Incidental Take Authorizations for Military Readiness Activities

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Authorizations In Process

The  Authorizations below are in process:

Renewal of Office of Naval Research Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries received a request from the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) for the Renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. These activities are identical to those covered in the current authorization. Prior to issuing the currently active IHA, NOAA Fisheries requested comments on both the proposed IHA and the potential for renewing the initial authorization if certain requirements were satisfied. The Renewal requirements have been satisfied, and we are now providing an additional 15-day comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed Renewal not previously provided during the initial 30-day comment period. ONR’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

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

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) to take marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area. We are requesting comments on our proposal to issue regulations and subsequent Letters of Authorization (LOAs) to the Navy to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. We will consider public comments prior to issuing any final rule and making final decisions on the issuance of the requested LOAs. Agency responses to public comments will be provided in the notice of the final decision. 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).

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

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) to take marine mammals incidental to 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).  

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Active Authorizations

The  Authorizations below are active:

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

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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Renewal of U.S. Navy Target and Missile Launch Activities at San Nicolas Island, CA (2020)

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization to U.S. Navy to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to target and missile launch activities on San Nicolas Island. 

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U.S. Marine Corps Training Activities at Cherry Point Range Complex, NC (2020)

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to incidentally harass marine mammals during training exercises at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point Range Complex, North Carolina. The USMC’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

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U.S. Navy Ice Exercise Activities 2020 (ICEX20) in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean

Summary:  NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to the United States Department of the Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during submarine training and testing activities associated with Ice Exercise 2020 (ICEX20) north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The Navy’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

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Office of Naval Research Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. ONR’s activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

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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 Hawaii Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT)

Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Hawaii-Southern California Training and Testing (HSTT) 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).

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

Summary: Upon application from the U.S. Navy, NOAA Fisheries has issued a LOA and regulations under the MMPA to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training activities conducted in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Study Area (GOA TMAA) from May 2017 through May 2022.

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

Summary: Upon application from the U.S. Navy, NOAA Fisheries has issued LOAs and regulations under the MMPA to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Study Area from November 2015 through November 2020. 

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U.S. Navy Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT), South of Japan

Summary: Upon application from the U.S. Navy, NOAA Fisheries has issued a LOA and regulations under the MMPA to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Study Area from August 2015 through August 2020.

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Expired Authorizations

For documents related to expired authorizations, please contact us.

More Information

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