January 20, 2009 Letter to Michael Payne, National Marine Fisheries Service

NRDC’s final comments regarding the U.S. Navy’s request for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction of and training activities in an Undersea Warfare Training Range (“USWTR”) proposed off the coast of northeastern Florida. The letter urges NMFS to deny the Navy’s request because of the proposed site’s proximity to North Atlantic right whale critical habitat and calving grounds.  Siting USWTR next to this critical habitat could affect the survival of this critically endangered species.

• wat_09012001a.pdf