The five videos begin with the familiar sight of dozens of harbor seals splayed peacefully on the beach of their Carpinteria rookery. Suddenly, in unison, the colony members raise their heads and look north as the low rumble of a SpaceX rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base culminates in a sonic boom. Startled, the seals rush, or “flush,” into the ocean. In one instance, blood pools in the surf among the mass of frantic bodies.
“Stress from such disturbances can lead to miscarriage or premature birth,” stated Becki Norton with Carpinteria Seal Watch (CSW), a citizen group that monitors the protected rookery, one of only four in Southern California. The five video clips were captured between January and May during peak pupping season. “Chronic disturbance can also lead to long-term behavioral changes, such as abandonment of haul-out sites and declining reproductive success,” Norton said, noting overall colony numbers have declined in recent years.
Norton’s comments are among those being submitted to Vandenberg as the base attempts to increase the frequency of its rocket launches threefold, from approximately 30 a year to more than 100. A draft environmental report that assesses the federal project’s potential impacts to air quality, noise, wildlife, water, and other local resources was released last week, with a public feedback period open until July 7. Written comments can be submitted at vsfbfalconlauncheis.com, and a virtual public hearing is scheduled for June 18, 6-8 p.m…