May 13, 2015 — Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) and Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have noted their disapproval that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will issue an incidental harassment authorization to take marine mammals in connection with a seismic survey slated for 15 to 50 miles southeast of Barnegat Inlet from June to August.
Under the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “harassment is statutorily defined as, any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which,” depending on the level, “has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild, or, has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding or sheltering.”
The proposed, National Science Foundation-funded seismic study, led in part by scientists from Rutgers University, will examine the geologic record of past sea level rise and the effect on shoreline resilience. Rutgers in May 2014 explained, “Superstorm Sandy demonstrated the vulnerability of people, natural resources and infrastructure to the extremes of weather along the Jersey Shore. Matching new 3D acoustic images to existing information will provide knowledge of shoreline stability during times of sea level change and climate variability.”
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