Senator Booker Urges NOAA Administrator to Withdraw Seismic IHA

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.

Clean Ocean Action applauds Senator Booker’s close analysis of the proposed project and its impact on New Jersey’s marine life and economy and is looking forward to Dr. Sullivan’s response.  

Senator Booker Questions NOAA Director About Rutgers Seismic Study

At a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing conducted yesterday, May 20, 2015, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey questioned NOAA Director Kathryn Sullivan about the proposed seismic survey that would occur this Summer off the coast of New Jersey and be performed by Rutgers University inconjunction with the National Science Foundationand the Lamont Dougherty Earth Observatory.  The hearing was conducted by the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, of which Senator Booker is a member. 

Demonstrating a commitment and concern for our offshore fishing grounds, marine mammals and the processes by which they are to be protected under federal law, Senator Booker expressed “frustration” that, for the second year in a row, the State of New Jersey was denied “its right to a proper consistency review” under federal law by NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management.  The Senator asked Dr. Sullivan to commit staff to facilitating mediation between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the study proponents concerning mitigation measures proposed by the State to reduce the harm threatened by the proposed seismic study.  Dr. Sullivan replied that she appreciated the Senator’s concerns and committed to staying “closely engaged with both [ ] DEP and your staff and, to the degree possible, with the National Science Foundation”.   

Senator Booker expressed further concern with the fact that the science and information concerning the proposed seismic survey is changing, and that no opportunity was being provided for the public to review and comment upon this new information.  The Senator explained that the public notice issued by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service advised that 1,323 marine mammals will be potentially harmed by the proposed seismic study; however, last week, after the public comment period closed, NMFS issued an authorization for the harassment of more than 18,000 marine mammals, including more than 12,000 bottle nosed dolphin.  The Senator called this “a massive increase” and cited the recommendation of the Marine Mammal Commission (an independent federal agency tasked with reviewing such authorizations) for a new public comment period based upon the revised estimates of marine mammals that will be harrased.  Senator Booker asked Dr. Sullivan if she would “commit to exploring the renoticing of this permit application with the correct numbers of the marine mammals to be harassed so . . .  that my constituents can adequately review and comment upon this application.”  Dr. Sullivan replied that she would “certainly commit to look into that change. . . that is news to me, I have not seen those numbers . . . .”

An archived video feed of the hearing is available at:

http://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Hearings&ContentRecord_id=0d31f7df-1cb0-476a-9d64-a848b874b1a7&ContentType_id=14f995b9-dfa5-407a-9d35-56cc7152a7ed&Group_id=b06c39af-e033-4cba-9221-de668ca1978a.  

The above-referenced questions from Senator Booker and responses from Dr. Sullivan can be viewed between the time marks of 39:20 and 44:57.

Clean Ocean Action Took to the Hill - Recap of Blue Vision Summit & Healthy Ocean Hill Day

Clean Ocean Action helped to make history! We were part of the largest Healthy Ocean Hill Day, with 161 congressional meetings and 26 states represented on the Hill advocating for ocean issues. The New Jersey Hill Day group met with 13 of our 14 elected officials’ offices! We discussed both national and local ocean issues including offshore drilling, pirate fishing, seismic testing, Port Ambrose, and funding for the Beach Act.

Not only did we meet personally with Congressman LoBiondo, but we took the photo of the day – a selfie with Senator Cory Booker! Healthy Ocean’s Hill Day was part of the 5^th Annual Blue Vision Summit in Washington DC. Over four days we heard from renowned speakers including Ralph Nader, Fabien Cousteau, Representatives Sam Farr, and Senator Whitehouse. There were also discussions on various issues such as plastic pollution, offshore oil drilling, and youth leadership.

The Blue Vision Summit was a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with different organizations and ocean minded people from around the country working to protect our marine environment. Cannot wait to break our 2015 meeting record and make history again in 2017!