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In response to a recently received U.S. Navy application for incidental take coverage under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS plans to develop proposed regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals by harassment and a small number of mortalities, incidental to military readiness training and testing activities to be conducted by the U.S. Navy in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Study Area. The proposed regulations would 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, and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Letters of Authorization issued under the regulations would authorize the take of marine mammals incidental to the Navy's training and testing activities to be conducted within the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area over the course of 5 years commencing in September 2018. The Navy is currently operating under LOAs for training and testing activities in the AFTT Study Area that is effective until November 2018.