Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska
other · Published 2019-07-31 · Effective 2019-07-30 · 84 FR 37442
Document
Document number
2019-15867
Federal Register citation
84 FR 37442
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule; issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA).
Category
other
Publication date
2019-07-31
Effective date
2019-07-30
NOAA docket
Docket No. 190214112-9535-02
Abstract
NMFS, upon request from Hilcorp Alaska LLC (Hilcorp), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the course of five years (2019-2024). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby additionally given that a LOA has been issued to Hilcorp to take marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities.