The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received a request from the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) to authorize the incidental harassment of marine mammals during the construction of the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. This authorization, proposed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), permits minimal impact on marine mammals like seals and whales, primarily through noise disturbance during pile driving activities. Measures to protect marine life include specific monitoring and mitigation strategies, such as designated shutdown zones to minimize disturbance. Public comments on the proposal are requested, with a potential 1-year renewal under certain conditions.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. government is thinking about letting a company make some noise in the ocean while building a special gas project in Alaska, but they want to make sure it doesn't bother the whales and seals too much, so they're asking for people's thoughts on it.