# 2025-23842: Oil Surveys Get Green Light in Renamed 'Gulf of America' Waters

2025-23842, Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of America (Formerly Gulf of Mexico), is a Federal Register notice from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2025-12-29, effective 2026-04-19 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-23842
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-23842
- Title: Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of America (Formerly Gulf of Mexico)
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 90 FR 60651
- Published: 2025-12-29
- Effective: 2026-04-19
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Oil Surveys Get Green Light in Renamed 'Gulf of America' Waters

## Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updated a special permission for TGS to accidentally affect small numbers of marine mammals during oil and gas surveys in the Gulf of America. This permission, called a Letter of Authorization, is valid until April 19, 2026, and ensures marine life is protected while energy exploration continues. The update keeps things safe for animals without slowing down important work or adding extra costs.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA regulations for taking marine mammals incidental to geophysical surveys related to oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America (GOA), originally published as "Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico," notification is hereby given that NMFS has modified the Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to TGS for the taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOA.

## Effects PRIA read

No economic effects identified for this document.

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## Sources
- [2025-23842 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23842/taking-and-importing-marine-mammals-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to-geophysical-surveys-related)
- [2025-23842 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-29/pdf/2025-23842.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-23841, Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Ration…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-23841)
- [Next: 2025-23843, System Energy Resources Inc.; Grand Gulf Site Early Site Permit; Early Site Per…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-23843)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-23842 (as of 2026-06-08).