[env-trinity] MARINE MAMMALS WILL DIE IN NAVY WARFARE TESTING PROGRAM ON NORTHCOAST

[Joshua Allen]

*MARINE MAMMALS WILL DIE IN NAVY WARFARE TESTING PROGRAM

http://newswithviews.com/Peterson/rosalind115.htm
*


By Rosalind Peterson
March 28, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

The United States Navy requests permissions from the United States
Department of Commerce (NOAA), to kill thirty two species of marine
mammals<http://www.californiaskywatch.com/documents/htmldocs/pp_usn_permission_to_kill_marine_mammals.htm>over
five years in their Pacific Ocean Warfare testing program.

The Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense have decided that their
Northwest Training Range Complex, in the State of Washington, should be
expanded, and have devised a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),
dated December 2008, for public review and comment. The expansion of their
area of operation will include the State of Washington, the State of Oregon,
part of the state of Idaho, and Northern California. The final date for
public comment is April 13, 2009.

These designated areas will also include large areas of the Pacific Ocean
from California to the State of Washington and areas along the border
between the United States and Canada. (The extent map designating this
program area also extends throughout Northern California to the San
Francisco Bay Area under an “Extent Map Warning
Area<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Documents.aspx>”
designation.) Once implemented there is no date specified in E.I.S. for this
Navy Warfare Testing Program to end although various documents show that
this is a five-year Navy Warfare Testing program.

The U.S. Commander of the Pacific Fleet has given American citizens and
residents of these states only a very short time to comment on their draft
EIS: Published on December 30, 2008, with the final public comment “stay of
execution” deadline moved to April 13, 2009. U.S. citizens in four states
demanded this extension and more public hearings and are opposing this
catastrophic program. (This document is approximately 1,000+/- pages in
length with attachments.)

The United States Navy has also published an application, as an addendum to
their program, in the U.S. Federal Register, dated March 11, 2009. This
application from the Navy “…requests authorization to take individuals of 32
species of marine
mammals<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_8_Sea_Turtles.pdf>during
upcoming Navy Warfare testing and training to be conducted in the
NWTR areas (off the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and northern
California) over the course of 5 years…” Final public comment date is April
10, 2009.

The Navy Warfare Testing Program will “…utilize mid- and high frequency
active sonar sources and explosive detonations. These sonar and explosive
sources will be utilized during Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Tracking
Exercises, Mine Avoidance Training, Extended Echo Ranging and Improved
Extended Echo Ranging (EER/IEER) events, Missile Exercises, Gunnery
Exercises, Bombing Exercises, Sinking Exercises, and Mine Warfare Training…”

According to Navy Public Relations Officer Sheila Murray the United States
Navy is already conducting warfare testing programs throughout the United
States. During the last two years, it is alleged that the Navy has issued
nearly identical environmental impact statements for Navy Warfare Training
Range Complexes in the following areas: the Mariana Islands, the Hawaiian
Islands, Jacksonville Florida, Cherry Point, North Carolina, the Gulf of
Alaska and Southern California. It is unknown, at this time, how many marine
mammals have been killed in these programs since their inception.

The Pacific and Atlantic Ocean belong to all the people of the world not
just the United States. This “taking” of marine mammals negatively impacts
the entire ecology of our oceans and the life in them which feeds large
numbers of people and other species around the world. Now the United States
government has decided that California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and
the Pacific Ocean marine life in those areas, are expendable in order to
test more war weapons of mass destruction. It should be noted that the list
of toxic chemicals is a long one as noted in the Navy E.I.S. Depleted
uranium, red and white phosphorus, and a whole host of chemicals known to be
toxic not only to man, but to marine life, are being served up on the “Navy
Warfare Chemical Menu” that will contaminate our air, water, and soil.

White Phosphorus is just one of the chemicals on Navy Toxic Menu: Berkowitz
et.al (1981), in assessing the potential hazards associated with the use of
phosphorus smoke munitions, reported that White Phosphorus residues in
aquatic systems can be extremely toxic. Berkowitz stated that the deposition
of washout of…White Phosphorus, especially in water bodies may create
exposure risks to resident finfish, invertebrates and waterfowl, even if
resultant White Phosphorus concentrations are in the low ppb range. 1996)

Water Quality Criteria for White
Phosphorus<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_3_Hazardous_Materials.pdf>–
Authors” Kowetha A. Davidson; Patricia S. Hovatter, Catherine F.
Sigmon,
Oak Ridge National Lab TN: Abstract: Data obtained from a review of the
literature concerning the environmental fate and aquatic and mammalian
toxicity of *white phosphorus* are presented…Laboratory and field studies
indicate that white phosphorus is quite toxic to aquatic organisms, with
fish being the most sensitive…bioaccumulation is rapid and extensive, with
the greatest uptake in the liver and muscle of fish and the hepatopancreas
of lobster…other toxic effects to aquatic organism include cardiovascular
and histological changes. (1987) (White Phosphorus is an airborne
contaminant – used in fog oil and smoke obscurants.)

Mammalian Toxicology and Toxicity to Aquatic Organism of White Phosphorus
and ‘Phossy Water’ by Authors Dickinson Burrows; Jack C. Dacre: AWARE INC
Nashville TN – Abstract: “…*white phosphorus* is highly toxic to both
experimental animals and man…white phosphorus is also highly toxic to
aquatic animals…”

Concerned citizens in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California, along with
citizens across the United States are protesting this action by the United
States government and the United States Navy. Almost all of our elected
representatives are silent when it comes to opposing this disastrous
program. The major news media has elected not to cover this story leaving
coverage to a few small newspapers located in remote areas.

A Navy public hearing will be held in Mendocino County, California on
Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

We hope that everyone will join us in demanding that the current ongoing
Navy weapons program in Oregon is suspended permanently and that the new
proposed Navy Warfare Testing Program expansion is stopped. Public protests
should be filed with your elected representatives, the President of the
United States, and to both the United States Navy and NOAA (United States
Department of Commerce).

*1,* United States Navy Environment Impact
Statement<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Documents.aspx>(Download
one chapter at a time – works the best.)

*2,* U.S. Navy Public Comment Form
Online<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx>

*3,* Write to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest,
1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203
Silverdale, Washington 98315
ATTN: Mrs. Kimberly Kier – NWTRC EIS
Deadline: April 13, 2009

*4,* NOAA Public Comments Address to:
Michael Payne, Chief, Permits Conservation and Education Division,
Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225.
Deadline: April 10, 2009

*5,* E-Mail Rosalind Peterson <info at californiaksywatch.com> (707) 485-7520
For More Information click
here<http://newswithviews.com/Peterson/rosalindA.htm>:


*6,* PETITION TO STOP NAVY PROGRAM <http://www.californiaskywatch.com/>:

*7,* The Peterson
Perspective<http://www.californiaskywatch.com/documents/htmldocs/pp_usn_permission_to_kill_marine_mammals.htm>

*8,* Northwest Training Range Complex Draft
EIS/OEIS<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_8_Sea_Turtles.pdf>

*9, *Northwest Training Range Complex Draft
EIS/OEIS<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_3_Hazardous_Materials.pdf>

The following Notice is in the United States Federal Register / Vol. 74, No.
46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / Notices 10557:

“DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN
0648–XN87 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals;

Navy Training and Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation Activities
Conducted within the Northwest Training Range Complex

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for letter of authorization; request
for comments and information.

SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to
take marine mammals incidental to military readiness training activities and
research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) to be conducted in the
Northwest Training Range Complex (NWTRC) for the period beginning September
2009 and ending September 2014.

*1 -* NOAA Definition: “TAKE”
*2 -* Defined under the MMPA as "harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect."
*3 -* Defined under the ESA as "to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound,
kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such
conduct."

Pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of the Navy’s request for the
development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental
taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments
on the Navy’s application and request.

DATES: Comments and information to NMFS must be received no later than April
10, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to:

Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office
of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225.
The mailbox address for providing email comments is PR1.0648–XN87 at noaa.gov.
NMFS is not responsible for e-mail comments sent to
10558 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 /
Notices addresses other than the one provided here. Comments sent via
e-mail, including all attachments, must not exceed a 10–megabyte file size.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jolie Harrison, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, (301) 713–2289, ext. 166. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Availability*

A copy of the Navy’s application may be obtained by writing to the address
specified above (See ADDRESSES), telephoning the contact listed above (see FOR
FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm>
).

The Navy’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for NWTRC was made
available to the public on December 26, 2008, and may be viewed
here<http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/>.


With respect to military readiness activities, the MMPA defines
‘‘harassment’’ as:

(i) any act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A Harassment]; or (ii) any
act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal
stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral patterns,
including, but not limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering, to a point where such behavioral patterns are
abandoned or significantly altered [Level B Harassment].

*Summary of Request*

In September, 2008, NMFS received an application from the Navy requesting
authorization to take individuals of 32 species of marine mammals (4
pinniped and 28 cetacean) incidental to upcoming training and RDT&E
activities to be conducted in the NWTRC (off the coasts of Washington,
Oregon, and northern California) over the course of 5 years.

These training and RDT&E activities are classified as military readiness
activities. The Navy states that these training activities may expose some
of the marine mammals present in the area to sound from various
mid-frequency and high-frequency active tactical sonar sources or to
pressure from underwater detonations. The Navy requests authorization to
take individuals of 32 species of marine mammals by Level B Harassment.

*Specified Activities*

In the application submitted to NMFS, the Navy requests authorization to
take marine mammals incidental to conducting training events and RDT&E
utilizing mid- and high frequency active sonar sources and explosive
detonations. These sonar and explosive sources will be utilized during
Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Tracking Exercises, Mine Avoidance Training,
Extended Echo Ranging and Improved Extended Echo Ranging (EER/IEER) events,
Missile Exercises, Gunnery Exercises, Bombing Exercises, Sinking Exercises,
and Mine Warfare Training.

Table 1–1 in the application lists the activity types, the equipment and
platforms involved, and the duration and potential locations of the
activities.

Information Solicited Interested persons may submit information,
suggestions, and comments concerning the Navy’s request (see ADDRESSES). All
information, suggestions, and comments related to the Navy’s NWTRC request
and NMFS’ potential development and implementation of regulations governing
the incidental taking of marine mammals by the Navy’s NWTRC activities will
be considered by NMFS in developing, if appropriate, the most effective
regulations governing the issuance of letters of authorization.

Dated: March 6, 2009. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Division of Permits,
Conservation, and Education, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
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