NMFS Issues Two Navy LOAs
On October 15, 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service published notice that it has issued two Letters of Authorization to the US Navy. The LOAs were issued under NMFS' August 2007 regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental to the Navy's operation of SURTASS LFA sonar. The regulations are effective through August 15, 2012. The two LOAs are only effective for one year each. One LOA covers the R/V Cory Chouest. The other covers the USNS Impeccable. They both authorize the vessels' sonar operations during training, testing and routine military operations in the North Pacific Ocean.