Issuance of a General Permit for Ocean Disposal of Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Carcasses

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to re- issue a general permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) to authorize the transport of marine mammal and sea turtle carcasses from the United States and disposal of marine mammal and sea turtle carcasses in ocean waters. Permit authorization is available for any officer, employee, agent, department, agency, or instrumentality of Tribal, Federal, state, or local unit of government, as well as any Marine Life Health and Stranding Response Program (MLHSRP) Stranding Agreement Holder, and any Alaska Native, who already may take a marine mammal or sea turtle under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and/or Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). In 2017, the EPA issued a general permit for the ocean disposal of marine mammal carcasses to streamline MPRSA authorization and reduce burdens associated with case-by-case permitting. Permit re-issuance is necessary because the most recent permit expired on January 4, 2024. The EPA is not proposing substantive changes to the content of the recently expired general permit. The EPA invites public comment on all aspects of this proposed general permit.