Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities: Military Readiness Activities in the Hawaii-California Training and Testing Study Area

Key Points

• 1The U.S. Navy can conduct military exercises, weapons testing, and sonar operations in designated ocean areas between Hawaii and California while following environmental protections
• 2Military activities may result in some injury or death to marine mammals, but the Navy must take steps to reduce this harm, such as having trained people watch for animals before and during operations
• 3The Navy must establish zones around military activities where operators must slow down or stop if marine mammals are spotted within certain distances
• 4This regulation is effective for five years and requires the Navy to monitor and report on how many marine mammals are actually affected by these training activities
• 5Environmental groups and the public had opportunity to comment on this rule, which balances national security needs with protection of ocean wildlife

Key Dates