Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Ice Roads and Ice Trails Construction and Maintenance Activities on Alaska's North Slope
other · Published 2020-12-22 · Effective 2020-12-22 · 85 FR 83451
Document
Document number
2020-26346
Federal Register citation
85 FR 83451
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule; notification of issuance of Letters of Authorization.
Category
other
Publication date
2020-12-22
Effective date
2020-12-22
NOAA docket
Docket No. 20119-0307
Abstract
Upon application from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) and Eni US Operating Co. Inc. (Eni), NMFS is issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for the taking of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to ice road and ice trail construction, maintenance, and operation in Alaska's North Slope, over the course of 5 years (2020-2025). These regulations allow NMFS to issue Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the specified construction and maintenance activities carried out during the rule's period of effectiveness, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.