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Environmental Compliance

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By Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center May 2, 2018

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is the cornerstone of our Nation's environmental laws and was enacted to ensure that information on the environmental impacts of any Federal, or federally funded, action is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and before actions are taken

USGS Environmental Affairs Program

PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (PEIS) for Active Source Marine Seismics (joint with National Science Foundation)

NEPA Categorical Exclusion Review and Decision Records

Geohazards investigation offshore Puerto Rico, October-November 2023

Cape Fear Slide Seismic Project, May-June 2023

Queen Charlotte Fault Seismic Project, July-August 2021

Cascadia Subduction Zone Hazards Seismic Program, May 2021

  • USGS FONSI and Decision Document 
  • Final Environmental Assessment 
  • NMFS Incidental Harassment Authorization 
  • NMFS Biological Opinion
  • Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Hazards website

USGS Involvement in Hawaii-Emperor Langseth Surveys, 2018-29

Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment (MATRIX), August 2018

Queen Charlotte Fault, 2017

Sound Source Characterization Cruise, 2016

USGS Seismic Survey in the Atlantic Ocean, 2014-2015 (Field Activity 2014-011-FA)

  • USGS Law of the Sea Project
  • Final NEPA Determination
  • Final Environmental Assessment
  • Federal Register Notice of IHA Issued
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • NMFS Biological Opinion
  • USFWS Consultation (ESA)
  • NMFS Consultation (EFH)
  • Public Comments Received (NMFS)
  • Federal Register Notice of Application for IHA
  • Draft Environmental Assessment

USGS Low-Energy Seismic Survey in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, 2013 (Field Activity 2013-001-FA)

  • USGS Gas Hydrates Project
  • Application for Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • Draft USGS NEPA Determination
  • Draft Environmental Assessment
  • Environmental Assessment
  • Public Comments Received
  • USGS NEPA Documentation:
  • NMFS Biological Opinion
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • 90-day Protected Species Visual Observer Report

USGS Marine Geophysical Survey in Central-Western Bering Sea, 2011 (Field Activity 2011-034-FA)

  • USGS Law of the Sea Project
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • Draft Environmental Assessment
  • USGS NEPA Documentation
  • 90-day Monitoring Report
  • Related documents on NMFS website

USGS Very Low-Energy Survey in Beaufort Sea, 2011 (Field Activity 2011-001-FA)

  • USGS Gas Hydrates Project
  • Compiled documents (including NMFS Letter of Concurrence for no takes)
  • PSVO report

USGS Marine Geophysical Survey in Central Gulf of Alaska, 2011 (USGS PCMSC Field Activity N-01-11-GA)

  • USGS Law of the Sea Project
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • Draft Environmental Assessment
  • USGS NEPA Documentation
  • 90-day Monitoring Report
  • Related documents on NMFS website

USGS Seismic Survey in the Arctic Ocean, 2010 (Field Activity 2010-018-FA)

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
A map illustration of the seafloor off of a coastal area, that shows the features like submarine canyons and depth.

Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards

Societal Issue: Uncertainty related to rupture extent, slip distribution, and recurrence of past subduction megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (northern CA, OR, WA, and southern BC) leads to ambiguity in earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments and hinders our ability to prepare for future events.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Multi-Sensor Core Logger Laboratory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone Science
link

Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards

Societal Issue: Uncertainty related to rupture extent, slip distribution, and recurrence of past subduction megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (northern CA, OR, WA, and southern BC) leads to ambiguity in earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments and hinders our ability to prepare for future events.
Learn More
link
Map illustration showing fault lines and direction of tectonic plate movement along a stretch of the Alaskan coastline.

Earthquake Hazards in Southeastern Alaska

Over the last 100 years, the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault system has produced large-magnitude earthquakes affecting both Canada and the U.S. To fill in missing details about its offshore location and structure, USGS uses sophisticated techniques to truly understand the fault’s hazard potential.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
link

Earthquake Hazards in Southeastern Alaska

Over the last 100 years, the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault system has produced large-magnitude earthquakes affecting both Canada and the U.S. To fill in missing details about its offshore location and structure, USGS uses sophisticated techniques to truly understand the fault’s hazard potential.
Learn More

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is the cornerstone of our Nation's environmental laws and was enacted to ensure that information on the environmental impacts of any Federal, or federally funded, action is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and before actions are taken

USGS Environmental Affairs Program

PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (PEIS) for Active Source Marine Seismics (joint with National Science Foundation)

NEPA Categorical Exclusion Review and Decision Records

Geohazards investigation offshore Puerto Rico, October-November 2023

Cape Fear Slide Seismic Project, May-June 2023

Queen Charlotte Fault Seismic Project, July-August 2021

Cascadia Subduction Zone Hazards Seismic Program, May 2021

  • USGS FONSI and Decision Document 
  • Final Environmental Assessment 
  • NMFS Incidental Harassment Authorization 
  • NMFS Biological Opinion
  • Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Hazards website

USGS Involvement in Hawaii-Emperor Langseth Surveys, 2018-29

Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment (MATRIX), August 2018

Queen Charlotte Fault, 2017

Sound Source Characterization Cruise, 2016

USGS Seismic Survey in the Atlantic Ocean, 2014-2015 (Field Activity 2014-011-FA)

  • USGS Law of the Sea Project
  • Final NEPA Determination
  • Final Environmental Assessment
  • Federal Register Notice of IHA Issued
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • NMFS Biological Opinion
  • USFWS Consultation (ESA)
  • NMFS Consultation (EFH)
  • Public Comments Received (NMFS)
  • Federal Register Notice of Application for IHA
  • Draft Environmental Assessment

USGS Low-Energy Seismic Survey in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, 2013 (Field Activity 2013-001-FA)

  • USGS Gas Hydrates Project
  • Application for Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • Draft USGS NEPA Determination
  • Draft Environmental Assessment
  • Environmental Assessment
  • Public Comments Received
  • USGS NEPA Documentation:
  • NMFS Biological Opinion
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • 90-day Protected Species Visual Observer Report

USGS Marine Geophysical Survey in Central-Western Bering Sea, 2011 (Field Activity 2011-034-FA)

  • USGS Law of the Sea Project
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • Draft Environmental Assessment
  • USGS NEPA Documentation
  • 90-day Monitoring Report
  • Related documents on NMFS website

USGS Very Low-Energy Survey in Beaufort Sea, 2011 (Field Activity 2011-001-FA)

  • USGS Gas Hydrates Project
  • Compiled documents (including NMFS Letter of Concurrence for no takes)
  • PSVO report

USGS Marine Geophysical Survey in Central Gulf of Alaska, 2011 (USGS PCMSC Field Activity N-01-11-GA)

  • USGS Law of the Sea Project
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization
  • Draft Environmental Assessment
  • USGS NEPA Documentation
  • 90-day Monitoring Report
  • Related documents on NMFS website

USGS Seismic Survey in the Arctic Ocean, 2010 (Field Activity 2010-018-FA)

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
A map illustration of the seafloor off of a coastal area, that shows the features like submarine canyons and depth.

Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards

Societal Issue: Uncertainty related to rupture extent, slip distribution, and recurrence of past subduction megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (northern CA, OR, WA, and southern BC) leads to ambiguity in earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments and hinders our ability to prepare for future events.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Multi-Sensor Core Logger Laboratory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone Science
link

Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards

Societal Issue: Uncertainty related to rupture extent, slip distribution, and recurrence of past subduction megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (northern CA, OR, WA, and southern BC) leads to ambiguity in earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments and hinders our ability to prepare for future events.
Learn More
link
Map illustration showing fault lines and direction of tectonic plate movement along a stretch of the Alaskan coastline.

Earthquake Hazards in Southeastern Alaska

Over the last 100 years, the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault system has produced large-magnitude earthquakes affecting both Canada and the U.S. To fill in missing details about its offshore location and structure, USGS uses sophisticated techniques to truly understand the fault’s hazard potential.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
link

Earthquake Hazards in Southeastern Alaska

Over the last 100 years, the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault system has produced large-magnitude earthquakes affecting both Canada and the U.S. To fill in missing details about its offshore location and structure, USGS uses sophisticated techniques to truly understand the fault’s hazard potential.
Learn More
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