🐻❄️Proposed Authorization for Polar Bear Incidental Harassment in Alaska
Marine Mammals; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for the Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears During Well Remediation Activities, North Slope of Alaska; Draft Environmental Assessment
Summary
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act from the Bureau of Land Management, propose to authorize nonlethal incidental take by harassment of small numbers of Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) polar bears (Ursus maritimus) for 1 year from the date of issuance of the incidental harassment authorization (IHA). The applicant requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with oil well plugging and reclamation, soil sampling, snow trail, pad, and airstrip construction, and summer cleanup activities in the North Slope Borough of Alaska between Wainwright and Oliktok. This proposed authorization, if finalized, will be for up to 12 takes of polar bears by Level B harassment. No Level A harassment or lethal take is requested, expected, or proposed to be authorized. We invite comments on the proposed IHA, the application package, draft environmental assessment, and related documents from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
Agencies
- Interior Department
- Fish and Wildlife Service
Business Impact
$$ - Med
The regulation outlines authorization for incidental take of polar bears during oil-related activities, impacting compliance and regulatory requirements for businesses engaged in oil well plugging, reclamation, and related environmental assessments in Alaska.