The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published final incidental take regulations that authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of Pacific walruses and polar bears during oil and gas industry activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. Industry operations include similar types of activities covered by the previous 5-year Beaufort Sea ITRs effective from August 3, 2011, through August 3, 2016. This rule is also effective for 5 years from the date of issuance. FWS states that it is issuing these rules pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
This rule is effective August 5, 2016, and remains effective through August 5, 2021.
Click here to read more about this FWS action.
