May 20, 2008

Noisy Oceans: Beyond Navy Sonar

Cosponsored by the DC Bar’s Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Section Energy Committee

Navy sonar tests, beached whales, and the litigation that ensues has made headlines in recent months. Perhaps less well known and even less understood is the other anthropogenic noise in the ocean and how it affects marine species both in terms of mortality and sub-lethal impacts. The panelists led a discussion of the legal and policy landscape of two particular issues—noise from oil and gas exploration and from commercial shipping—as a way to understand what legal and policy measures exist and may be needed as we expand ocean uses to include alternative energy development, increased shipping, and expanding oil and gas exploration, among other activities.

Moderator:
Carl Bruch, Environmental Law Institute

Panelists:
Brandon Southall, NOAA Ocean Acoustics Program
James Walpole, former NOAA General Counsel
Naomi Rose, Humane Society of the United States
Kathy Metcalf, Chamber of Shipping of America
J. Keith Couvillion, Deepwater Land Manager, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

Downloads:
Kathy Metcalf PowerPoint, Handouts
J. Keith Couvillion PowerPoint
Brandon Southall PowerPoint
MP3 recording

The 2008 Ocean Seminar Series is made possible by generous support from the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation.

Please click here for more information on the
2008 Ocean Seminar Series.