Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for the Issuance of Incidental Harassment Authorizations in the U.S. Beaufort and Chukchi Seas

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NMFS announces the availability of the "Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the Issuance of Incidental Harassment Authorizations for the Take of Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to Conducting Exploratory Drilling Programs in the U.S. Beaufort and Chukchi Seas." Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period for this DEA. The purpose of the DEA is to evaluate, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of issuing Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) to Shell for the take of marine mammals incidental to offshore oil and gas exploratory drilling programs in the U.S. Beaufort and Chukchi Seas pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).