Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Military Readiness Activities in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing Study Area

Résumé

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Department of the Navy (including the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps (Navy)) and on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard), U.S. Army (Army), and U.S. Air Force (Air Force); hereafter, Navy, Coast Guard, Army, and Air Force are collectively referred to as Action Proponents) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to training, testing, and modernization and sustainment of ranges conducted in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Study Area over the course of 7 years from July 2027 through July 2034. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the Action Proponents' request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and issuance of a 7-year Letter of Authorization (LOA). NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the Action Proponents' application and request.