A pod of killer whales in Alaska waters.
Incidental Take Authorizations for Oil and Gas
This page lists Incidental Take Authorizations for oil and gas activities. Applications are typically posted online once public review is initiated
An Interactive Map can be viewed that shows recent and in process authorizations.
Authorizations In Process
The following Authorizations are in process:
Oil and Gas Industry Geophysical Survey Activity in the Gulf of Mexico
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries is reassessing the statutorily mandated findings supporting its January 19, 2021, final rule and Regulations Governing Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Survey Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, in light of updated information following the discovery that the estimates of incidental take of marine mammals anticipated from the activities analyzed for the 2021 regulations were erroneous. The correction of this error, as well as other newly available and pertinent information, has bearing on the analyses supporting some of the prior findings in the 2021 final rule and the taking allowable under the regulations. There are no changes to the specified activities or the specified geographical region in which those activities would be conducted, nor to the original 5- year period of effectiveness. In light of the new information, NOAA Fisheries presents new “negligible impact” analyses supporting our preliminary affirmance of the negligible impact determinations for all species, and proposes to affirm that the existing regulations, which contain mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements, are consistent with the “least practicable adverse impact standard” of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Active Authorizations
The following Authorizations are active:
Hilcorp Alaska LLC Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska (2022, 2023)
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 9/14/2022 | 9/14/2022 - 9/13/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued two incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) to Hilcorp Alaska LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during tugs towing jack-up rig activity in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Hilcorp Alaska and Eni Ice Road and Ice Trail Construction and Maintenance on Alaska’s North Slope
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 12/22/2020 | 12/22/2020 - 12/21/2025 |
Summary: Upon application from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) and Eni US Operating Co. Inc. (Eni), NOAA Fisheries is issuing regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) for the taking of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to ice road and ice trail construction, maintenance, and operation in Alaska’s North Slope, over the course of 5 years (2020-2025). These regulations allow NOAA Fisheries to issue Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the specified construction and maintenance activities carried out during the rule’s period of effectiveness, set forth the permissible methods of taking, set forth other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, and set forth requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.
Oil and Gas Industry Geophysical Survey Activity in the Gulf of Mexico
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 1/19/2021 | 4/19/2021 - 4/19/2026 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, has issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activities conducted by oil and gas industry operators, and those persons authorized to conduct activities on their behalf (collectively “industry operators”), in Federal waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization to industry operators for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframe, 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.
Hilcorp Alaska LLC construction and operation of the Liberty Drilling and Production Island in Foggy Island Bay, Beaufort Sea, Alaska
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 12/20/2019 | 12/01/2021-11/30/2026 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to construction and operation of the Liberty Drilling and Production Island (LDPI) in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska over the course of five years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization 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.
Hilcorp Alaska LLC Oil and Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | 9/16/2019 | 7/30/2019 | 7/30/2019 - 7/30/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to Hilcorp Alaska LLC (Hilcorp) to take marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
NOAA Fisheries, upon request from Hilcorp, issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the course of five years (2019-2024). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of LOAs 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, as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby additionally given that a LOA has been issued to Hilcorp to take marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities.
Withdrawn and Inactive
For documents related to withdrawn applications for Authorization and inactive Authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
| Oil and Gas Industry | Geophysical Survey Activity in the Atlantic Ocean | IHA | N/A |
| Apache Alaska Corp. | Seismic Surveys in Cook Inlet, AK | LOA | 8/19/2016 - 7/20/2021 |
| Furie Operating Alaska, LLC | Seismic survey in Cook Inlet, AK | IHA | -- |
| BlueCrest Alaska Operating, LLC | Exploratory drilling in Cook Inlet, AK | IHA | -- |
| Buccaneer Alaska Operation, LLC | Exploratory drilling in Cook Inlet, AK | IHA | -- |
| SAExploration, Inc. | Seismic surveys in the Beaufort Sea | IHA | -- |
| ConocoPhillips Co. | Exploration drilling in the Chukchi Sea | IHA | -- |
Expired Authorizations
The following Authorizations are expired. For documents related to expired Authorizations, please contact us.
Applicant |
Activity |
Authorization Type |
Effective Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Alaska LLC | Cook Inlet Pipeline Cross Inlet Extension Project, Cook Inlet, AK | IHA | 4/25/2018- 4/24/2019 |
| BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. | Northstar Oil and Gas Facility Operation in Beaufort Sea | LOA | 1/13/2014 - 1/14/2019 |
| Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. | Ice Overflight Surveys in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, Alaska | IHA | 6/10/2015- 6/09/2016 |
| SAExploration Inc. | Oil and Gas Exploration Seismic Survey Program in Cook Inlet, Alaska | IHA | 05/13/2015- 05/12/2016 |
| Alaska, LLC. (Hilcorp) | Shallow Geohazard Survey in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska | IHA | 07/01/2015- 10/30/2015 |
| Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. | Exploration Drilling Program in the Chukchi Sea, Alaska | IHA | 07/01/2015- 10/31/2015 |
| SAExploration Inc. | Seismic Surveys in Beaufort Sea, Alaska | IHA | 07/01/2015- 10/15/2015 |
| ExxonMobil | Conductor Pipe Installation Activities at Harmony Platform in Santa Barbara Channel, CA | IHA | 09/17/2014- 09/16/2015 |
More Information
- Incidental Take Authorization under the MMPA
- Apply for an Incidental Take Authorization
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for construction activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for military readiness activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for other energy (renewable and LNG) activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for research and other activities
A pod of killer whales in Alaska waters.