Greetings, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pleased to announce the availability of "Draft NOAA Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammals: Acoustic Threshold Levels for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts" for a 30-day public comment period. NOAA has developed draft guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal species under NOAA’s jurisdiction. The 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 guidance is intended to be used by NOAA 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 NOAA 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 under applicable statutes (Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Marine Sanctuaries Act) remains consistent with past NOAA practice. Electronic copies of the document can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/guidelines.htm and the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov, search for NOAA-NMFS-2013-0177). In conjunction with this public comment period, we will be hosting a public meeting on January 14, 2014 in Silver Spring, Maryland. For those unable to attend in person, there will be webinar access. Please consult the following web site for more detailed information and updates: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/guidelines.htm Thank you for your interest in the guidance document. For more information, please contact Dr. Amy Scholik-Schlomer ( amy.scholik@noaa.gov or 301 427-8402). *Amy R. Scholik-Schlomer, Ph.D.* Fishery Biologist (Protected Resources Acoustic Coordinator) NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division 1315 East-West Hwy. SSMC3, Rm. 13605 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 427-8402 (phone) (301) 713-0376 (fax) Email: *Amy.Scholik@noaa.gov <Amy.Scholik@noaa.gov>http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/ <http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/acoustics/>*