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Undersea Warfare Training Range (Sonar Range) |
The National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization for the take of marine mammals incidental to Navy training activities conducted in the Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR) off the east coast of the United States.
Read the Navy's Request
The Southern Environmental Law Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council have submitted comments on the Navy's request.
Read the SELC comments Read the NRDC comments
Read EPA concerns about the sonar range, October 24, 2008
Help Us Tell the U.S. Navy to Protect Marine Life from Deadly Sonar!
Description: Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR)
Please send your comments and concerns about the Sonar Range (USWTR) to the Navy and elected officials postmarked by October 27, 2008.
Written comments may be mailed or faxed to:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic Division
Attention: Code EV22LL (USWTR OEIS/EIS PM)
6506 Hampton Boulevard
Norfolk, Virginia 23508-1278
Fax: 804-200-5568
Comment Points for Letters:
- Tell the Navy that it fails to acknowledge risks posed to a wide range of marine species, including one of the most endangered species of whales on Earth—the North Atlantic right whale.
.... - Tell the Navy to avoid sensitive habitats where whales are known to migrate and raise their young.
...... - Tell the Navy that its proposal does not include common sense safety measures.
.... - Tell the Navy that you are concerned about the cumulative effects of its actions on sea turtles, finfish and the marine environment in the vicinity of the USWTR.
............... - Tell the Navy that you want to preserve marine life and the natural environment for future generations.
. - Tell the Navy that there are not any positive environmental or economic impacts for North Carolina.
Please send a message urging the Navy to reconsider its proposal.
Web Addresses:
Read what North Carolinian James Taylor has to say about the proposed sonar range.
Save Marine Life From Deadly Sonar, send a message.
You can get more information and post comments online at the Navy’s USWTR site: http://projects.earthtech.com/USWTR
Some History About the USWTR:
Three years ago, hundreds of you took action to help stop the Navy from building an ill-studied Undersea Warfare Training Range (USWTR) off the coast of North Carolina. Concerned citizens, fishermen, environmental organizations, and local officials identified serious flaws in the Navy’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)--including its failure to properly analyze sonar’s disastrous impacts on the marine environment or implement adequate mitigation measures.
In response to overwhelming opposition to the EIS as presented, the Navy was forced to reassess its proposal to build a range for the intensive use of dangerous mid-frequency sonar over hundreds of square miles of ocean. Hearing your voices, the Navy withdrew its ill-conceived plan and promised to create a new Environmental Impact Statement that addressed concerns about impacts to fisheries, marine mammals, turtles, and hardbottom habitat.
On September 12, 2008, the Navy announced a new plan for its USWTR. But the only thing new about the plan is a change in its preferred location--this time off the northeast coast of Florida near Jacksonville and critical habitat for endangered Atlantic Right Whales.
Again, the Navy’s proposal fails to assess sonar’s potential to cause significant harm to the marine environment. And the Navy repeats its failure to adopt common sense protective measures it has used successfully in other places.
Even though the preferred alternative for the Navy’s USWTR has moved to Florida, the Navy could change course and again locate the USWTR off the coast of North Carolina.
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Thank you for your help.