🐬Proposed Rule on Marine Mammal Takes During Military Readiness
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Department of the Navy (including the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps) (Navy) and on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) and U.S. Army (Army) (hereafter, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army are collectively referred to as the Action Proponents) for Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) and multiple associated Letters of Authorization (LOAs) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The requested regulations would govern the authorization of take of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities, and modernization and sustainment of ranges conducted in the Hawaii-California Training and Testing (HCTT) Study Area over the course of seven years from December 2025 through December 2032. NMFS requests comments on this proposed rule. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the promulgation of the requested ITR and issuance of the LOAs; agency responses to public comments will be summarized in the final rule, if issued. The Action Proponents' activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA) and the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019 (2019 NDAA).
Learn More🌍Impact of NEPA Procedures Rescission on Business and Compliance
This interim final rule rescinds DON's regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), because the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) NEPA regulations, which they were meant to supplement, have been rescinded, and because the DoD is promulgating Department-wide NEPA procedures that will guide the Navy's NEPA process. In addition, this interim final rule requests comments on this action.
Learn More🌊Navy Announces Environmental Impact Statement for Sonar Testing
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Presidential Executive Order 12114, DoN has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/OEIS) for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low-Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar Training and Testing in the Western North Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Draft SEIS/OEIS includes an analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with conducting at-sea training and testing activities within the SURTASS LFA Study Area. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to perform training and testing activities that ensure the Navy remains proficient in the use of SURTASS LFA sonar in support of the Navy's mission.
Learn More🦭Authorization for Navy's Marine Mammal Harassment During Training
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 United States Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass marine mammals during construction activities associated with pile driving training exercises at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme (NBVC). The Navy's activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).
Learn More⚓Certificate of Alternate Compliance Issued for USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr.
The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate Compliance has been issued for USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124). Due to the special construction and purpose of this vessel, the Admiralty Counsel of the Navy has determined it is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot comply fully with the navigation lights provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this notice is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.
Learn More⚓Notice of Alternate Compliance for USS John Basilone (DDG 122)
The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate Compliance has been issued for USS JOHN BASILONE (DDG 122). Due to the special construction and purpose of this vessel, the Admiralty Counsel of the Navy has determined it is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot comply fully with the navigation lights provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this notice is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.
Learn More🐋NMFS Reissues Incidental Harassment Authorization for Navy Project
NMFS has received a request from the United States Navy 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 10 species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to construction associated with the Navy's Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest (NAVFAC) Northwest Marine Structure Program (MPR) project in Puget Sound, Washington. 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🛩️Extension of Comment Period for EA-18G Environmental Impact Statement
On March 14, 2025, the Department of the Navy (DoN) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Amended Analysis to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for EA-18G Growler Airfield Operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Complex. In addition to announcing its hosting of two in-person public meetings (April 1 and 2, 2025) and one virtual meeting (April 3, 2025), the DoN announced a 45-day public comment period beginning March 14, 2025 and ending April 28, 2025. DoN is now extending the comment period until May 13, 2025 to allow the public additional time to review and submit comments on the Draft Amended Analysis.
Learn More🏗️Notice of Intent for Naval Air Station Pensacola Land Exchange
This notice provides information on the proposed conveyance of approximately 5.2 acres of underutilized land at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Special Area Bronson Field, Florida, to Escambia County, a political subdivision of the State of Florida, in exchange for a restrictive easement over approximately 31.15 acres of Escambia County owned land within portions of NAS Pensacola's Accident Potential Zones 1 and 2, which will limit encroachment and constraints on military training, testing, and operations.
Learn More🌍Public Meeting Notice on Environmental Impact for Growler Operations
The Department of the Navy has prepared a Draft Amended Analysis to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for EA-18G Growler Airfield Operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Complex (2018) (Record of Decision--March 14, 2019), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and court orders issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
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