Incidental Take Authorizations for Other Energy Activities (Renewable/LNG)
This page lists Incidental Take Authorizations for energy activities other than oil and gas (including renewable energy activities and LNG). Applications are typically posted 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:
Renewal of Wind Site Characterization Surveys Offshore New York
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries received a request from Equinor Wind US LLC (formerly Statoil Wind US LLC; Equinor) for the Renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys off the coast of New York in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0512) and coastal waters where cable route corridors will be established. These activities are identical to those covered in the current authorization. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), prior to issuing the currently active IHA, we 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.
Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Construction in Cook Inlet, Alaska
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) for authorization to take, by harassment, marine mammals incidental to constructing an integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Cook Inlet, Alaska, beginning November 2019 and continuing through October 2024. Pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is announcing our receipt of the AGDC’s request for regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals.
Active Authorizations
The following Authorizations are active:
Dominion Energy Virginia Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Surveys off Virginia for Site Characterization of the Research Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf OCS-A 0497 Lease Area
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/31/2018 | 7/31/2018- 7/30/2019 |
Summary: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act as amended, notification is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion) for the take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) surveys associated with unexploded ordnance investigation activities off the coast of Virginia in the area of the Research Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Virginia (OCS-A 0497) and coastal waters where one or more cable route corridors will be established (the Survey Area).
Bay State Wind LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of Massachusetts in the Area of OCS-A 0500
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/24/2018 | 7/24/2018- 7/23/2019 |
Summary: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act as amended, notification is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of Massachusetts in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0500) and along cable routes to the coast of Massachusettes (the Study Area).
Deepwater Wind New England LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the Area of OCS-A 0486
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/20/2018 | 6/13/2018- 6/12/2019 |
Summary: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act as amended, notification is hereby given that NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Deepwater Wind New England, LLC, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0486) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Rhode Island, Massachusetts or New York.
Garden State Offshore Energy Geophysical Survey for Skipjack Wind, Offshore Delaware
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/15/2018 | 5/15/2018- 5/14/2019 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Garden State Offshore Energy, LLC, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys off the coast of Delaware as part of the Skipjack Wind Project in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0482) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Maryland or Delaware.
Statoil Wind Site Characterization Surveys Offshore New York
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/24/2018 | 4/24/2018- 4/23/2019 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Statoil Wind U.S. LLC (Statoil) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys off the coast of New York as part of the Empire Wind Project in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0512) (Lease Area) and coastal waters where one or more cable route corridors will be established.
Withdrawn and Inactive
For documents related to withdrawn applications for Authorization and inactive Authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
| ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC | Geophysical and Geotechnical Program in Cook Inlet, AK | IHA | -- |
Expired Authorizations
For information and documents related to expired Authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepwater Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys, Offshore NY | IHA | 6/16/2017 - 6/15/2018 |
| Ocean Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys, Offshore NJ | IHA | 6/8/2017- 6/7/2018 |
| Port Dolphin Deepwater Port | LNG Construction and Operation near Tampa Bay, FL | LOA | 6/01/2013 - 5/31/2018 |
| Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.P. and Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C. | Port and Algonquin Pipeline Operation, Maintenance and Repair in Massachusetts Bay (2016-2017) | IHA | 12/23/2016-12/22/2017 |
| Neptune LNG, LLC | Decommissioning of Neptune Deepwater Port, MA (2016-2017) | IHA | 10/07/2016-10/06/2017 |
| DONG Energy Massachusetts LLC | Geophysical and Geotechnical Surveys Offshore Massachusetts (2016-2017) | IHA | 8/13/2016-8/12/2017 |
| Deepwater Wind | Block Island Wind Farm Cable Installation Off Block Island, RI (2016-2017) | IHA | 5/31/2016-5/30/2017 |
| Neptune LNG, LLC | Liquefied Natural Gas Facility Operation and Maintenance off Massachusetts (2011-2016) | LOA | 07/11/2011- 07/10/2016 |
| ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC (AK LNG) | Geophysical and Geotechnical Program in Cook Inlet, AK (2015) | IHA | 8/14/2015-8/13/2016 |
| Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.P. and Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C. | LNG Port Operations and Maintenance and Repair in Massachusetts Bay (2015-16) | IHA | 12/23/2015-12/22/2016 |
| Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.P. and Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C. | LNG Port Operations and Maintenance/ Repair in Massachusetts Bay, MA | IHA | 12/22/2014- 12/21/2015 |
| Deepwater Wind Block Island, LLC | Block Island Wind Farm Construction off Rhode Island | IHA | 10/31/2014- 10/30/2015 |
| Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission, LLC | Block Island Transmission System (BITS) Construction off Rhode Island | IHA | 11/01/2014- 10/31/2015 |
| Cape Wind Associates | High Resolution Geophysical Survey in Nantucket Sound, MA | IHA | 04/25/2014- 04/24/2015 |
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 oil and gas activities
- Explore Incidental Take Authorizations for research and other activities
