Overview
Title
Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government said that a company can work in the ocean looking for oil near Mexico, and while they do, they might see some ocean animals like dolphins or whales. They promise to be careful so the animals won't be bothered too much.
Summary AI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to Viridien, allowing the company to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals during geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico. This decision follows regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The surveys will take place over 115 days, with sound source operations planned for 65 days, and the impact on marine mammals is expected to be minimal. Notably, there is no authorization for taking the Rice’s whale, as these animals are not expected to be in the survey areas. NMFS believes that the number of marine mammals affected will be small compared to their total populations, adhering to the MMPA regulations.
Abstract
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Viridien for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The recent notice issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provides information about the authorization given to Viridien for conducting geophysical surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Viridien can incidentally take—or unintentionally harm—a limited number of marine mammals during their oil and gas exploration activities. This is anticipated to have minimal impact on these animals, aiming to comply with federal regulations ensuring any effects are negligible.
General Summary
The NMFS has granted Viridien a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to conduct seismic surveys over several locations in the Gulf, using tools that produce underwater sound. The activities are scheduled to span 115 days, with active sound surveying on 65 of those days. Crucially, while various marine mammal species might experience minor disturbances, the specific area of operations is unlikely to affect Rice’s whales due to their distinct habitat preferences, meaning no authorization for their "take" is included.
Significant Issues or Concerns
Several complexities arise in this document:
Technical Jargon: Terms like "low-frequency tuned pulse source" and "42-element airgun array" are technical. Without added explanation, these might not be clear to a general audience.
Modeling and Assumptions: The document refers to using prior data and models (e.g., coil surveys as proxies) to estimate impacts. While practical for estimation, these assumptions may lack transparency for the uninitiated, and a lay reader might find it challenging to grasp how these conclusions were drawn.
Legal Definitions: Definitions such as "small numbers" have significant regulatory meaning, which may not be intuitively understood. A reader might benefit from an explanation of how NMFS determines such estimations.
Public Impact
Broadly, this document highlights ongoing management and regulatory efforts to balance industrial activities with environmental preservation. The measures in place aim to ensure that necessary economic activities, such as oil and gas exploration, proceed without wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. For the public, this represents a reassurance that government bodies are vigilantly overseeing these potentially intrusive activities to mitigate environmental impacts.
Stakeholder Impacts
Positive Impacts: - Industrial Stakeholders: Companies like Viridien gain legal backing to carry out essential business activities, allowing for operational continuity and economic benefit, conforming with environmental regulations.
- Environmental Stakeholders: NMFS's detailed assessments and limitations on incidental takes support ongoing protection of marine life, addressing public and environmentalist concerns about the integrity of marine habitats amidst industrial incursions.
Negative Impacts: - Marine Mammals: Despite regulatory safeguards, there remains an inherent risk of disturbance to marine life due to sound exposure during surveys. While expected impacts are minimal, the actual effect on specific populations might differ, necessitating careful monitoring.
In conclusion, the issuance of this LOA is a meticulous balancing act by NMFS aimed at allowing necessary industrial activity while protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems. Through considered regulation and oversight, it addresses the complex intersection between economic pursuits and environmental stewardship.
Issues
• The document uses technical jargon related to marine mammal protection and geophysical surveys, which might be difficult for the general public to understand without additional context or definitions.
• There is a reference to acoustic exposure modeling with specific technical terms such as 'low-frequency tuned pulse source (TPS)' and '42-element, 5,220 in^3 airgun array', which may require more explanation for clarity.
• The document mentions that NMFS expects that the use of modeling results supporting the final rule are expected to be conservative as a proxy, but it might not be clear to all readers what 'conservative' implies in this context.
• The reference to Zone 1 not being included in the geographic scope of the rule could benefit from additional context to explain why this zone is excluded.
• Take estimates for Rice's whale are mentioned to be unlikely due to habitat preferences, but the explanation relies heavily on specialized references that may not be accessible to all readers without guidance.
• The document assumes certain parameters for calculating take numbers, like the use of scalar ratios and proxies for survey types, which could be simplified or better explained for improved transparency.
• The term 'small numbers' is used frequently with a specific legal definition, which might need better contextual explanation for those unfamiliar with its technical meaning.