will have expertise in acoustics, acoustics in the marine environment, and marine mammal hearing.

Comments on Peer Review: