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4 Millions of Sea Mammals to Die 4 Millions of Sea Mammals to Die MARINE MAMMALS & OTHER SEA LIFE TO BE DECIMATED Continued from Page 3 A partial listing of known Navy Range Complexes (6), shows the amazing scope of the disaster. According to U.S. Congressman Waxman in a letter dated March 12, 2009: "…The Navy estimates that its sonar training activities will "take" marine mammals more than 11.7 million times over the course of a five-year permit…The sonar exercises at issue would take place off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Hawaii, Alaska and in the Gulf of Mexico - affecting literally every coastal state. In many regions, the Navy plans to increase the number of training exercises or expand the areas in which they may occur. Of particular concern are biologically sensitive marine habitats off our coasts, such as National Marine Sanctuary and be noted that the list of toxic chemicals that the "…As the Navy moves forward with other breeding habitats…In all, the Navy Navy proposes to use is a long one as noted in plans to train on new weapons systems, it is anticipates that its sonar exercises will "take" the Navy E.I.S. Depleted uranium, red and essential that NOAA identifies the marine mammals more than 2.3 million times white phosphorus, mercury, lead, and a whole environmental impacts of these new aircraft, per year, or 11.7 million times over the course of host of chemicals known to be toxic not only to ships and submarines - and their accompanying a 5-year permit…." This statement was made in man, but to marine life, are being served up on mitigation measures - specifically with response to public inquiries regarding the Navy the "Navy Warfare Chemical Menu" that will reference to the productive ocean habitats and Northwest Training Range schedule for contaminate our air, water, and soil. species that define the Pacific Coast… I am not Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and aware of any specific elements included in the Idaho. Since all of the Navy Warfare Training evaluation and am concerned that the review KTVU Oakland San Francisco Range Complexes have received, or will receive will be inadequate to address the Navy's EIS Television Station is the only television station in the near future, permits to "take" marine with respect to protection of Pacific Coast to investigate and air a story about this U.S. mammals during their respective 5-year warfare ocean ecosystems. NOAA's comprehensive Navy program (13), on May 18, 2009. It took a training programs the cumulative and review is particularly important given that the great deal of courage, in the face of the fact that synergistic effects of losing millions of marine Navy has estimated shipboard visual no other major television networks would carry mammals will be disastrous. It is time to say no monitoring for marine mammals - the most this story. A few courageous radio stations are to any future permits being issued by the commonly employed sonar mitigation measure - also helping to get the word out to the public. National Marine Fisheries Services. Please feel to be effective only 9% of the time. It is free to write or call National Marine Fisheries important that NOAA take immediate steps to Service (9), regarding the U.S. Navy validate its comprehensive review of mitigation Published in the United States Federal Environmental Impact Statement (10). Your measures. Specifically, I request that you Register on March 11, 2009: elected officials in Washington, D.C., need to provide my office with an outline of the hear from all of us on this critical issue. comprehensive review process and answers to The United States Navy published an the following questions: application, as an addendum to their expanded On May 28, 2009, U.S. Congressman Mike 1. What mitigation measures will be Warfare Testing program, in the U.S. Federal Thompson from California, in a Press Release reviewed during NOAA's process? Register, dated March 11, 2009. This to NOAA, made the following statements which 2. What data will NOAA use to identify application from the Navy "…requests could be directed toward any ocean Navy those mitigation measures best able to protect authorization to take individuals of 32 species testing range: marine species? of marine mammals during upcoming Navy "…I am concerned about the United 3.How will your agency's recom- Warfare testing and training to be conducted in States Navy's ability to properly review the mendations target specific species, habitats or the NWTR areas (off the Pacific coasts of environmental impacts of proposed training activities of concern? Washington, Oregon, and northern California) enhancements in its Northwest Training Range 4. How will NOAA's recommendations over the course of 5 years…" Complex (NWTRC)… I am particularly address sonar impacts to species other than concerned that NOAA's existing mitigation marine mammals? The Navy Warfare Testing Program will measures may not be best suited for the 5. How will NOAA or the Navy establish "…utilize mid- and high frequency active sonar protected marine mammals and endangered performance standards to ensure that sources and explosive detonations. These sonar salmonids present in the Pacific Northwest… I recommended mitigation measures are and explosive sources will be utilized during am also concerned about proposed changes to functioning as intended?..." Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Tracking current levels of activity in the NWTRC that Exercises, Mine Avoidance Training, Extended focus on training for new aircraft and ship Continued on Page 5 Echo Ranging and Improved Extended Echo classes and physical enhancements to the Ranging (EER/IEER) events, Missile Exercises, training range. The Navy's Environmental Gunnery Exercises, Bombing Exercises, Sinking Impact Statement (EIS) acknowledges that these Exercises, and Mine Warfare Training…" changes, particularly those related to its (More listed in Navy E.I.S.) increased use of mid-frequency sonar, are likely to have measurable impacts on 32 protected The "taking" of marine mammals negatively marine mammal species known to inhabit the impacts the entire ecology of our oceans and the NWTRC…" life in them which feeds large numbers of people and other species around the world. It should Congressman Thompson continues: