Incidental Take Regulations
What are Incidental Take Regulations?
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), as amended, prohibits, with certain exceptions, the take of marine mammals in U.S. waters. Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), to authorize the incidental, but not intentional taking of small numbers of certain marine mammals species (including polar bears, walruses, and sea otters) associated with specified activities, provided that, the total of such taking will have no more than a negligible impact on these marine mammal species and does not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of these species for subsistence uses. The Service may issue ITRs for a period of up to five years.
What are Letters of Authorization?
If ITRs are promulgated for a specified activity in a specified geographical region U.S. citizens can request a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Service to carry out these activities under an exemption of the MMPA. LOAs are issued on a project specific basis and include operating restrictions and other mitigation measures designed to minimize interactions with, and impacts to marine mammals. LOAs also specify monitoring and reporting requirements to evaluate the level and impact of any resulting takes. Depending upon the nature, location and timing of the proposed activity, applicants may be required to consult with potentially effected subsistence communities, and develop additional mitigation measures to address potential impacts to subsistence users. More information on applying for and receiving an LOA can be found at 50 CFR 18.27(f).
Incidental Take Regulations and Letters of Authorization available for Public Review
Oil and Gas Exploration in the Chukchi Sea
The Service has been petitioned to develop Incidental Take Regulations (ITRs) for the non-lethal, incidental take of small numbers of Pacific walruses and polar bears associated with oil and gas exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent coast of Alaska projected out to 2012. Petitions for ITR are listed below.
On June 11, 2008, the Service published in the Federal Register 73 FR 33212 (pdf) regulations that authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of Pacific walruses and polar bears during oil and gas exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska. This rule will be in effect through June 11, 2013. An Environmental Assessment associated with this Federal action is available here Chukchi Sea ITR EA (pdf). A Programmatic Biological Opinion For Polar Bears regarding Chukchi Sea Incidental Take Regulations is available here Chukchi Sea ITR BO for Polar Bear (pdf).
Chukchi Sea Letters of Authorization
2008
Applicant |
Documents |
ASRC Energy Services |
08-01-CS (pdf) |
ConocoPhillips |
08-02-CS (pdf) |
Shell Offshore, Inc |
08-03-CS (pdf) |
2009
Applicant |
Documents |
Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc |
09-01-CS (pdf) |
| Conoco Phillips Alaska, Inc |
09-02-CS (pdf) |
2010
Applicant |
Documents |
Shell Exploration & Production Company |
10-01-CS (pdf) |
| Shell Exploration & Production Company |
10-01-CS-amend (pdf) |
| Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC |
10-02-CS (pdf) |
| Statoil USA E&P Inc. |
10-03-CS (pdf) |
2011
Applicant |
Documents |
Shell Exploration & Production Company |
11-CS-01 (pdf) |
| Shell Exploration & Production Company |
11-CS-02 (pdf) |
| Statoil USA E&P Inc. |
11-CS-03 (pdf) |
| Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC |
11-CS-04 (pdf) |
The Service is providing public access to these petitions, applications and authorizations in an effort to make the process more transparent. The Service is not soliciting public comments for the purpose of issuing individual LOAs. The Service does, however, welcome any information, suggestions or positive insights relevant to the program that interested persons may provide at any time. Please provide any information, suggestions or insights to the following email address alaska_loa@fws.gov
LOA Applications for Public Viewing
Oil and Gas Operations in the Beaufort Sea
The Service has been petitioned to renew Incidental Take Regulations (ITRs) for the non-lethal, incidental take of small numbers of Pacific walruses and polar bears associated with oil and gas exploration activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent coast of Alaska which expire after August 02, 2011. The petition for new regulations is projected out to 2016. Petitions for ITRs are listed below.
On August 3, 2011, the Service published in the Federal Register 76 FR 47010 regulations authorizing the non-lethal, incidental take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walruses during year-round oil and gas operations in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. This rule will be in effect through August 3, 2016. An Environmental Assessment
associated with this Federal action is available here Beaufort Sea ITR EA.
Letters of Authorization issued under these regulations are listed below. A Programmatic Biological Opinion For Polar Bears ( Ursus maritimus ), Polar Bear Critical Habitat and Conference Opinion
for the Pacific Walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus divergens ) on Beaufort Sea Incidental Take Regulations is available here Beaufort Sea ITR BO. (pdf).
Beaufort Sea ITR Petitions
Beaufort Sea Letters of Authorization
2006 - 2007
2008 Beaufort Sea
Veritas DGC Land |
08-01 08-02 (pdf) |
Eni US Operating Co. Inc. |
08-03 (pdf) |
ConocoPhillips Alaska |
08-04 08-05 (pdf) |
Shell Exploration & Production Co. |
08-08 (pdf) |
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. |
08-10 (pdf) |
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. |
08-11 (pdf) |
PGS Onshore Inc. |
08-12 (pdf) |
Shell Exploration & Production Co. |
08-13 (pdf) |
Exxon Production Company |
08-14 (pdf) |
Denali the Alaska Gas Pipeline |
08-15 (pdf) |
Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation |
08-16 (pdf) |
Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska, Inc. |
08-17 (pdf) |
2009 Beaufort Sea
BP Exploration |
09-01 (pdf) |
Shell Offshore Inc. |
09-02 (pdf) |
ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. |
09-03-09-04-09-05 (pdf) |
Savant Alaska, LLC |
09-06 (pdf) |
BP Exploration |
09-07, 08 (pdf) |
Brooks Range Petroleum Corporation |
09-9, 10, 11 (pdf) |
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation |
09-12 (pdf) |
Kuupik/Veritas |
09-13-09-14 (pdf) |
Eni US Operating Co. Inc. |
09-15 (pdf) |
Exxon Mobil Production Co. |
09-16 (pdf) |
Marsh Creek, LLC |
09-17-09-18 (pdf) |
UltraStar Exploration, LLC |
09-19 (pdf) |
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. |
09-20 (pdf) |
| Shell Offshore, Inc |
09-21 (pdf) |
2010 Beaufort Sea
| Shell Offshore, Inc |
10-01 (pdf -2.09mb) |
| Brooks Range Petroleum Corp. |
10-02 (pdf) |
| Beaufort Sea |
10-03 (pdf) |
| Exxon Mobil Production Co. |
10-04 (pdf) |
| Conoco Phillips Alaska, Inc. |
10-05 (pdf) |
| Conoco Phillips Alaska, Inc. |
10-06 (pdf) |
| Savant Alaska, LLC |
10-07 (pdf 1.87mb) |
| March Creek, LLC |
10-08 (pdf - 2.08mb) |
| Brooks Range Petroleum Corp. |
10-09 (pdf - 1.95mb) |
| Eni US Operating Company, Inc. |
10-10 (pdf - 1.92mb) |
| Shell Exploration & Production Company |
10-11 (pdf - 3.6mb) |
| Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. |
10-12 (pdf - 1.3mb) |
| Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC |
10-13 (pdf - 2.1mb) |
| Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska Inc. |
10-14 (pdf - 2.1 mb) |
2011 Beaufort Sea
Applicant |
Documents |
Brooks Range Petroleum Corp |
11-01 (pdf) |
| Conoco Phillips Alaska, Inc. |
11-02 & 11-03 (pdf) |
| Shell Exploration & Production Company |
11-04 (pdf) |
| FEX L.P. |
11-05 (pdf) |
| Conoco Phillips Alaska, Inc. |
11-06 (pdf) |
| Exxon Mobil Production Co |
11-07 (pdf) |
| BP Exploration |
11-08 & 11-09 (pdf) |
| Savant Alaska, LLC |
11-10 (pdf) |
| March Creek, LLC |
11-11 (pdf) |
| North Slope Borough Department of Capital Improvement |
11-12 (pdf) |
| Pioneer Natural Resources Alaska Inc. |
11-13 (pdf) |
| Eni US Operating Company, Inc. |
11-14 (pdf) |
| Shell Exploration & Production Company |
11-15 (pdf) |
| ExxonMobil Alaska Midstream Gas Investments, LLC |
11-16 (pdf) |
| Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC |
11-17 (pdf) |
| Olgoonik Fairweather, LLC |
11-18 (pdf) |
| Brooks Range Petroleum Corp. |
11-19 (pdf) |
LOA Applications for Public Viewing
Administrative Record Index: Chukchi Sea Incidental Take Regulations regarding Polar Bears and Pacific Walrus
The Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Environment are challenging the final rule promulgated by the Secretary of Interior on June 11, 2008 pursuant to the MMPA that authorizes the incidental take of polar bears and Pacific walrus resulting from any oil and gas industry pre-leasing, leasing and exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent coastal areas of Alaska for five years.
The Department of Interior Administrative Record may also be viewed at:
Bureau of Land Management Public Information Center
Room 148
222 West 7th Ave.
Anchorage, Alaska 99513
271-5973
To access the Administrative Record and Supplemental Record (pdf) including the Privileged Log (pdf: 1) Review the Record index; 2) Select the beginning document number of the selected file. Please note that these are pdf documents and they can range from 9kb to 74mb in size and may require time for downloading.
Example: To view document AR000159 you would go to http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/pdf/regulations/fws_ar000159.pdf
To view document AR009265 you would change the ending number in the url (see below) http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/pdf/regulations/fws_ar009265.pdf
The Service is providing public access to these petitions, applications and authorizations in an effort to make the process more transparent. The Service is not soliciting public comments for the purpose of issuing individual LOAs. The Service does, however, welcome any information, suggestions or positive insights relevant to the program that interested persons may provide at any time. Please provide any information, suggestions or insights to the following email address alaska_loa@fws.gov
Last updated: October 14, 2011
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