Uncle Sam Greenlights Polar Bear Poking for Alaskan Oil Ops
Published Date: 7/18/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to allow Narwhal LLC to safely disturb a small number of Pacific walruses and Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears during surveys and drilling in West Harrison Bay, Alaska, from August 2025 to July 2026. This means up to 15 walruses and 13 polar bears might be temporarily bothered but won’t be harmed. The public and agencies can share their thoughts on this plan before it’s finalized.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
One Company Authorized to Disturb Arctic Wildlife
The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to allow Narwhal LLC to incidentally disturb (Level B harassment) up to 15 Pacific walruses and 13 Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears during shallow hazard surveys, preliminary field surveys, exploratory drilling, and summer cleanup in West Harrison Bay, Alaska, from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026. No injury or mortality take is requested, expected, or proposed to be authorized.
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