Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Precision Strike Weapon and Air-to-Surface Gunnery Training and Testing Operations at Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Upon application from Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin AFB), we (the National Marine Fisheries Service) issue regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern the unintentional takings of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to testing and training activities associated with Precision Strike Weapon (PSW) and Air-to- Surface (AS) gunnery missions, both of which are military readiness activities, at Eglin AFB, FL from approximately March 2014 to March 2019. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of take and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks of marine mammals and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.