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| Science & Technology |
| Bremerton Gets New, Dangerous Security Details |
| 2010-05-27 |
| The Navy is keeping quiet about the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions that will guard Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor's shoreline, except to say they'll arrive sometime this year. The dolphins and sea lions are the stars of a new swimmer interdiction security system, but like nuclear warheads, the Navy will neither confirm nor deny their presence. "Because it's a security system, we are not going to discuss when or if the animals are there," said Tom LaPuzza, spokesman for the Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego. He added, however, that, "You can go by there in your boat and see them and know they are there." They're evidently not there now because their homes haven't been built, LaPuzza said. Construction can't begin until the fish window closes in July. LaPuzza doesn't know yet how many animals will be heading north. There will be a total of no more than 20, according to the Final Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the program. Four floating enclosures, 30 feet long by 30 feet wide, will each house up to four dolphins. Their water temperature will be kept at a minimum of 52 degrees. The sea lions will have three enclosures of the same size, each of which can accommodate up to six of animals, according to the FEIS. The marine mammals' waste will go into the base's wastewater treatment system instead of into Hood Canal. A maximum of 37 people will work with the animals, depending on how many of them wind up here, according to the FEIS. The staff will include a few Navy civilians and the rest will be contract employees, LaPuzza said. The dolphins and sea lions are ready and waiting. They've been selected and trained, and will continue to sharpen their skills daily. "They're ready to go momentarily, whenever we decide they need to be there," LaPuzza said. It had been stated in November that the marine mammals will only work at night, but that was inaccurate, LaPuzza said. "They'll be patrolling when they're patrolling," he said. Confirming or denying whether marine mammals are at Bangor, how many are here or when they're working compromises their deterrence value, LaPuzza said. It's no secret that they've been patrolling the Navy's other Trident submarine base at Kings Bay, Ga., for years. "Everybody knows they're there, so you can't deny they're there," LaPuzza said. "And if they catch you, they get to keep you." |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #2 The dolphins and sea lions are |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-05-27 18:56 |
| #1 Good job for Tillikum the killer whale. He needs to get a few more hippies to wean him off blonde chics. He doesn't need no 52 degree water too. |
| Posted by: Guillibaldo Unusing2147 2010-05-27 18:15 |