Taking and Importing Marine Mammals: U.S. Navy Training in 12 Range Complexes and U.S. Air Force Space Vehicle and Test Flight Activities in California

Between January 2009 and May 2011, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS issued twelve 5-year final regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to Navy training and associated activities. Additionally, in February 2009, pursuant to the MMPA, NMFS issued 5-year regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to U.S. Air Force (USAF) space vehicle and test flight activities from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB). These regulations require the issuance of annual "Letters of Authorization" (LOAs). Since the issuance of the rules, the Navy realized that their evolving training programs, which are linked to real world events, necessitate greater flexibility in the types and amounts of sound sources that they use. NMFS now proposes to amend the regulations for the affected Navy training ranges to provide for additional flexibility and allow for LOAs with longer periods of validity. Similarly, NMFS now proposes to amend the regulations issued to VAFB in February 2009, to allow for greater flexibility regarding the types and amounts of missile and rocket launches that the USAF conducts.