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- The Navy
Fleet Commanders in Chief (CINCs) have determined that
SURTASS LFA sonar is a crucial element of the Navy's
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) force and is an asset
required for our national security.
- SURTASS
LFA sonar will be employed in compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act, Marine Mammal Protection
Act, Endangered Species Act, Coastal Zone Management Act,
and Presidential Executive Order 12114 (Environmental
Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions).
- LFA sonar
must transmit high intensity sound in order to detect
submarines at long range.
- LFA sonar
uses sound levels similar to the mid-frequency tactical
sonars, which have been used worldwide for over 50
years.
- It is highly
unlikely that sound levels below 180 dB will cause
injury to marine mammals or other marine life.
Click here to read a paper explaining this in more
detail.
- Undersea
earthquakes and even lightning strikes
generate powerful low frequency sounds. Many whale species
also produce loud, low frequency sounds. These natural
phenomena were part of the environment in which marine
mammals evolved. This helps to explain why the whales
exposed to LFA sonar signals during the Low Frequency
Sound Scientific Research Program exhibited less
response than the scientific team anticipated.
- To provide
an objective analysis of potential effects from LFA sonar
on marine life, a team of independent marine biologists
was engaged to conduct research and provide technical
evaluations. The Navy provided no direction to their scientific
protocols. Their scientific findings were published with
no Navy review in advance.
- The Navy
has spent over $16 million conducting scientific
research and developing an Environmental Impact Statement,
including the development of a state-of-the-art marine
mammal mitigation system.
- Monitoring
and mitigation measures will reduce to a negligible
level the risk of harm to any marine mammal from LFA
sonar.
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