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.
The following Authorizations are in process:
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 4/7/2023 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from SouthCoast Wind Energy, LLC (formerly known as Mayflower Wind Energy, LLC) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area OCS- A-0521. The activities described in SouthCoast Wind’s request, the overall survey duration, the project location, and the acoustic sources proposed for use are similar in scope as to what was previously analyzed in support of the IHA issued by NMFS to SouthCoast Wind for the 2021-2022 site characterization surveys (2021 IHA) (86 FR 38033, July 19, 2021). All proposed mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements remain the same. While SouthCoast Wind’s planned activity would qualify for renewal of the 2021 IHA, due to the availability of updated marine mammal density data (https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/Duke/EC/), which NOAA Fisheries has determined represents the best available scientific data, NOAA Fisheries has determined it appropriate to provide a 30-day period for the public to comment on this proposed action. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible 1-year renewal IHA that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Sunrise Wind, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between Ørsted North America, Inc. and Eversource Investment, LLC, for Incidental Take Regulations and an associated Letter of Authorization. The requested regulations would govern the authorization of take, by Level A harassment and/or Level B harassment, of small numbers of marine mammals over the course of 5 years (2023-2028) incidental to construction of the Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project offshore of New York in a designated lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf. Project activities likely to result in incidental take include pile driving, potential unexploded ordnance or munitions and explosives of concern detonation, and vessel-based site assessment surveys using high-resolution geophysical equipment. The proposed regulations, if adopted, would be effective November 20, 2023 - November 19, 2028.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: On December 23, 2022, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule, with a 30-day public comment period ending January 23, 2023, in response to Revolution Wind, LLC’s request for regulations and an associated Letter of Authorization. The proposed regulations would allow for the taking of marine mammals, by Level A harassment and Level B harassment, incidental to the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project offshore of Rhode Island.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from TerraSond Limited for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys in federal waters offshore of North Carolina and South Carolina in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Areas OCS-A 0545 and OCS-A 0546.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from TerraSond Limited for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys in the New York Bight (off of New York and New Jersey) and in the Central Atlantic (from Delaware to North Carolina).
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request for Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) and associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) from Ocean Wind, LLC (Ocean Wind), a subsidiary of Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC and a joint venture partner of the Public Service Enterprise Group Renewable Generation, LLC, for the incidental take of small numbers of marine mammals during the construction of an offshore wind energy facility (Ocean Wind 1) in a designated lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A-0498) offshore of New Jersey. The requested ITR would govern the authorization of take, by both Level A and Level B harassment, of small numbers of marine mammals over a 5-year period incidental to construction-related pile driving activities (impact and vibratory), potential unexploded ordnances or munitions and explosives of concern detonation, and high-resolution geophysical (HRG) site characterization surveys conducted by Ocean Wind in Federal and State waters off of New Jersey for the Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind energy facility. A final ITR would allow for the issuance of a LOA to Ocean Wind for a 5-year period.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a petition from Mayflower Wind, LLC* (Mayflower Wind), a 50/50 joint venture between Shell New Energies US, LLC (Shell New Energies) and OW North America, LLC (Ocean Winds), requesting authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the Mayflower Wind Offshore Wind Project in a designated lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-A-0521 offshore Massachusetts, over the course of 5 years beginning in 2025. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of Mayflower Wind’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and issuance of a Letter of Authorization.
*Since publication of the Notice of Receipt of Application, Mayflower Wind, LLC has changed its name to SouthCoast Wind, LLC.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to activities associated with two offshore wind energy projects in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Lease Area Outer Continental Shelf A-0499 off of New Jersey over the course of 5 years beginning on January 1, 2025. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of Atlantic Shores' request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and associated Letters of Authorization.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the Virginia Electric and Power Company, also known as Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion Energy), for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the development of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project in Lease Area Outer Continental Shelf A-0483 off of Virginia over the course of 5 years beginning on March 4, 2024. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of Dominion Energy's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and associated Letters of Authorization.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a petition from Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire), a 50-50 partnership between Equinor and BP, requesting authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to activities associated with the Empire Wind Project in a designated lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf (OSC-A 0512) offshore of New York state over the course of 5 years beginning in 2024. Equinor will be the operator through the development, construction, and operations phase of the project. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of Empire’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA).
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a petition from Park City Wind LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avangrid Renewables, LLC, requesting authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to construction activities associated with the New England Wind Offshore Wind Farm in a designated lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf (OSC-A 0534) offshore Massachusetts over the course of 5 years beginning in 2025. NOAA Fisheries is announcing receipt of Park City Wind’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and issuance of a Letter of Authorization.
The following Authorizations are active:
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 2/28/2023 | 3/1/2023 - 2/29/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Bluepoint Wind, LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys in coastal waters off of New York and New Jersey in the New York Bight, specifically within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Area OCS-A 0537 and associated export cable route area.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 10/6/2022 | 10/6/2022 - 10/5/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to Orsted Wind Power North America LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys offshore from Rhode Island to Massachusetts, including the areas of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas OCS-A 0486, 0487, 0500, and along potential export cable routes to landfall locations between Raritan Bay and Falmouth, MA.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/27/2022 | 7/27/2022 - 7/26/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to Vineyard Northeast to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore from Massachusetts to New Jersey.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 8/16/2022 | 9/15/2022 - 9/14/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Attentive Energy, LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys associated with high resolution geophysical equipment off the coast of New Jersey and New York in the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area OCS-A 0538.
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 8/10/2022 | 8/10/2022 - 8/9/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Bight, LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals during site characterization surveys off New Jersey and New York in the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area (OCS-A 0541).
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/19/2022 | 9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Park City Wind, LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys offshore of Massachusetts south through Long Island, New York.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/29/2022 | 7/1/2022 - 6/30/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic Holdings, LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during site characterization surveys associated off New Jersey and New York.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/27/2022 | 5/27/2022 - 5/26/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Virginia Electric and Power Company doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia to incidentally harass marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off of Virginia in support of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/9/2022 | 5/10/2022 - 5/9/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Ocean Wind II, LLC (Ocean Wind II), an affiliate of Orsted Wind Power North America LLC (Orsted), to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off New Jersey in and around the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area (OCS)-A 0532.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/6/2022 | 5/10/2022 - 5/9/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Orsted wind Power North America, LLC for the take of marine mammals incidental to a marine site characterization survey off the coast of Delaware.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/9/2022 | 5/10/2022 - 5/9/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Ocean Wind LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization survey activities off the coast of New Jersey in the areas of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-A 0498 and federal and state waters along potential export cable routes to landfall locations between Raritan Bay (part of the New York Bight) and Delaware Bay.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/20/2022 | 8/1/2022 - 7/31/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Kitty Hawk Wind, LLC, to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off North Carolina and Virginia in and around the area of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Area (OCS)-A 0508.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/18/2022 | 4/20/2022 - 4/19/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC to incidentally harass marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off New Jersey and New York.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 12/21/2021 | 11/15/2022-11/14/2023 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to South Fork Wind, LLC to take, by Level A harassment and Level B harassment, marine mammals during construction of a commercial wind energy project offshore New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/21/2021 | 5/1/2023 - 4/30/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Vineyard Wind 1, LLC to take marine mammals incidental to construction of a commercial wind energy project offshore Massachusetts.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 2/16/2021 | 7/1/2023 - 6/30/2024 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment, marine mammals during a particular activity (West Dock facility construction) associated with construction of the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 8/17/2020 | 1/1/2021 - 12/31/2025 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas project in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the course of five years (2021-2025). These regulations allow NOAA Fisheries to issue a Letter of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the specified construction 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.
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 | -- |
For information and documents related to expired Authorizations, please contact us.
| Applicant | Activity | Authorization Type | Effective Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ørsted Wind Power North America, LLC | Renewal of Site Characterization Survey off of New York to Massachusetts | IHA | 3/3/2022 - 9/24/2022 |
|
Vineyard Wind 1 |
Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts and Rhode Island | IHA | 7/21/2021 - 7/20/2022 |
| Mayflower Wind Energy LLC | Modification to Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts | IHA | 7/1/2021 - 6/30/2022 |
| Vineyard Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York | IHA | 7/15/2021 - 6/20/2022 |
| Garden State Offshore Energy, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Delaware and New Jersey | IHA | 6/11/2021 - 6/10/2022 |
| Ocean Wind, LLC | IHA | 5/10/2021 - 5/9/2022 | |
| Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC | Renewal of Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of New Jersey and New York | IHA | 4/20/2021- 4/19/2022 |
| Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Delaware | IHA | 4/5/2021- 4/4/2022 |
| Annova LNG Common Infrastructure | LNG Terminal Construction in the Brownsville Ship Channel in Cameron County, Texas | IHA | 3/1/2021 - 2/28/2022 |
| Kitty Hawk Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of North Carolina and Virginia | IHA | 7/23/2021 -10/31/2021 |
| Orsted Wind Power North America | Site Characterization off of Massachusetts to New York | IHA | 9/25/2020 - 9/24/2021 |
| Equinor Wind, LLC | Site Characterization off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey | IHA | 9/20/2020 - 9/19/2021 |
| Jordan Cove Energy Project LP | Jordan Cove Project, Coos Bay, OR | IHA | 10/1/2020 - 9/30/ 2021 |
| Dominion Energy Virginia | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Coastal Virginia (2021) | IHA | 4/12/2021 - 8/27/2021 |
| Mayflower Wind Energy, LLC | IHA | 7/23/2020 - 7/22/2021 | |
| Rio Grande LNG LLC | LNG Terminal Construction in the Brownsville Ship Channel in Cameron County, Texas | IHA | 7/1/2020 - 6/30/2021 |
| Vineyard Wind, LLC | Reissuance of Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York | IHA | 6/21/2020 - 6/20/2021 |
| Dominion Energy Virginia | Offshore Wind Construction Activities off of Virginia | IHA | 5/15/2020 - 5/14/2021 |
| Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC |
Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of New Jersey and New York |
IHA | 4/20/2020 - 4/19/2021 |
| Vineyard Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York | IHA | 6/1/2020- 5/31/2021 |
| Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC |
Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Delaware and Maryland |
IHA | 11/25/2019- 11/24/2020 |
| Ørsted Wind Power LLC | Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of New England in the Areas of OCS-A 0486, OCS-A 0487, and OCS-A 0500 | IHA | 9/26/2019 - 9/25/2020 |
| Avangrid Renewables LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of North Carolina in the area of OCS-A508 | IHA | 6/1/2019 - 5/31/2020 |
| Equinor Wind US LLC | Renewal of Wind Site Characterization Surveys off of New York | IHA | 4/25/2019 - 4/24/2020 |
| Dominion Energy Virginia | Unexploded Ordnance Surveys off Virginia for Site Characterization of the OCS-A 0497 Lease Area for Renewable Energy Development | IHA | 7/31/2018 - 7/30/2019 |
| Bay State Wind LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys off the Coast of Massachusetts | IHA | 7/24/2018 - 7/23/2019 |
| Deepwater Wind New England LLC | Site Characterization Surveys off the Coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts | IHA | 6/13/2018 - 6/12/2019 |
| Garden State Offshore Energy, LLC | Geophysical Survey for Skipjack Wind off of Delaware | IHA | 5/15/2018- 5/14/2019 |
| Statoil Wind U.S. LLC | Wind Site Characterization Surveys off of New York | IHA | 4/24/2018- 4/23/2019 |
| Deepwater Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys, off of New York | IHA | 6/16/2017 - 6/15/2018 |
| Ocean Wind, LLC | Marine Site Characterization Surveys, off of New Jersey | 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 |
North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.
Four North Atllantic right whales.
North Atlantic right whale mother and calf. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #20556-01.