Incidental Take Authorization: Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC's Site Characterization Surveys off Delaware

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC, for an incidental harassment authorization that is identical to an IHA previously issued to Orsted authorizing the take of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to marine site characterization surveys conducted off the coast of Delaware in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area OCS-A 0482 and 0519, and the associated export cable route area. The only changes from the previously issued IHAs involve the updated marine mammal population estimates, marine mammal density data, and take estimates, as well as the new effective dates for the IHA. The IHA would be valid for one year from the effective date.