Mammal Deterrence Unit. The Mammal Deterrence Unit is responsible for determining if and when mammal deterrence operations should take place. Deterrence of mammals is very similar in nature and function to that of birds, as detailed earlier. Deterrence activities must take place only under the authority and oversight of trustee agencies, in coordination with the Environmental Unit. The Wildlife Branch Director will make the deterrence recommendation to the Unified Command through the Operations Section Chief. The recommendation will be guided by site-specific and species-specific factors present at the time of the spill, and availability of proven deterrence techniques. Deterrence activities, observations, and results are to be reported to the Mammal Recovery and Rehabilitation Group Supervisor, who will report to the Wildlife Branch Director and the Planning Section’s Environmental Unit Leader. Specific information on killer whale deterrence equipment possessed by WDFW, NMFS, and Island Oil Spill Association (IOSA) can be found in Chapter 9311 of the NWACP.
