Polar Permits: Oil Gets Green Light on Bear Encounters
Published Date: 7/18/2025
Notice
Summary
In 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is giving special permission letters that let oil and gas companies safely work near polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters in Alaska. These letters make sure the animals aren’t harmed while companies explore, build, and produce energy. This helps protect wildlife while supporting important industry activities on Alaska’s coasts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
LOAs allow oil and gas work near polar bears
If you are an oil and gas company operating in the Beaufort Sea or the adjacent northern coast of Alaska, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued letters of authorization (LOAs) in calendar year 2024 that allow nonlethal incidental take of polar bears and Pacific walruses during exploration, development, and production activities, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
LOAs permit sea otter impacts during marine construction
If you run pile driving or marine construction activities in the Gulf of Alaska, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued letters of authorization in calendar year 2024 that allow nonlethal incidental take of northern sea otters associated with those activities.
LOAs require measures to minimize wildlife impacts
The LOAs issued in calendar year 2024 include conditions and methods that are intended to minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters from the covered industry and construction activities.
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