Description: NMFS has developed updated draft technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species under NMFS's jurisdiction. The updated technical guidance provides updated received levels, or acoustic threshold levels, based on the best available science, above which individual marine mammals are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. This updated guidance is intended to be used by NMFS analysts and managers and other relevant user groups and stakeholders, including other federal agencies, when seeking to determine whether and how their activities are expected to result in particular types of impacts to marine mammals via acoustic exposure. Although NMFS has updated the acoustic threshold levels from those previously used, and these changes may necessitate new methodologies for calculating impacts, the application of the thresholds in the regulatory context under applicable statutes (Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act) remains consistent with past NMFS practice.
ID: ID429 Info. Type: ISI
Start date of Peer Review: 10/15/2022
Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 5/15/2023
Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product: 12/31/2023
Contact Person: Amy Scholik-Schlomer Get contact information.
Review Type: Individual letters
Expected Number of Peer Reviewers: 4-10
Peer Reviewers will be selected by: Marine Mammal Commission
Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers? No.
Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed? Yes. The public will be given the opportunity to comment on this updated document via a
public comment period.
Will the agency provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before they conduct their review? No.
Primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review: Reviewers will have expertise in acoustics, acoustics in the marine environment, noise- induced hearing loss, and marine mammal or terrestrial mammal hearing.
Comments on Peer Review:
Agency response to the peer review report:
Final work product: