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Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: July 5, 2024) |
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Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries |
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Chapter II - National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce |
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SubChapter C - Marine Mammals |
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Part 216 - Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals |
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Subpart S - Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Explosive Severance Activities Conducted During Offshore Structure Removal Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico |
§ 216.211 - Specified activity and specified geographical region.
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(a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to the incidental taking of those marine mammal species specified in paragraph (b) of this section by U.S. citizens engaged in explosive severance activities conducted during offshore oil and gas structure removal activities in areas within state and Federal waters in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico adjacent to the coasts of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. The incidental, but not intentional, taking of marine mammals by U.S. citizens holding a Letter of Authorization issued pursuant to §216.218 is permitted during the course of severing pilings, well conductors, and related supporting structures, and other activities related to the removal of the oil and gas structure.
(b) The incidental take of marine mammals under the activity identified in paragraph (a) of this section is limited to a total of 5 bottlenose dolphin, one Atlantic spotted dolphin, and one pantropical spotted dolphin by Level A harassment over the period of validity of these regulations; and Level B harassment of the following species annually: 227 bottlenose dolphins, 65 Atlantic spotted dolphins, 77 pantropical spotted dolphins, 27 Clymene dolphins, 12 rough-toothed dolphins, 14 striped dolphins, 15 melon-headed whales, 10 pilot whales, 5 spinner dolphins, 3 Risso's dolphins, and 2 sperm whales.