Dear Colleagues, On June, 20, 2024 NOAA Fisheries announced the final regulations to govern the incidental harassment of marine mammals related to the construction of the New England Wind Project offshore Massachusetts.
As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the final regulations include mandatory mitigation measures undertaken by the wind developer that will ensure the “least practicable adverse impact” on marine mammals and their habitat, as well as monitoring and reporting measures to better understand those impacts. NOAA Fisheries determined that underwater noise generated by the project’s activities over a five-year period may result in the take of marine mammals, in the form of Level A (injury) and/or Level B (behavioral) harassment. Impacts to a small number of North Atlantic right whales are expected to be limited to short-term behavioral disturbance (Level B harassment). No mortality or serious injury of any marine mammal species or stock is expected or would be allowed. NOAA Fisheries determined that the number and manner of take that may be authorized in a Letter of Authorization will have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species and stocks. This regulatory action is part of NOAA’s ongoing work to ensure the nation’s deployment of offshore wind energy is done in a manner that avoids and minimizes impacts to protected resources and their habitats. Documents associated with this final action are available on our website <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-avangrid-renewables-llcs-construction-new-england-wind> . NOAA Fisheries is committed to careful review and use of the best available scientific information in satisfying the requirements of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you, Kelsey - - - - - *Kelsey Potlock, M.Phil* *(she/her/hers)* *Marine Resources Management Specialist* MMPA Permits and Conservation Division <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act> Office of Protected Resources <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-protected-resources> NOAA Fisheries <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/> | U.S. Department of Commerce <https://www.commerce.gov/> Google Voice Phone Number: (301) 427-8410 Email: *kelsey.potl...@noaa.gov <kelsey.potl...@noaa.gov>*><((((º>·.¸. ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º>·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> [image: icon-facebook.png] <https://www.facebook.com/NOAAFisheries>[image: icon-twitter.png] <http://www.twitter.com/noaafisheries>[image: icon-youtube.png] <http://www.youtube.com/usnoaafisheriesgov>[image: icon-instagram.png] <http://www.instagram.com/noaafisheries>[image: icon-linkedin.png] <http://www.linkedin.com/company/noaa-fisheries> *Confidentiality Notice: *This e-mail message is intended only for the named recipients. It contains information that may be confidential, privileged, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, are not a named recipient, or are not the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to a named recipient, be advised that any review, disclosure, use, dissemination, distribution, or reproduction of this message or its contents is strictly prohibited. Please notify us immediately that you have received this message in error, and delete the message. This email and/or its contents may be subject to discovery under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). To learn more about FOIA, please see https://www.foia.gov/.
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