Polar Bears May Be Startled by Five Years of Seismic Blasts
Published Date: 5/18/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a rule that lets SAExploration, Inc. accidentally disturb a small number of polar bears during seismic surveys in Alaska’s Southern Beaufort Sea from July 2026 to 2031. This rule would allow these activities while protecting polar bears, and the public can comment on the plan until June 17, 2026. It’s a careful balance between exploring for resources and keeping polar bears safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Five-year polar bear take authorization
If you hunt or subsist on polar bears along Alaska's North Slope, the Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing rules that would allow SAExploration, Inc. to incidentally disturb small numbers of polar bears during seismic surveys for a 5-year period beginning July 1, 2026. The Service's draft finding says those takings would be "small numbers," have a "negligible impact" on the species or stock, and would "not have an unmitigable adverse impact" on subsistence uses. The public can comment on the proposal through June 17, 2026.
Required Alaska Native coordination
If Alaska Native communities raise unresolved concerns about how seismic activities could affect subsistence hunting, SAExploration must develop and submit a Plan of Cooperation with any request for a Letter of Authorization. All LOA applicants must document communication and coordination with potentially affected Alaska Native communities and provide POCs that include measures to ensure activities will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on polar bear availability for subsistence use.
Mandatory aerial den surveys and windows
SAExploration must conduct 1–3 aerial infrared (AIR) surveys for maternal polar bear dens depending on denning-density: high-density project areas get three surveys, moderate-density areas get two, and other areas get one. The first survey window is Nov 25–Dec 25, the second is Dec 15–Jan 15, and where required a third survey is Dec 5–Dec 31; surveys must be flown at 244–457 m altitude and have at least 24 hours between surveys.
1.6 km exclusion around dens
If a known or suspected polar bear den is located, SAExploration has committed to a 1.6-kilometer exclusion zone around that den and must immediately consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service to determine any additional mitigation such as 24-hour monitoring or activity exclusion. The exclusion zone is intended to reduce risks like den abandonment or harm to cubs.
Season timing and camp limits
Seismic operations may not start earlier than January 15 and are limited to no more than 100 days per winter season; camps may support up to two 180-person crews and are typically demobilized around May 31. Summer cleanup work must aim to finish coastal tasks before mid-August, and cleanup in bird-nesting areas will not occur before July 31.
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