Request for Letter of Authorization for the Incidental Take of Marine MammalsAssociated with Shock Testing the Seawolf Submarine

摘要

The purpose of this project is to shock test the SEAWOLF submarine so that theresultant data can be used to assess the survivability of the submarine. This project is needed because computer modeling and component testing on machines or in surrogates does not provide adequate information to assess the survivability of the submarine in accordance with Section 2366, Title 10, United States Code (10 USC 2366). Only by testing the submarine manned with the appropriate systems operating can the shock response of the entire ship, including the interaction of ship systems and components, be obtained and an adequate assessment of the survivability of the submarine be determined in accordance with 10 USC 2366. Shock tests have proven their value as recently as the Persian Gulf War when ships were able to survive battle damage and continue their mission because of ship design, crew training, and survivability lessons learned during previous shock tests. The final, specific site for shock testing would not be selected until 2 to 3 days before the test based on marine mammal and turtle surveys (see Section 4). Three weeks prior to the shock test, a single aerial survey would be conducted over the selected area (i.e., Mayport or Norfolk) to identify a single primary test site and two secondary test sites based on the lowest relative abundance of marine mammals and turtles. Two to three days prior to each detonation, an aerial survey would be conducted at the primary and secondary sites, and a final test site would be selected on the basis of scarcity of marine mammals and turtles. This would ensure that the final test site would be selected where shock testing poses the least risk to the marine environment.