The Regulation of Seismic Exploration in the United States

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, seeks public comment on its proposed issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals, by harassment, to DONG Energy Massachusetts (U.S.) LLC. This proposed IHA would be effective for high-resolution geophysical and geotechnical survey investigations associated with marine site characterization activities off the coast of Massachusetts in the area of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS–A 0500). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS has requested comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to DONG Energy to incidentally take, by Level B harassment only, small numbers of marine mammals during the specified activities. Comments and information must be received by NMFS no later than May 5, 2016.

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