NOAA Approves Gulf Surveys With Mammal Protections
Published Date: 6/29/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA just gave WesternGeco permission to accidentally disturb a few marine mammals while doing oil and gas surveys in the Gulf of America. These authorizations run from July 2026 through March 2027 and include rules to keep impacts super low. This means oil and gas exploration can continue safely without hurting marine life or costing extra money.
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Document
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Previous: 2026-12985 — Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of America
NOAA just gave TGS permission to accidentally disturb a few marine mammals during their oil and gas surveys in the Gulf of America. These new authorizations run from mid-August and early September 2026 through the same months in 2027. This means TGS can keep exploring while following rules that protect sea life, with no extra costs or delays expected.
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