Opinion ID: 807161
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: 2008 Chukchi Sea Regulations

Text: In response to the Association’s request, the Service in June 2007 published proposed regulations authorizing incidental, nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses resulting from oil and gas exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea. 72 Fed. Reg. 30,670 (June 1, 2007). Previous incidental take regulations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas covered oil and gas exploration, development, and production. The new regulations cover only exploration activities — such as onshore and offshore seismic surveys, exploratory drilling, and associated support operations. In July 2007, Plaintiffs filed comments with the Service criticizing the proposed incidental take regulations. The Marine Mammal Commission, an independent federal agency created under the MMPA to advise the Service, submitted comments recommending that the Service defer issuing final regulations until it developed more effective monitoring and mitigation strategies and gathered more information about the effects of exploration activities on the mammals. In March 2008, the Service issued an Environmental Assessment (“EA”) for the proposed regulations pursuant to NEPA. 40 C.F.R. § 1508.9. The EA concludes that the incidental take regulations, along with accompanying mitigation measures, “would result in no measurable impacts o[n] the CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. SALAZAR 9529 physical environment,” and “the overall impact would be negligible on polar bear and Pacific walrus populations.” Because promulgation of the regulations would constitute “agency action” under Section 7 of the ESA, the Service’s Marine Mammal Office consulted internally with the Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office regarding the regulations’ effects on the threatened polar bear. 16 U.S.C. § 1536(a)(2); 50 C.F.R. § 402.02. In May 2008, the Fairbanks office issued a Biological Opinion (“BiOp”) concluding that the incidental take regulations were not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the polar bear. The BiOp notes that “(1) the Regulations do not authorize[ ] lethal take, (2) the Chuckchi Sea Regulations will be implemented in a similar manner to the Beaufort Sea Regulations, which have been in place almost continuously since 1993, and (3) few bears are likely to be encountered, and those that are encountered are likely to alter their behavior only temporarily if at all.” The BiOp does not consider effects on the Pacific walrus because the species is not listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. In June 2008, the Service issued a final rule for the Chukchi Sea incidental take regulations. 73 Fed. Reg. 33,212 (June 11, 2008) (codified at 50 C.F.R. §§ 18.111-18.119). The regulations encompass a geographic area of about 90,000 square miles, including the waters and seabed of the Chukchi Sea, as well as adjacent coastal land extending about 25 miles inland. The regulations anticipate up to four offshore seismic survey vessels operating in a given year, each accompanied by three support vessels, and up to three drill ships, each drilling as many as four wells and accompanied by icebreakers, barges, helicopters, and supply ships. Id. at 33,215-16. Onshore, the regulations anticipate the drilling of as many as six wells and the construction of up to 100 miles of roads and four airfield runways. Id. at 33,216. The final rule acknowledges that nonlethal, incidental harassment of polar bears and Pacific walruses is reasonably likely or expected to occur as a result of 9530 CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. SALAZAR the proposed activities. Id. at 33,223-32. However, it notes that onshore activities are not expected to occur near known polar bear denning areas or walrus haulouts, and that offshore activities will occur during the open water season (July through November) to avoid disturbing pack ice on which the mammals rely. Id. at 33,214. The rule incorporates into its analysis mitigation measures that would be imposed on the activities, such as restrictions on the location and spacing of offshore seismic surveys. See, e.g., id. at 33,216-18. The final rule concludes, with “a high level of confidence,” that “any incidental take reasonably likely to result from the effects of the proposed activities, as mitigated through this regulatory process, will be limited to small numbers of walruses and polar bears.” Id. at 33,234-36. The Service explains that the number of animals likely to be affected is small, because: (1) A small portion of the Pacific walrus population or the Chukchi Sea and Southern Beau- fort Sea polar bear populations will be present in the area of Industry activities, (2) of that portion, a small percentage will come in contact with Industry activities, and (3) the response by those animals will likely be minimal changes in behavior. Id. at 33,236. The final rule also concludes that the incidental take authorized under the regulations would have only a “negligible impact” on the polar bears and Pacific walruses. It concludes that “any incidental take reasonably likely to result from the effects of oil and gas related exploration activities during the period of the rule, in the Chukchi Sea and adjacent western coast of Alaska[,] will have no more than a negligible effect on the rates of recruitment and survival of polar bears and Pacific walruses in the Chukchi Sea Region.” Id. CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY v. SALAZAR 9531 The regulations require a separate LOA for each proposed exploration activity. Applicants for an LOA must submit an operations plan, a polar bear interaction plan, and a sitespecific mitigation and monitoring plan. 50 C.F.R. §§ 18.114, 18.118. The Service will tailor its mitigation and monitoring requirements based on the location, timing, and nature of the proposed activity. Id. § 18.116(b). The regulations do not authorize lethal or intentional take. Id. § 18.117(a). In July 2008, the Service began issuing LOAs for exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea under the incidental take regulations. The regulations are valid through June 11, 2013. Id. § 18.113.