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:
Mayflower Wind Energy LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 3/31/2021 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Mayflower Wind Energy LLC for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to site characterization surveys 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 0521) and along a potential submarine cable route to landfall at Falmouth, Massachusetts. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. We are also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met. We will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization, and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys Offshore of Delaware
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 3/26/2021 | -- | -- |
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. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. We are also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met. We will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
South Fork Wind, LLC Construction of the South Fork Offshore Wind Project off of Rhode Island and Massachusetts
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| In Process | 3/8/2021 | -- | -- |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries received a request from South Fork Wind, LLC (South Fork Wind) to take marine mammals incidental to construction of a commercial wind energy project southeast of Rhode Island, within the Rhode Island-Massachusetts Wind Energy Area (RI/MA WEA). NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. We are also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 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 this 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.
Active Authorizations
The following Authorizations are active:
Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Construction in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
| 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.
Modification to Dominion Energy Virginia Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Coastal Virginia
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 12/11/2020 | 12/11/2020 - 8/27/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued a modified incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys conducted in the areas of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Virginia (Lease No. OCS-A-0483) as well as in coastal waters where an export cable corridor will be established in support of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial (CVOW Commercial) Project.
Ørsted Wind Power North America, LLC Site Characterization Survey off New York to Massachusetts
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 9/25/2020 | 9/25/2020 - 9/24/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Ørsted Wind Power North America, LLC, (Ørsted) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys in coastal waters from New York to Massachusetts in the areas of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0486/0517, OCS-A 0487, and OCS-A 0500) and along potential export cable routes to shoreline locations from New York to Massachusetts.
Equinor Wind, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 9/20/2020 | 9/20/2020 - 9/19/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Equinor Wind, LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during site characterization surveys off the coast in the Atlantic Ocean in the area of the Commercial Leases of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0520 and OCS-A 0512) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York or New Jersey.
Dominion Energy Virginia Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Coastal Virginia
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 8/28/2020 | 8/28/2020 - 8/27/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an IHA to Dominion Energy Virginia to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys in the areas of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Virginia (Lease No. OCS-A-0483) as well as in coastal waters where an export cable corridor will be established in support of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project.
Alaska Gasline Development Corporation Liquefied Natural Gas Construction in Cook Inlet, 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.
Mayflower Wind Energy, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 7/23/2020 | 7/23/2020 - 7/22/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to Mayflower Wind Energy LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during site characterization surveys 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 0521) and along a potential submarine cable route to landfall at Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Reissuance of Vineyard Wind, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/18/2020 | 6/21/2020 - 6/20/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has received a request from Vineyard Wind, LLC (Vineyard Wind) for the re-issuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the only change being effective dates. The initial IHA authorized take of 14 species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to incidental to marine site characterization survey activities off the coast of Massachusetts in the areas of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0501 and OCS-A 0522) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. The initial IHA was effective from June 1, 2020 through May 31, 2021. Due to delays, Vineyard Wind has requested re-issuance with new effective dates of June 21, 2020 through June 20, 2021. The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers are not changed, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting remains the same as included in the initial IHA. NMFS is, therefore, issuing a second identical IHA to cover the incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.
Rio Grande LNG, LLC LNG Terminal Construction in the Brownsville Ship Channel in Cameron County, Texas
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/29/2020 | 7/1/2020 - 6/30/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Rio Grande LNG LLC, authorizing the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Brownsville Ship Channel, Texas.
Annova LNG Common Infrastructure LNG Terminal Construction in the Brownsville Ship Channel in Cameron County, Texas
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 6/29/2020 | 3/1/2021 - 2/28/2022 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Annova LNG Common Infrastructure, authorizing the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Brownsville Ship Channel, Texas.
Dominion Energy Virginia Offshore Wind Construction Activities off of Virginia
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 5/15/2020 | 5/15/2020 - 5/14/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Virginia Electric and Power Company, doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion), to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities off the coast of Virginia in the area of Research Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Virginia (Lease No. OCS-A-0497), in support of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project.
Vineyard Wind, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/15/2020 | 6/21/2020 - 6/20/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Vineyard Wind, LLC (Vineyard Wind) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off the coast of Massachusetts in the areas of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0501 and OCS-A 0522) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of New Jersey and New York
| Status | Public Comment | Date Issued | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 4/10/2020 | 4/20/2020 - 4/19/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys off the coasts of New York and New Jersey in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0499) and along potential submarine cable routes to a landfall location in New York or New Jersey.
Jordan Cove Energy Project, Coos Bay, OR
| Status | Public Comment | Issued Date | Effective Dates |
| Active | Closed | 1/31/2020 | 10/1/2020 - 9/30/2021 |
Summary: NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to Jordan Cove Energy Project, LP (JCEP) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pile driving associated with construction of the Jordan Cove Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal and ancillary projects.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Offshore 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, 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
