Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Marine Corps Training Exercises at Brant Island Bombing Target and Piney Island Bombing Range, USMC Cherry Point Range Complex, North Carolina, 13264-13287 [2015-05797]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13264-13287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05797]



[[Page 13264]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 218

[Docket No. 131119976-5119-02]
RIN 0648-BD79


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to U.S. Marine Corps Training Exercises at Brant Island 
Bombing Target and Piney Island Bombing Range, USMC Cherry Point Range 
Complex, North Carolina

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Upon application from the U.S. Marine Corps (Marine Corps), 
NMFS is issuing regulations per the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) 
to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals, incidental to 
training operations at the Brant Island Bombing Target (BT-9) and Piney 
Island Bombing Range (BT-11) located within the Marine Corps' Cherry 
Point Range Complex in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina from March 2015 to 
March 2020. These regulations allow NMFS to issue a Letter of 
Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during 
the Marine Corps' specified activities and timeframes, set forth the 
permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the 
least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and 
their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring 
and reporting of the incidental take.

DATES: Effective March 13, 2015 through March 12, 2020.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the application, our 2015 
Environmental Assessment, the Marine Corps' 2009 Environmental 
Assessment, and our Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are 
available on the following Web site at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. The public may also view documents 
cited in this final rule, by appointment, during regular business hours 
at 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeannine Cody, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Summary

    This regulation, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), establishes a framework for authorizing the take 
of marine mammals incidental to the Marine Corps' military training 
operations at the Brant Island Bombing Target (BT-9) and Piney Island 
Bombing Range (BT-11) located within the Marine Corps' Cherry Point 
Range Complex in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.
    The Marine Corps conducts military training to meet its statutory 
responsibility to organize, train, equip, and maintain combat-ready 
forces. The Marine Corps training activities include air-to-ground 
weapons delivery, weapons firing, and water-based training occurring at 
the BT-9 and BT-11 bombing targets located within the Marine Corps' 
Cherry Point Range Complex in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. The Marine 
Corps' training activities are military readiness activities under the 
MMPA as defined by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2004 (NDAA; Public Law 108-136).

Purpose and Need for this Regulatory Action

    NMFS received an application from the Marine Corps requesting 5-
year regulations and one 5-year Letter of Authorization to take marine 
mammals, specifically bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), by 
harassment, injury, and mortality incidental to training operations at 
BT-9 and BT-11 bombing targets. NMFS has determined that these 
operations, which constitute a military readiness activity, have the 
potential to cause behavioral disturbance and injury to marine mammals.
    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) 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 specified geographical region if, after notice and public 
comment, the agency makes certain findings and issues regulations.
    This regulation would establish a framework to authorize the take 
of marine mammals incidental to the Marine Corps' training exercises 
through NMFS' issuance of one 5-year Letter of Authorization to the 
Marine Corps, which would contain mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
requirements.

Legal Authority for the Regulatory Action

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and our implementing regulations 
at 50 CFR part 216, subpart I provide the legal basis for issuing the 
5-year regulations and subsequent Letter of Authorization. In the case 
of military readiness activities, such as those proposed to be 
conducted by the Marine Corps, the specified geographical region and 
small numbers provisions of section 101(a)(5)(A) do not apply.

Summary of Major Provisions Within the Final Regulation

    The following provides a summary of some of the major provisions 
within this rulemaking for the Marine Corps' training exercises at 
Brant Island Bombing Target--BT-9 and Piney Island Bombing Range--BT-11 
in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. First, this final rulemaking 
authorizes take by harassment and injury only; it does not authorize 
take by mortality. Second, NMFS has determined that the Marine Corps' 
adherence to the proposed mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
measures would achieve the least practicable adverse impact on the 
affected marine mammals. These measures include:
     Required pre- and post-exercise monitoring of the training 
areas to detect the presence of marine mammals during training 
exercises.
     Required monitoring of the training areas during active 
training exercises with required suspensions/delays of training 
activities if a marine mammal enters within any of the designated 
mitigation zones.
     Required reporting of stranded or injured marine mammals 
in the vicinity of the BT-9 and BT-11 bombing targets located within 
the Marine Corps' Cherry Point Range Complex in Pamlico Sound, North 
Carolina to the NMFS Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
     Required research on a real-time acoustic monitoring 
system to automate detection of bottlenose dolphins in the training 
areas.

Cost and Benefits

    This final rule, specific only to the Marine Corps' training 
activities in BT-9 and BT-11 bombing targets, is not significant under 
Executive Order 12866-Regulatory Planning and Review.

Availability of Supporting Information

    In 2009, the Marine Corps prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
titled, ``Environmental Assessment MCAS Cherry Point Range 
Operations,'' in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA; 42

[[Page 13265]]

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the regulations published by the Council on 
Environmental Quality. The EA is available at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/military.htm. In 2009, the 
Marine Corps issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for its 
activities, which is also available at the same internet address.
    After evaluating the Marine Corps' application and the 2009 EA, 
NMFS determined that there were changes to the proposed action (i.e., 
increased ammunitions levels) and new environmental impacts (i.e., the 
use of revised thresholds for estimating potential impacts on marine 
mammals from explosives) not addressed in the 2009 EA. In 2015, NMFS 
conducted a new analysis per NEPA, augmenting the information contained 
in the Marine Corps' 2009 EA, on the issuance of a MMPA rulemaking and 
subsequent LOA. In February 2015, NMFS determined that the issuance of 
this regulation and subsequent LOA would not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment and issued a FONSI. In February 
2015, the Marine Corps issued a new FONSI for their activities under 
the MMPA regulations and subsequent LOA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary 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 specified 
geographical region if, after notice and public review, NMFS makes 
certain findings and issues regulations.
    NMFS shall grant authorization for the incidental takings if the 
agency finds that the total taking will have a negligible impact on the 
species or stock(s), and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on 
the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant). Further, the authorization for incidental takings must set 
forth the permissible methods of taking; other means of effecting the 
least practicable adverse impact on the species or stock and its 
habitat; and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring, and 
reporting of such taking.
    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.''
    The National Defense Authorization Act of 2004 (NDAA; Pub. L. 108-
136) removed the ``small numbers'' and ``specified geographical 
region'' limitations indicated earlier and amended the definition of 
harassment as it applies to a ``military readiness activity'' to read 
as follows: (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].

Summary of Request

    On January 28, 2013, NMFS received an application from the Marine 
Corps requesting a rulemaking and subsequent Letter of Authorization 
for the take of marine mammals incidental to training exercises 
conducted at Brant Island Bombing Target (BT-9) and Piney Island 
Bombing Range (BT-11) bombing targets at the USMC Cherry Point Range 
Complex located within Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.
    On March 29, 2013, per the regulations at 50 CFR 216.104(b)(1)(i), 
NMFS began the public review process by publishing a Notice of Receipt 
in the Federal Register (78 FR 19224). After the close of the public 
comment period and review of comments, NMFS published a proposed rule 
in the Federal Register on July 15, 2014 (79 FR 41373) to authorize the 
take of marine mammals per the Marine Corps' training activities and 
solicited public comments.
    The Marine Corps would conduct weapons delivery training exercises 
(air-to-surface and surface-to-surface) at the two water-based bombing 
targets located within the Cherry Point Range Complex in North 
Carolina. The military readiness activities would occur between March 
2015 and March 2020, year-round, day or night. The Marine Corps 
proposes to use small arms, large arms, bombs, rockets, grenades, and 
pyrotechnics for the air-to-surface and surface-to-surface training 
exercises, which qualify as military readiness activities. NMFS 
anticipates that take, by Level B (behavioral) and Level A harassment 
of individuals of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 
would result from the training exercises.
    The regulations would establish a framework for authorizing 
incidental take in a 5-year Letter of Authorization (LOA) which would 
authorize the take of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) 
by Level A and Level B (behavioral) harassment only.
    NMFS has issued three one-year Incidental Harassment Authorizations 
to the Marine Corps under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA for the 
conduct of similar training exercises from 2010 to 2014 (75 FR 72807, 
November 26, 2010; 77 FR 87, January 3, 2012; and 78 FR 42042, July 15, 
2013). The Marine Corps' last Incidental Harassment Authorization 
expired in 2014.
    NMFS is committed to the use of the best available science in its 
decision making. NMFS uses an adaptive, transparent process that allows 
for both timely scientific updates and public input into agency 
decisions regarding the use of acoustic research and thresholds. NMFS 
is currently in the process of re-evaluating acoustic thresholds based 
on the best available science, as well as how NMFS applies these 
thresholds under the MMPA to all activity types. This re-evaluation 
could potentially result in changes to the acoustic thresholds or their 
application as they apply to future Marine Corps training activities at 
BT-9 and BT-11. However, it is important to note that while changes in 
acoustic thresholds may affect the enumeration of ``takes,'' they do 
not necessarily change the evaluation of population level effects or 
the outcome of the negligible impact analysis. In addition, while 
acoustic criteria may also inform mitigation and monitoring decisions, 
the Marine Corps will implement an adaptive management program that 
will address new information allowing for the modification of 
mitigation and/or monitoring measures as appropriate.

Description of the Specified Activity

Overview

    The Marine Corps must meet its statutory responsibility to 
organize, train, equip, and maintain combat-ready Marine Corps forces 
at the BT-9 and BT-11 bombing targets in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. 
The bombing targets provide unique training environments and are of 
vital importance to the readiness of Marine Corps forces.
    The types of ordnances proposed for use at the BT-9 and BT-11 
bombing targets include gun ammunition (small and large arms), rockets, 
grenades, bombs, and pyrotechnics. Training for any activity may occur 
year-round, day or night, with no seasonal restrictions. Active sonar 
is not a component of these specified training exercises.

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Dates and Duration

    The Marine Corps' activities would occur between March 2015 and 
March 2020. Each type of training exercise described in more detail 
later in this rule may occur year-round, day or night. Approximately 15 
percent of the activities would occur at night.
    NMFS notes that the proposed rule in the Federal Register (79 FR 
41373, July 15, 2014) discussed that the Marine Corps' activities would 
occur in a five-year period between September 2014 and September 2019. 
Although the dates have changed between the proposed rule and the final 
rule, the underlying analysis occurs on an annual basis and accounts 
for seasonal variation (winter and spring) over a five-year span.

Location of Proposed Activities

    The Marine Corps administers and uses the BT-9 and BT-11 bombing 
targets (See Figure 1), located at the convergence of the Neuse River 
and Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, for the purpose of training military 
personnel in the skill of ordnance delivery by aircraft and small 
watercraft.
    The BT-9 area is a water-based bombing target and mining exercise 
area located approximately 52 kilometers (km) (32.3 miles (mi)) 
northeast of Marine Air Corps Station Cherry Point. The U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Wilmington District has defined a danger zone (prohibited 
area) by a 6 statute-mile (sm) diameter boundary around BT-9 (33 CFR 
334.420). This restriction prohibits non-military vessels within the 
designated area. The BT-9 target area ranges in depth from 1.2 to 6.1 
meters (m) (3.9 to 20 feet (ft)), with the shallow areas concentrated 
along the Brandt Island Shoal. The target itself consists of three ship 
hulls grounded on Brant Island Shoals, located approximately 4.8 km 
(3.0 mi) southeast of Goose Creek Island.
    The BT-11 area encompasses a total of 50.6 square kilometers 
(km\2\) (19.5 square miles (mi\2\)) on Piney Island located in Carteret 
County, NC. The target prohibited area, at a radius of 1.8 sm, is 
roughly centered on Rattan Bay and includes approximately 9.3 km\2\ 
(3.6 mi\2\) of water and water depths range from 0.3 m (1.0 ft) along 
the shoreline to 3.1 m (10.1 ft) in the center of Rattan Bay. Water 
depths in the center of Rattan Bay range from approximately 2.4 to 3 m 
(8 to 10 ft) with bottom depths ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 m (1 to 5 ft) 
adjacent to the shoreline of Piney Island. The BT-11 in-water, 
stationary target consists of a barge and patrol boat located in 
roughly the center of Rattan Bay. The Marine Corps also use on an 
intermittent basis for strafing at water- and land-based targets, a 
second danger zone, with an inner radius of 1.8 sm and outer radius of 
2.5 sm and also roughly centered on Rattan Bay.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR13MR15.001

    The Marine Corps conducts all inert and live-fire exercises at BT-9 
and BT-11 so that all ammunition and other ordnances strike and/or fall 
on the land or water-based targets or within the existing danger zones 
or water restricted areas. The Marine Corps would close danger zones to 
the public on an intermittent or full-time basis for hazardous 
operations such as target practice and ordnance firing. They also 
prohibit or limit public access to water restricted areas to provide 
security for government property and/or to protect the public from the 
risks of injury or damage that could occur from the government's use of 
that area (33 CFR 334.2). Surface danger zones are designated areas of 
rocket firing, target practice, or other hazardous operations (33 CFR 
334.420). The surface danger zone (prohibited area) for BT-9 is a 4.8 
km (3.0 mi) radius centered on the south side of Brant Island Shoal. 
The surface danger zone for BT-11 is a 2.9 km (1.8 mi) radius centered 
on a barge target in Rattan Bay.

Detailed Description of the Activities

    The following sections describe the training activities that have 
the potential to affect marine mammals present within the BT-9 and BT-
11 bombing targets. These activities fall into two categories based on 
the ordnance delivery method: (1) Surface-to-surface gunnery exercises; 
and (2) air-to-surface bombing exercises.

Surface-to-Surface Exercises

    Gunnery exercises are the only category of surface-to-surface 
activity currently conducted within BT-9 or BT-11. Surface-to-surface 
gunnery firing exercises typically involve Special Boat Team personnel 
firing munitions from a machine gun and 40 mm grenade

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launchers at a water-based target or throwing concussion grenades into 
the water (e.g., not at a specific target) from a small boat. The 
number and type of boats used depend on the unit using the boat and the 
particular training mission. These include: small unit river craft, 
combat rubber raiding craft, rigid hull inflatable boats, and patrol 
craft. These boats may use inboard or outboard, diesel or gasoline 
engines with either propeller or water jet propulsion systems.
    The Marine Corps propose to use a maximum of six boats ranging in 
size from 7.3 to 26 m (24 to 85 ft) to conduct surface-to-surface 
firing activities. Each boat would travel between 0 to 20 knots (kts) 
(0 to 23 miles per hour (mph)) with an average of two vessels to 
approach and engage the intended targets. The boats typically travel in 
linear paths and do not operate erratically.
    Boat sorties would occur in all seasons and the number of sorties 
conducted at each range may vary from year to year based on training 
needs and worldwide operational tempo. The majority of boat sorties at 
BT-9 originate from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point's boat docks, 
but they may also originate from the State Port in Morehead City, NC, 
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and U.S. Coast Guard Station Hobucken 
in Pamlico Sound. The majority of boat sorties at BT-11 originate from 
launch sites within the range complex.
    There is no specific schedule associated with the use of BT-9 or 
BT-11 by the small boat teams. However, the Marine Corps schedules the 
exercises for 5-day blocks with exercises at various times throughout 
the year. Variables such as deployment status, range availability, and 
completion of crew-specific training requirements influence the 
exercise schedules. Table 1 in this document outlines the number of 
surface-to-surface exercises that occurred between 2011 and 2013 by 
bombing target area.

   Table 1--Counts of Surface-to-Surface Sorties Conducted in Calendar
              Years 2011, 2012, and 2013 in BT-9 and BT-11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Year                           BT-9        BT-11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011..........................................          223          105
2012..........................................          322          106
2013..........................................           87           62
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The direct-fire gunnery exercises (i.e., all targets are within the 
line of sight of the military personnel) at BT-9 would typically use 
7.62 millimeter (mm) or .50 caliber (cal) machine guns; 40 mm grenade 
machine guns; or G911 concussion hand grenades. The proposed exercises 
at BT-9 are usually live-fire exercises. At times, Marine Corps 
personnel would use blanks (inert ordnance) so that the boat crews 
could practice ship-handling skills during training without being 
concerned with the safety requirements involved with live weapons.
    The Marine Corps estimates that it could conduct up to 
approximately 354 vessel-based sorties annually at BT-9. This estimate 
includes the highest number of sorties conducted during 2010 through 
2013 (322) plus an additional 10 percent increase (32) in sorties to 
account for interannual variation based on future training needs and 
worldwide operational tempo.
    The direct-fire gunnery exercises at BT-11 would include the use of 
small arms, large arms, bombs, rockets, and pyrotechnics. All munitions 
fired within the BT-11 range are non-explosive with the exception of 
the small explosives in the single charges. No live firing occurs at 
BT-11. The Marine Corps estimates that it could conduct up to 
approximately 117 vessel-based sorties annually at BT-11. This estimate 
includes the highest number of sorties conducted during 2010 through 
2013 (106) plus an additional 10 percent increase (11) in sorties to 
account for interannual variation based on future training needs and 
worldwide operational tempo.

Air-to-Surface Exercises

    Air-to-surface training exercises involve fixed-, rotary-, or tilt-
wing aircraft firing munitions at targets on the water's surface or on 
land (as in the case of BT-11). There are four types of air-to-surface 
activities conducted within BT-9 and BT-11. They include: Mine laying, 
bombing, gunnery, or rocket exercises. Table 2 in this document 
outlines the number of air-to-surface exercises that occurred in 2011, 
2012, and 2013 by bombing target area.

 Table 2--Counts of Air-to-Surface Exercises Conducted in Calendar Years
                 2011, 2012, and 2013 in BT-9 and BT-11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Year                           BT-9        BT-11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011..........................................        1,554        4,251
2012..........................................          842       11,706
2013..........................................          407        1,177
                                               -------------------------
    Total.....................................        2,803       17,134
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Marine Corps estimates that it could conduct up to 
approximately 1,709 air-based based sorties annually at BT-9. This 
estimate includes the highest number of sorties conducted during 2010 
through 2013 (1,554) plus an additional 10 percent increase (155) in 
sorties to account for interannual variation based on future training 
needs and worldwide operational tempo.
    For the BT-11 area, the Marine Corps estimates that it could 
conduct up to approximately 12,877 air-based based sorties annually. 
This estimate includes the highest number of sorties conducted during 
2010 through 2013 (11,706) plus an additional 10 percent increase 
(1,171) in sorties to account for interannual variation based on future 
training needs and worldwide operational tempo.
    The following sections provide more detail on each exercise type 
that the Marine Corps proposes to conduct from 2015 through 2020.

Mine Laying Exercises: Aircraft With Inert Shapes

    Mine laying exercises are simulations only, meaning that mine 
detonations would not occur during training. These exercises, regularly 
conducted at the BT-9 bombing target, involve the use of fixed-wing 
aircraft (F/A-18F Hornet Strike Fighter, P-3 Orion, or P-8 Poseidon) 
flying undetected to the target area using either a low- or high-
altitude tactical flight pattern. When the aircraft reaches the target 
area, the pilot would deploy a series of inert mine shapes in an 
offensive or defensive pattern into the water. The aircraft would make 
multiple passes along a pre-determined flight azimuth dropping one or 
more of the inert shapes each time.
    The mine-laying exercises at BT-9 would include the use of MK-62, 
MK-63, MK-76, BDU-45, and BDU-48 inert training shapes. Each inert 
shape weighs 500, 1000, 25, 500, and 10 pounds (lbs), respectively.

Bombing Exercises: Fixed-Wing Aircraft With Inert Bombs

    Pilots train to destroy or disable enemy ships or boats during 
bombing exercises. These exercises, conducted at BT-9 or BT-11, 
normally involve the use of two to four fixed-wing aircraft (i.e., an 
F/A-18F Hornet Strike Fighter or AV-8 Harrier II) approaching the 
target area from an altitude of approximately 152 m (500 ft) up to 
4,572 m (15,000 ft). When the aircraft reach the target area, they 
establish a predetermined racetrack pattern relative to the target and 
deliver the bombs. Participating aircraft follow the same flight path 
during subsequent target ingress, ordnance delivery, target egress, and 
downwind pattern. The Marine Corps uses this type of pattern to ensure

[[Page 13269]]

that only one aircraft releases ordnance at any given time.
    The pilots deliver the bombs against targets at BT-9 or BT-11, day 
or night; the average time to complete this type of exercise is 
approximately one hour. There is no set level or pattern of amount of 
sorties conducted and there are no cluster munitions authorized for use 
during bombing exercises.
    The bombing exercises would typically use unguided MK-76, BDU-45, 
MK-82, and MK-83 inert training bombs (25, 500, 500, and 1,000 lbs, 
respectively); precision-guided munitions consisting of laser-guided 
bombs (inert); and laser-guided training rounds (inert, but contains a 
small impact-initiated spotting charge).
    For unguided munitions, the typical release altitudes are 914 m 
(3,000 ft) or above 4,572 m (15,000 ft). The typical release altitude 
for precision-guided munitions is 1.8 km (1.1 mi) or greater in 
altitude. For laser-guided munitions, onboard laser designators, laser 
designators from support aircraft, or ground support personnel, use 
lasers to illuminate the certified targets. For either weapons delivery 
system, the lowest minimum altitude for ordnance delivery (inert bombs) 
would be 152 m (500 ft).

Gunnery Exercises: Aircraft With Cannons

    During air-to-surface gunnery exercises with cannons, pilots train 
to destroy or disable enemy ships, boats, or floating/near-surface 
mines from aircraft with mounted cannons equal to or larger than 20 mm. 
The Marine Corps proposes to use either fixed-wing (F/A-18F Hornet 
Strike Fighter or an AV-8 Harrier II) or rotary-wing (AH-1 Super 
Cobra), tilt-rotor (V-22), and other aircraft to conduct gunnery 
exercises at BT-9 or BT-11. During the exercise (i.e., strafing run), 
two aircraft would approach the target area from an altitude of 
approximately 914 m (3,000 ft) and within a distance of 1,219 m (4,000 
ft) from the target, begin to fire a burst of approximately 30 rounds 
of munitions before reaching an altitude of 305 m (1,000 ft) to break 
off the attack. Each aircraft would reposition for another strafing run 
until each aircraft expends its exercise ordnance of approximately 250 
rounds (approximately 8-12 passes per aircraft per exercise). This type 
of gunnery exercise would typically use a Vulcan M61A1/A2, 20 mm cannon 
or a GAU-12, 25 mm cannon. The Marine Corps proposes to use inert 
munitions for these exercises. The aircraft deliver the ordnance 
against targets at BT-9 or BT-11, day or night. The average time to 
complete this type of exercise is approximately one hour.

Gunnery Exercises: Aircraft With Machine Guns

    During air-to-surface gunnery exercises with machine guns, pilots 
train to destroy or disable enemy ships, boats, or floating/near-
surface mines with aircraft using mounted machine guns. The Marine 
Corps proposes to use rotary-wing (CH-52 Super Stallion, UH-1 Iroquois 
Huey, CH-46 Sea Knight, MV-22 Osprey, or H-60 Hawk series, and other 
types) aircraft to conduct gunnery exercises at BT-9 or BT-11. During 
the exercise an aircraft would fly around the target area at an 
altitude between 15 and 30 m (50 and 100 ft) in a 91 m (300 ft) 
racetrack pattern around the water-based target. Each gunner would 
expend approximately 400 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition and 200 rounds of 
.50 cal ammunition in each exercise. The aircraft deliver the ordnance 
against the bombing targets at BT-9 or BT-11, day or night. The average 
time to complete this type of exercise is approximately one hour.

Rocket Exercises

    The Marine Corps proposes to conduct rocket exercises similar to 
the bombing exercises. Fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft crews would 
launch rockets at surface maritime targets, day and night, to train for 
destroying or disabling enemy ships or boats. These operations employ 
2.75-inch and 5-inch rockets (4.8 and 15.0 lbs net explosive weight, 
respectively). Generally, personnel would deliver an average of 
approximately 14 rockets per sortie. As with the bombing exercises, 
there is no set level or pattern of amount of sorties conducted.

Pyrotechnics

    Pyrotechnics are non-explosive devices that use chemical reactions 
to produce heat, light, gas, smoke, and/or sound to simulate threat 
conditions during exercises (DoN, 2009). The Marine Corps proposes to 
use chaff, LUU-2, LUU-19, MI27 A1-parachute flare, self-protection 
flares, signal illuminations, simulated booby traps, Smokey Sams, 
artillery simulators, and ground bursts.

Munitions and Estimated Annual Expenditures

    Tables 3 and 4 in this document provide a list and expenditure 
levels of the live and inert ordnance proposed for use at BT-9 and BT-
11, respectively.
    There are several varieties of ordnance and net explosive weights 
(for live munition used at BT-9) can vary according to type. All 
practice bombs are inert but simulate the same ballistic properties of 
service type bombs. They are either solid cast metal bodies or thin 
sheet metal containers. Since practice bombs contain no explosive 
filler, a practice bomb signal cartridge (smoke) serves as a visual 
observation of weapon target impact.
    When a high explosive detonates, the explosive fill within the 
weapon case converts almost instantly into a gas at very high pressure 
and temperature. Under the pressure of the gases generated, the weapon 
case expands and breaks into fragments. The air surrounding the casing 
compresses and transmits a shock (blast) wave. Typical initial values 
for a high-explosive weapon are 200 kilobars of pressure (1 bar = 1 
atmosphere) and 5,000 degrees Celsius (9,032 degrees Fahrenheit). The 
Marine Corps proposes to use five types of explosive sources at BT-9: 
2.75-inch Rocket High Explosives, 5-inch Rocket High Explosives, 30 mm 
High Explosives, 40 mm High Explosives, and G911 grenades. All 
munitions proposed for use at BT-11 are inert (not live).

 Table 3--Type of Ordnance, Net Explosive Weight, and Proposed Levels of
                       Annual Expenditures at BT-9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Proposed
         Proposed ordnance          Net explosive weight     number of
                                       in pounds (lbs)        rounds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small arms excluding .50 cal (7.62  N/A, inert..........         525,610
 mm).
.50 cal...........................  N/A, inert..........         568,515
Large arms--live (30 mm)..........  0.1019..............           3,432
Large arms--live (40 mm)..........  0.1199..............          10,420
Large arms--inert (20, 25, 30, and  N/A.................         120,405
 40 mm).
Rockets--live (2.75-inch).........  4.8.................             220
Rockets--live (5-inch)............  15.0................              68

[[Page 13270]]

 
Rockets--inert (2.75-inch rocket,   N/A.................             844
 2.75-inch illumination, 2.75-inch
 white phosphorus, 2.75-inch red
 phosphorus; 5-inch rocket, 5-inch
 illumination, 5-inch white
 phosphorus, 5-inch red phosphorus
 ).
Grenades--live (G911).............  0.5.................             144
Bombs--inert (BDU-45 practice       0.083800--0.1676               4,460
 bomb, MK-76 practice bomb, MK-82    signal cartridge
 practice bomb, MK-83 practice       only.
 bomb).
Pyrotechnics--inert (chaff, LUU-2,  N/A.................           4,496
 self-protection flares).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 4--Type of Ordnance, Net Explosive Weight, and Proposed Levels of
                      Annual Expenditures at BT-11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Proposed
         Proposed ordnance          Net explosive weight     number of
                                       in pounds (lbs)        rounds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small arms excluding .50 cal (7.62  N/A, inert..........         610,957
 mm).
.50 cal...........................  N/A, inert..........         366,775
Large arms--inert (20, 25, 30, and  N/A.................         240,334
 40 mm).
Rockets--inert (2.75-inch rocket,   N/A.................           5,592
 2.75-inch illumination, 2.75-inch
 white phosphorus, 2.75-inch red
 phosphorus; 5-inch rocket, 5-inch
 illumination, 5-inch white
 phosphorus, 5-inch red phosphorus
 ).
Bombs--inert (BDU-45 practice       0.083800--0.1676              22,114
 bomb, MK-76 practice bomb, MK-82    signal cartridge
 practice bomb, MK-83 practice       only.
 bomb).
Pyrotechnics--inert (chaff, LUU-2,  N/A.................           8,912
 self-protection flares, SMD SAMS).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Marine Corps estimates that the 5-year level of expended 
ordnance at BT-9 and BT-11 (both surface-to-surface and air-to-surface) 
would be approximately 6,193,070 and 6,273,420 rounds, respectively. 
The approximate annual quantities of ordnance listed in Tables 3 and 4 
represent conservative figures, meaning that the volume of each type of 
inert and explosive ordnance proposed is the largest number that 
personnel could expend annually.
    The Marine Corps realizes that its evolving training programs, 
linked to real world events, necessitate flexibility regarding the 
amounts of ordnance used in air-to-surface and surface-to-surface 
exercises. Thus, this rule would account for inter-annual variability 
in ordnance expenditures over the course of the five years. NMFS refers 
the reader to Table 2-2 of the Marine Corps' application for a complete 
list of munitions authorized for use at the Marine Corps Air Station 
Cherry Point Range Complex.

Acoustic Characteristics of Ordnance

    Noise generated by live or inert ordnance impacting the water and 
associated detonations from live ordnance may present some risk to 
bottlenose dolphins. Estimates of the noise fields generated in water 
by the impact of non-explosive (inert) ordnance indicate that the 
energy radiated is about one to two percent of the total kinetic energy 
of the impact. This energy level (and likely peak pressure levels) is 
well below the thresholds for predicting potential physical impacts 
from underwater pressure waves, because the firing of an inert 
projectile does not create an explosion even at 1 m (3 ft) from the 
impact. Therefore, NMFS and the Marine Corps do not expect that the 
noise generated by the in-water impact of inert ordnance would have the 
potential to take marine mammals within the action area. Thus, NMFS 
will not consider the acoustic impacts of inert ordnance further in 
this document.
    However, live ordnance detonated underwater introduces loud, 
impulsive broadband (producing sound over a wide frequency band) sounds 
into the marine environment and does have the potential to take marine 
mammals. Broadband explosives produce significant acoustic energy 
across several frequency decades of bandwidth. Propagation loss is 
sufficiently sensitive to frequency as to require model estimates at 
several frequencies over such a wide band. Three source parameters 
influence the effect of an explosive: The weight of the explosive 
material, the type of explosive material, and the detonation depth. The 
net explosive weight (or NEW) accounts for the first two parameters. 
The ordnance's NEW is the weight of trinitrotoluene (TNT) that produces 
an equivalent explosive power. The detonation depth of an explosive is 
particularly important due to a propagation effect known as surface-
image interference. For sources located near the sea surface, a 
distinct interference pattern arises from the coherent sum of the two 
paths that differ only by a single reflection from the pressure-release 
surface. As the source depth and/or the source frequency decreases, 
these two paths increasingly and destructively interfere with each 
other, reaching total cancellation at the surface (barring surface-
reflection scattering loss).
    For this final rulemaking, the Marine Corps proposes to use five 
types of explosive sources: 2.75-inch rocket high explosives, 5-inch 
rocket high explosives, 30 mm high explosives, 40 mm high explosives, 
and G911 grenades.
    The firing sequence for some of the munitions consists of a number 
of rapid bursts, often lasting a second or less. The maximum firing 
time is 10 to 15 second bursts. Due to the tight spacing in time, the 
Marine Corps considers each burst as a single detonation. For the 
energy metrics, the Marine Corps considers the impact area of a burst 
using a source energy spectrum that is the source spectrum for a single 
detonation scaled by the number of rounds in a burst. For the pressure 
metrics, the impact area for a burst is the same as the impact area of 
a single round. For all metrics, the cumulative impact area of an event 
consisting of a certain number of bursts is the product

[[Page 13271]]

of the impact area of a single burst and the number of bursts, as would 
be the case if the bursts are sufficiently spaced in time or location 
as to insure that each burst is affecting a different set of marine 
wildlife.
    Table 5 provides a comparison of the live explosive ordnance 
proposed for use during 2015 through 2020. Table 5 lists the number of 
rounds per burst by ordnance; the acoustic characteristics of the 
proposed ordnance including the peak one-third octave (OTO) source 
level (SL); and the approximate frequency at which the peak occurs.

        Table 5--Proposed Levels of Ordnance, Net Explosive Weight, Source Levels, and Center Frequencies
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        Center
                                                                                                      frequency
            Proposed ordnance                 NEW (lbs)      Rounds per   Source level of peak \1/   of peak \1/
                                                               burst     3\rd octave (decibels, dB)  3\rd octave
                                                                                                     (hertz, Hz)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large arms--live (30 mm)................            0.1019           30  207 dB re: 1[mu]Pa........        4,032
Large arms--live (40 mm)................            0.1199            5  208 dB re: 1[mu]Pa........        4,032
Rockets--live (2.75-inch)...............            4.8               1  224 dB re: 1[mu]Pa........        1,270
Rockets--live (5-inch)..................           15.0               1  229 dB re: 1[mu]Pa........        1,008
Grenades--live (G911)...................            0.5               1  214 dB re: 1[mu]Pa........        2,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For ordnance detonated at shallow depths, often the source level of 
the explosion may breech the surface with some of the acoustic energy 
escaping the water column. The source levels presented in Table 5 do 
not account for possible venting of the acoustic energy through the 
water surface which the Marine Corps expects to be minor because of the 
low source net explosive weights and detonation depth of 1.2 m (3.9 
ft).

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity

    There is one species of marine mammal with possible or confirmed 
occurrence in the area of the specified activity: The Atlantic 
bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) which routinely frequents 
Pamlico Sound (Lefebvre et al, 2001; DoN 2003). The region of influence 
for the proposed project includes estuarine waters, and does not 
include offshore waters.
    Four designated coastal stocks for bottlenose dolphins may occur 
within the proposed activity area. They include: the Western North 
Atlantic Northern Migratory Coastal; Western North Atlantic Southern 
Migratory; Northern North Carolina Estuarine System; and the Southern 
North Carolina Estuarine System stocks. Dolphins encountered at BT-9 
and BT-11 would most likely belong to the Northern North Carolina 
Estuarine System and the Southern North Carolina Estuarine System 
stocks.
    Table 6 in this document presents information on the abundance, 
status, and distribution of the four stocks. The reader may also refer 
to Section 4 of the Marine Corps' application, their 2014 application 
addendum, and Chapter 3 of the Marine Corps' EA for more detailed 
information. NMFS summarizes this information and presents updated 
information on the species' abundance, status, and distribution from 
the 2013 NMFS Stock Assessment Report for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico (Waring et al., 2014). The publication is available at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/region.htm.

        Table 6--General Information on the Species/Stocks That Could Potentially Occur in BT-9 and BT-11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Stock/species      Occurrence and
    Bottlenose dolphin stocks      Regulatory status       abundance             range              Season
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western North Atlantic Northern   MMPA--D ESA--NL...  11,548 (CV=0.36)..  Occasional Coastal  Winter
 Migratory Coastal (NMC).
Western North Atlantic Southern   MMPA--D ESA--NL...  9,173 (CV=0.46)...  Occasional Coastal  Winter
 Migratory (SMC).
Northern North Carolina           MMPA--S ESA--NL...  950 (CV = 0.23)...  Common Estuarine..  Summer-Fall
 Estuarine System (NNCES).
Southern North Carolina           MMPA--S ESA--NL...  188 (CV=0.19).....  Common Estuarine..  Late Summer
 Estuarine System (SNCES).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ MMPA: D = Depleted, Strategic Stock; S = Strategic Stock only; NC = Not Classified.
\2\ ESA: NL = Not listed.

Bottlenose Dolphins

    The bottlenose dolphin is one of the most well-known species of 
marine mammals. They have a robust body and a short, thick beak. Their 
coloration ranges from light gray to black with lighter coloration on 
the belly. Inshore and offshore individuals vary in color and size. 
Inshore animals are smaller and lighter in color, while offshore 
animals are larger, darker in coloration and have smaller flippers.
    Bottlenose dolphins range in lengths from 1.8 to 3.8 m (6.0 to 12.5 
ft) with males slightly larger than females. Adults weight from 300-
1,400 lbs (136-635 kg). Generally, the species has a lifespan of 40 to 
45 years for males and more than 50 years for females.
    Sexual maturity varies by population and ranges from five to 13 
years for females and 9 to 14 years for males. Calves, born after a 12-
month gestation period, generally wean at 18 to 20 months. On average, 
calving occurs every 3 to 6 years.
    Bottlenose dolphins are generalists and feed on a variety of prey 
items ``endemic'' to their habitat, foraging individually and 
cooperatively. Like other dolphins, bottlenose dolphins use high 
frequency echolocation to locate and capture prey. Coastal animals prey 
on benthic invertebrates and fish, and offshore animals feed on pelagic 
squid and fish.

[[Page 13272]]

    Western North Atlantic Northern Migratory Coastal (NMC) Stock: This 
stock is not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); however, it is categorized 
as depleted (and thus strategic) under the MMPA. The best available 
abundance estimate for the NMC stock is 11,548 animals (Waring et al., 
2014). However, there is insufficient data to determine the population 
trends for this stock.
    Based on aerial survey data, tag-telemetry studies, photo-
identification data, and genetic studies, the NMC stock of bottlenose 
dolphins occurs along the North Carolina coast and as far north as Long 
Island, New York (CETAP, 1982; Kenney, 1990; Garrison et al., 2003; 
Waring et al., 2014). During summer months (July-September), this stock 
occupies coastal waters from the shoreline to approximately the 25-m 
(82-ft) isobath between the Chesapeake Bay mouth and Long Island, New 
York. During the winter months (January-March), the stock moves south 
to waters of North Carolina and occupies coastal waters from Cape 
Lookout, North Carolina to the Virginia-North Carolina border (Barco 
and Swingle, 1996; Waring et al., 2014).
    Western North Atlantic Southern Migratory Coastal (SMC) Stock: This 
stock is not listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA; however, 
it is categorized as depleted (and thus strategic) under the MMPA. The 
best available abundance estimate for the SMC stock is 9,173 animals 
(Waring et al., 2014). However, there is insufficient data to determine 
the population trends for this stock.
    Based on tag-telemetry studies, the SMC stock of bottlenose 
dolphins occurs in coastal waters between southern North Carolina and 
Georgia, but the stock's migratory movements and spatial distribution 
are the most poorly understood of the coastal stocks (Waring et al., 
2014). During the fall (October-December), this stock occupies waters 
of southern North Carolina (South of Cape Lookout) where it overlaps 
spatially with the Southern North Carolina Estuarine System stock in 
coastal waters. In winter months (January-March), the SMC stock moves 
as far south as northern Florida where it overlaps spatially with the 
South Carolina/Georgia and Northern Florida Coastal stocks. In spring 
(April-June), the stock moves north to waters of North Carolina where 
it overlaps with the Southern North Carolina Estuarine System stock and 
the Northern North Carolina Estuarine System stock. In summer months 
(July-September), the stock most likely occupies coastal waters north 
of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to the eastern shore of Virginia 
(Waring et al., 2014).
    Northern North Carolina Estuarine System (NNCES) Stock: This stock 
is not listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA; however, it is 
categorized as strategic (but not depleted) under the MMPA. The best 
available abundance estimate for the NNCES stock is 950 animals (Waring 
et al., 2014). However, there is insufficient data to determine the 
population trends for this stock.
    Based on photo-identification studies, the NNCES stock of 
bottlenose dolphins occurs in the estuarine waters of Pamlico Sound 
(Waring et al., 2014). The ranging patterns of bottlenose dolphins in 
those studies support the presence of a group of dolphins within these 
waters that are distinct from both dolphins occupying estuarine and 
coastal waters in southern North Carolina and animals in the NMC and 
SMC stocks that occupy coastal waters of North Carolina at certain 
times of the year (Read et al., 2003; NMFS, 2001; NMFS, unpublished 
data).
    During summer and fall months (July-October), the NNCES stock 
occupies waters of Pamlico Sound and nearshore coastal (less than 1 km 
(3,280 ft) from shore) and estuarine waters of central and northern 
North Carolina to Virginia Beach and the lower Chesapeake Bay (Waring 
et al., 2014). It likely overlaps with animals from the SMC stock in 
coastal waters during these months. During late fall and winter 
(November-March), the NNCES stock moves out of estuarine waters and 
occupies nearshore coastal waters between the New River and Cape 
Hatteras (Waring et al., 2013). It overlaps with the NMC stock during 
this period, particularly between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras. It 
appears that the region near Cape Lookout including Bogue Sound and 
Core Sound is an area of overlap with the Southern North Carolina 
Estuarine System stock during late summer (Waring et al., 2014).
    Southern North Carolina Estuarine System (SNCES) Stock: This stock 
is not listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA; however, it is 
categorized as strategic (but not depleted) under the MMPA. The best 
available abundance estimate for the SNCES stock is 188 animals (Waring 
et al., 2014). However, there is insufficient data to determine the 
population trends for this stock.
    Based on photo-identification studies, the SNCES stock of common 
bottlenose dolphins occupies estuarine and nearshore coastal waters 
(less than 3 km from shore) between the Little River Inlet Estuary, 
including the estuary and the New River (Waring et al., 2014). During 
summer and fall months (July-October), the SNCES stock occupies 
estuarine and nearshore coastal waters (less than 3 km (1.7 mi) from 
shore) between the North Carolina-South Carolina border and Core Sound. 
It likely overlaps with the NNCES stock in the northern portion of its 
range (i.e., southern Pamlico Sound) during late summer (Waring et al., 
2014). During late fall through spring, the SNCES stock moves south to 
waters near Cape Fear. In coastal waters, it overlaps with the SMC 
stock during this period (Waring et al., 2014).

Bottlenose Dolphin Distribution Within BT-9 and BT-11

    In Pamlico Sound, bottlenose dolphins concentrate in shallow water 
habitats along shorelines, and few, if any, individuals are present in 
the central portions of the sounds (Gannon, 2003; Read et al., 2003a, 
2003b). The dolphins utilize shallow habitats, such as tributary creeks 
and the edges of the Neuse River, where the bottom depth is less than 
3.5 m (11.5 ft) (Gannon, 2003). Fine-scale distribution of dolphins 
seems to relate to the presence of topography or vertical structure, 
such as the steeply-sloping bottom near the shore and oyster reefs. 
Bottlenose dolphins may use these features to facilitate prey capture 
(Gannon, 2003).
    In 2000, Duke University Marine Lab (Duke) conducted a boat-based 
mark-recapture survey throughout the estuaries, bays and sounds of 
North Carolina (Read et al., 2003). The 2000 boat-based survey produced 
an estimate of 919 dolphins for the northern inshore waters divided by 
an estimated 5,015 km\2\ (1,936 mi\2\) survey area.
    In a follow-on aerial study (July, 2002 to June, 2003) specifically 
in and around BT-9 and BT-11, Duke reported one sighting in the 
restricted area surrounding BT-9, two sightings in proximity to BT-11, 
and seven sightings in waters adjacent to the bombing targets (Maher, 
2003). In total, the study observed 276 bottlenose dolphins ranging in 
group size from two to 70 animals.
    Results of a passive acoustic monitoring effort conducted from 
2006-2007 by Duke University researchers detected that dolphin 
vocalizations in the BT-11 vicinity were higher in August and September 
than vocalization detection at BT-9 (Read et al., 2007). Additionally, 
detected vocalizations of dolphins were more frequent at night for the 
BT-9 area and during early morning hours at BT-11 (Read et al., 2007).

[[Page 13273]]

Other Marine Mammals in the Proposed Action Area

    The endangered West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), under the 
jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, rarely occurs in 
the area (Lefebvre et al., 2001; DoN 2003). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service has jurisdiction over the manatee; therefore, NMFS would not 
include a proposed authorization to harass manatees and does not 
discuss this species further in this final rule.
    Based on the best available information, there are no observations 
of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) or 
other large whales within Pamlico Sound or in vicinity of the bombing 
targets (Kenney, 2006). No suitable habitat exists for these species in 
the shallow Pamlico Sound or bombing target vicinity; therefore, 
because NMFS does not expect these species to be present in the action 
area, there is no potential for take (NMFS, 2012). Thus, NMFS will not 
discuss these species further.
    Other dolphins, such as Atlantic spotted (Stenella frontalis) and 
the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), have an oceanic distribution 
and do not venture into the shallow, brackish waters of southern 
Pamlico Sound. Because these species are rare and/or have extralimital 
occurrence in the bombing target area, NMFS will not discuss these 
species further in this final rule.

Potential Effects of the Specified Activity on Marine Mammals

    The surface-to-surface and air-to-surface training exercises 
proposed for taking of marine mammals under these regulations have the 
potential to take marine mammals by exposing them to impulsive noise 
and pressure waves generated by live ordnance detonation at or near the 
surface of the water. Exposure to energy, pressure, or direct strike by 
ordnance has the potential to result in non-lethal injury (Level A 
harassment), disturbance (Level B harassment), serious injury, and/or 
mortality. In addition, NMFS also considered the potential for 
harassment from vessel and aircraft operations.
    In the Potential Effects of the Specified Activity on Marine 
Mammals section of the proposed rule (79 FR 41373, July 15, 2014), NMFS 
included a qualitative discussion of the different ways that the Marine 
Corps' activities may potentially affect marine mammals without 
consideration of mitigation and monitoring measures (see 79 FR 41373, 
July 15, 2014; pages 41383-41391). Marine mammals may experience direct 
physiological effects (e.g., threshold shift and non-acoustic injury, 
acoustic masking, impaired communication, stress responses, behavioral 
disturbance, stranding, behavioral responses from vessel movement, and 
injury or death from vessel collisions). The information contained in 
this section in the proposed rule has not changed and NMFS does not 
repeat that information here in this document.
    This section did not consider the specific manner in which the 
Marine Corps would carry out the proposed activity, what mitigation 
measures the Marine Corps would implement, and how either of those 
would shape the anticipated impacts from this specific activity. The 
``Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment, Injury, or Mortality'' 
section later in this document will include a quantitative analysis of 
the number of individuals that NMFS expects the Marine Corps to take 
during this activity. The ``Negligible Impact Analysis'' section will 
include the analysis of how this specific activity would impact marine 
mammals. NMFS will consider the content of the following sections: (1) 
Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment, Injury, or Mortality; (2) 
Mitigation; and (3) Anticipated Effects on Marine Mammal Habitat, to 
draw conclusions regarding the likely impacts of this activity on the 
reproductive success or survivorship of individuals--and from that 
consideration--the likely impacts of this activity on the affected 
marine mammal populations or stocks.

Anticipated Effects on Habitat

    In the Anticipated Effects Habitat section of the proposed rule (79 
FR 41373, July 15, 2014), we included a qualitative discussion of the 
different ways that the Marine Corps' activities may potentially affect 
marine mammals marine mammal habitat (see 79 FR 41373, July 15, 2014; 
page 41391). The information contained in this section in the proposed 
rule has not changed and NMFS does not repeat that information here in 
this document.
    Impacts on marine mammal habitat are part of the consideration in 
making a finding of negligible impact on the species and stocks of 
marine mammals. Habitat includes rookeries, mating grounds, feeding 
areas, and areas of similar significance. NMFS does not anticipate that 
the operations would result in any temporary or permanent effects on 
the habitats used by the marine mammals in the area, including the food 
sources they use (i.e., fish and invertebrates). Although NMFS 
anticipates that the specified activity may result in marine mammals 
avoiding certain areas due to temporary ensonification, this impact to 
habitat is temporary and reversible.

Summary of Previous Monitoring

    The Marine Corps complied with the mitigation and monitoring 
required under the previous authorizations (2010-2013). The Marine 
Corps submitted final monitoring reports, which described the 
activities conducted and observations made. For the 2010 period, the 
Marine Corps did not observe any marine mammals during training 
exercises. The only recorded observations--which were bottlenose 
dolphins--occurred on two occasions by maintenance vessels engaged in 
target maintenance. Personnel did not observe marine mammals during 
range sweeps, air-to-ground or surface-to-surface activities (small 
boats), or during ad hoc monitoring via range cameras.
    For the 2012 period, the total amount of ordnance expended at BT-9 
and BT-11 was 301,687 and 955,528 rounds, respectively. During the 
period of the 2012 IHA, the Marine Corps did not fire any high 
explosive (live) munitions at BT-9. The Marine Corps do not permit high 
explosive (live) munitions within BT-11. Maintenance vessels engaged in 
target maintenance observed marine mammals on two occasions during the 
2012 reporting period. Flight crews conducting range sweeps identified 
dolphins within the confines of Rattan Bay at BT-11 on two separate 
occasions: February 10, 2012 and August 16, 2012. When the sightings 
occurred during range sweeps, the Marine Corps suspended military 
training until the dolphins exited the mouth of the embayment, per 
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Range standard operating 
procedures. There were no observations of marine mammals during the 
air-to surface or surface-to-surface activities (small boats), or 
during ad hoc monitoring via range cameras other than during follow-up 
on the two occasions of sightings made during the pre-exercise range 
sweeps.
    For the 2013 period, the total amount of ordnance expended at BT-9 
and BT-11 was 821,516 and 1,217,824 rounds, respectively. During the 
period of the 2013 IHA, the Marine Corps did not fire any high 
explosive (live) munitions at BT-9. The Marine Corps do not permit high 
explosive (live) munitions within BT-11.
    During the 2013 reporting period, a small boat crew observed a pod 
of eight dolphins within Rattan Bay (BT-11) while conducting surface-
to-surface exercises. The Marine Corps suspended all small arms, live-
fire activities until

[[Page 13274]]

the pod departed Rattan Bay. On one other occasion, flight crews 
conducting range sweeps and observed dolphins within the confines of 
Rattan Bay at BT-11 prior to live-fire activities. The Marine Corps 
suspended the start of all training activities until the dolphins 
exited the mouth of the embayment, per MCAS Cherry Point Range standard 
operating procedures. For BT-9 during the 2013 period, there were no 
observations of marine mammals during the air-to surface or surface-to-
surface activities (small boats), or during ad hoc monitoring via range 
cameras or maintenance vessels.
    In summary, no instances of mortality, serious injury, or Level A 
harassment occurred during the conduct of training activities during 
the course of the previous three incidental harassment authorizations.

Mitigation

    In order to issue an incidental take authorization under section 
101(a)(5)(A) 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 the availability of such species or 
stock for taking for certain subsistence uses (where relevant).
    The NDAA of 2004 amended the MMPA as it relates to military-
readiness activities and the incidental take authorization process such 
that ``least practicable adverse impact'' shall include consideration 
of personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and impact on the 
effectiveness of the military readiness activity.
    NMFS and the Marine Corps have worked to identify potential 
practicable and effective mitigation measures, which include a careful 
balancing of the likely benefit of any particular measure to the marine 
mammals with the likely effect of that measure on personnel safety, 
practicality of implementation, and impact on the ``military-readiness 
activity.'' NMFS refers the reader to Appendix B of the Marine Corps' 
application for more detailed information on the proposed mitigation 
measures which include the following:
    1. Visual Monitoring: Range operators will conduct or direct visual 
surveys to monitor BT-9 or BT-11 for protected species before and after 
each exercise. Range operation and control personnel would monitor the 
target area through tower mounted safety and surveillance cameras. The 
remotely operated range cameras are high-resolution cameras that allow 
viewers to see animals at the surface and breaking the surface, but not 
underwater. The camera system has night vision (IR) capabilities. 
Lenses on the camera system have a focal length of 250 mm to 1500 mm, 
with view angles of 2.2[deg] x 1.65[deg] (in wide-view) and 0.55[deg] x 
41[deg] (in narrow-view) respectively. Using the night-time 
capabilities, with a narrow view, an observer could identify a 1-by-1 
meter target out to three kilometers.
    In the event that the Marine Corps sight a marine mammal within 914 
m (3,000 ft) of the BT-9 target area, personnel would declare the area 
as fouled and cease training exercises. Personnel would commence 
operations in BT-9 only after the animal moves beyond and on a path 
away from the 914-m (3,000-ft) radius around the target area.
    For BT-11, in the event that a marine mammal is sighted anywhere 
within the confines of Rattan Bay, personnel would declare the water-
based targets within Rattan Bay as fouled and cease training exercises. 
Personnel would commence operations in BT-11 only after the marine 
mammal has left the confines of Rattan Bay.
    2. Range Sweeps: The VMR-1 squadron, stationed at Marine Corps Air 
Station Cherry Point, includes three specially equipped HH-46D 
helicopters. The primary mission of these aircraft, known as PEDRO, is 
to provide search and rescue for downed 2nd Marine Air Wing aircrews. 
On-board are a pilot, co-pilot, crew chief, search and rescue swimmer, 
and a medical corpsman. Each crew member has received extensive 
training in search and rescue techniques, and is therefore particularly 
capable at spotting objects floating in the water.
    The PEDRO crew would conduct a range sweep the morning of each 
exercise day prior to the commencement of range operations. The crew 
would also conduct post-exercise sweeps. The primary goal of the pre-
exercise sweep is to ensure that the target area is clear of fisherman, 
other personnel, and protected species. Generally, the weekly 
monitoring events would include a maximum of five pre-exercise and four 
post-exercise sweeps. The maximum number of days that would elapse 
between pre- and post-exercise monitoring events would be approximately 
3 days, and would normally occur on weekends.
    The sweeps would occur at 100 to 300 meters (328 to 984 ft) above 
the water surface, at airspeeds between 60 to 100 knots (69 to 115 
mph). The path of the sweep runs down the western side of BT-11, 
circles around BT-9 and then continues down the eastern side of BT-9 
before leaving. The sweep typically takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
    The PEDRO crew communicates directly with range personnel and can 
provide immediate notification to range operators of a fouled target 
area due to the presence of protected species. The PEDRO aircraft would 
remain in the area of a marine mammal sighting until the animal clears 
the area, if possible, or as mission requirements dictate.
    If the crew sights marine mammals during a range sweep, they would 
collect sighting data and immediately provide the information to range 
personnel who would take appropriate management action. Range staff 
would relay the sighting information to training Commanders scheduled 
on the range after the observation. Range personnel would enter the 
data into the Marine Corps' sighting database, web-interface, or report 
generator. Sighting data includes the following (collected to the best 
of the observer's ability): (1) Species identification; (2) group size; 
(3) the behavior of marine mammals (e.g., milling, travel, social, 
foraging); (4) location and relative distance from the bombing target; 
(5) date, time and visual conditions (e.g., Beaufort sea state, 
weather) associated with each observation; (6) direction of travel 
relative to the bombing target; and (7) duration of the observation.
    3. Aircraft Cold Pass: Standard operating procedures for waterborne 
targets require the pilot to perform a visual check prior to ordnance 
delivery to ensure the target area is clear of unauthorized civilian 
boats and personnel, and protected species such as turtles and marine 
mammals. This is a ``cold'' or clearing pass. Pilots requesting entry 
onto the BT-9 and BT-11 airspace must perform a low-altitude, cold 
first pass (a pass without any release of ordnance) immediately prior 
to ordnance delivery at the bombing targets both day and night.
    Pilots would conduct the cold pass with the aircraft (helicopter or 
fixed-winged) flying straight and level at altitudes of 61 to 914 m 
(200 to 3,000 ft) over the target area. The viewing angle is 
approximately 15 degrees. A blind spot exists to the immediate rear of 
the aircraft. Based upon prevailing visibility, a pilot can see more 
than one mile forward upon approach. If marine mammals are present in 
the target area, the Range Controller may deny ordnance delivery to the 
target as conditions warrant. If marine mammals are not present in the 
target area, the Range Controller may grant ordnance delivery as 
conditions warrant.

[[Page 13275]]

    4. Delay of Exercises: The Marine Corps would consider an active 
range as fouled and not available for use if a marine mammal is present 
within 914 m (3,000 ft) of the target area at BT-9 or anywhere within 
the confines of Rattan Bay (BT-11). Therefore, if Marine Corps 
personnel observe a marine mammal within 914 m (3,000 ft) of the target 
at BT-9 or anywhere within Rattan Bay at BT-11 during the cold pass or 
from range camera detection, they would delay training until after the 
animal moves beyond and on a path away from the 914-m (3,000-ft) radius 
around the target area at BT-9 or has moved out of Rattan Bay at BT-11. 
This mitigation measure applies to both air-to-surface and surface-to-
surface exercises during the day or night.
    5. Vessel Operations: All vessels used during training operations 
would abide by NMFS' Southeast Regional Viewing Guidelines designed to 
prevent harassment to marine mammals (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/southeast/).
    6. Stranding Network Coordination: The Marine Corps would 
coordinate with the local NMFS Stranding Coordinator to discuss 
observations of any unusual marine mammal behaviors, strandings, or any 
beached live/dead, or floating marine mammals at any time during 
training activities or within 24 hours after completion of training.

Mitigation Conclusions

    NMFS has carefully evaluated the Marine Corps' mitigation measures 
in the context of ensuring that NMFS prescribes the means of effecting 
the least practicable impact on the affected marine mammal species and 
stocks and their habitat. NMFS' evaluation of potential measures 
included consideration of the following factors in relation to one 
another:
     The manner in which, and the degree to which, the 
successful implementation of the measure is expected to minimize 
adverse impacts to marine mammals;
     The proven or likely efficacy of the specific measure to 
minimize adverse impacts as planned; and
     The practicability of the measure for applicant 
implementation.
    Any mitigation measure(s) prescribed by NMFS should be able to 
accomplish, have a reasonable likelihood of accomplishing (based on 
current science), or contribute to the accomplishment of one or more of 
the general goals listed here:
    1. Avoidance or minimization of injury or death of marine mammals 
wherever possible (goals 2, 3, and 4 may contribute to this goal).
    2. A reduction in the numbers of marine mammals (total number or 
number at biologically important time or location) exposed to training 
exercises that we expect to result in the take of marine mammals (this 
goal may contribute to goal 1 or to reducing harassment takes only).
    3. A reduction in the number of times (total number or number at 
biologically important time or location) individuals would be exposed 
to training exercises that we expect to result in the take of marine 
mammals (this goal may contribute to goal 1 or to reducing harassment 
takes only).
    4. A reduction in the intensity of exposures (either total number 
or number at biologically important time or location) to training 
exercises that we expect to result in the take of marine mammals (this 
goal may contribute to goal 1 or to reducing the severity of harassment 
takes only).
    5. Avoidance or minimization of adverse effects to marine mammal 
habitat, paying special attention to the food base, activities that 
block or limit passage to or from biologically important areas, 
permanent destruction of habitat, or temporary destruction/disturbance 
of habitat during a biologically important time.
    6. For monitoring directly related to mitigation--an increase in 
the probability of detecting marine mammals, thus allowing for more 
effective implementation of the mitigation.
    Based on the evaluation of the Marine Corps' mitigation measures, 
which includes consideration of the results from past monitoring 
reports required under the 2010-2013 Authorizations, NMFS has 
determined that the mitigation measures provide the means of effecting 
the least practicable impact on marine mammal species or stocks and 
their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating 
grounds, and areas of similar significance while also considering 
personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and the impact of 
effectiveness of the military readiness activity.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue a Letter of Authorization for an activity, 
section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA states that we 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 an authorization must include the suggested 
means of accomplishing the necessary monitoring and reporting that will 
result in increased knowledge of the species and our expectations of 
the level of taking or impacts on populations of marine mammals present 
in the action area.
    As part of its application, the Marine Corps provided a monitoring 
plan for assessing impacts to marine mammals from military training 
activities at BT-9 and BT-11 in Pamlico Sound, NC. This plan is 
similar, if not identical, to those conducted in previously issued 
Incidental Harassment Authorizations for the Marine Corps' activities 
from 2010-2013. The Marine Corps' suggested means of accomplishing the 
necessary monitoring and reporting under these regulations includes the 
following:
    1. Protected Species Observer Training: Operators of small boats, 
and other personnel monitoring for marine mammals from watercraft shall 
be required to take the Department of the Navy's Marine Species 
Awareness Training. The Marine Corps shall instruct those pilots 
conducting range sweeps on marine mammal observation techniques during 
routine Range Management Department briefings. This training would make 
personnel knowledgeable of marine mammals, protected species, and 
visual cues related to the presence of marine mammals and protected 
species.
    2. Pre- and Post-Exercise Monitoring: The Marine Corps would 
conduct pre-exercise monitoring the morning of an exercise and post-
exercise monitoring the morning following an exercise, unless an 
exercise occurs on a Friday, in which case the post-exercise sweep 
would take place the following Monday. Weekly monitoring events would 
include a maximum of five pre-exercise and four post-exercise sweeps. 
The maximum number of days that would elapse between pre- and post-
exercise monitoring events would be approximately three days, and would 
normally occur on weekends. If the Marine Corps observe marine mammals 
during this monitoring, personnel would record sighting data identical 
to those collected by the PEDRO crew.
    3. Long-term Monitoring: The Marine Corps awarded Duke University 
Marine Lab (Duke) a contract to obtain abundance, group dynamics (e.g., 
group size, age census), behavior, habitat use, and acoustic data on 
the bottlenose dolphins which inhabit Pamlico Sound, specifically those 
around BT-9 and BT-11. Duke began conducting boat-based surveys and 
passive acoustic monitoring of bottlenose dolphins in Pamlico Sound in 
2000 (Read et al., 2003) and specifically at BT-9 and BT-11 in 2003 
(Mayer, 2003). To date, boat-based surveys indicate that bottlenose

[[Page 13276]]

dolphins may be resident to Pamlico Sound and use the BT-9 and BT-11 
restricted areas on a frequent basis. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) 
provides more detailed insight into how dolphins use the two ranges, by 
monitoring for their vocalizations year-round, regardless of weather 
conditions or darkness. In addition to these surveys, the Marine Corps 
and Duke's scientists continue to test a real-time passive acoustic 
monitoring system at BT-9 that will allow automated detection of 
bottlenose dolphin whistles, providing yet another method of detecting 
dolphins prior to training operations.
    4. Reporting: The Marine Corps will submit an annual report to NMFS 
by June 1st of each year starting in 2016. The first report will cover 
the time period from issuance of the March 13, 2015 Letter of 
Authorization through March 12, 2016. Each annual report after that 
time will cover the time period from March 13 through March 12, 
annually.
    The Marine Corps will submit a draft final comprehensive report to 
NMFS no later than 180 days prior to expiration of these regulations. 
This report must summarize the findings made in all previous reports 
and assess both the impacts at each of the bombing targets and the 
cumulative impact on bottlenose dolphin from the specified activities.
    The draft final comprehensive report will summarize the type and 
amount of training exercises conducted, all marine mammal observations 
made during monitoring, and if mitigation measures were implemented. 
The draft final comprehensive report will also address the 
effectiveness of the monitoring plan in detecting marine mammals. The 
draft comprehensive report will be subject to review and comment by 
NMFS. Prior to acceptance by NMFS, the Marine Corps must address any 
recommendations made by NMFS, within 60 days of its receipt, in the 
final comprehensive report.

General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals

    The Marine Corps will systematically observe training operations 
for injured or disabled marine mammals. In addition, the Marine Corps 
will monitor the principal marine mammal stranding networks and other 
media to correlate analysis of any dolphin strandings that could 
potentially be associated with BT-9 or BT-11 training operations.
    Marine Corps personnel will ensure that they notify NMFS 
immediately or as soon as clearance procedures allow if personnel find 
an injured, stranded, or dead marine mammal during or shortly after, 
and in the vicinity of, any training operations. The Marine Corps will 
provide NMFS with species or description of the animal(s), the 
condition of the animal(s) (including carcass condition if the animal 
is dead), location, time of first discovery, observed behaviors (if 
alive), and photo or video (if available).
    In the event that an injured, stranded, or dead marine mammal is 
found by Marine Corps personnel that is not in the vicinity of, or 
found during or shortly after operations, the Marine Corps personnel 
will report the same information as listed above as soon as 
operationally feasible and clearance procedures allow.

General Notification of a Vessel Strike

    In the event of a vessel strike, at any time or place, the Marine 
Corps shall do the following:
     Immediately report to us the species identification (if 
known), location (lat/long) of the animal (or the strike if the animal 
has disappeared), and whether the animal is alive or dead (or unknown);
     Report to us as soon as operationally feasible the size 
and length of the animal, an estimate of the injury status (e.g., dead, 
injured but alive, injured and moving, unknown, etc.), vessel class/
type and operational status;
     Report to NMFS the vessel length, speed, and heading as 
soon as feasible; and
     Provide us a photo or video, if equipment is available.

Adaptive Management

    NMFS has included an adaptive management component in the 
regulations governing the take of marine mammals incidental to the 
Marine Corps' activities at BT-9 and BT-11. In accordance with 50 CFR 
216.105(c), NMFS must base the regulations on the best available 
information. As the Marine Corps develops new information, through 
monitoring, reporting, or research, NMFS may modify the regulations, in 
whole or in part, after notice and opportunity for public review. The 
use of adaptive management will allow NMFS to consider new information 
from different sources to determine if NMFS should modify mitigation or 
monitoring measures (including additions or deletions) if new data 
suggest that such modifications are appropriate for subsequent LOAs. 
NMFS may modify or augment the existing mitigation or monitoring 
measures (after consulting with the Marine Corps regarding the 
practicability of the modifications) if doing so creates a reasonable 
likelihood of more effectively accomplishing the goals of mitigation 
and monitoring set forth in the preamble of these regulations. 
Following are some of the possible sources of new data that could 
contribute to the decision to modify the mitigation or monitoring 
measures:
    1. Results from the Marine Corps' monitoring from the previous 
year.
    2. Results from marine mammal and/or sound research or studies; or
    3. Any information which reveals that marine mammals may have been 
taken in a manner, extent, or number not authorized by these 
regulations or subsequent Letters of Authorization.
    In addition, NMFS may withdraw or suspend the LOA, if, after notice 
and opportunity for public comment, the Assistant Administrator finds, 
among other things, that the Marine Corps are not substantially 
complying with the regulations or the taking allowed is having more 
than a negligible impact on the species or stock, as allowed for in 50 
CFR 216.106(e). That is, should monitoring and reporting indicate that 
the operations and activities from the Marine Corps' activities at BT-9 
and BT-11 are having more than a negligible impact on marine mammals, 
then NMFS reserves the right to modify the regulations and/or withdraw 
or suspend an LOA after public review.

Research

    The Marine Corps has funded surveys performed by Duke University 
researchers and provided financial support to augment surveys conducted 
by the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Information and 
knowledge gained from the Marine Corps-funded research has contributed 
significantly to the understanding of bottlenose dolphin stocks, 
including their distribution and movement, in Pamlico Sound, NC.
    The Marine Corps, in collaboration with Duke scientists, are in the 
process of developing and testing a real-time passive acoustic 
monitoring system that will allow automated detection of bottlenose 
dolphin whistles (Appendix C in the application). The Marine Corps and 
Duke have performed the work in two phases. Phase I was the development 
of an automated signal detector (a software program) to recognize the 
whistles of dolphins at BT-9 and BT-11. Phase II, currently in 
progress, is the assembly and deployment of a prototype real-time 
monitoring unit on one of the towers in the BT-9 range. The success of 
this effort will help direct future research initiatives and activities 
within the

[[Page 13277]]

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Range Complex. As funding becomes 
available and research opportunities arise, the Marine Corps will 
continue to fund and participate in studies that will enhance the 
understanding of the life history of marine mammals in Pamlico Sound.

Comments and Responses

    On July 15, 2014, NMFS published a proposed rule (79 FR 41374) in 
response to the Marine Corps' request to take marine mammals incidental 
to military training activities at BT-9 and BT-11 in Pamlico Sound. In 
that Federal Register notice, NMFS requested comments, information, and 
suggestions concerning the request. During the 30-day public comment 
period, we received comments from the following: The Marine Mammal 
Commission (Commission), the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), and 
12 comments from private citizens. Following is a summary of the 
substantive comments and NMFS' responses.

MMPA Concerns

    Comment 1: The CBD requested that NMFS not issue regulations 
authorizing serious injury and mortality of up to 30 dolphins during 
the course of the five-year rule, stating that NMFS' analysis shows 
that the take of bottlenose dolphins will be more than negligible, 
specifically for the Southern and Northern North Carolina Estuarine 
System stocks.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges CBD's concerns regarding the Marine 
Corps' training activities on the Southern and Northern North Carolina 
Estuarine System stocks of bottlenose dolphins. NMFS has reassessed the 
estimates of bottlenose dolphins that the Marine Corps could 
potentially take during the course of the training activities and will 
not authorize take of bottlenose dolphins by mortality or serious 
injury in these regulations.
    NMFS reanalyzed the take estimates presented in the Marine Corps' 
2014 application addendum and Tables 10 and 11 of the proposed 
rulemaking (79 FR 41374, July 14, 2014, page 41397), and has determined 
that these estimates overestimated the number of marine mammals that 
could potentially be taken by mortality and serious injury. First, in 
the proposed rule, NMFS rounded up the annual take estimates that were 
less than 0.5 to the nearest whole number (1). Instead, NMFS should 
have presented the annual take estimates for mortality and serious 
injury that were less than 0.5 as zero takes, which is the standard 
practice in calculating take estimates and recommended by the Marine 
Mammal Commission when estimating incidental take for military 
readiness activities (MMC, 2015). Generally, one should round down if 
less than 0.50 and round up if greater than or equal to 0.50.
    Second, NMFS inadvertently included estimated take by slight lung 
injury within the annual estimated take by serious injury category in 
Table 10 of the proposed rulemaking (79 FR 41374, July 14, 2014, page 
41397). NMFS classifies slight lung injury as Level A harassment, not 
serious injury. Thus, this error of commission led NMFS to inaccurately 
state the number of takes by serious injury that could potentially 
occur in the absence of mitigation. Tables 10 and 11 of this final rule 
present the corrected take estimates for serious injury and mortality 
in the absence of mitigation. In summary, NMFS now estimates that, in 
the absence of mitigation, the Marine Corps could potentially take up 
to zero animals by mortality and potentially take up to two animals by 
serious injury on an annual basis.
    However, as stated in the proposed rule, in consideration of the 
effectiveness of the mitigation measures, NMFS does not expect take by 
serious injury or mortality to occur. NMFS believes it has sufficient 
information about the Marine Corp's activities and the effectiveness of 
the mitigation measures to reasonably conclude that the activities are 
not likely to result in any serious injury or mortality. NMFS notes 
that over the course of the previous incidental harassment 
authorizations issued to the Marine Corps for the same activities, 
there were no reported incidents of serious injury to or mortality of 
any marine mammal. NMFS believes that the mitigation measures that will 
be implemented by the Marine Corps (e.g., conservative exclusion zones 
for marine mammals; pre- and post-exercise monitoring, range sweeps, 
cold passes, delay of exercises, visual monitoring with high-resolution 
cameras with night vision capabilities, and passive acoustic 
monitoring) would reduce the amount and severity of the potential 
impacts from the activity, making it unlikely that any take by serious 
injury or morality would occur. Therefore, NMFS is not authorizing take 
by serious injury or mortality.
    In making a negligible impact determination, NMFS considers a 
variety of factors, including but not limited to: (1) The number of 
anticipated serious injuries and mortalities; (2) the number and nature 
of anticipated injuries (Level A harassment); (3) the number, nature, 
and intensity, and duration of Level B harassment; (4) the status of 
stock or species of marine mammals; (5) the context in which the takes 
occur; and (6) the effectiveness of monitoring and mitigation measures. 
Taking into consideration the historically low concentrations of 
bottlenose dolphins present within the BT-9 and BT-11 areas; the small 
scale and spatial footprint of the proposed detonations within the 
target areas; the relatively short duration and intermittent nature of 
the training activities; and the incorporation of proven mitigation and 
monitoring measures to lessen adverse effects, NMFS expects the 
activities to affect a small number of marine mammals on an infrequent 
basis to the degree that it would have a negligible impact on the one 
species of bottlenose dolphins or any of the four stocks of bottlenose 
dolphins in the action area.
    Comment 2: The CBD commented that the proposed regulations would 
authorize mortality for the Southern and Northern North Carolina 
Estuarine System strategic stocks of bottlenose dolphins at a rate 
above the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) for the stocks under the 
MMPA. They further state that any additional mortalities proposed for 
authorization above PBR for the North Caroline Estuarine System stock 
would slow that stock's recovery rate and preclude the species from 
reaching its optimum sustainable population and that any additional 
mortalities authorized above PBR for the Southern North Carolina 
Estuarine System stock would affect annual rates of recruitment or 
survival.
    Response: See NMFS' response to Comment 1. For reasons stated 
previously in the response to Comment 1, NMFS will not authorize the 
take of bottlenose dolphins by serious injury or mortality in these 
regulations. No takes by serious injury or mortality occurred during 
NMFS' previous authorizations to the Marine Corps. Based on the Marine 
Corps' compliance with previous authorizations for the same activities, 
NMFS expects the required mitigation and monitoring measures to 
minimize the potential risk for serious injury or mortality and does 
not expect these types of takes to occur.
    In addition, NMFS has included an adaptive management component in 
the regulations governing the take of marine mammals incidental to the 
Marine Corps' activities at BT-9 and BT-11. The use of adaptive 
management will allow NMFS to consider new information from different 
sources to determine whether mitigation or monitoring measures should 
be modified. NMFS may modify or augment the existing mitigation or

[[Page 13278]]

monitoring measures (after consulting with the Marine Corps regarding 
the practicability of the modifications) if doing so creates a 
reasonable likelihood of more effectively accomplishing the goals of 
mitigation and monitoring set forth in the preamble of these 
regulations.
Effects Analyses
    Comment 3: The CBD states that NMFS should not issue regulations 
authorizing harassment and mortality of the North Carolina Estuarine 
System bottlenose dolphins because the additional mortality associated 
with the Unusual Mortality Event (UME) in the mid-Atlantic Ocean.
    Response: For reasons stated previously in the response to Comment 
1, NMFS would not authorize the take of bottlenose dolphins by serious 
injury or mortality in these regulations. See our responses to Comments 
1 and 2 regarding NMFS' determinations of the expected level of 
mortality and serious injury that could potentially occur in BT-9 and 
BT-11 given the required mitigation and monitoring measures in this 
final rule.
    NOAA has declared an UME for bottlenose dolphins in the mid-
Atlantic Ocean from early July 2013 through the present. Elevated 
strandings of bottlenose dolphins have occurred in North Carolina. 
However, none have occurred in BT-9 or BT-11.
    All age classes of bottlenose dolphins are involved and strandings 
range from a few live animals to mostly dead animals with many very 
decomposed (NMFS, 2015). Based upon preliminary diagnostic testing and 
discussion with disease experts, the tentative cause of this UME could 
be cetacean morbillivirus (NMFS, 2015). However the investigation is 
still ongoing and additional contributory factors to the UME are under 
investigation including other pathogens, biotoxins, range expansion, 
etc. (NMFS, 2015).
    Comment 4: The Commission recommends the NMFS require the Marine 
Corps to use either direct strike or dynamic Monte Carlo models to 
determine the probability of ordnance strike.
    Response: NMFS considers the Marine Corps' model for direct strike 
to be the best available information. Although the Commission 
recommended ``direct strike or dynamic Monte Carlo methods,'' it noted 
that the result of using a new risk probability model would likely 
provide negligible changes from the model described in the application. 
Because NMFS also believes that any change would be negligible and that 
the Marine Corps' existing model is the best available information, 
NMFS disagrees that the alternative modeling suggested by the 
Commission is necessary.
Mitigation
    Comment 5: The Commission also requested that we require the Marine 
Corps to implement a plan to evaluate the effectiveness of all of its 
sensor-based monitoring systems (i.e., the remote-camera passive 
acoustic monitoring systems).
    Response: NMFS worked closely with the Marine Corps to develop 
proper mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements designed to 
minimize and detect impacts from the specified activities. This 
includes a Marine Mammal and Protected Species Monitoring Plan (Plan) 
that satisfies the requirements of the MMPA.
    The Marine Corps has collaborated with Duke University to develop 
and test a real-time passive acoustic monitoring system that will allow 
automated detection of bottlenose dolphin whistles. Duke University is 
performing the work in two phases. Phase I was the development of an 
automated signal detector (a software program) to recognize the 
whistles of dolphins at BT-9 and BT-11. Phase II, currently in 
progress, is the assembly and deployment of a prototype real-time 
monitoring unit on one of the towers in the BT-9 range. Through the 
adaptive management component of the regulations, NMFS and the Marine 
Corps will continue evaluate the effectiveness of all of the sensor-
based monitoring systems in BT-9 and BT-11.

Miscellaneous Concerns

    Comment 6: Several individuals expressed general opposition to the 
Marine Corps' activities and to NMFS' proposed issuance of MMPA 
regulations because of the danger of killing or harassing marine life.
    Response: NMFS appreciates the commenters' concerns for the marine 
life in the areas of the proposed activities. We note that over the 
course of the previous incidental harassment authorizations issued to 
the Marine Corps for the same activities, there were no reported 
incidents of injury to or mortality of any marine mammal. NMFS does not 
expect take by serious injury or mortality to occur. Again, taking into 
consideration the historically low concentrations of bottlenose 
dolphins present within the BT-9 and BT-11 areas; the small scale and 
spatial footprint of the proposed detonations within the target areas; 
the relatively short duration of the activities; and the incorporation 
of proven mitigation and monitoring measures to lessen adverse effects, 
NMFS expects the activities to have a negligible impact on marine 
mammals.

Estimated Numbers of Marine Mammals Taken by Harassment

    NMFS' analysis identified the lethal responses, physiological 
responses, and behavioral responses that could potentially result from 
exposure to underwater explosive detonations. In this section, NMFS 
will relate the potential effects to marine mammals from underwater 
detonation of explosives and direct strike by ordnance to the MMPA 
regulatory definitions of Level A and Level B harassment, serious 
injury, and mortality. This section will also quantify the effects that 
might occur from the military readiness activities in BT-9 and BT-11.

Definition of Harassment

    The NDAA removed the ``small numbers'' and ``specified geographic 
region'' limitations indicated earlier in this document and amended the 
definition of harassment as it applies to a ``military readiness 
activity'' to read as follows: (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].

Level B Harassment

    Of the potential effects described in the proposed rule, the 
following are the types of effects that fall into the Level B 
harassment category:
    Behavioral Harassment--Behavioral disturbance that rises to the 
level described in the above definition, when resulting from exposures 
to non-impulsive or impulsive sound, is Level B harassment. Some of the 
lower level physiological stress responses discussed earlier would also 
likely co-occur with the predicted harassments, although these 
responses are more difficult to detect and fewer data exist relating 
these responses to specific received levels of sound. When predicting 
Level B harassment based on estimated behavioral responses, those takes 
may have a stress-related physiological component.
    Acoustic Masking and Communication Impairment--NMFS

[[Page 13279]]

considers acoustic masking to be Level B harassment, as it can disrupt 
natural behavioral patterns by interrupting or limiting the marine 
mammal's receipt or transmittal of important information or 
environmental cues.
    Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS)--As discussed previously, TTS can 
affect how an animal behaves in response to the environment, including 
conspecifics, predators, and prey. NMFS classifies TTS (when resulting 
from exposure to explosives and other impulsive sources) as Level B 
harassment, not Level A harassment (injury).

Level A Harassment

    Of the potential effects that were described in the proposed rule, 
the following are the types of effects that fall into the Level A 
Harassment category:
    Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)--PTS (resulting either from 
exposure to explosive detonations) is irreversible and NMFS considers 
this to be an injury.
    Physical Disruption of Tissues Resulting from Explosive Shock 
Wave-- NMFS classifies physical damage of tissues resulting from a 
shock wave (from an explosive detonation) as an injury.
    NMFS considers direct strike by ordnance associated with the 
specified activities to be serious injury or mortality.

Impulsive Sound Explosive Thresholds

    NMFS has identified three potential levels of take for the Marine 
Corps' training exercises: Level B harassment; Level A harassment; and 
mortality (or serious injury leading to mortality). We present the 
acoustic thresholds for impulse sounds in this section.
    Table 7 summarizes the marine mammal impulsive sound explosive 
thresholds used for the Marine Corps' acoustic impact modeling for 
marine mammal take in its application and 2009 EA. Several standard 
acoustic metrics (Urick, 1983) describe the thresholds for predicting 
potential physical impacts from underwater pressure waves. They are:
     Total energy flux density or Sound Exposure Level (SEL). 
For plane waves (as assumed here), SEL is the time integral of the 
instantaneous intensity, where the instantaneous intensity is defined 
as the squared acoustic pressure divided by the characteristic 
impedance of sea water. Thus, SEL is the instantaneous pressure 
amplitude squared, summed over the duration of the signal. Standard 
units are dB referenced to 1 re: [mu]Pa\2\-s.
     \1/3\-octave SEL. This is the SEL in a \1/3\-octave 
frequency band. A \1/3\-octave band has upper and lower frequency 
limits with a ratio of 21:3, creating bandwidth limits of about 23 
percent of center frequency.
     Positive impulse. This is the time integral of the initial 
positive pressure pulse of an explosion or explosive-like wave form. 
Standard units are Pa-s or psi-ms.
     Peak pressure. This is the maximum positive amplitude of a 
pressure wave, dependent on charge mass and range. Standard units are 
psi, [mu]Pa, or Bar.

 Table 7--Impulsive Sound Explosive Thresholds Used by the Marine Corps
               in Its Previous Acoustics Impacts Modeling
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Criterion           Criterion definition        Threshold
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortality...................  Onset of severe lung  31 psi-msec
                               injury (mass of       (positive impulse).
                               dolphin calf: 12.2
                               kg) (1% probability
                               of mortality).
Level A harassment (injury).  50% animals would     205 dB re 1
                               experience ear drum   [mu]Pa\2\-s EFD
                               rupture, 30%          (full spectrum
                               animals exposed       energy).
                               sustain permanent
                               threshold shift.
Level A harassment (injury).  Onset of slight lung  13 psi-msec
                               injury (mass of       (positive impulse).
                               dolphin calf: 12.2
                               kg).
Level B harassment..........  TTS and associated    23 psi peak
                               behavioral            pressure.
                               disruption.
Level B harassment..........  TTS and associated    182 dB re: 1
                               behavioral            [mu]Pa\2\-s EFD*,
                               disruption (dual      \1/3\-octave band.
                               criteria).
Level B harassment..........  Sub-TTS behavioral    177 dB re: 1
                               disruption (for       [mu]Pa\2\-s EFD*,
                               multiple/sequential   \1/3\-octave band.
                               detonations only).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Note: In greatest \1/3\-octave band above 10 Hz or 100 Hz.

    NMFS previously developed the explosive thresholds for assessing 
impacts of explosions on marine mammals shown in Table 7 for the shock 
trials of the USS Seawolf and USS Winston S. Churchill. However, at 
NMFS' recommendation, the Marine Corps has updated the thresholds used 
for onset of temporary threshold shift (TTS; Level B Harassment) and 
onset of permanent threshold shift (PTS; Level A Harassment) to be 
consistent with the thresholds outlined in the Navy's report titled, 
``Criteria and Thresholds for U.S. Navy Acoustic and Explosive Effects 
Analysis Technical Report,'' on which the Navy coordinated with NMFS. 
NMFS believes that the thresholds outlined in the Navy's report 
represent the best available science. The report is available on the 
Internet at: https://aftteis.com/Portals/4/aftteis/Supporting%20Technical%20Documents/Criteria_and_Thresholds_for_US_Navy_Acoustic_and_Explosive_Effects_Analysis-Apr_2012.pdf.
    Table 8 in this document outlines the revised acoustic thresholds 
used by NMFS for this rulemaking when addressing noise impacts from 
explosives.

[[Page 13280]]



                    Table 8--Impulsive Sound Explosive Thresholds Used by the Marine Corps in Its Current Acoustics Impacts Modeling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Behavior                                       Slight injury
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Group                                                                       Gastro-intestinal                               Mortality
                                    Behavioral            TTS                PTS               tract                 Lung
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-frequency Cetaceans.......  167 dB SEL.......  172 dB SEL or 23   187 dB SEL or      104 psi..........  39.1 M1/3 (1+[DRm/     91.4 M1/3 (1+DRm/
                                                    psi.               45.86 psi.                            10.081])1/2 Pa-sec.    10.081])1/2 Pa-sec.
                                                                                                            Where: M = mass of     Where: M = mass of
                                                                                                             the animals in kg      the animals in kg
                                                                                                             DRm = depth of the     DRm = depth of the
                                                                                                             receiver (animal) in   receiver (animal) in
                                                                                                             meters.                meters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Marine Corps conservatively modeled that all explosives would 
detonate at a 1.2 m (3.9 ft) water depth despite the training goal of 
hitting the target, resulting in an above water or on land explosion. 
For sources detonated at shallow depths, it is frequently the case that 
the explosion may breech the surface with some of the acoustic energy 
escaping the water column. Table 9 provides the estimated maximum range 
or radius, from the detonation point to the various thresholds 
described in Table 8.

                                Table 9--Distances (m) to Harassment Thresholds From the Marine Corps' Explosive Ordnance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Level A harassment                    Level B harassment
              Proposed ordnance                  NEW  (lbs)       Mortality   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   187 dB      46 psi-msec       172 dB         23 psi         167 dB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 mm HE....................................            0.1019            0            297.8            8.5          677.7           70            856.7
40 mm HE....................................            0.1199            0            168.2            9.5          467.5           64.4          604.6
2.75-inch Rocket............................            4.8              29.3          270.4           49.1          631.5          197.3          830.4
5-inch Rocket...............................           15.0              39.8          346.1           63.4          778.7          233.4        1,032.4
G911 Grenade................................            0.5               9.6          136.4           23.3          416.2          103.5          547.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Density Estimation

    The Marine Corps bases its method to estimate the number of marine 
mammals potentially affected using bottlenose dolphin densities (summer 
and winter), the amount/type of ordnance proposed, and distances to 
NMFS' harassment threshold criteria.
    In 2000, Duke conducted a boat-based mark-recapture survey 
throughout the estuaries, bays and sounds of North Carolina (Read et 
al., 2003). The 2000 boat-based survey yielded a dolphin density of 
0.183 per square kilometer (km\2\) (0.071 square mile (mi\2\)) based on 
an estimate of 919 dolphins for the northern inshore waters divided by 
an estimated 5,015 km\2\ (1,936 mi\2\) survey area.
    In a follow-on aerial study (July 2002-June 2003) specifically in 
and around BT-9 and BT-11, Duke reported one sighting in the restricted 
area surrounding BT-9, two sightings in proximity to BT-11, and seven 
sightings in waters adjacent to the bombing targets (Maher, 2003). In 
total, 276 bottlenose dolphins were sighted ranging in group size from 
two to 70 animals with mean dolphin density in BT-11 more than twice as 
large as the density of any of the other areas; however, the daily 
densities were not significantly different (Maher, 2003). The 
researchers calculated the estimated dolphin density at BT-9 and BT-11 
based on these surveys to be 0.11 dolphins/km\2\, and 1.23 dolphins/
km\2\, respectively.
    For the regulations, the Marine Corps chose to estimate take of 
dolphins based on the higher density reported from the summer 2000 
surveys (0.183/km\2\). Although the researchers conducted the aerial 
surveys year round and provided seasonal density estimates, the average 
year-round density from the aerial surveys is 0.0936, lower than the 
0.183/km\2\ density chosen to calculate take for purposes of these 
proposed regulations. Additionally, Goodman et al. (2007) acknowledged 
that boat based density estimates may be more accurate than the 
uncorrected estimates derived from the aerial surveys.

Estimated Take From Explosives at BT-9

    In order to calculate take from ordnance, the Marine Corps 
considered the distances to which animals could be harassed along with 
dolphin density (0.183 km\2\) and based take calculations for munitions 
firing on 100 percent water detonation. Because the goal of training is 
to hit the targets and not the water, NMFS considers these take 
estimates based on 100 percent water detonation of munitions to be 
conservative.
    Table 10 presents the annual estimated take of bottlenose dolphins 
from exposure to explosive ordnance based on current thresholds. The 
Marine Corps has requested, and NMFS proposes to authorize, the 
incidental take of 323 bottlenose dolphins from Level B Harassment 
(behavioral and TTS) and 34 bottlenose dolphins from Level A Harassment 
(PTS) annually.
    Table 10 also includes an estimated annual take of 2 bottlenose 
dolphins by mortality (or serious injury leading to mortality) as a 
result of exposure to impulsive sound explosions. However, in 
consideration of the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, NMFS 
does not expect take by serious injury or mortality related to exposure 
to explosive ordnance to occur, and is not authorizing serious injury 
or mortality. The Marine Corps has conducted gunnery and bombing 
training exercises at BT-9 and BT-11 for several years and, to date, 
the monitoring reports do not indicate that dolphin injury, serious 
injury, or mortality has occurred as a result of the training 
exercises. Also, the Marine Corps has a history of notifying the NMFS 
stranding network when any injured or stranded animal comes ashore or 
is spotted by personnel on the water. The stranding responders have 
examined each of the stranded animals, confirming that it was unlikely 
that the

[[Page 13281]]

Marine Corps' exercises resulted in the death or injury of the stranded 
marine mammal.

 Table 10--Annual and 5-year Estimated Take of Bottlenose Dolphins From Exposure to Explosive Ordnance Based on
                           Indicated Thresholds and the Absence of Mitigation Measures
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Serious       Level A harassment    Level B harassment  (TTS
                                                     injury        (PTS/slight lung           and behavior)
                                                 -------------         injury)         -------------------------
         Proposed ordnance            Mortality               -------------------------
                                                    104 psi      187 dB SEL/ Positive    172 dB SEL   167 dB SEL
                                                                       impulse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 mm HE...........................      0 (0.0)     0 (0.46)                     3.70        17.18        10.41
40 mm HE...........................      0 (0.0)     2 (1.56)                    24.03       153.84        95.37
2.75-inch Rocket...................     0 (0.06)     0 (0.34)                     3.53        15.35         9.82
5-inch Rocket......................    0 (0.032)     0 (0.19)                     1.66         7.21         4.77
G911 Grenade.......................    0 (0.004)     0 (0.06)                     0.87         4.60         2.91
Annual Totals *....................            0            2                       34          199          124
                                                                                       -------------------------
5-Year Totals......................            0           10                      170            1,615
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimates in parentheses less than or equal to 0.5 rounded to zero.

Estimated Take by Direct Strike of Ordnance

    Table 11 presents the annual estimated take of bottlenose dolphins 
from direct strike by ordnance, which is zero for each location. In 
consideration of the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, NMFS 
does not expect take by serious injury or mortality related to direct 
strike to occur.

                                  Table 11--Annual Estimated Take of Bottlenose Dolphins From Direct Strike by Ordnance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Estimated annual        Strike        Estimated number
                      Bombing target                        ordnance levels      probability         of strikes      Annual estimate    5-Year estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BT-9.....................................................          1,225,815      2.61 x 10-\7\           0 (0.32)                  0                  0
BT-11....................................................     451,686.24 \1\       9.4 x 10-\8\          0 (0.042)                  0                  0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ BT-11 based on 36 percent of the total estimated ordnance levels (1,254,684) with a deployment footprint over water. In reanalyzing the data based
  on public comments, NMFS considered the modeled numbers less than or equal to 0.5 to be discountable for estimating take. Estimates in parentheses
  less than or equal to 0.5 rounded to zero.

    The Marine Corps conducted modeling for the bombing targets to 
determine the total surface area needed to contain 99.99 percent of 
initial and ricochet impacts (95 percent confidence interval) for each 
aircraft and ordnance type. It then generated the surface area or 
footprints of weapon impact areas associated with air-to-ground 
ordnance delivery and estimated that at both BT-9 and BT-11 the 
probability of deployed ordnance landing in the impact footprint is 
essentially 1.0, since the footprints were designed to contain 99.99 
percent of impacts, including ricochets. However, only 36 percent of 
the weapon footprint for BT-11 is over water in Rattan Bay. Water 
depths in Rattan Bay range from 3 m (10 ft) in the deepest part of the 
bay to 0.5 m (1.6 ft) close to shore.
    The Marine Corps calculated the probability of hitting a bottlenose 
dolphin at the bombing targets by multiplying the dolphin's dorsal 
surface area by the density estimate of dolphins in the area. It 
estimated that the dorsal surface area of a bottlenose dolphin was 
approximately 1.425 m\2\ (15.3 ft\2\) with an average length and width 
of 2.85 m (9.3 ft) and 0.5 m (1.6 ft), respectively. Then using the 
density estimate of 0.183 km\2\, it calculated the probability of 
direct strike in the waters of BT-9 as 2.61 x 10-7 and the 
probability of direct strike in the waters of BT-11 as 9.4 x 
10-8. The probability for BT-11 is 64 percent lower, because 
only 36 percent of the weapons footprint occurs over the water column. 
This method is the best available information for estimating the 
probability of ordnance striking a marine mammal in BT-9 or BT-11.

Vessel Presence

    Interactions with vessels are not a new experience for bottlenose 
dolphins in Pamlico Sound. Pamlico Sound is heavily used by 
recreational, commercial (fishing, daily ferry service, tugs, etc.), 
and military (including the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard) vessels 
year-round. The NMFS' Southeast Regional Office has developed marine 
mammal viewing guidelines to educate the public on how to responsibly 
view marine mammals in the wild and avoid causing a take (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/southeast/). The guidelines recommend 
that vessels should remain a minimum of 50 yards (45.7 m; 150 ft) from 
a dolphin, operate in a predictable manner, avoid excessive speed or 
sudden changes in speed or direction in the vicinity of animals, and 
not pursue, chase, or separate a group of animals. The Marine Corps 
would abide by these guidelines to the fullest extent practicable. The 
Marine Corps would not engage in high speed exercises if personnel 
detect a marine mammal within the immediate area of the bombing targets 
prior to training commencement and would never closely approach, chase, 
or pursue dolphins. Personnel monitoring on the vessels, marking 
success rate of target hits, and monitoring the remote camera would 
facilitate detection of marine mammals within the bombing targets.
    Based on the description of the action, the other activities 
regularly occurring in the area, the species that may be exposed to the 
activity and their observed behaviors in the presence of vessel 
traffic, and the implementation of measures to avoid vessel strikes, 
NMFS has determined that it is unlikely that the small boat maneuvers 
during surface-to-surface maneuvers would result in the take of any 
marine

[[Page 13282]]

mammals, in the form of either behavioral harassment, injury, serious 
injury, or mortality.

Negligible Impact Analysis and Determinations

    Negligible impact is ``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'' (50 CFR 216.103). A 
negligible impact finding is based on the lack of likely adverse 
effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival (i.e., population-
level effects). An estimate of the number of Level B harassment takes, 
alone, is not enough information on which to base an impact 
determination. In addition to considering estimates of the number of 
marine mammals that might be ``taken'' through behavioral harassment, 
NMFS must consider other factors, such as the likely nature of any 
responses (their intensity, duration, etc.), the context of any 
responses (critical reproductive time or location, migration, etc.), as 
well as the number and nature of estimated Level A harassment takes, 
the number of estimated mortalities, and effects on habitat.
    NMFS would authorize Level A and Level B harassment only of 
bottlenose dolphins over the course of a 5-year period. The Marine 
Corps has described its specified activities based on best estimates of 
the number of sorties that it proposes to conduct training exercises at 
BT-9 and BT-11. The exact number of ordnance expenditures may vary from 
year to year, but will not exceed the 5-year total of ordnance 
expenditures based on the information in Tables 3 and 4. NMFS does not 
anticipate that the take totals proposed for authorization would exceed 
the 5-year totals indicated in Tables 10 and 11.

Tolerance

    Depending on the intensity of the shock wave and size, location, 
and depth of the animal, an animal can exhibit tolerance from hearing 
the blast sound. However, tolerance effects on bottlenose dolphins 
within the bombing target areas are difficult to assess given their 
affinity for the area. Scientific boat-based surveys conducted 
throughout Pamlico Sound conclude that dolphins use the areas around 
the BTs more frequently than other portions of Pamlico Sound (Maher, 
2003), despite the Marine Corps actively training in a manner identical 
to the specified activities described here for years. Because of the 
low concentration of bottlenose dolphins present within the BT-9 and 
BT-11 areas, the incorporation of mitigation measures to lessen 
effects, and the short durations of the missions, NMFS expects that 
tolerance effects would be minimal and would affect a small number of 
marine mammals on an infrequent basis.

Masking

    For reasons stated previously in the proposed rule, NMFS expects 
masking effects from ordnance detonation to be minimal because masking 
is typically of greater concern for those marine mammals that utilize 
low frequency communications, such as baleen whales. While it may occur 
temporarily, NMFS does not expect auditory masking to result in 
detrimental impacts to an individual's or population's survival, 
fitness, or reproductive success. Dolphin movement is not restricted 
within the BT-9 or BT-11 ranges, allowing for movement out of the area 
to avoid masking impacts.

Disturbance

    The Level B harassment takes would likely result in dolphins being 
temporarily affected by bombing or gunnery exercises. However, the 
probability that detonation events will overlap in time and space with 
marine mammals is low, particularly given the densities of marine 
mammals in the vicinity of BT-9 and BT-11 and the implementation of 
monitoring and mitigation measures. Moreover, NMFS does not expect 
animals to experience repeat exposures to the same sound source, as 
bottlenose dolphins would likely move away from the source after being 
exposed. In addition, NMFS expects that these isolated exposures, when 
received at distances of Level B behavioral harassment, would cause 
brief startle reactions or short-term behavioral modification by the 
animals. These brief reactions and behavioral changes would disappear 
when the exposures cease.
    Read et al. (2003) concluded that dolphins rarely occur in open 
waters in the middle of North Carolina sounds and large estuaries, but 
instead are concentrated in shallow water habitats along shorelines. 
However, no specific areas have been identified as vital reproduction 
or foraging habitat.
    NMFS and the Marine Corps have estimated that individuals of 
bottlenose dolphins may sustain some level of temporary threshold shift 
(TTS) from underwater detonations. TTS can last from a few minutes to 
days, be of varying degree, and occur across various frequency 
bandwidths. Although the degree of TTS depends on the received noise 
levels and exposure time, studies show that TTS is reversible. NMFS 
expects the animals' sensitivity to recover fully in minutes to hours 
based on the fact that the proposed underwater detonations are small in 
scale and isolated. In summary, we do not expect that these levels of 
received impulse noise from detonations would affect annual rates of 
recruitment or survival.

Stress Response

    NMFS expects short-term effects such as stress during underwater 
detonations, as repeated exposure to sounds from underwater explosions 
may cause physiological stress that could lead to long-term 
consequences for the individual such as reduced survival, growth, or 
reproductive capacity. However, the time scale of individual explosions 
is very limited, and the Marine Corps disperses its training exercises 
in space and time.
    Consequently, repeated exposure of individual bottlenose dolphins 
to sounds from underwater explosions is not likely and most acoustic 
effects are expected to be short-term and localized. NMFS does not 
expect long-term consequences for populations because the BT-9 and BT-
11 areas continue to support bottlenose dolphins in spite of ongoing 
missions. The best available data do not suggest that there is a 
decline in the Pamlico Sound population due to these exercises.

Permanent Threshold Shift

    NMFS believes that many marine mammals would deliberately avoid 
exposing themselves to the received levels of explosive ordnance 
necessary to induce injury by moving away from or at least modifying 
their path to avoid a close approach. Also, in the unlikely event that 
an animal approaches the bombing target at a close distance, NMFS 
believes that the mitigation measures (i.e., the delay/postponement of 
missions) would typically ensure that animals would not be exposed to 
injurious levels of sound. As discussed previously, the Marine Corps 
utilizes both aerial and passive acoustic monitoring in addition to 
personnel on vessels to detect marine mammals for mitigation 
implementation. The potential for permanent hearing impairment and 
injury is low due to the incorporation of the proposed mitigation 
measures specified in this final rule.

Lethal Responses

    As stated previously, NMFS would not authorize take by mortality 
(or serious injury leading to mortality). There have been no recorded 
incidents

[[Page 13283]]

of mortality or serious injury of marine mammals resulting from 
previous missions in BT-9 or BT-11 to date. Based on the Marine Corps' 
compliance with previous authorizations for the same activities, NMFS 
expects the proposed mitigation and monitoring measures to minimize the 
potential risk for serious injury or mortality and does not expect 
these types of takes to occur.
    The Marine Corps has conducted gunnery and bombing training 
exercises at BT-9 and BT-11 for several years and, to date, the 
monitoring reports do not indicate that dolphin injury, serious injury, 
or mortality has occurred as a result of its training exercises. Also, 
the Marine Corps has a history of notifying the NMFS stranding network 
when any injured or stranded animal comes ashore or is spotted by 
personnel on the water. The stranding responders have examined each of 
the stranded animals, confirming that it was unlikely that the Marine 
Corps' exercises resulted in the death or injury of the stranded marine 
mammal.

Synopsis

    As described in the Affected Species section of this final rule, 
bottlenose dolphin stock segregation is complex with stocks overlapping 
throughout the coastal and estuarine waters of North Carolina. It is 
not possible for the Marine Corps to determine to which stock any 
individual dolphin taken during training activities belongs, as this 
can only be accomplished through genetic testing. However, it is likely 
that many of the dolphins encountered would belong to the Northern or 
Southern North Carolina Estuarine System stocks. These stocks have 
abundance estimates of 950 and 188 animals, respectively, and are not 
listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA.
    In addition, the potential for temporary or permanent hearing 
impairment and injury is low and through the incorporation of the 
proposed mitigation measures specified in this document would have the 
least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks. The 
information contained in the Marine Corps' application, the 2009 EA, 
and this document support NMFS' finding that impacts will be mitigated 
by implementation of a conservative safety range for marine mammal 
exclusion in Rattan Bay, incorporation of platform and aerial survey 
monitoring efforts both prior to and after detonation of explosives, 
and delay/postponement/cancellation of detonations whenever marine 
mammals or other specified protected resources are either detected 
within the bombing target areas or enter the bombing target areas at 
the time of detonation, or if weather and sea conditions preclude 
adequate surveillance.
    The Marine Corps has complied with the requirements of the previous 
incidental harassment authorizations issued for similar activities, and 
reported few observed takes of marine mammals incidental to these 
training exercises.
    Based on the best available information, NMFS authorizes: take by 
Level B harassment of 1,615 bottlenose dolphins and take by Level A 
harassment of 170 bottlenose dolphins only. This represents an 
overestimate of the number of individuals harassed over the duration of 
the final rule and LOA because these totals represent much smaller 
numbers of individuals that may be harassed multiple times. There are 
no stocks known from the action area listed as threatened or endangered 
under the ESA. Two bottlenose dolphin stocks designated as strategic 
under the MMPA may be affected by the Marine Corps' activities. In this 
case, under the MMPA, strategic stock means a marine mammal stock for 
which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the potential 
biological removal level. These include the Southern North Carolina 
Estuarine System and Northern North Carolina Estuarine System Stocks. 
NMFS does not expect the this action to result in long-term impacts 
such as permanent abandonment or reduction in presence at BT-9 or BT-
11. No impacts are expected at the population or stock level.
    Taking into account information presented in this final rule, the 
Marine Corps' application and 2014 application addendum, the 2009 EA, 
and results from previous monitoring reports, NMFS has determined that 
the total level of take incidental to authorized training exercises 
over the 5-year effective period of the regulations would have a 
negligible impact on the marine mammal species and stocks affected at 
BT-9 and BT-11 in Pamlico Sound, NC.

Impact on Availability of Affected Species or Stock for Taking for 
Subsistence Uses

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated 
by this action. Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of 
affected species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact 
on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for 
subsistence purposes.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    For the reasons explained above, this action will not affect any 
ESA-listed species or designated critical habitat under NMFS' 
jurisdiction. Therefore, there is no requirement for NMFS to consult 
under Section 7 of the ESA on the issuance of an Authorization under 
section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    On February 11, 2009, the Marine Corps issued a Finding of No 
Significant Impact for its Environmental Assessment (EA) on MCAS Cherry 
Point Range Operations. Based on the analysis of the EA, the Marine 
Corps determined that the proposed action would not have a significant 
impact on the human environment.
    After evaluating the Marine Corps' application and the 2009 EA, 
NMFS determined that there were changes to the proposed action (i.e., 
increased ammunitions levels) and new environmental impacts (i.e., the 
use of revised thresholds for estimating potential impacts on marine 
mammals from explosives) not addressed in the 2009 EA. In 2015, NMFS 
conducted a new analysis per NEPA, augmenting the information contained 
in the Marine Corps' 2009 EA, on the issuance of MMPA rulemaking and a 
subsequent LOA. In February 2015, NMFS determined that the issuance of 
this regulation and subsequent LOA would not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment and issued a FONSI. In 2015, 
the Marine Corps issued a new FONSI for their activities under the 
regulations and subsequent LOA.

Classification

    This action does not contain any collection of information 
requirements for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this final 
rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Chief Counsel for 
Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration at the proposed rule 
stage, that this rule, if adopted, would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. NMFS 
published the certification in the Federal Register notice of the 
proposed rulemaking on July 15, 2014. NMFS received no comments about 
the

[[Page 13284]]

certification. Accordingly, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is 
not required and NMFS has not prepared one for this rulemaking.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that there 
is good cause under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3)) to waive the 30-day delay in effective date of the measures 
contained in the final rule. The Marine Corps has a compelling national 
policy reason to continue military readiness activities without 
interruption to the routine training at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry 
Point Range Complex.
    This rulemaking began after our receipt of the Marine Corps' 
revised application for take authorization in May 2014. Since that 
time, NMFS has prepared an EA for the rulemaking and subsequent LOA for 
the Marine Corps' activities. Both agencies seriously considered all 
public comments and worked together to ensure an outcome that satisfied 
both the Marine Corps purpose and need and our statutory 
responsibilities under the MMPA.
    The Marine Corps has a compelling national policy reason to 
continue military readiness activities without interruption to their 
military training activities. Under these circumstances, it was not 
possible to finalize the MMPA rulemaking and the NEPA obligations with 
sufficient time to allow for the 30-day delay in effectiveness date.
    As discussed below, suspension/interruption of the Marine Corps' 
ability to conduct training exercises disrupts adequate and realistic 
testing of military equipment, weapons, and sensors for proper 
operation and suitability for combat essential to national security.
    In order to meet its national security objectives, the Marine Corps 
must continually maintain its ability to train and operate. To meet 
these objectives, the Marine Corps must identify, develop, and procure 
defense systems by continually integrating test and evaluation support 
throughout the defense acquisition process and providing essential 
information to decision-makers. Such testing and evaluation is critical 
in determining that defense systems perform as expected and whether 
these systems are operationally effective, suitable, survivable, and 
safe for their intended use.
    In order to effectively fulfill its national security mission, the 
Marine Corps has a need to conduct training activities covered by this 
final rule as soon as possible. A 30-day delay further reduces the 
amount of time the Marine Corps has available to plan for and execute 
an activity covered by this rule. Further, should an immediate national 
security issue arise; the 30-day delay would prevent the Marine Corps 
from meeting its mission, which would have adverse national security 
consequences. Waiver of the 30-day delay of the effective date of the 
final rule will allow the Marine Corps to continue training marines 
quickly, while also ensuring compliance with the MMPA.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 218

    Exports, Fish, Imports, Indians, Labeling, Marine mammals, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Seafood, 
Transportation.

    Dated: March 4, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 218 is amended 
as follows:

PART 218--REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE 
MAMMALS

0
1. The authority citation for part 218 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.


0
2. Subpart E is added to part 218 to read as follows:
Subpart E--Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Marine Corps 
Training Exercises at Brant Island Bombing Target and Piney Island 
Bombing Range, Pamlico Sound, North Carolina
Sec.
218.40 Specified activity and location of specified activities.
218.41 Effective dates.
218.42 Permissible methods of taking.
218.43 Prohibitions.
218.44 Mitigation.
218.45 Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
218.46 Applications for Letters of Authorization.
218.47 Letter of Authorization.
218.48 Renewal and Modifications of Letters of Authorization.

Subpart E--Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to U.S. Marine Corps 
Training Exercises at Brant Island Bombing Target and Piney Island 
Bombing Range, Pamlico Sound, North Carolina


Sec.  218.40  Specified activity and location of specified activities.

    (a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to the U.S. Marine Corps 
(Marine Corps) for the incidental taking of marine mammals that occurs 
in the area outlined in paragraph (b) of this section incidental to the 
activities described in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) The taking of marine mammals by the Marine Corps is only 
authorized if it occurs within the Brant Island Target (BT-9) and Piney 
Island Bombing Range (BT-11) bombing targets at the Marine Corps Air 
Station Cherry Point Range Complex located within Pamlico Sound, North 
Carolina (as depicted in Figure 3-1 of the Marine Corps' request for 
regulations and Letter of Authorization). The BT-9 area is a water-
based bombing target and mining exercise area located approximately 52 
kilometers (km) (32.3 miles (mi)) northeast of Marine Air Corps Station 
Cherry Point. The BT-11 area encompasses a total of 50.6 square 
kilometers (km\2\) (19.5 square miles (mi\2\)) on Piney Island located 
in Carteret County, North Carolina.
    (c) The taking of marine mammals by the Marine Corps is only 
authorized if it occurs incidental to the following activities within 
the annual amounts of use:
    (1) The level of training activities in the amounts indicated here:
    (i) Surface-to-Surface Exercises--up to 471 vessel-based sorties 
annually at BT-9 and BT-11; and
    (ii) Air-to-Surface Exercises--up to 14,586 air-based based sorties 
annually at BT-9 and BT-11.
    (2) The use of the following live ordnance for Marine Corps 
training activities at BT-9, in the total amounts over the course of 
the five-year rule indicated here:
    (i) 30 mm HE--17,160 rounds;
    (ii) 40 mm HE--52,100 rounds;
    (iii) 2.75-inch Rocket--1,100 rounds;
    (iv) 5-inch Rocket--340 rounds; and
    (v) G911 Grenade--720 rounds.
    (3) The use of the following inert ordnance for Marine Corps 
training activities at BT-9 and BT-11, in the total amounts over the 
course of the five-year rule indicated here:
    (i) Small arms excluding .50 cal (7.62 mm)--2,628,050 rounds at BT-
9 and 3,054,785 rounds at BT-11;
    (ii) 0.50 Caliber arms--2,842,575 rounds at BT-9 and 1,833,875 
rounds at BT-11;
    (iii) Large arms (up to 25 mm)--602,025 rounds at BT-9 and 
1,201,670 rounds at BT-11;
    (iv) Rockets, inert (2.75-inch rocket, 2.75-inch illumination, 
2.75-inch white phosphorus, 2.75-inch red phosphorus; 5-inch rocket, 5-
inch illumination, 5-inch white phosphorus, 5-inch red phosphorus)--
4,220 rounds at BT-9 and 27,960 rounds at BT-11;
    (v) Bombs, inert (BDU-45 practice bomb, MK-76 practice bomb, MK-82 
practice bomb, MK-83 practice bomb)--4,055 rounds at BT-9 and 22,114 
rounds at BT-11; and
    (vi) Pyrotechnics--4,496 rounds at BT-9 and 8,912 at BT-11.

[[Page 13285]]

Sec.  218.41  Effective dates.

    Regulations in this subpart are effective from March 13, 2015 until 
March 12, 2020.


Sec.  218.42  Permissible methods of taking.

    (a) Under a Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to Sec.  
216.106 of this chapter and Sec.  218.47, the Holder of the Letter of 
Authorization may incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine 
mammals by Level A and Level B harassment only within the area 
described in Sec.  218.40(b), provided the activity is in compliance 
with all terms, conditions, and requirements of these regulations and 
the appropriate Letter of Authorization.
    (b) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activities 
identified in Sec.  218.40(c) is limited to the following species, by 
the indicated method of take and the indicated number over a five-year 
period:
    (1) Level B Harassment:
    (i) Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)--1,615.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (2) Level A Harassment:
    (i) Atlantic bottlenose dolphin--170.
    (ii) [Reserved]


Sec.  218.43  Prohibitions.

    No person in connection with the activities described in Sec.  
218.40 shall:
    (a) Take any marine mammal not specified in Sec.  218.42(c);
    (b) Take any marine mammal specified in Sec.  218.42(c) other than 
by incidental take as specified in Sec.  218.42(c)(1) and (2);
    (c) Take a marine mammal specified in Sec.  218.42(c) if such 
taking results in more than a negligible impact on the species or 
stocks of such marine mammal; or
    (d) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and 
requirements of these regulations or a Letter of Authorization issued 
under Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and Sec.  218.47.


Sec.  218.44  Mitigation.

    (a) When conducting operations identified in Sec.  218.40(c), the 
mitigation measures contained in the Letter of Authorization issued 
under Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and Sec.  218.47 must be 
implemented. These mitigation measures include, but are not limited to:
    (b) Training Exercises at BT-9 and BT-11:
    (1) Safety Zone:
    (i) The Marine Corps shall establish and monitor a safety zone for 
marine mammals comprising the entire Rattan Bay area at BT-11.
    (ii) The Marine Corps shall establish and monitor a safety zone for 
marine mammals comprising a radius of 914 meters (m) (3,000 feet) 
around the target area at BT-9.
    (2) For training exercises, the Marine Corps shall comply with the 
monitoring requirements, including pre-mission and post-mission 
monitoring, set forth in Sec.  218.45(c).
    (3) When detonating explosives or delivering ordnance:
    (i) If personnel observe any marine mammals within the safety zone 
prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, or if personnel observe 
marine mammals that are on a course that will put them within the 
designated safety zone prior to surface-to-surface or air-to-surface 
training exercises, the Marine Corps shall delay ordnance delivery and/
or explosives detonations until all marine mammals are no longer within 
the designated safety zone.
    (ii) If personnel cannot reacquire marine mammals detected in the 
safety zone after delaying training missions, the Marine Corps shall 
not commence activities until the next verified location of the animal 
is outside of the safety zone and the animal is moving away from the 
mission area.
    (iii) If personnel are unable to monitor the safety zone prescribed 
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, then the Marine Corps shall delay 
training exercises.
    (iv) If daytime weather and/or sea conditions preclude adequate 
surveillance for detecting marine mammals, then the Marine Corps shall 
postpone training exercises until adequate sea conditions exist for 
adequate monitoring of the safety zone prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) 
of this section.
    (4) Pre-Mission and Post-Mission Monitoring:
    (i) Range operators shall conduct or direct visual surveys to 
monitor BT-9 or BT-11 for marine mammals before and after each 
exercise. Range operation and control personnel shall monitor the 
target area through two tower-mounted safety and surveillance cameras.
    (ii) Range operators shall use the surveillance camera's night 
vision (i.e., infrared) capabilities to monitor BT-9 or BT-11 for 
marine mammals during night-time exercises.
    (iii) For BT-9, in the event that a marine mammal is sighted within 
the 914-m (3,000-ft) radius around the target area, personnel shall 
declare the area as fouled and cease training exercises. Personnel 
shall commence operations in BT-9 only until the marine mammal moves 
beyond and on a path away from the 914-m (3,000 ft) radius from the BT-
9 target.
    (iv) For BT-11, in the event that a marine mammal is sighted 
anywhere within the confines of Rattan Bay, personnel shall declare the 
water-based targets within Rattan Bay as fouled and cease training 
exercises. Personnel shall commence operations in BT-11 only after the 
animal has moved out of Rattan Bay.
    (5) Range Sweeps for Safety Zone Monitoring and Delay of Exercises:
    (i) The Marine Corps shall conduct a range sweep the morning of 
each exercise day prior to the commencement of range operations.
    (ii) The Marine Corps shall also conduct a range sweep after each 
exercise following the conclusion of range operations.
    (iii) Marine Corps Air Station personnel shall conduct the sweeps 
by aircraft at an altitude of 100 to 300 m (328 to 984 ft) above the 
water surface, at airspeeds between 60 to 100 knots.
    (iv) The path of the sweeps shall run down the western side of BT-
11, circle around BT-9, and then continue down the eastern side of BT-9 
before leaving the area.
    (v) The maximum number of days that shall elapse between pre- and 
post-exercise monitoring events shall be approximately 3 days, and will 
normally occur on weekends.
    (6) Cold Pass by Aircraft:
    (i) For waterborne targets, the pilot must perform a low-altitude 
visual check immediately prior to ordnance delivery at the bombing 
targets both day and night to ensure the target area is clear of marine 
mammals. This is referred to as a ``cold'' or clearing pass.
    (ii) Pilots shall conduct the cold pass with the aircraft 
(helicopter or fixed-winged) flying straight and level at altitudes of 
61 to 914 m (200 to 3,000 ft) over the target area.
    (iii) If marine mammals are present in the target area during a 
range sweep, cold pass, or visual surveillance with the camera, the 
Range Controller shall deny ordnance delivery to the target as 
conditions warrant. If marine mammals are not present in the target 
area, the Range Controller may grant clearance to the pilot as 
conditions warrant.
    (7) Vessel Operation:
    (i) All vessels used during training operations shall abide by 
NMFS' Southeast Regional Viewing Guidelines designed to prevent 
harassment to marine mammals (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/education/southeast/).
    (ii) [Reserved]


Sec.  218.45  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

    (a) The Holder of the Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to 
Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and Sec.  218.47

[[Page 13286]]

for activities described in Sec.  218.40(c) is required to conduct the 
monitoring and reporting measures specified in this section and Sec.  
218.44 and any additional monitoring measures contained in the Letter 
of Authorization.
    (b) The Holder of the Letter of Authorization is required to 
cooperate with the National Marine Fisheries Service, and any other 
Federal, state, or local agency monitoring the impacts of the activity 
on marine mammals. Unless specified otherwise in the Letter of 
Authorization, the Holder of the Letter of Authorization must notify 
the Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, or designee, by letter or telephone (301-427-8401), at least 2 
weeks prior to any modification to the activity identified in Sec.  
218.40(c) that has the potential to result in the serious injury, 
mortality, or Level A or Level B harassment of a marine mammal that was 
not identified and addressed previously.
    (c) Monitoring Procedures for Missions at BT-9 and BT-11:
    (1) The Holder of this Authorization shall:
    (i) Designate qualified on-site individual(s) to record the effects 
of training exercises on marine mammals that inhabit Pamlico Sound;
    (ii) Require operators of small boats, and other personnel 
monitoring for marine mammals from watercraft to take the Marine 
Species Awareness Training (Version 2), provided by the Department of 
the Navy.
    (iii) Instruct pilots conducting range sweeps on marine mammal 
observation techniques during routine Range Management Department 
briefings. This training would make personnel knowledgeable of marine 
mammals, protected species, and visual cues related to the presence of 
marine mammals and protected species.
    (iv) Continue the Long-Term Monitoring Program to obtain abundance, 
group dynamics (e.g., group size, age census), behavior, habitat use, 
and acoustic data on the bottlenose dolphins which inhabit Pamlico 
Sound, specifically those around BT-9 and BT-11.
    (v) Continue the Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Program to 
provide additional insight into how dolphins use BT-9 and BT-11 and to 
monitor for vocalizations.
    (vi) Continue to refine the real-time passive acoustic monitoring 
system at BT-9 to allow automated detection of bottlenose dolphin 
whistles.
    (d) Reporting:
    (1) Unless specified otherwise in the Letter of Authorization, the 
Holder of the Letter of Authorization shall conduct all of the 
monitoring and reporting required under the LOA and shall submit an 
annual and comprehensive report to the Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service by a date certain to be 
specified in the LOA. This report must include the following 
information:
    (i) Date and time of each training exercise;
    (ii) A complete description of the pre-exercise and post-exercise 
activities related to mitigating and monitoring the effects of the 
training exercises on marine mammal populations;
    (iii) Results of the Marine Corps monitoring, including numbers by 
species/stock of any marine mammals injured or killed as a result of 
the training exercises and number of marine mammals (by species, if 
possible) that may have been harassed due to presence within the 
applicable safety zone;
    (iv) A detailed assessment of the effectiveness of the sensor-based 
monitoring in detecting marine mammals in the area of the training 
exercises; and
    (v) Results of coordination with coastal marine mammal stranding 
networks. The Marine Corps shall coordinate with the local NMFS 
Stranding Coordinator to discuss any unusual marine mammal behavior and 
any stranding, beached (live or dead), or floating marine mammals that 
may occur at any time during training activities or within 24 hours 
after completion of training.
    (2) The Marine Corps will submit an annual report to NMFS by June 
1st of each year starting in 2016. The first report will cover the time 
period from issuance of the March 2015 Letter of Authorization through 
March 12, 2016. Each annual report after that time will cover the time 
period from March 13 through March 12, annually.
    (3) The Marine Corps shall submit a draft comprehensive report on 
all marine mammal monitoring and research conducted during the period 
of these regulations to the Director, Office of Protected Resources, 
NMFS at least 180 days prior to expiration of these regulations or 180 
days after the expiration of these regulations if the Marine Corps will 
not request new regulations.
    (i) The draft comprehensive report will be subject to review and 
comment by NMFS. Prior to acceptance by NMFS, the Marine Corps must 
address any recommendations made by NMFS, within 60 days of its 
receipt, in the final comprehensive report.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (4) General Notification of Injured or Dead Marine Mammals:
    (i) The Marine Corps shall systematically observe training 
operations for injured or disabled marine mammals. In addition, the 
Marine Corps shall monitor the principal marine mammal stranding 
networks and other media to correlate analysis of any dolphin 
strandings that could potentially be associated with BT-9 or BT-11 
training operations.
    (ii) Marine Corps personnel shall notify NMFS immediately, or as 
soon as clearance procedures allow, if personnel find an injured, 
stranded, or dead marine mammal during or shortly after, and in the 
vicinity of, any training operations. The Marine Corps shall provide 
NMFS with species or description of the animal(s), the condition of the 
animal(s) (including carcass condition if the animal is dead), 
location, time of first discovery, observed behaviors (if alive), and 
photo or video (if available).
    (iii) In the event that an injured, stranded, or dead marine mammal 
is found by Marine Corps personnel that is not in the vicinity of, or 
found during or shortly after operations, the Marine Corps personnel 
will report the same information listed above as soon as operationally 
feasible and clearance procedures allow.
    (5) General Notification of a Ship Strike:
    (i) In the event of a vessel strike, at any time or place, the 
Marine Corps shall do the following:
    (ii) Immediately report to NMFS the species identification (if 
known), location (lat/long) of the animal (or the strike if the animal 
has disappeared), and whether the animal is alive or dead (or unknown);
    (iii) Report to NMFS as soon as operationally feasible the size and 
length of the animal, an estimate of the injury status (e.g., dead, 
injured but alive, injured and moving, unknown, etc.), vessel class/
type, and operational status;
    (iv) Report to NMFS the vessel length, speed, and heading as soon 
as feasible; and
    (v) Provide NMFS with a photo or video, if equipment is available.


Sec.  218.46  Applications for Letters of Authorization.

    To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to these regulations, 
the U.S. citizen (as defined at Sec.  216.103 of this chapter) 
conducting the activities identified in Sec.  218.40 must apply for and 
obtain either an initial Letter of Authorization in accordance with

[[Page 13287]]

Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and Sec.  218.47 or a renewal under Sec.  
218.48.


Sec.  218.47  Letter of Authorization.

    (a) To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to these 
regulations, the Marine Corps must apply for and obtain a Letter of 
Authorization.
    (b) A Letter of Authorization, unless suspended or revoked, may be 
effective for a period of time not to exceed the expiration date of 
these regulations.
    (c) If a Letter of Authorization expires prior to the expiration 
date of these regulations, the Marine Corps must apply for and obtain a 
renewal of the Letter of Authorization.
    (d) In the event of any changes to the activity or to mitigation 
and monitoring measures required by a Letter of Authorization, the 
Marine Corps must apply for and obtain a modification of the Letter of 
Authorization as described in Sec.  218.48.
    (e) The Letter of Authorization shall set forth:
    (1) Permissible methods of incidental taking;
    (2) Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact (i.e., 
mitigation) on the species, its habitat, and on the availability of the 
species for subsistence uses; and
    (3) Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
    (f) Issuance of the Letter of Authorization shall be based on a 
determination that the level of taking will be consistent with the 
findings made for the total taking allowable under these regulations.
    (g) Notice of issuance or denial of a Letter of Authorization shall 
be published in the Federal Register within 30 days of a determination.


Sec.  218.48  Renewals and Modifications of Letters of Authorization.

    (a) A Letter of Authorization issued under Sec.  216.106 of this 
chapter and Sec.  218.47 for the activity identified in Sec.  218.40 
shall be renewed or modified upon request by the applicant, provided 
that:
    (1) The proposed specified activity and mitigation, monitoring, and 
reporting measures, as well as the anticipated impacts, are the same as 
those described and analyzed for these regulations (excluding changes 
made pursuant to the adaptive management provision in Sec.  
218.47(c)(1)), and
    (2) NMFS determines that the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
measures required by the previous Letter of Authorization under these 
regulations were implemented.
    (b) For Letter of Authorization modification or renewal requests by 
the applicant that include changes to the activity or the mitigation, 
monitoring, or reporting (excluding changes made pursuant to the 
adaptive management provision in Sec.  218.47(c)(1)) that do not change 
the findings made for the regulations or result in no more than a minor 
change in the total estimated number of takes (or distribution by 
species or years), NMFS may publish a notice of proposed Letter of 
Authorization in the Federal Register, including the associated 
analysis illustrating the change, and solicit public comment before 
issuing the Letter of Authorization.
    (c) A Letter of Authorization issued under Sec.  216.106 of this 
chapter and Sec.  218.47 for the activity identified in Sec.  218.40 
may be modified by NMFS under the following circumstances:
    (1) Adaptive Management--NMFS may modify (including augment) the 
existing mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures (after 
consulting with the Marine Corps regarding the practicability of the 
modifications) if doing so creates a reasonable likelihood of more 
effectively accomplishing the goals of the mitigation and monitoring 
set forth in the preamble for these regulations.
    (i) Possible sources of data that could contribute to the decision 
to modify the mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures in a Letter 
of Authorization include:
    (A) Results from the Marine Corps' monitoring from the previous 
year(s);
    (B) Results from other marine mammal and/or sound research or 
studies; or
    (C) Any information that reveals marine mammals may have been taken 
in a manner, extent, or number not authorized by these regulations or 
subsequent Letters of Authorization.
    (ii) If, through adaptive management, the modifications to the 
mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures are substantial, NMFS 
shall publish a notice of proposed Letter of Authorization in the 
Federal Register and solicit public comment.
    (2) Emergencies--If NMFS determines that an emergency exists that 
poses a significant risk to the well-being of the species or stocks of 
marine mammals specified in Sec.  218.42(c), a Letter of Authorization 
may be modified without prior notice or opportunity for public comment. 
NMFS will publish a notice in the Federal Register within 30 days 
subsequent to the action.

[FR Doc. 2015-05797 Filed 3-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P