Assessing Potential Sites for Undersea Warfare Training Ranges: The Effects of Active Sonars on Marine Mammals

摘要

The U.S. Navy is preparing a draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement (DEIS/OEIS) for what will be the proposed site for an undersea warfare training range (USWTR). The DEIS includes an assessment of the effects of Navy active acoustic sonars on marine mammals during range exercises as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, RI, has assessed four sites: Jacksonville, FL; Charleston, SC; Onslow Bay, NC: and Wallops Island, VA. This report describes the input data and analysis methods used to estimate the number of marine mammals that could be affected by the operation of Navy tactical acoustic sonar systems at the four potential USWTR sites.