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:
Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Delaware and Maryland
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 10/28/19 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC (Skipjack) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore of Delaware in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0519) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Delaware or Maryland. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of the Federal Register notice. We 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.
Offshore Energy, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Delaware and Maryland
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 10/28/19 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC (Skipjack) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore of Delaware in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0519) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Delaware or Maryland. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of the Federal Register notice. We 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.
Vineyard Wind LLC Construction of the Vineyard Wind Offshore Wind Project, Massachusetts
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | Closed | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Vineyard Wind, LLC to take marine mammals incidental to construction of a commercial wind energy project offshore Massachusetts.
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 for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Alaska LNG Project in Cook Inlet, over the course of five years (2020-2025). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations to govern that take.
Active Authorizations
The following Authorizations are active:
Orsted 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
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 10/2/2019 | 9/26/2019 - 9/25/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Ørsted Wind Power LLC (Ørsted) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to high-resolution geophysical (HRG) survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the areas of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These areas are currently being leased by the Applicant’s affiliates, Deepwater Wind New England, LLC and Bay State Wind LLC respectively, and are identified as OCS-A 0486, OCS-A 0487, and OCS-A 0500 (collectively referred to as the Lease Areas). Ørsted is also planning to conduct marine site characterization surveys along one or more export cable route corridors (ECRs) originating from the Lease Areas and landing along the shoreline at locations from New York to Massachusetts, between Raritan Bay (part of the New York Bight) to Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Renewables LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys for Renewable Energy off the Coast of North Carolina in the area of OCS-A508
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/28/2019 | 6/1/2019 - 5/31/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Avangrid Renewables, LLC (Avangrid) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to high-resolution geophysical survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of North Carolina in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0508) and the coastal waters off North Carolina and Virginia where one or more cable route corridors will be established.
Renewal of Wind Site Characterization Surveys Offshore New York
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/2/2019 | 4/25/2019 - 4/24/2020 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) Renewal to Equinor Wind US LLC to incidentally harass 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.
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).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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, Offshore Delaware | IHA | 5/15/2018- 5/14/2019 |
| Statoil Wind U.S. LLC | Wind Site Characterization Surveys Offshore New York | IHA | 4/24/2018- 4/23/2019 |
| 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
