Email from Rosalind Peterson

U.S. Navy Agriculture Defense Coalition SAVE 11.7 MILLION MARINE MAMMALS TODAY

http://www.agriculturedefensecoalition.org/?q=us-navy

ACTION ALERT – WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY TO SAVE 11.7 MILLION MARINE MAMMALS & MARINE HABITATS FROM 5-YEARS OF NAVY WARFARE TESTING IN THE PACIFIC, ATLANTIC & THE GULF OF MEXICO

PLEASE SEE NAVY MAPS FOR LOCATIONS IN YOUR AREA & ALSO MORE INFORMATION.

Remember that no government agency is now protecting national marine sanctuaries, marine reserves, fish, birds, Biologically sensitive marine areas or public health from bomb blasts, missile strikes, toxic chemical usage, or sonar. We need U.S. Congressional hearings to protect not only public health but the tourism and fishing industries as well. Now is the time to take action.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 25, 2010

In order to protect 11.7 Million Marine Mammals from U.S. Navy Warfare Testing Please Take the Following Actions:

NOAA NWTRC EIS – Public Comment Deadline October 31, 2010

Send Written Public Comments to:

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Undersecretary

National Oceans & Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce

14th & Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 5128, Washington, DC 20230

Contact your Elected Representatives at this Toll Free # (1866) 220-0044 in Washington, D.C. Request U.S. Congressional Hearings in order to protect Public Health, Marine Mammals, Fish, birds, biologically sensitive coastal and ocean areas, the fishing and tourism industries, and our marine reserves and National Marine Sanctuaries.

Ask for an SIXTY DAY EXTENSION of the NOAA Public Comment Deadline.

A copy of the U.S. Navy Final EIS/OEIS is available at: www.NWTRangeComplexEIS.com

U.S. NAVY NWTRC: Northern California, Oregon, Washington & Idaho

SILVERDALE, Wash. — The U.S. Navy has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) for the Northwest Training Range Complex. A ROD (Rule of Decision), allowing the Navy to go forward with warfare testing in the NWTRC will be issued, due to a Court Order, on October 25, 2010. Once NOAA issues a Permit for the Navy to “Take” Marine Mammals this year, 30 Days later, the Navy can begin its 5-Year Warfare Testing in northern California, Oregon, Washington & Idaho.

In a letter to NOAA, (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), dated June 19, 2009, U.S. Senator Feinstein and U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman stated: “...In many regions, the Navy plans to increase the number of its exercises or expand the areas in which they may occur, and virtually every coastal state will be affected. Some exercises may occur in the nation's most biologically sensitive marine habitats, including National Marine Sanctuaries and breeding habitat for the endangered North Atlantic right whale. In all, the Navy anticipates more than 2.3 million takes (significant disruptions in marine mammal foraging, breeding, and other essential behaviors) per year, or 11.7 million takes over the course of a five-year permit...”

For More Information Contact: Rosalind Peterson (707) 485-7520
Website: http://agriculturedefensecoalition.org/ Click on U.S. Navy Section

E-Mail Address: info@californiaskywatch.com

U.S. NAVY 5-YEAR WARFARE TESTING PROGRAMS - A NEW THREAT TO THE PACIFIC, GULF OF MEXICO & ATLANTIC MARINE MAMMALS

(REQUEST U.S. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS TO PROTECT OUR OCEANS)

IMPORTANT NOAA INFORMATION: Brief Description of how the NOAA Permit Process Works.

1) The Navy cannot proceed with its 5-Year Warfare Testing Programs in the NWTRC without a permit being issued to the Navy for the “taking” of marine mammals. (No other biologically sensitive areas or sea life are covered by this permit because they are NOT PROTECTED by any government agency…this includes public health.)

2) On October 31, 2010, their public comment period ends, and then they will subsequently issue a permit to the Navy for the “taking” of marine mammals in the Navy NWTRC.

3) Once NOAA issues the permit early in November 2010, there will be a 30 day wait period, possible public comment during that time, and then the Navy can proceed with its 5-Year Warfare Testing Program in the NWTRC.

ACTION ITEMS (NOAA Should be stopped from issuing a Permit to the Navy)

1) Signed Petitions should go to local, county, and state elected representatives and U.S. Senators & U.S. House Representatives in your area. (No Signatures on Back Side of Petitions or on Blank Pages.)

2) Work with local governments to support resolutions and the actions taken by local government agencies, like the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, Mendocino County, California, who are working to protect our ocean and other natural resources.

3) Write letters to the editor and your elected officials. Press newspaper and radio stations to carry this story or interview guests who will speak on this topic.

4) Coordinate with others to take local actions and also to advise people where to find more information, hand out packets and other materials to explain what is happening.

5) Share newspaper articles and videos like this one with friends and family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sxrKdAQuT8 Channel 3 TV – October 2010 U.S. Navy Press Coverage - Humboldt County, Eureka, CA.

With respect to military readiness activities, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: “…(i) any act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A Harassment]; or (ii) any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering, to a point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned or significantly altered [Level B Harassment]…training activities may expose some of the marine mammals present in the area to sound from various mid-frequency and high-frequency active tactical sonar sources or to pressure from underwater detonations...”

For Additional Information: http://agriculturedefensecoalition.org/?q=us-navy or

Contact: Rosalind Peterson (707) 485-7520 E-Mail: info@californiaskywatch.com