🐋Notice on Marine Mammals and U.S. Coast Guard Construction Activities
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to 2 years of construction activities associated with the Base Kodiak Homeporting Facility project in Womens Bay, Kodiak Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue two consecutive 1-year incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Learn More🌊Incidental Harassment Authorization for Hoonah Cargo Dock Project
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the City of Hoonah (Hoonah) to incidentally harass marine mammals during pile driving and removal activities associated with the Hoonah Cargo Dock project in Hoonah, Alaska. There are no changes from the proposed authorization in this final authorization.
Learn More🐋Proposed Permit for Incidental Take of Endangered Marine Mammals
NMFS is proposing to issue a permit to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, take of specific Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed marine mammal species or stocks under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), in the Category II California (CA) thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 inch (in) mesh) fishery and the corresponding high seas component of the fishery as defined on the MMPA List of Fisheries as the Pacific highly migratory species drift gillnet fishery (hereinafter, collectively referred to as the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh)/Pacific highly migratory species drift gillnet fishery.
Learn More🐬Proposed IHA for Eareckson Air Station Fuel Pier Repair Project
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on behalf of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center (USAF) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that is nearly identical to an IHA previously issued to USAF authorizing the take of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to the Eareckson Air Station (EAS) Fuel Pier Repair project in Alcan Harbor on Shemya Island, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during the Eareckson Fuel Pier Repair project. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible 1-year renewal IHA that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The IHA would be valid for one year from the effective date.
Learn More🌊NMFS Notice on Marine Mammals and Hilcorp Alaska Oil Operations
NMFS has received a request from the Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of Hilcorp's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on Hilcorp's application and request.
Learn More🐋Regulations on Marine Mammal Taking for Oil and Gas Activities
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA regulations for taking marine mammals incidental to geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America, originally published as "Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico," notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to WesternGeco for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of America (GOA).
Learn More🐋Authorization for Marine Mammal Take in Unalaska Channel Deepening Project
NMFS has received a request from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the re-issuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the only change being effective dates. The initial IHA authorized take of four species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to construction associated with the Unalaska Channels Deepening Project in Iliuliuk Bay, Alaska. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers are not changed, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting remains the same as included in the initial IHA. NMFS is, therefore, issuing a second identical IHA to cover the incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.
Learn More🌊Marine Mammal Protection Regulations for Bridge Replacement Project
NMFS has received a request from the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBRP) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project (IBR) on Interstate 5 (I-5) between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the IBRP's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the IBRP's application and request.
Learn More🐋Renewal Authorization for Marine Mammal Incidental Take in RI
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) to incidentally harass marine mammals during construction activities associated with the relocation of NOAA research vessels at Naval Station Newport (NAVSTA) in Rhode Island.
Learn More🐋Permit Issued for Commercial Marine Photography - Business Implications
Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Humble Bee Wild Ltd (subsidiary of Humble Bee Films Ltd), 8 Elmdale Road, Bristol, BS8 1SL, United Kingdom, (Responsible Party: Natasha Busjeet) to conduct commercial and educational photography on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
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