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NMFS upon application from Apache Alaska Corporation (Apache) plans to issue regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals by harassment incidental to oil and gas exploration seismic operations in Cook Inlet Alaska. The proposed regulations will set forth the permissible methods of taking other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks and their habitats (i.e. mitigation) and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

The proposed regulations together with subsequent Letters of Authorization (LOA) would authorize Apache to conduct seismic operations over an area of approximately 2195 square miles in Cook Inlet Alaska over the course of five years commencing in March 2015. The purpose of the proposed project is to explore for and develop oil and gas resources in Cook Inlet.