Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Furie Operating Alaska, LLC Natural Gas Activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska

Zusammenfassung

NMFS received a request from Furie Operating Alaska, LLC (Furie) for the renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to activities supporting natural gas production in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Furie's activities under the renewal IHA would be identical to a subset of those covered in the current IHA. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), prior to issuing the current IHA, NMFS requested comments on two consecutive proposed IHAs ("initial IHAs") and the potential for a renewal IHA if certain requirements were satisfied. The renewal requirements have been satisfied, and NMFS is now providing an additional 15-day comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed renewal of the current IHA not previously submitted during the initial IHA 30-day comment period.