Contact: Scott Smullen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8/2/96
The request builds upon a similar five-year permit and marine animal protection program that successfully prevented injury or death to marine life while combat testing the Navy's Aegis class destroyer off the California coast in 1994.
Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the Navy must test the structural integrity of a new vessel class by running computer models and detonating underwater explosives near the vessel to simulate combat conditions. This allows the Navy to identify and correct any weakness in vital components and systems early in construction of the vessel class, thereby increasing crew survival rate and minimizing cost.
To protect marine life during the Seawolf testing, a dozen independent marine mammal and sea turtle biologists will scan a three-nautical-mile safety zone for marine animals using underwater microphones and high-powered binoculars from an aircraft and nearby ships. The observers will search the safety zone two hours before and after detonation time. Testing will be postponed if marine mammals or sea turtles are observed within the testing zone or if weather and sea conditions prevent adequate monitoring.
The testing is not expected to harm any marine mammals, including endangered or threatened marine species. If post-detonation surveys find the testing caused injury to marine mammals or sea turtles, detonations will be halted until procedures are reviewed and changes made.
The Navy is considering two sites for the Seawolf testing after spending six months surveying the areas to predict a detonation site where marine mammals and sea turtles are least likely to migrate or gather. The Mayport site is located 42 miles off Georgia and Northeast Florida; the Norfolk site is located 29 miles off Virginia and North Carolina. The Mayport site is preferred because of lower numbers of marine mammals found there.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act allows permits to be issued for activities that may result in marine mammals possibly being harmed, provided that the activity will have a negligible impact on any species or its habitat.
The Navy and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service will conduct a series of public meetings to discuss the marine life protection procedures. The meetings are scheduled as follows:
1. August 19, 1996, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Silver Spring Metro Center Building 4, First Floor,
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, Md.
2. August 20, 1996, 7-10 p.m.
Lafayette Winona Middle School Auditorium
1701 Alsace Ave.
Norfolk, Va.
3. August 21, 1996, 7-10 p.m.
Mayport Middle School Cafeteria
2600 Mayport Road
Atlantic Beach, Fla.A copy of the draft environmental impact statement may be obtained from Will Sloger, U.S. Navy, at (803) 820-5797. To send comments on the proposal or to obtain a copy of the Navy's application or NMFS' proposed rule, please write to: Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226. Comments should be postmarked by Sept. 17, 1996.
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