Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy's Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar Systems Testing in the Western and Central North Pacific and Eastern Indian Oceans
Summary
NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy), has issued regulations to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities using Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active sonar systems in the western and central North Pacific and eastern Indian oceans over the course of 7 years from August 2026 through August 2033. These regulations allow for the issuance of a letter of authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during specified activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. The Navy’s activities are considered military readiness activities.
Federal Register
Supporting Materials
- Letter of Authorization (PDF, 16 pages)
- Application (PDF, 249 pages)
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Record of Decision (PDF, 9 pages)
- Biological Opinion
- Boundaries and Effective Periods of OBIAs (see Appendix F) (PDF, 512 pages)
- Public Comment on Notice of Receipt (PDF, 4 pages)
- Public Comments on Proposed Rule
- References, Final Rule (PDF, 48 pages)
- References, Proposed Rule (PDF, 46 pages)