Search Results for keywords:"Letter of Authorization"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to WesternGeco for conducting geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America. This authorization allows the incidental taking of marine mammals during these activities, under the condition that such impacts are minimal and do not significantly harm the species. The regulations ensure that the activities will have a negligible impact on marine mammal populations and include measures for mitigation, monitoring, and reporting. The authorization is in effect from March 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from Vineyard Northeast, LLC for permission to incidentally impact small numbers of marine mammals during the construction of the Vineyard Northeast Offshore Wind Project. This project will take place offshore of Massachusetts and Connecticut and will run for five years starting January 1, 2028. The activities involved, like installing wind turbine foundations and underwater surveys, might disturb marine mammals, although serious harm or death is not expected. The public is invited to comment on the request by January 16, 2025, and all feedback will be considered in developing regulations for the project.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) allowing TGS to conduct geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico and to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals. This decision follows the regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, ensuring that the activities have a negligible impact on marine species. The surveys will take place beginning December 20, 2024, and are planned to use a low-frequency airgun source called Gemini. The authorization ensures that the potential impact on marine mammals is minimal and aligns with existing regulations and environmental protection standards.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has granted a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to Hilcorp Alaska LLC. This authorization allows the incidental, unintentional take—or disturbance—of four species of marine mammals during Hilcorp's oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska. This LOA is issued under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and incorporates necessary conditions related to the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting of any incidents. The authorization is valid until April 21, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to the Murphy Exploration and Production Company for activities in the Gulf of Mexico. This LOA allows the company to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals while conducting geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities. The authorization is based on specific regulations ensuring any impact on marine life is negligible, and it includes mitigating measures like monitoring and reporting. The survey is planned to last seven days within designated areas and is expected to comply with all applicable rules regarding the protection of marine mammals.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) allowing US Wind, Inc. to "take" marine mammals during the construction of the Maryland Offshore Wind Project. This means they can unintentionally disturb but not kill marine mammals as long as the impact is minimal and does not affect the mammals' survival. The project includes constructing wind turbines and related activities off the coast of Maryland from 2025 to 2029. The authorization includes several measures to protect the animals, such as monitoring their presence and reducing noise levels during construction.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extended the expiration date of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for bp Exploration and Production, Inc., allowing them to take marine mammals incidentally during geophysical surveys in the Gulf of Mexico. The new expiration date is March 31, 2025, instead of the original February 14, 2025. This extension is due to bp using only one source vessel rather than the planned two, and it does not change any other aspects of the survey or the analyses supporting the authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has updated a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for Shell Offshore Inc. concerning the incidental taking of marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico during geophysical surveys. The expiration date of the LOA has been extended to October 31, 2025, due to changes in the survey schedule, and updated take estimates have been included in line with recent rule adjustments. No significant changes have been made to Shell's planned activities, and the LOA does not authorize the take of Rice's whales since these activities are not expected to overlap with their habitat. The updates ensure compliance with existing regulations and conservation standards.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to TGS, allowing for the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals during geophysical survey activities in the Gulf of America. The survey will use specific techniques and equipment, like the Gemini sound source, which have been evaluated for their impact on marine life. The activities will occur between March and December 2025 but are not expected to impact Rice's whale habitat. NMFS has determined that the incidental takes allowed will not exceed "small numbers" as defined by the regulations, ensuring minimal impact on marine mammal populations.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to Viridien, allowing the company to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals during geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico. This decision follows regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The surveys will take place over 115 days, with sound source operations planned for 65 days, and the impact on marine mammals is expected to be minimal. Notably, there is no authorization for taking the Rice’s whale, as these animals are not expected to be in the survey areas. NMFS believes that the number of marine mammals affected will be small compared to their total populations, adhering to the MMPA regulations.