Incidental Take Authorization: University of Texas at Austin's Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the University of Texas at Austin for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a marine geophysical survey in coastal waters off Texas in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in the Request for Public Comments section at the end of this notice. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.