Incidental Take Authorizations for Military Readiness Activities

An Interactive Map can be viewed that shows recent and in process authorizations.

Authorizations In Process

The Authorizations below are in process:

U.S. Navy Testing and Training Activities in the Point Mugu Sea Range Study Area

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Navy to take marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Point Mugu Sea Range Study Area. 

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U.S. Navy Training Activities in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to training activities in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area for a period of seven years, from April 2022 through April 2029. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of the Navy’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. 

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U.S. Marine Corps Training Operations at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Range Complex

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Marine Corp (USMC) for authorization to take bottlenose dolphin incidental to training operations at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Range Complex over the course of seven years from the date of issuance. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of the USMC’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals.

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Active Authorizations

The Authorizations below are active:

U.S. Air Force Testing of Extended Range Cannon Artillery II at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued two consecutive incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) to the United States Department of the Air Force (DAF) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during two years of testing of the Long Range Cannon (LRC) system at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), California. The DAF’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA).

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U.S. Navy Ice Exercise Activities 2022 (ICEX22) in the Arctic Ocean

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during submarine training and testing activities including establishment of a tracking range on an ice floe in the Arctic Ocean, north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The Navy’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA).

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Office of Naval Research Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas Year 4 (2021-2022)

Summary: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an IHA to the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment, marine mammals during oceanographic research activities associated with the Arctic Research Activities (Year 4) in the Beaufort and eastern Chukchi Seas.

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U.S. Navy Target and Missile Launch Activities at San Nicolas Island, CA (2021)

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during target and missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island, California.

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Renewal of U.S. Marine Corps Training Activities at Cherry Point Range Complex, NC (2021)

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to training exercises at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point Range Complex, North Carolina.

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U.S. Navy Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) 2020

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the U.S. Navy, has issued regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Northwest Training and Testing Study Area. The Navy’s activities qualify as military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described 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.

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U.S. Navy Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT)

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the U.S. Navy (Navy), has issued regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Study Area. The Navy’s activities qualify as military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (2004 NDAA). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described 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.

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U.S. Navy Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT)

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT) Study Area over the course of seven years, effectively extending the time period from December 20, 2023, to December 20, 2025. In August 2018, the MMPA was amended by the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 to allow for seven-year authorizations for military readiness activities, as compared to the previously allowed five years. The Navy’s activities qualify as military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA as amended by the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2004. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOAs) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

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U.S. Navy Operations of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar (beginning in 2019)

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the U.S. Navy, issues these regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the use of Surveillance Towed Array Sensor Systems Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar systems onboard U.S. Navy surveillance ships for training and testing activities conducted under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy in the western and central North Pacific and eastern Indian oceans beginning August 2019. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.  

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U.S. Air Force Launching of Space Launch Vehicles, Missiles, and Aircraft and Helicopter Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (2019-2024)

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries, upon request of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to launching space launch vehicles, intercontinental ballistic and small missiles, and aircraft operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby additionally given that a five-year LOA has been issued to USAF to take marine mammals incidental to rocket and missile launch and recovery activities and aircraft operations.

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U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) along Atlantic and Gulf Coasts

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Study Area over the course of seven years, effectively extending the time period from November 13, 2023, to November 13, 2025. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization (LOAs) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and establish requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. 

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U.S. Air Force Testing and Training Activities in Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range at Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations and an LOA to the U.S. Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base 96th Test Wing for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting testing and training activities in the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range in the Gulf of Mexico over the course of five years. 

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U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron Long Range Strike Weapon Systems Evaluation Program, Kauai, HI 

Summary: Upon application from the U.S. Air Force 86 Fighter Weapons Squadron, NOAA Fisheries has issued a LOA and regulations under the MMPA to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to Long Range Strike Weapons System Evaluation Program exercises off Kauai, Hawaii, from August 2017 through August 2022.

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Expired Authorizations

For documents related to expired authorizations, please contact us.

More Information

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