Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Pile Driving for Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning Project, 59904-59911 [2012-24155]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59904-59911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24155]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC018


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Pile 
Driving for Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning Project

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) 
implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has 
issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to Honolulu 
Seawater Air Conditioning, LLC (HSWAC), allowing the take of small 
numbers of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to pile 
driving during construction of a sea water air conditioning project.

DATES: Effective October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the IHA, application, and Environmental Assessment 
are available by visiting the Internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may also be 
viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the 
aforementioned address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Magliocca, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the 
incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than 
commercial fishing) within a specific geographical region if certain 
findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking 
is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is 
provided to the public for review.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements 
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings 
are set forth. NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' as ``* * * an 
impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably 
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the 
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival.''
    Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA established an expedited process 
by which citizens of the United States can apply for an authorization 
to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment. 
Section 101(a)(5)(D) further established a 45-day time limit for NMFS' 
review of an application, followed by a 30-day public notice and 
comment period on any proposed authorizations for the incidental 
harassment of marine mammals. Within 45 days of the close of the 
comment period, NMFS must either issue or deny the authorization.
    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the 
MMPA defines ``harassment'' as: Any act of pursuit, torment, or 
annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering [Level B harassment].

Summary of Request

    On April 16, 2012, NMFS received an application from HSWAC 
requesting an IHA for the take, by Level B harassment, of small numbers 
of 19 marine mammal species incidental to pile driving activities 
offshore Honolulu, Hawaii. In accordance with the MMPA and implementing 
regulations, NMFS issued a notice in the Federal Register on July 24, 
2012 (77 FR 43259), requesting comments from the public on a proposed 
IHA.

Description of the Specified Activity

    A complete description of the specified activity may be found in 
NMFS' proposed IHA notice in the Federal Register (77 FR 43259, July 
24, 2012) and a summary is provided here. HSWAC will construct a 
district cooling system for commercial and residential properties in 
Honolulu, consisting of an offshore seawater intake pipe, an offshore 
seawater discharge pipe, a land-based pump station, and a land-based 
chilled water distribution system. HSWAC will drive steel sheet piles 
and cylindrical steel piles as part of construction. Only pile driving 
activities are expected to result in incidental harassment of marine 
mammals. A summary of the pile driving activities are provided in Table 
1 below. Further details regarding installation of the pipelines are 
provided in HSWAC's IHA application here: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm.

[[Page 59905]]



Table 1--Summary of Pile Driving Activities To Occur During Construction of the Seawater Air Conditioning System
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                                                                                        51-cm production  pipe
           Activity              51-cm test pipe piles        61-cm sheet piles                 piles
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Location.....................  488-1,128 m offshore.....  488 m offshore...........  488-1,128 m offshore.
Number of piles..............  10-12....................  80.......................  113.
Pile driving duration........  1-2 weeks................  16 days..................  4-6 weeks.
Dates of activity............  October 2012.............  November 2012 or April     March/April 2013.
                                                           2013.
Hammer type..................  Impact...................  Vibratory................  Impact.
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Date and Duration of Proposed Activity

    HSWAC plans to begin pile driving in October 2012. The test piles 
will be driven in 1-2 weeks in October 2012. Sheet pile installation 
will last for about 16 days either in November 2012 or April 2013 in 
order to avoid the peak humpback whale season. The production piles 
will be installed out to about 46 m depth once the intake and discharge 
pipes are deployed. If construction proceeds quickly enough, the 
production piles will be installed around March/April 2013. If 
production piles cannot be installed during the 1-year IHA period, 
HSWAC will apply for another IHA and install the production piles 
sometime after September 2013.

Region of Proposed Activity

    Pile driving will take place between Diamond Head and the Reef 
Runway of the Honolulu International Airport, just offshore from the 
entrances of Honolulu Harbor and Kewalo Basin. Honolulu Harbor has 
historically been, and continues to be, an industrial area. Honolulu 
Harbor is the largest and most important of Oahu's three commercial 
harbors as the state's port-of-entry for nearly all imported goods. 
Kewalo Basin, Oahu's smallest commercial harbor, was constructed in the 
1920s to ease the congestion in Honolulu Harbor and provide docking for 
lumber schooners. Over the years, the surrounding waters have been 
repeatedly polluted by wastewater treatment plant outfalls, sewage 
pumps, and stream discharges. The basin is now also used by tour boats, 
commercial fishing vessels, and charter fishing boats. Recreational 
activities in the area include fishing, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, 
diving, and paddling. However, fishery resources in the proposed 
project area are considered depleted as a result of habitat degradation 
and overfishing. An underwater survey was performed around the area 
proposed for pipeline installation. The seafloor slopes with varying 
degrees and consists mostly of medium to coarse sands and coral rubble.

Sound Propagation

    For background, sound is a mechanical disturbance consisting of 
minute vibrations that travel through a medium, such as air or water, 
and is generally characterized by several variables. Frequency 
describes the sound's pitch and is measured in hertz (Hz) or kilohertz 
(kHz), while sound level describes the sound's loudness and is measured 
in decibels (dB). Sound level increases or decreases exponentially with 
each dB of change. For example, 10 dB yields a sound level 10 times 
more intense than 1 dB, while a 20 dB level equates to 100 times more 
intense, and a 30 dB level is 1,000 times more intense. Sound levels 
are compared to a reference sound pressure (micro-Pascal) to identify 
the medium. For air and water, these reference pressures are ``re: 20 
[micro]Pa'' and ``re: 1 [micro]Pa,'' respectively. Root mean square 
(RMS) is the quadratic mean sound pressure over the duration of an 
impulse. RMS is calculated by squaring all of the sound amplitudes, 
averaging the squares, and then taking the square root of the average 
(Urick, 1975). RMS accounts for both positive and negative values; 
squaring the pressures makes all values positive so that they may be 
accounted for in the summation of pressure levels (Hastings and Popper, 
2005). This measurement is often used in the context of discussing 
behavioral effects, in part because behavioral effects, which often 
result from auditory cues, may be better expressed through averaged 
units rather than by peak pressures.
    Source levels for the vibratory and impact hammer are estimated to 
be 160 dB and 190 dB at 10 m (not 175 dB and 205 dB at 1 m that was 
incorrectly stated in the proposed IHA notice). These source levels are 
based on near-source, unattenuated sound pressures from the California 
Department of Transportation's Compendium of Pile Driving Sound. 
Assuming a practical spreading loss of 15 log R, HSWAC estimated 
distances from the sound source to sound thresholds at which point NMFS 
considers marine mammals to be harassed (CALTRANS, 2007). The distances 
to each threshold for each pile driving activity are summarized in 
Table 2 below.

                Table 2--Distances to NMFS' Harassment Thresholds for Each Pile Driving Activity
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                                                                                          51-cm production pipe
         Harassment threshold            51-cm test pipe piles      61-cm sheet piles             piles
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Level A--180 dB.......................  47 m...................  n/a...................  47 m.
Level B--160 dB (impulsive sound).....  1,000 m................  n/a...................  1,000 m.
Level B--120 dB (continuous sound)....  n/a....................  4,700 m...............  n/a.
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Comments and Responses

    A proposed IHA and request for public comment was published on July 
24, 2012 (77 FR 43259). During the 30-day public comment period, the 
Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) provided the only comments.
    Comment 1: The Commission recommends that NMFS require HSWAC to 
conduct in-situ sound measurements during impact and vibratory pile 
driving at representative depths to 1,128 meters offshore.
    Response: As stated in the proposed IHA notice (77 FR 43259, July 
24, 2012), and in the Monitoring and Reporting section of this notice, 
HSWAC will

[[Page 59906]]

perform in-situ underwater sound monitoring during the initial sheet 
pile and test pile driving operations to verify source levels and 
ensure that the harassment isopleths are not extending past the 
estimated threshold distances. HSWAC will perform monitoring 
measurements at a distance of 10 meters from the pile and then at 
varying distances from the pile in order to evaluate the proposed 
harassment isopleths.
    Comment 2: The Commission recommends that NMFS reestimate the total 
number of takes for spinner and pantropical spotted dolphins based on 
the total number of pile driving days.
    Response: NMFS reestimated the total number of takes for 
pantropical spotted dolphins based on the total number of pile driving 
days because density information is available for this species. The new 
take estimate is shown in Table 3 of this notice and does not change 
NMFS' small numbers determination. However, NMFS disagrees that the 
take estimates for spinner dolphins should be reestimated. NMFS 
believes that the authorized take numbers are conservative enough to 
account for all pile driving days based on the relatively small 
harassment zone for impact pile driving (1,000 meters), the limited 
amount of pile driving per day (1 hour total over four 15-minute 
periods), the use of average pod size to estimate take (based on visual 
observations around the entire island of Oahu), and the implementation 
of soft-starts for all impact pile driving.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommends that NMFS require HSWAC to 
monitor before, during, and after all soft-starts of vibratory and 
impact pile driving to gather the data needed to determine the 
effectiveness of this technique as a mitigation measure.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that HSWAC needs to monitor for marine 
mammals before, during, and after all soft-starts. Protected species 
observers will be on-site and monitoring for marine mammals during all 
impact driving (including during soft-starts) and at least five full 
days of vibratory pile driving. NMFS believes that this amount of 
monitoring will allow for adequate interpretation of how marine mammals 
are behaving in response to pile driving, including during soft-starts.
    Comment 4: The Commission recommends that NMFS require HSWAC to 
monitor the Level A and Level B harassment zones to detect the presence 
and characterize the behavior of marine mammals during all pile driving 
activities.
    Response: As stated in the proposed IHA notice (77 FR 43259, July 
24, 2012), and in the Monitoring and Reporting section of this notice, 
HSWAC will monitor the Level A harassment zone (plus an additional 47 
m) and Level B harassment zone during all impact pile driving. In 
addition, HSWAC will designate two additional observers to monitor the 
Level B harassment zone during at least 5 days of vibratory pile 
driving. NMFS believes that this amount of monitoring is sufficient to 
validate take estimates and evaluate the behavioral impacts that pile 
driving has on marine mammals.
    Comment 5: The Commission recommends that NMFS require HSWAC to 
monitor for marine mammals not only before and during pile driving 
activities, but for 30 minutes after vibratory and impact pile driving 
activities have ceased.
    Response: HSWAC agreed to implement additional monitoring for 30 
minutes after pile driving has ceased, or until nightfall, whichever 
comes first. NMFS included this monitoring measure in the text of the 
IHA and in the Monitoring and Reporting section of this notice.

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity

    There are 24 marine mammal species with possible or known 
occurrence around the Main Hawaiian Islands. However, not all of these 
species occur within HSWAC's proposed project area or during the same 
time as proposed pile driving activities. Information on the following 
19 species was provided in the July 24, 2012 Federal Register notice 
(77 FR 43259): Blainville's beaked whale; Bryde's whale; Cuvier's 
beaked whale; dwarf sperm whale; false killer whale; humpback whale; 
Longman's beaked whale; melon-headed whale; minke whale; short-finned 
pilot whale; pygmy killer whale; pygmy sperm whale; bottlenose dolphin; 
Fraser's dolphin; Risso's dolphin; rough-toothed dolphin; spinner 
dolphin; pantropical spotted dolphin; and Hawaiian monk seal.

Potential Effects of the Specified Activity on Marine Mammals

    This action consists of both in-water and above-water components, 
but the only activity with the potential to take marine mammals is pile 
driving. A detailed description of potential impacts to marine mammals 
can be found in NMFS' July 24, 2012 Federal Register notice (77 FR 
43259) and is summarized here.
    Marine mammals are continually exposed to many sources of sound. 
For example, lightning, rain, sub-sea earthquakes, and animals are 
natural sound sources throughout the marine environment. Marine mammals 
produce sounds in various contexts and use sound for various biological 
functions including: (1) Social interactions; (2) foraging; (3) 
orientation; and (4) predator detection. Interference with producing or 
receiving these sounds may result in adverse impacts. Audible distance 
or received levels depend on the sound source, ambient noise, and the 
sensitivity of the receptor (Richardson et al., 1995). Marine mammal 
reactions to sound may depend on sound frequency, ambient sound, what 
the animal is doing, and the animal's distance from the sound source 
(Southall et al., 2007).

Hearing Impairment

    Marine mammals may experience temporary or permanent hearing 
impairment when exposed to loud sounds. Hearing impairment is 
classified by temporary threshold shift (TTS) and permanent threshold 
shift (PTS). There are no empirical data for when PTS first occurs in 
marine mammals; therefore, it must be estimated from when TTS first 
occurs and from the rate of TTS growth with increasing exposure levels. 
PTS is likely if the animal's hearing threshold is reduced by >=40 dB 
of TTS. PTS is considered auditory injury (Southall et al., 2007) and 
occurs in a specific frequency range and amount. Irreparable damage to 
the inner or outer cochlear hair cells may cause PTS; however, other 
mechanisms are also involved, such as exceeding the elastic limits of 
certain tissues and membranes in the middle and inner ears and 
resultant changes in the chemical composition of the inner ear fluids 
(Southall et al., 2007). Due to proposed mitigation measures and source 
levels in the proposed project area, NMFS does not expect marine 
mammals to be exposed to PTS levels.

Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS)

    TTS is the mildest form of hearing impairment that can occur during 
exposure to a loud sound (Kryter, 1985). While experiencing TTS, the 
hearing threshold rises and a sound must be louder in order to be 
heard. TTS can last from minutes or hours to days, occurs in specific 
frequency ranges (i.e., an animal might only have a temporary loss of 
hearing sensitivity between the frequencies of 1 and 10 kHz), and can 
occur to varying degrees (e.g., an animal's hearing sensitivity might 
be reduced by 6 dB or by 30 dB). For sound exposures at or somewhat 
above the

[[Page 59907]]

TTS-onset threshold, hearing sensitivity recovers rapidly after 
exposure to the sound ends.
    Few data on sound levels and durations necessary to elicit mild TTS 
have been obtained for marine mammals. Southall et al. (2007) considers 
a 6 dB TTS (i.e., baseline thresholds are elevated by 6 dB) sufficient 
to be recognized as an unequivocal deviation and thus a sufficient 
definition of TTS-onset. Because it is non-injurious, NMFS considers 
TTS as Level B harassment that is mediated by physiological effects on 
the auditory system; however, NMFS does not consider onset TTS to be 
the lowest level at which Level B harassment may occur.
    Marine mammal hearing plays a critical role in communication with 
conspecifics and in interpretation of environmental cues for purposes 
such as predator avoidance and prey capture. Depending on the degree 
(elevation of threshold in dB), duration (i.e., recovery time), and 
frequency range of TTS and the context in which it is experienced, TTS 
can have effects on marine mammals ranging from discountable to 
serious. For example, a marine mammal may be able to readily compensate 
for a brief, relatively small amount of TTS in a non-critical frequency 
range that takes place during a time when the animal is traveling 
through the open ocean, where ambient noise is lower and there are not 
as many competing sounds present. Alternatively, a larger amount and 
longer duration of TTS sustained during a time when communication is 
critical for successful mother/calf interactions could have more 
serious impacts if it were in the same frequency band as the necessary 
vocalizations and of a severity that it impeded communication. The fact 
that animals exposed to levels and durations of sound that would be 
expected to result in this physiological response would also be 
expected to have behavioral responses of a comparatively more severe or 
sustained nature is also notable and potentially of more importance 
than the simple existence of a TTS. For HSWAC's proposed project, NMFS 
expects cases of TTS to be improbable given: (1) The limited amount of 
pile driving over a 1-year period; (2) the motility of free-ranging 
marine mammals in the water column; and (3) the propensity for marine 
mammals to avoid obtrusive sounds.

Behavioral Effects

    Behavioral disturbance includes a variety of effects, including 
subtle to conspicuous changes in behavior, movement, and displacement. 
Marine mammal reactions to sound, if any, depend on species, state of 
maturity, experience, current activity, reproductive state, time of 
day, and many other factors (Richardson et al., 1995; Wartzok et al., 
2004; Southall et al., 2007; Weilgart, 2007). If a marine mammal does 
react briefly to an underwater sound by changing its behavior or moving 
a small distance, the impacts of the change are unlikely to be 
significant to the individual, let alone the stock or population. 
However, if a sound source displaces marine mammals from an important 
feeding or breeding area for a prolonged period, impacts on individuals 
and populations could be significant (e.g., Lusseau and Bejder, 2007; 
Weilgart, 2007). Given the many uncertainties in predicting the 
quantity and types of impacts of noise on marine mammals, it is common 
practice to estimate how many mammals would be present within a 
particular proximity to activities and/or exposed to a particular level 
of sound. In most cases, this approach likely overestimates the numbers 
of marine mammals that would be affected in some biologically-important 
manner.

Continuous Sound

    Southall et al. (2007) summarizes numerous behavioral observations 
made of low-frequency cetaceans to a range of nonpulse sound sources, 
such as vibratory pile driving. Generally, the data suggest no or 
limited responses to received levels of 90-120 dB (rms) and an 
increasing probability of behavioral effects in the 120-160 dB (rms) 
range. However, differences in source proximity, novelty of the sound, 
operational features, etc. seem to be at least as important as exposure 
level when predicting behavioral response. Southall et al. (2007) also 
summarizes numerous mid-frequency cetaceans have also been observed 
responding to nonpulse sounds such as pingers, vessel noise, sonar, and 
playbacks of drilling sounds. Again, contextual variables seem to play 
a large role in behavioral response. In some studies, animals responded 
with high severity scores while others did not respond even at higher 
exposure levels. There are also notable differences in results from 
field versus laboratory conditions. While multiple controlled studies 
of high-frequency cetaceans to nonpulse sound have been conducted, only 
one species (harbor porpoise) has been extensively studied. The data 
suggest that harbor porpoises may be sensitive to lower received levels 
than some other taxa. Wild harbor porpoises avoided all recorded 
exposures above 140 dB (rms), but it is unknown whether this type of 
behavioral response translates to other high-frequency cetaceans 
(Southall et al., 2007).
    There are limited data available on the behavioral effects of 
continuous sound (e.g., vibratory pile driving) on pinnipeds while 
underwater; however, field and captive studies to date collectively 
suggest that pinnipeds do not react strongly to exposures between 90 
and 140 dB re: 1 microPa; no data exist from exposures at higher 
levels. Jacobs and Terhune (2002) observed wild harbor seal reactions 
to high-frequency acoustic harassment devices around nine sites. Seals 
came within 44 m of the active acoustic harassment devices and failed 
to demonstrate any behavioral response when received SPLs were 
estimated at 120-130 dB. In a captive study (Kastelein, 2006), 
scientists subjected a group of seals to non-pulse sounds between 8 and 
16 kHz. Exposures between 80 and 107 dB did not induce strong 
behavioral responses; however, a single observation from 100 to 110 dB 
indicated an avoidance response. The seals returned to baseline 
conditions shortly following exposure. Southall et al. (2007) notes 
contextual differences between these two studies; the captive animals 
were not reinforced with food for remaining in the noise fields, 
whereas free-ranging animals may have been more tolerant of exposures 
because of motivation to return to a safe location or approach 
enclosures holding prey items.

Impulse Sounds

    Southall et al. (2007) addresses behavioral responses of marine 
mammals to impulse sounds (like impact pile driving). The studies that 
address the responses of mid-frequency cetaceans to impulse sounds 
include data gathered both in the field and the laboratory and related 
to several different sound sources, including: small explosives, airgun 
arrays, pulse sequences, and natural and artificial pulses. The data 
show no clear indication of increasing probability and severity of 
response with increasing received level. Behavioral responses seem to 
vary depending on species and stimuli. Data on behavioral responses of 
high-frequency cetaceans to multiple pulses are not available.
    The studies that address the responses of pinnipeds in water to 
impulse sounds include data gathered in the field and related to 
several different sources, including: Small explosives, impact pile 
driving, and airgun arrays. Quantitative data on reactions of pinnipeds 
to impulse sounds are limited, but a general finding is that exposures 
in the 150 to 180 dB range generally have

[[Page 59908]]

limited potential to induce avoidance behavior (Southall et al., 2007).

Anticipated Effects on Habitat

    No permanent detrimental impacts to marine mammal habitat are 
expected to result from the project. Pile driving (resulting in 
temporary ensonification) may impact prey species and marine mammals by 
resulting in avoidance or abandonment of the area and increased 
turbidity; however these impacts are expected to be localized and 
temporary. The receiving pit will be backfilled after construction and 
while the intake and discharge pipes will take up a limited amount of 
space on the seafloor, there are no expected adverse impacts to marine 
mammal habitat. The pipelines will actually create additional benthic 
habitat for coral recruitment and growth of fish communities by 
increasing surface area. The discharge pipe will return slightly 
cooler, nutrient-rich water to the ocean. However, the discharge water 
will be within one degree of ambient seawater temperature and is not 
expected to affect marine mammal habitat.

Mitigation Measures

    In order to issue an IHA under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA, 
NMFS must set forth the permissible methods of taking pursuant to such 
activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact on such species or stock and its habitat, paying particular 
attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, and on the availability of such species or stock for 
taking for certain subsistence uses. There are no relevant subsistence 
uses of marine mammals implicated by this action. The following 
measures will be required in HSWAC's authorization:

Temporal Restrictions

    Based on NMFS' recommendation, HSWAC will not conduct any vibratory 
pile driving from December 1 through March 31. This is the peak 
humpback whale season for Hawaii and there is a possibility that 
humpback whales may occur within the project site. HSWAC agreed to 
restrict vibratory pile driving because elevated sound levels (120 dB 
or higher) from this activity could extend out 4,700 m from the source 
and monitoring such a large area in order to prevent Level B harassment 
is not feasible.
    HSWAC may still conduct impact pile driving during the humpback 
whale season (with an additional mitigation measure). The distance to 
the Level B harassment zone for impact pile driving is much smaller 
(1,000 m) and HSWAC will monitor this area and stop pile driving in 
order to prevent Level B harassment of humpback whales (see next 
section). Further temporal restrictions are not practicable for HSWAC 
because pile driving cannot be conducted during summer months due to 
swells on the south shore of Oahu.

Establishment of an Exclusion Zone

    The purpose of HSWAC's proposed exclusion zone is to prevent Level 
A harassment (injury) of any marine mammal species and Level B 
harassment of humpback whales. During all in-water impact pile driving, 
HSWAC will establish a radius around each pile driving site that will 
be continuously monitored for marine mammals. If a marine mammal is 
observed nearing or entering this perimeter, HSWAC will stop pile 
driving operations to prevent marine mammals from being exposed to 
sounds at or above 180 dB. More specifically, HSWAC will monitor a 91-m 
distance around each pile driving site. This area will encompass the 
estimated 180-dB isopleth of 47 m, within which injury could occur, 
plus an additional 44-m buffer. The exclusion zone will be monitored 30 
minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after all impact pile driving to 
ensure that no marine mammals enter the 91-m radius. One protected 
species observer will be located on the pile driver barge to perform 
monitoring.
    Based on NMFS' recommendation, HSWAC will extend the exclusion zone 
to 1,000 m for all large whales from December 1 through March 31. The 
purpose is to prevent Level B harassment of humpback whales during 
Hawaii's peak humpback whale season.
    Once in-situ underwater sound measurements are taken, the exclusion 
zone may be adjusted accordingly so that marine mammals are not exposed 
to Level A harassment sound pressure levels. An exclusion zone does not 
need to be established during vibratory pile driving because source 
levels will not exceed the Level A harassment threshold.

Pile Driving Shut Down and Delay Procedures

    If a protected species observer sees a marine mammal approaching or 
entering the 91-m exclusion zone (or a large whale approaching or 
entering the 1,000-m exclusion zone from December 1 through March 31) 
prior to start of impact pile driving, the observer will notify the on-
site project lead (or other authorized individual) who will then be 
required to delay pile driving until the marine mammal has moved away 
or if the animal has not been resighted within NMFS' recommended 15 
minutes for pinnipeds or 60 minutes for cetaceans. If a marine mammal 
is sighted entering or on a path toward the 91-m exclusion zone (or a 
large whale approaching or entering the 1,000-m exclusion zone from 
December 1 through March 31) during pile driving, pile driving will 
cease until that animal is on a path away from the exclusion zone or 
NMFS' recommended 15/60 minutes has lapsed since the last sighting.

Soft-Start Procedures

    A ``soft-start'' technique is intended to allow marine mammals to 
vacate the area before the pile driver reaches full power. HSWAC will 
implement this technique by initiating pile driving at an energy level 
of about 40-60 percent. This level will be maintained for at least 5 
minutes before gradually increasing the energy to full power. Soft-
start procedures will be conducted prior to driving each pile if 
hammering ceases for more than 15 minutes.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an IHA for an activity, section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth ``requirements pertaining to 
the monitoring and reporting of such taking''. The MMPA implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 216.104(a)(13) indicate that requests for IHAs 
must include the suggested means of accomplishing the necessary 
monitoring and reporting that will result in increased knowledge of the 
species and of the level of taking or impacts on populations of marine 
mammals that are expected to be present.
    HSWAC will perform in-situ underwater sound monitoring during sheet 
pile and test pile driving operations to verify source levels and 
ensure that the harassment isopleths are not extending past the 
calculated distances described in this notice. If necessary, the 91-m 
exclusion zone will be expanded to include sound levels reaching 180 
dB.
    In addition to monitoring the 91-m exclusion zone, HSWAC will 
designate an observer to monitor the 160-dB zone around the sound 
source during all pipe pile driving (impact pile driving) operations. 
This observer will also be stationed on the pile driving rig and will 
be responsible for monitoring from the 91-m exclusion zone out to the 
Level B harassment zone at 1,000 m. The purpose of this observer is to: 
(1) Conduct behavioral monitoring of marine mammals and record any 
Level B takes of marine mammals that occur

[[Page 59909]]

during pipe pile driving operations; and (2) notify the onsite project 
lead (or other authorized individual) if a large whale is seen 
approaching or entering the 1,000-m exclusion zone from December 1 
through March 31.
    During at least 5 of the 16 days of sheet (i.e., vibratory) pile 
driving operations, HSWAC will designate two additional observers to 
monitor the 120-dB zone around the sound source. These observers will 
be stationed on a small power boat with an operator and will travel in 
a semi-circular route about 3.1 km from the sound source in order to 
observe and record any marine mammals that could be exposed to sound 
levels between 120-180 dB. Maximum travel speed will be 10 nautical 
miles per hour. Monitoring will begin 40 minutes prior to the start of 
sheet pile driving operations in order to observe whether any marine 
mammals in the area remained once pile driving operations started. 
Monitoring will continue during sheet pile driving operations and the 
observer will record all marine mammal sightings and behavior. 
Monitoring will end 30 minutes after pile driving operations have 
ceased, as long as there is daylight. At a minimum, monitoring of the 
120-dB zone will occur on the first and second day of pile driving 
operations, followed by the fifth day, the tenth day, and fifteenth 
day. Observer data from the 120-180 dB area (for both pipe and sheet 
pile driving) will be used to validate take estimates and evaluate the 
behavioral impacts that pile driving has on marine mammals.
    Protected species observers will be provided with the equipment 
necessary to effectively monitor for marine mammals (for example, high-
quality binoculars, spotting scopes, compass, and range-finder) in 
order to determine if animals have entered into the exclusion zone or 
Level B harassment isopleth and to record species, behaviors, and 
responses to pile driving. If in-situ underwater sound monitoring 
indicates that threshold isopleths are greater than originally 
calculated, HSWAC will contact NMFS within 48 hours and make the 
necessary adjustments. Protected species observers will be required to 
submit a report to NMFS within 90 days of completion of pile driving. 
The report will include data from marine mammal sightings (such as 
species, group size, and behavior), any observed reactions to 
construction, distance to operating pile hammer, and construction 
activities occurring at time of sighting.
    In the unanticipated event that the specified activity clearly 
causes the take of a marine mammal in a manner prohibited by the IHA, 
such as an injury (Level A harassment), serious injury, or mortality 
(e.g., ship-strike or gear interaction), HSWAC will immediately cease 
the specified activities and report the incident to the Chief of the 
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
at 301-427-8401 and/or by email to Michael.Payne@noaa.gov and 
Michelle.Magliocca@noaa.gov and the Pacific Islands Regional Stranding 
Coordinator at 808-944-2269 (David.Schofield@noaa.gov). The report must 
include the following information:
     Time, date, and location (latitude/longitude) of the 
incident;
     Name and type of vessel involved;
     Vessel's speed during and leading up to the incident;
     Description of the incident;
     Status of all sound source use in the 24 hours preceding 
the incident;
     Water depth;
     Environmental conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction, 
Beaufort sea state, cloud cover, and visibility);
     Description of all marine mammal observations in the 24 
hours preceding the incident;
     Species identification or description of the animal(s) 
involved;
     Fate of the animal(s); and
     Photographs or video footage of the animal(s) (if 
equipment is available).
    Activities will not resume until NMFS is able to review the 
circumstances of the prohibited take. NMFS will work with HSWAC to 
determine what is necessary to minimize the likelihood of further 
prohibited take and ensure MMPA compliance. HSWAC will not resume their 
activities until notified by NMFS via letter, email, or telephone.
    In the event that HSWAC discovers an injured or dead marine mammal, 
and the lead observer determines that the cause of the injury or death 
is unknown and the death is relatively recent (i.e., in less than a 
moderate state of decomposition as described in the next paragraph), 
HSWAC will immediately report the incident to the Chief of the Permits 
and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, at 301-
427-8401 and/or by email to Michael.Payne@noaa.gov and 
Michelle.Magliocca@noaa.gov and the Pacific Islands Regional Stranding 
Coordinator at 808-973-2941 (David.Schofield@noaa.gov). The report will 
include the same information identified in the paragraph above. 
Activities could continue while NMFS reviews the circumstances of the 
incident. NMFS will work with HSWAC to determine whether modifications 
in the activities are appropriate.
    In the event that HSWAC discovers an injured or dead marine mammal, 
and the lead observer determines that the injury or death is not 
associated with or related to the activities authorized in the IHA 
(e.g., previously wounded animal, carcass with moderate to advanced 
decomposition, or scavenger damage), HSWAC will report the incident to 
the Chief of the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, at 301-427-8401 and/or by email to 
Michael.Payne@noaa.gov and Michelle.Magliocca@noaa.gov and the Pacific 
Islands Regional Stranding Coordinator at 808-944-2269 
(David.Schofield@noaa.gov), within 24 hours of the discovery. HSWAC 
will provide photographs or video footage (if available) or other 
documentation of the stranded animal sighting to NMFS.

Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment

    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the 
MMPA defines ``harassment'' as: any act of pursuit, torment, or 
annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering [Level B harassment].
    Current NMFS practice regarding exposure of marine mammals to 
anthropogenic noise is that in order to avoid the potential for injury 
(PTS), cetaceans and pinnipeds should not be exposed to impulsive 
sounds of 180 and 190 dB or above, respectively. This level is 
considered precautionary as it is likely that more intense sounds would 
be required before injury would actually occur (Southall et al., 2007). 
Potential for behavioral harassment (Level B) is considered to have 
occurred when marine mammals are exposed to sounds at or above 160 dB 
for impulse sound (such as impact pile driving) and 120 dB for 
continuous sound (such as vibratory pile driving). Table 2 summarized 
the distances to NMFS' harassment thresholds from each type of pile 
driving activity. Based on this information, and considering the 
required mitigation measures, marine mammals will not likely be exposed 
to sound levels reaching 180 dB (Level A harassment) or higher.
    HSWAC initially requested marine mammal takes for all species that 
could potentially be around Hawaii at any point during the year. 
However, as noted in the Description of Marine

[[Page 59910]]

Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity section of this document, 
some species only occur during winter months or are considered rare 
around Hawaii. Based on further consultation with the NMFS Pacific 
Islands Region and Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NMFS is 
authorizing the amount of take detailed in Table 3. These numbers are 
based on species density around Hawaii (when available), taking habitat 
preference, seasonality, average group size, and number of pile driving 
days into consideration.
    Where applicable, the density of each species was applied to the 
largest Level B harassment isopleth (4,700 m) and multiplied by the 
maximum number of pile driving days. For example, the density estimate 
for dwarf sperm whales is 0.31 animals within the 120 dB isopleth. This 
number was rounded to one and multiplied by the number of total pile 
driving days (72). For some species, only vibratory pile driving 
duration (16 days) was used to calculate take due to the following: (1) 
The Level B harassment zone for impact pile driving is relatively small 
(1,000 m); (2) impact pile driving would occur in relatively shallow 
water; and (3) some species prefer deep water and are unlikely to occur 
within the 1,000-m radius. Beaked whales were lumped together due to 
the difficulty in identifying them to the species level. Although 
vibratory pile driving is prohibited from December through March, there 
is still a possibility of some large whales (humpbacks and minkes) 
being in the area during November or April. Therefore, based on the 
number of pile driving days, NMFS estimated that 16 humpbacks and 16 
minke whales may be exposed to Level B harassment from vibratory pile 
driving during this time. The authorized take numbers in Table 3 are 
conservative in that they indicate the maximum number of animals 
expected to occur within the largest Level B harassment isopleth (4,700 
m).

                   Table 3--Authorized Takes for Marine Mammals During Pile Driving Operations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Expected take     Expected take
                                                             from vibratory      from impact
                                           Density within     pile driving      pile driving
                 Species                  the project area     (density x        (density x     Authorized  take
                                                             number  of pile   number of pile
                                                              driving days)     driving days)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beaked whales (Blainville's, Cuvier's,                0.08                16                 0                16
 Longman's).............................
Bryde's whale...........................              0.01                16                 0                16
Dwarf sperm whale.......................              0.31                16                56                72
False killer whale......................              0.05                16                 0                16
Humpback whale..........................               n/a                16                 0                16
Melon-headed whale......................              0.10                16                 0                16
Minke whale.............................               n/a                16                 0                16
Short-finned pilot whale................              0.65                16                56                72
Pygmy killer whale......................              0.02                16                 0                16
Pygmy sperm whale.......................              0.13                16                 0                16
Bottlenose dolphin......................               n/a  ................  ................           \1\ 216
Fraser's dolphin........................              0.02                16                 0                16
Risso's dolphin.........................              0.11                16                 0                16
Rough-toothed dolphin...................              0.35                16                 0                16
Spinner dolphin.........................               n/a  ................  ................           \2\ 384
Pantropical spotted dolphin.............              0.87                16                56                72
Monk seal...............................              1.01                32                56            \3\ 88
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ There is no density estimate for bottlenose dolphins around Hawaii, so the minimum group size (3) was
  multiplied by the total number of pile driving days (72).
\2\ There is no density estimate for spinner dolphins around Hawaii, so the average group size (24) was
  multiplied by the number of vibratory pile driving days (16).
\3\ Contrary to the proposed notice of IHA, density values were calculated for the proposed project area and
  used to estimate take. The density value in column 2 was rounded up and multiplied by the number of pile
  driving days.

Negligible Impact and Small Numbers Analysis and Determination

    NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``* * * 
an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be 
reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely 
affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of 
recruitment or survival.'' In making a negligible impact determination, 
NMFS considers a number of factors which include, but are not limited 
to, number of anticipated injuries or mortalities (none of which would 
be authorized here), number, nature, intensity, and duration of Level B 
harassment, and the context in which takes occur.
    As described above, marine mammals will not be exposed to 
activities or sound levels which will result in injury (PTS), serious 
injury, or mortality. Rather, NMFS expects that some marine mammals may 
be exposed to elevated sound levels which will result in Level B 
behavioral harassment. No impacts to marine mammal reproduction are 
expected because the closest known monk seal haul out is outside of the 
Level B harassment zone for in-air sound and required mitigation and 
monitoring measures will prevent harassment of humpback whales during 
the peak humpback whale season. During winter months, humpback whales 
migrate to Hawaii. Some level of socializing, breeding, and/or calving 
is thought to take place along the south of Oahu. The highest estimates 
of humpback whale surface density occur around Maui, Molokai, and 
Lanai; however, there are estimated areas of high humpback whale 
surface density around the other islands and humpbacks may be present 
around Oahu's south shore during winter months (Mobley et al., 2001). 
While the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary 
includes part of Oahu's south shore, NMFS does not expect sound levels 
at or above 120 dB from pile driving to reach the sanctuary boundary. 
Otherwise, the

[[Page 59911]]

project area is not considered significant habitat for marine mammals.
    Required mitigation and monitoring measures are expected to prevent 
impacts to cetacean reproduction. Marine mammals may avoid the area 
around the hammer, thereby reducing their exposure to elevated sound 
levels. NMFS expects any impacts to marine mammal behavior to be 
temporary, Level B harassment (e.g., avoidance or alteration of 
behavior). HSWAC expects that a maximum of 72 pile driving days may 
occur over a 1-year period. Marine mammal injury or mortality is not 
likely, as the 180-dB isopleth (NMFS' Level A harassment threshold for 
cetaceans) for the impact hammer is expected to be no more than 47 m 
from the sound source. The 190 dB isopleth (NMFS' Level A harassment 
threshold for pinnipeds) will be even smaller. Considering the required 
mitigation measures, NMFS expects any changes to marine mammal behavior 
from pile driving noise to be temporary. The amount of take NMFS is 
authorizing is considered small relative to the estimated population 
sizes detailed in the proposed IHA notice (less than twelve percent for 
two species and less than seven percent for all others). There is no 
anticipated effect on annual rates of recruitment or survival of 
affected marine mammals.
    Based on the analysis contained in this notice, the proposed IHA 
notice (77 FR 43259, July 24, 2012), and the IHA application, and 
taking into consideration the implementation of the mitigation and 
monitoring measures, NMFS has determined that HSWAC's pile driving 
activities will result in the incidental take of small numbers of 
marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, and that the total taking 
will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks.

Impact on Availability of Affected Species for Taking for Subsistence 
Uses

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated 
by this action.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    The humpback whale and Hawaiian monk seal are the only marine 
mammals listed as endangered under the ESA with confirmed or possible 
occurrence in the project area during pile driving. Currently, no 
critical habitat has been designated for either species on or around 
Oahu. However, in June 2011, NMFS proposed revising the Hawaiian monk 
seal critical habitat by extending the current area around the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and designating six new areas in the main 
Hawaiian Islands. This would include terrestrial and marine habitat 
from 5 m inland from the shoreline extending seaward to the 500-m depth 
contour around Oahu. The Hawaii insular stock of false killer whales is 
also currently proposed for listing under the ESA. Under section 7 of 
the ESA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (as the federal permitting 
agency for HSWAC's project) consulted with NMFS Pacific Islands Region 
on the seawater air conditioning project. NMFS also consulted 
internally on the issuance of an IHA under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the 
MMPA for this activity. Section 7 consultation concluded that HSWAC's 
project is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed 
species and would have no effect on designated or proposed critical 
habitat.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as implemented by the regulations published 
by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, NMFS prepared an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to consider the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
effects to marine mammals and other applicable environmental resources 
resulting from issuance of a 1-year IHA and the potential issuance of 
future authorizations for incidental harassment for the ongoing 
project. NMFS made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and the 
EA and FONSI are available on the NMFS Web site listed in the beginning 
of this document (see ADDRESSES).
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also prepared an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the environmental effects from the 
seawater air conditioning project.

    Dated: September 25, 2012.
Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-24155 Filed 9-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P