NOAA Authorizes TGS Marine Mammal Takes for Gulf Geophysical Surveys
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
NOAA has issued three letters of authorization allowing TGS to incidentally disturb marine mammals during geophysical survey work tied to oil and gas activity in the Gulf of America. The authorizations do not allow intentional harm, but they permit limited incidental take under Marine Mammal Protection Act rules. TGS and its survey contractors must follow mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. The notice matters mainly for offshore oil and gas survey operators, environmental compliance teams, and marine conservation stakeholders tracking permitted activity in the Gulf.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- NOAA issued three Letters of Authorization to TGS for incidental marine mammal take during Gulf geophysical surveys.
- One authorization runs from August 15, 2026, to August 15, 2027; two others run from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2027.
- TGS must comply with mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements tied to the authorized survey activity.
Obligations
What this law requires
TGS may take marine mammals only incidentally, and not intentionally, while conducting the authorized geophysical survey activities in the Gulf of America.
TGS must conduct geophysical survey activities only within the scope of the issued Letters of Authorization for incidental take of marine mammals in the Gulf of America.
TGS and its survey contractors must follow the mitigation requirements attached to the LOAs when conducting authorized geophysical survey work.
TGS and its survey contractors must follow the marine mammal monitoring requirements attached to the LOAs during authorized geophysical survey activities.
TGS and its survey contractors must comply with reporting requirements associated with the LOAs for incidental take during geophysical survey activities.