Comments on: Bombs Away! RIMPAC’s Back http://blog.kahea.org/2008/07/01/bombs-away-rimpacs-back/ Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:47:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: kahea http://blog.kahea.org/2008/07/01/bombs-away-rimpacs-back/#comment-149 kahea Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:48:30 +0000 http://kahea.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-149 Aloha Dave, We totally agree. This maximum decibel level is too high. But the Navy won't even follow that! It's ludicrous! It is well-documented that even 145-decibels can harm marine mammals and humans. But both the state of Hawaii and the federal courts have focused on the 145 limit as a reasonable compromise. It might because that is the level the Navy's own literature on acoustics supports as safe. The Navy has also agreed to abide by that level in other situations - like Low-Frequency Active Sonar. That is why seems to so ludicrous that Navy is refusing to follow that standard now. If the mid-frequency active sonar they are using right now is above 145-decibels when it reaches the state's nearshore waters (3 miles from land) then it could harm both humans and marine wildlife in these protected areas. Of course, the standard advocated for by the state and federal courts does absolutely NOTHING for the marine wildlife near the vessels when the active sonar is deployed. And it is again ludicrous for the Navy to contend that they can visually inspect for marine wildlife in the area before deploying the sonar. Standing onboard with a plastic whale-sighting decoder-wheel is not going to help naval observers detect marine mammals under the water. So, we agree 100%. These protections don't go far enough to truly protect our oceans. But, we scratch where we can reach.... Trust that we will continue to push for the strongest possible protections against the harms of active sonar. Mahalo for your comment! Aloha Dave,

We totally agree. This maximum decibel level is too high. But the Navy won’t even follow that! It’s ludicrous!

It is well-documented that even 145-decibels can harm marine mammals and humans. But both the state of Hawaii and the federal courts have focused on the 145 limit as a reasonable compromise. It might because that is the level the Navy’s own literature on acoustics supports as safe. The Navy has also agreed to abide by that level in other situations – like Low-Frequency Active Sonar. That is why seems to so ludicrous that Navy is refusing to follow that standard now.

If the mid-frequency active sonar they are using right now is above 145-decibels when it reaches the state’s nearshore waters (3 miles from land) then it could harm both humans and marine wildlife in these protected areas.

Of course, the standard advocated for by the state and federal courts does absolutely NOTHING for the marine wildlife near the vessels when the active sonar is deployed. And it is again ludicrous for the Navy to contend that they can visually inspect for marine wildlife in the area before deploying the sonar. Standing onboard with a plastic whale-sighting decoder-wheel is not going to help naval observers detect marine mammals under the water.

So, we agree 100%. These protections don’t go far enough to truly protect our oceans. But, we scratch where we can reach…. Trust that we will continue to push for the strongest possible protections against the harms of active sonar.

Mahalo for your comment!

]]> By: Dave Kisor http://blog.kahea.org/2008/07/01/bombs-away-rimpacs-back/#comment-148 Dave Kisor Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:17:00 +0000 http://kahea.wordpress.com/?p=143#comment-148 I don't know who said 145 dB was acceptable, but it was probably someone deep within the bowels of the Pentagoon who has never been exposed to anything loud. 130 was bad enough with double hearing protection. The Navy could just as easily take their solar exercises 500 miles to the south. I'm a Naval Veteran and fully understand the need for training, but the attitude of the "Free World's Largest Nuclear Powered Janitorial Service" is unconscionable. Anchors aweigh! I don’t know who said 145 dB was acceptable, but it was probably someone deep within the bowels of the Pentagoon who has never been exposed to anything loud. 130 was bad enough with double hearing protection. The Navy could just as easily take their solar exercises 500 miles to the south. I’m a Naval Veteran and fully understand the need for training, but the attitude of the “Free World’s Largest Nuclear Powered Janitorial Service” is unconscionable.

Anchors aweigh!

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