Incidental Take Authorization: Hilcorp Alaska, LLC's Ice Road and Ice Trail Construction, Operation, and Maintenance Activities on Alaska's North Slope

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC for promulgation of incidental take regulations and issuance of an associated Letter of Authorization that would authorize continued take of marine mammals over 5 years (2026-2031) incidental to the construction, maintenance and use of sea ice roads, trails and adjacent ice pads after the expiration of the existing ITR and LOA. NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations setting forth permissible methods of taking, other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on such marine mammal stocks (i.e., mitigation measures), and requirements pertaining to monitoring and reporting takes and requests comments on the proposed rule.