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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 23 / Friday, February 5, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 26PROPOSED MONITORING, CLEARANCE, AND EXCLUSION ZONES DURING HRG SURVEYS OPERATING CHIRP
SUB-BOTTOM PROFILERS, BOOMERS, AND SPARKERS

Species
Level A
harassment zone SEL

Maximum extent of zone in meters m from all potential HRG
sound sources
Level A
harassment zone PK

Level B zones Boomers and sparkers
CHIRPS
Low-Frequency Cetaceans:
Fin whale
Minke whale
Sei whale
Humpback whale ..
N.A. right whale
Blue whale
Mid-Frequency Cetaceans:
Sperm whale
Atlantic spotted dolphin
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Common dolphin
Rissos dolphin
Bottlenose dolphin Long-finned pilot whale
High-Frequency Cetaceans:
Harbor porpoise
Phocid Pinnipeds in Water:
Gray seal
Harbor seal

<1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

50
50
50
50
50
50

141
141
141
141
141
141

100
100
100
100
500
100

100
100
100
100
500
100

100
100
100
100
500
100

<1

<1

50

141

100

100

100

<1

<1

50

141

100

50

<1 <1 <1 <1

<1 <1 <1 <1

50
50
50
50

141
141
141
141

100
100
100
100

50
50
50
50

<1

<1

50

141

100

50

37

5

50

141

100

100

50

<1 <1

<1 <1

50
50

141
141

100
100

50
50

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When practicable, a ramp-up procedure would be used for HRG
survey equipment capable of adjusting energy levels at the start or restart of survey activities. The ramp-up procedure would be used at the beginning of HRG survey activities in order to provide additional protection to marine mammals near the Survey Area by allowing them to vacate the area prior to the commencement of survey equipment operation at full power.
A ramp-up would begin with the powering up of the smallest acoustic HRG equipment at its lowest practical power output appropriate for the survey. When practicable, the power would then be gradually turned up and other acoustic sources would be added.
Ramp-up activities will be delayed if a marine mammals enters its respective exclusion zone. Ramp-up will continue if the animal has been observed exiting its respective exclusion zone or until an additional time period has elapsed with no further sighting i.e, 15 minutes for small odontocetes and seals and 30 minutes for all other species.

19:54 Feb 04, 2021

Exclusion zone <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1

Ramp-Up of HRG Survey Equipment
VerDate Sep<11>2014

Pre-start clearance zone
Vessel separation distance m
Jkt 253001

Shutdown of HRG Survey Equipment An immediate shutdown of the impulsive HRG survey equipment would be required if a marine mammal is sighted entering or within its respective exclusion zone. No shutdown is required for surveys operating only non-impulsive acoustic sources. The vessel operator must comply immediately with any call for shutdown by the Lead PSO. Any disagreement between the Lead PSO and vessel operator should be discussed only after shutdown has occurred. Subsequent restart of the survey equipment can be initiated if the animal has been observed exiting its respective exclusion zone or until an additional time period has elapsed i.e., 15 minutes for small odontocetes and seals and 30 minutes for all other species.
If a species for which authorization has not been granted, or, a species for which authorization has been granted but the authorized number of takes have been met, approaches or is observed within the Level B harassment zone, shutdown would occur.
If the acoustic source is shut down for reasons other than mitigation e.g., mechanical difficulty for less than 30
minutes, it may be activated again
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without ramp-up if PSOs have maintained constant observation and no detections of any marine mammal have occurred within the respective exclusion zones. If the acoustic source is shut down for a period longer than 30
minutes and PSOs have maintained constant observation, then pre-clearance and ramp-up procedures will be initiated as described in the previous section.
The shutdown requirement would be waived for small delphinids of the following genera: Delphinus, Lagenorhynchus, Stenella, and Tursiops. Specifically, if a delphinid from the specified genera is visually detected approaching the vessel i.e., to bow ride or towed equipment, shutdown is not required. Furthermore, if there is uncertainty regarding identification of a marine mammal species i.e., whether the observed marine mammals belongs to one of the delphinid genera for which shutdown is waived, PSOs must use best professional judgement in making the decision to call for a shutdown.
Additionally, shutdown is required if a delphinid is detected in the exclusion zone and belongs to a genus other than those specified.

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