<b><font face="Georgia" size="6"><font size="2">MARINE MAMMALS WILL DIE IN NAVY
WARFARE TESTING PROGRAM<br><br><a href="http://newswithviews.com/Peterson/rosalind115.htm">http://newswithviews.com/Peterson/rosalind115.htm</a></font><br></font></b><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="left"><font face="Georgia" size="3"><br>
</font></p><p style="margin-top: 0pt;" align="left"><font face="Georgia" size="3">By
Rosalind Peterson</font><font face="Georgia" size="3"><br>
March 28, 2009<br>
</font><font face="Georgia" size="3">NewsWithViews.com</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">The
United States Navy requests permissions from the United States Department
of Commerce (NOAA), to kill thirty two species of <a href="http://www.californiaskywatch.com/documents/htmldocs/pp_usn_permission_to_kill_marine_mammals.htm" target="_blank">marine
mammals</a> over five years in their Pacific Ocean Warfare testing program.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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 “<a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Documents.aspx" target="_blank">Extent
Map Warning Area</a>” 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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.) </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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 <a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_8_Sea_Turtles.pdf" target="_blank">32
species of marine mammals</a> 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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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…”</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">White
Phosphorus is just one of the chemicals on Navy Toxic Menu: Berkowitz
<a href="http://et.al">et.al</a> (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)</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Water
Quality Criteria for <a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_3_Hazardous_Materials.pdf" target="_blank">White
Phosphorus</a> – 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 <strong>white phosphorus</strong>
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.)</font></p><br><p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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: “…<strong>white
phosphorus</strong> is highly toxic to both experimental animals and
man…white phosphorus is also highly toxic to aquatic animals…”</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">A
Navy public hearing will be held in Mendocino County, California on
Tuesday, March 31, 2009.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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).</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>1,</strong>
<a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Documents.aspx">United States
Navy Environment Impact Statement</a> (Download one chapter at a time
– works the best.)</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>2,</strong>
<a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx" target="_blank">U.S.
Navy Public Comment Form Online</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>3,</strong>
Write to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, <br>
1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203 <br>
Silverdale, Washington 98315 <br>
ATTN: Mrs. Kimberly Kier – NWTRC EIS <br>
Deadline: April 13, 2009</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>4,</strong>
NOAA Public Comments Address to: <br>
Michael Payne, Chief, Permits Conservation and Education Division, <br>
Office of Protected Resources National Marine Fisheries Service<br>
1315 East-West Highway, <br>
Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225. <br>
Deadline: April 10, 2009</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>5,</strong>
E-Mail <a href="mailto:info@californiaksywatch.com">Rosalind Peterson</a>
(707) 485-7520 For More Information <a href="http://newswithviews.com/Peterson/rosalindA.htm" target="_blank">click
here</a>: <br>
<br>
<strong>6,</strong> <a href="http://www.californiaskywatch.com/" target="_blank">PETITION
TO STOP NAVY PROGRAM</a>:</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>7,</strong>
<a href="http://www.californiaskywatch.com/documents/htmldocs/pp_usn_permission_to_kill_marine_mammals.htm" target="_blank">The
Peterson Perspective</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>8,</strong>
<a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_8_Sea_Turtles.pdf" target="_blank">Northwest
Training Range Complex Draft EIS/OEIS</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>9,
</strong><a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/Public%20DEIS%20files/Chapters%201-3/Resource_Section_3_Hazardous_Materials.pdf" target="_blank">Northwest
Training Range Complex Draft EIS/OEIS</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">The
following Notice is in the United States Federal Register / Vol. 74,
No. 46 / Wednesday, March 11, 2009 / Notices 10557:</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">“DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XN87
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Navy
Training and Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation Activities
Conducted within the Northwest Training Range Complex</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">AGENCY:
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">ACTION:
Notice; receipt of application for letter of authorization; request
for comments and information.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>1
-</strong> NOAA Definition: “TAKE”<br>
<strong>2 -</strong> Defined under the MMPA as "harass, hunt, capture,
kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect."
<br>
<strong>3 -</strong> 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." </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">DATES:
Comments and information to NMFS must be received no later than April
10, 2009.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">ADDRESSES:
Comments on the application should be addressed to:</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Michael
Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of
Protected Resources, <br>
National Marine Fisheries Service<br>
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3225.<br>
</font><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">The mailbox
address for providing email comments is PR1.0648–<a href="mailto:XN87@noaa.gov">XN87@noaa.gov</a>.
<br>
NMFS is not responsible for e-mail comments sent to<br>
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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: <br>
Jolie Harrison, Office of Protected Resources,<br>
NMFS, (301) 713–2289, ext. 166. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>Availability</strong></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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 <a href="http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm" target="_blank">FOR
FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION</a>).</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">The
Navy’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for NWTRC was
made available to the public on December 26, 2008, and may be <a href="http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/" target="_blank">viewed
here</a>. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">With
respect to military readiness activities, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’
as:</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">(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].</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>Summary
of Request</strong></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p><p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><strong>Specified
Activities</strong></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p><p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Table
1–1 in the application lists the activity types, the equipment
and platforms involved, and the duration and potential locations of
the activities.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">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.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif">Dated:
March 6, 2009. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Division of Permits, Conservation,
and Education, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.</font></p><p align="left"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif"><br></font></p>