Feds Consider Polar Bear Harassment Permit for BP Cleanup
Published Date: 6/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a request from BP to allow a small number of Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears to be disturbed (but not harmed) during cleanup and monitoring work near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, from June 2026 to May 2027. This plan aims to protect polar bears while letting BP do important environmental work. Public comments are open until July 10, 2026, so everyone can share their thoughts!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
IHA Authorizes Limited Disturbance
The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to authorize BP to incidentally disturb (Level B harassment only) up to three Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears between June 1, 2026 and May 31, 2027. Most field operations will occur during a roughly 10-day window beginning sometime between June 1, 2026 and no later than July 16, 2026.
Subsistence Use Protected; Community Notification
The Service preliminarily finds that up to three Level B takes would be negligible and would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on Alaska Native subsistence harvest. BP must notify the Village of Kaktovik and the Village of Nuiqsut of planned activities and, if concerns are raised, develop a Plan of Cooperation to reduce interference with subsistence hunting; closest common polar bear harvest locations are reported as more than 70 km (43.5 mi) away.
Required Mitigation Measures for Operations
BP must implement mitigation during operations including daily road and drone surveys for polar bears, avoiding operations if bears are observed, drone flight altitude limits (survey flights between 61 m and 122 m above ground level), use of trained bear guards and a trained scientist on each airboat, wildlife-resistant waste receptacles, and daily food-waste incineration.
Reporting and Pause After Unauthorized Take
The proposed authorization includes reporting requirements for all polar bear interactions and requires BP to cease activities following incidents of unauthorized take so long as it is safe to do so, pending reporting and investigation.
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