US Senator Booker wrote to Dr. Sullivan, administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, formally requesting that the
National Marine Fisheries Service withdraw the Incidental Harassment Authorization
needed for the Rutgers seismic study to legally harass marine mammals and
reopen the comment period so that concerned organizations and the public are
given a meaningful opportunity to review this survey. Senator Booker cited the exponential
increase in the number of marine mammals estimated to be harassed and the
methodology used to calculate the new numbers as justification for withdrawal
of the authorization and a reopening of the comment period. In addition,
Senator Booker reiterated his support for the NJDEP’s concerns with the
proposed project’s impact on New Jersey’s coastal resources and desire for the
ongoing mediation process between the NJDEP and the National Science Foundation
(as lead agency for this survey) to conclude before any permits are issued by
NOAA.
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