NMFS Issues LOA's for Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures In the Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued three one-year Letters of Authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures in the Gulf of Mexico. The LOAs are issued under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and they are effective from February 27, 2011, through February 26, 2012; and from May 15, 2011, through May 14, 2012.

Regulations governing the taking of marine mammals incidental to the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures were published on June 19, 2008 (73 FR 34875), and remain in effect through July 19, 2013. The species that applicants may take in small numbers under LOAs during EROS activities are bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, Clymene dolphins, striped dolphins, spinner dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, Risso's dolphins, melon-headed whales, short-finned pilot whales, and sperm whales. The three companies who were issued the LOAs are Energy Resource Technology GOM, Inc.; Demex International, Inc.; and Noble Energy, Inc.