HONC bringing news from above and below the seas
Summary of Pigmy Whale Deaths
Latest update on relationship to sonar
Navy EIS in Hawaiian Waters
Press release on Hawaiian court EIS judgement
Latest version of FONSI report
Navy USWEX Public Comment
Navy USWEX Document Review
Email Comments:
uswex@govsupport.us
Postal Comments:
Commander, US Pacific Fleet,
Attention: Fleet Environmental Officer, Building 251, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 96860
*
The navy announced that it was starting a public comment period on Friday, September 14 for the 12 USWEX (UnderSeas Warfare Exercises) that we are contesting in our lawsuit. The comment period runs until October 5, 2007.
This is an unprecedented move as far as we can tell, since the navy announced last February that they had assessed the situation and found that those exercises would have no significant impact on the environment (they issued what is known as a FONSI--a finding of no significant impact). Under the National Environmental Policy Act the navy should have held the public comment period before they issued their determination of no significant impact. The fact that they are having a public comment period after they
already issued a FONSI has not happened before to our knowledge. The navy says they may alter their determination based on the public comments.
The comments can essentially be similar to ones that were made on the DEIS for the Hawaii Range Complex as these 12 USWEX exercises are included in the DEIS. (See Below)
International Ocean Noise Coalition
On August 30th 2007 we submitted an official response to the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding usage of active sonar within the Hawaiian range. This is a must read for all of us.
Talking Points for Meetings
Hawai'i DEIS Talking Points
Hawai'i DEIS Full Document
Hawai'i DEIS Executive Summary
Hawai'i DEIS Suggestions
Sen Inouye's Office email
Gov Lingle's Office emai
Hawai'i CZMP John Nakagawa
Navy Hawaii DEIS Public Schedule
Maui News: Aug 11th, "Meeting"
Starbulletin: July 27th,"Navy Safe"
Garden Island Aug 18th, "Marsha"
Maui Weekly Sept 6th - 12th, "Public Protest"
Honc now has the Ocean Noise Petition Online
Tell Governor Lingle what you think of sonar and noise in Hawaiian waters.
(you can sign the petition anonomously)
The annual AEI Special Report on noise developments at the IWC meeting is now online:
Ten minute run-down on interesting new research discussed in the Scientific Committee and SOCER. Some good stuff on airguns being heard at long distances, details on Taiwan strandings, and a really well received paper that aims to puncture our assumptions about habituation to noise (they say it’s more often individual tolerance levels that is observed).
Sourced: Jim Cummings
Executive Director, Acoustic Ecology Institute
May 16, 2007
Honolulu, Hawai‘i – Conservation and animal welfare organizations today filed in Hawai‘i federal district court a legal challenge to the U.S. Navy’s plan to use high-intensity, mid-frequency active sonar in antisubmarine exercises in Hawai‘i’s waters. The planned sonar would emit blasts far louder than levels associated with mass whale strandings and fatalities.
Attorneys from Earthjustice filed suit in Hawai‘i federal district court on behalf of Ocean Mammal Institute, the Animal Welfare Institute, KAHEA, Center for Biological Diversity, and Surfrider Foundation.
The Press Release