Marine Mammals; Letters of Authorization To Take Pacific Walrus and Polar Bears in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, in 2019 and 2020 and Northern Sea Otters in Cook Inlet, Alaska in 2019 and 2020

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued Letters of Authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska as well as northern sea otters in Cook Inlet, Alaska, in 2019 and 2020. This notice announces a list of the Letters of Authorizations that were issued in calendar years 2019 and 2020. The Letters of Authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters from these activities.