National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 22, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society (Society) for the take of marine mammals incidental to conducting aircraft operations, lighthouse renovation, light maintenance activities, and tour operations on the St. George Reef Lighthouse Station (Station) on Northwest Seal Rock (NWSR).

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, NMFS hereby promulgates regulations to govern the incidental taking of marine mammals incidental to Sunrise Wind, LLC (Sunrise Wind), a 50/50 joint venture between [Oslash]rsted North America, Inc. ([Oslash]rsted) and Eversource Investment, LLC, construction of the Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project (hereafter known as the "Project") in Federal and State waters offshore New York, specifically within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Area OCS-A-0487 (Lease Area) and along one export cable route to sea- to-shore transition points in Shirley, New York (collectively referred to as the "Project Area"), over the course of 5 years (June 21, 2024June 20, 2029). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during construction-related activities within the Project Area during the effective dates of the regulations, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.