Incidental Take Authorization: Port Dolphin LNG Construction and Operation near Tampa Bay, FL

NOAA Fisheries issued regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to port construction and operations at its Port Dolphin Deepwater Port in the Gulf of Mexico (near Tampa Bay, FL), over the course of five years from June 2013-May 2018. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of Authorization for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified time frames, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammals and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

Location of port and associated pipeline