Direct and Indirect Effects Sample Clauses
Direct and Indirect Effects. Potential effects of the Propose Action on coastal and marine birds are summarized in categories of: Disturbance from the physical presence of vessels. Disturbance from noise by vessels or seismic airguns. Birds encountering vessels. Vessel activity could disturb birds. Flocks of migrating or flightless birds would generally move away from vessel activity. There is an energetic cost to repeatedly moving away from vessel disturbances as well as a cost in terms of lost foraging opportunities or displacement to an area of lower prey availability. Seismic survey activity is expected to have localized disturbance effects on certain marine bird species that are distributed across the Noticed Activities Area. The more abundant species (long-tailed ducks, common and king eiders) would be affected more than ESA-listed species that are less common in the action area. Migrating birds would likely experience temporary impacts as they moved through the Noticed Activities Area. Molting birds could be disturbed repeatedly if they were unable to relocate (i.e., flightless) to another area when seismic operations were occurring. During the course of normal feeding or escape behavior, some birds could conceivably be near enough to an airgun to be injured by a pulse. The reactions of birds to airgun noise suggest that a bird would have to be very close to the airgun to receive a pulse strong enough to cause injury, if that were possible at all. Injury to birds in offshore waters is expected to result in a negligible level of effect because birds are most likely to move away from slow-moving seismic vessels well in advance of the towed seismic-airgun array. Flightless birds at sea remain capable of slowly moving away from disturbances. Mitigation measures 1and 2 of Section 2.2.3 could minimize adverse effects to marine and coastal birds. Seabirds, attracted to lights and vessels in nearshore waters, could collide with a vessel and be injured or killed. Marine and coastal birds could be disoriented by storms or collide with vessels during inclement weather (e.g., fog, rain) or darkness. Vessels operating in marine environments often encounter passerines and shorebirds species during when the birds are migrating. In 2012, Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc. and Shell Offshore, Inc. (collectively referred to as Shell) conducted an exploration drilling program in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Shell reported that at least 131 birds were observed on their drilling units and support v...
Direct and Indirect Effects. The operation of diesel marine engines on the survey vessel, R/V Thunder would cause emissions of regulated air pollutants. A thorough examination of emission sources is included in Appendix C, Air Quality, and includes the inventory of projected emissions. The emissions would occur primarily from operation of the main engines, propulsion engines, and generator sets aboard the ship. The survey would use equipment that is mobile, non-stationary, and is not expected to be used in one specific area for a long period of time. The engines and all equipment would be operated according to the manufacturer’s recommended specifications. The emissions analysis shows that the combination of emissions from the main engines, propulsion engines, and the generator sets would not cause emissions of any of the regulated pollutants to exceed 100 tons (90.72 metric tons) per year, indicating a negligible effect on air quality. Persistent moderate winds, and episodes of strong winds, which are typically found over the open waters of the Beaufort Sea, have a tendency to disperse and mix air pollutants within the surrounding air. The stronger winds cause greater turbulence in the air and greater dilution of pollutants which decreases pollutant concentrations and reduces the environmental impact (▇▇▇▇▇▇, 2013). Likewise, due to the transitory and mobile nature of the emission sources expected for the Noticed Activities, pollutants emitted from the Noticed Activities would likely disperse rapidly. As such, they would be unlikely to build up in high concentrations. In light of the wind conditions over the Noticed Activities Area, the relative lack of onshore sources, together with the relatively low emissions caused by the Noticed Activities, the quality of the air over the affected area would remain better than required by Federal standards (ADEC, 2010). As such, the potential impacts on air quality would be negligible.
Direct and Indirect Effects. Alternative 1 – Original Proposal:
Direct and Indirect Effects. Subsistence Activities Environmental Justice Public Health Economy
Direct and Indirect Effects. The potential effects from geophysical and geologic surveys on marine mammals in the Beaufort Sea have been evaluated in the 2006 Seismic PEA (USDOI, MMS, 2006a), Beaufort Sea Multiple-Sale EIS (USDOI, MMS, 2003), the National Marine Fisheries Service Incidental Harassment Authorization application (BPXA, 2014c) , the Programmatic Biological Opinion (NMFS, 2013) and are evaluated by BPXA in their Ancillary Activity Notice. Potential effects of the noticed ancillary-survey activities on marine mammals are summarized in categories of: Disturbance from the physical presence of vessels; Disturbance from vessel noise; Disturbance from Airguns, Multibeam Echosounder. Sub-bottom Profiler. And Sidescan Sonar noise; and Vessels striking marine mammals. Generally, walruses and seals enter the water if approached too closely. PSOs and vessel crew would be on the constant look-out for marine mammals on ice or in the water and would avoid disturbing them with close approaches. Careful monitoring and avoidance procedures will minimize impacts to marine mammals from vessel disturbance. Vessels have a transitory and short-term presence in any specific location. Marine mammals often avoid vessels operating in open water, including survey vessels (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al., 1995a; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al., 1995b). Vessels produce continuous low frequency noise at around 160 dB which is detectable by marine mammals at distances sufficient to allow a marine mammal to avoid operations. In the case of whales or seals that do not avoid survey vessels the associated noise, operations procedures provided in the incidental harassment authorization application (BPXA, 2014c) would reduce or eliminate any potential effect on marine mammals in the area. BPXA requested an IHA from NMFS for these activities on February 11, 2014. Mitigation measures included in this application include reducing vessel speeds when in the presence of marine mammals and the use of PSOs to monitor a safety zone out to 180 and 190 dB during seismic operations. The IHA application details seismic array ramp up and power down procedures, protocol for PSO’s during poor visibility conditions, and reporting requirements. Firing airgun arrays produce pulses of noise, typically in 8–14 second intervals, with most energy releasing within a narrow frequency range. PSOs would be on duty during periods of airgun operation to prevent airguns from discharging in close proximity to marine mammals. NMFS uses a 160 dB noise level st...
Direct and Indirect Effects. The Noticed Activities would occur in Foggy Island Bay and adjacent coastal area, at the West Dock, Endicott, East Dock, and road accessible gravel pads. The Noticed Activities could affect water quality in the area through: Vessel discharges (permitted by USEPA under vessel permit); Wastewater discharge at camps (under State permit); and Staging activities on the shoreline. The potential direct and indirect effects from these Noticed Activities on water quality include: Vessel Discharge: Temporary water quality degradation at localized sites due to non-fuel contaminants from seismic vessel discharge and deck runoff. Non-point Runoff: Temporary water quality degradation at localized sites due to physical disturbance and sediment runoff from activities (at docks, field camp, access roads, gravel pads). The level of effects of the Noticed Activities during July through October, 2014, on water quality would be temporary and negligible. Depending on the specific activity, the effects would be localized (e.g. vessel discharge according to permit limitations) or dispersed (e.g. non-point runoff from gravel pads and access roads).
Direct and Indirect Effects. The Noticed Activities would occur in Foggy Island Bay and adjacent coastal area, at the West Dock, Endicott, East Dock, and road accessible gravel pads. The Noticed Activities listed below during the open water season of 2014, (approximately July 15 through October 31, 2014), could affect fish in the Noticed Activities Area: Noise from survey methods (airgun discharge, multibeam echosounder, sidescan sonar, subbottom profiler, magnetometer); Vessel traffic throughout the Noticed Activities Area; Vessel discharges (permitted by USEPA under vessel permit); Wastewater discharge at camps (under state permit); and Staging activities at road-accessible gravel pads along the coast. Pelagic species, such as capelin, Arctic cod, adult salmon, and similar species could startle and scatter as noise continues and, in theory, escape to a distance that receives reduced levels of sound. Adult Arctic cisco, least cisco, broad whitefish, and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, that are more obligated to migrate and feed along the coast in the seasonal band of water may not be as able to move from the area of seismic airguns. Similarly, Arctic flounder that are in shallow waters in the summer and other nearshore benthic- obligated fish (such as sculpin species) may not be capable of escaping seismic exposure. Foraging and reproduction behaviors of benthic-obligate fish could be affected negatively by noise from the Noticed Activities. Fish eggs and fish larvae (such as Arctic cod young-of-year in summer) in the immediate area of airgun operations would have greater seismic exposure due to their limited swimming behaviors, and behavioral traits; morbidity or mortality of fish eggs and larvae in the Noticed Activities Area are expected to occur. Overall, the Noticed Activities would most affect coastwise-migratory anadromous fish (Arctic cisco, least cisco, broad whitefish, and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇) and nearshore benthic obligate fish (particularly Arctic flounder and sculpin species). The level of effects of the Noticed Activities (July through October, 2014) on fish would be temporary and negligible.