{"data":{"id":"us/50-cfr-18.128","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"50 CFR 18.128","heading":"Reporting requirements.","body":"Holders of an LOA must report the results of monitoring and mitigation activities to the FWS's MMM Office via email at: fw7_mmm_reports@fws.gov.\n(a) In-season monitoring reports—(1) Activity progress reports. Holders of an LOA must:\n(i) Notify the FWS at least 48 hours prior to the onset of activities;\n(ii) Provide the FWS weekly progress reports of any significant changes in activities and/or locations; and\n(iii) Notify the FWS within 48 hours after ending of activities.\n(2) Walrus observation reports. Holders of an LOA must report, on a weekly basis, all observations of walruses during any industry activity. Upon request, monitoring report data must be provided in a common electronic format (to be specified by the FWS). Information in the observation report must include, but is not limited to:\n(i) Date and time of the observation;\n(ii) Locations of the observer and walruses (GPS coordinates if possible);\n(iii) Number of walruses;\n(iv) Sex and age class of walruses (if known);\n(v) Observer name and contact information;\n(vi) Weather, visibility, and if at sea, sea state, and sea-ice conditions at the time of the observation;\n(vii) Estimated distance of walruses at closest approach;\n(viii) Industry activity at time of the observation;\n(ix) Walrus behavior;\n(x) Description of the observation;\n(xi) Duration of the observation; and\n(xii) Mitigation actions taken.\n(3) Polar bear observation reports. Holders of an LOA must report, within 48 hours, all observations of polar bears and potential polar bear dens, during any industry activity. Upon request, monitoring report data must be provided in a common electronic format (to be specified by the FWS). Information in the observation report must include, but is not limited to:\n(i) Date and time of the observation;\n(ii) Locations of the observer and polar bears (GPS coordinates if possible);\n(iii) Number of polar bears;\n(iv) Sex and age class of polar bears (if known);\n(v) Observer name and contact information;\n(vi) Weather, visibility, and if at sea, sea state, and sea-ice conditions at the time of the observation;\n(vii) Estimated closest distance of polar bears from personnel and facilities;\n(viii) Industry activity at time of the observation;\n(ix) Possible attractants present;\n(x) Polar bear behavior;\n(xi) Description of the observation;\n(xii) Duration of the observation; and\n(xiii) Mitigation actions taken.\n(b) Notification of LOA incident report. Holders of an LOA must report, as soon as possible, but within 48 hours, all LOA incidents during any industry activity. An LOA incident is any situation in which specified activities exceed the authority of an LOA, a mitigation measure was required but not enacted, or injury or death of a walrus or polar bear occurs.\n(1) Reports must include all information specified for an observation report, a complete detailed description of the incident, and any other actions taken.\n(2) Injured, dead, or distressed walruses or polar bears that are clearly not associated with the specified activities (e.g., animals found outside the project area, previously wounded animals, or carcasses with moderate to advanced decomposition or scavenger damage) must also be reported to the FWS immediately, and not later than 48 hours after discovery. Photographs, video, location information, or any other available documentation must be included.\n(c) Final report. The results of monitoring and mitigation efforts identified in the marine mammal monitoring and mitigation plan must be submitted to the FWS for review within 90 days of the expiration of an LOA. Upon request, final report data must be provided in a common electronic format (to be specified by the FWS). Information in the final report must include, but is not limited to:\n(1) Copies of all observation reports submitted under the LOA;\n(2) A summary of the observation reports;\n(3) A summary of monitoring and mitigation efforts including areas, total hours, total distances, and distribution;\n(4) Analysis of factors affecting the visibility and detectability of walruses and polar bears during monitoring;\n(5) Analysis of the effectiveness of mitigation measures;\n(6) Analysis of the distribution, abundance, and behavior of walruses and/or polar bears observed; and\n(7) Estimates of take in relation to the specified activities.","path":["Title 50—Wildlife and Fisheries","CHAPTER I—UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","SUBCHAPTER B—TAKING, POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, SALE, PURCHASE, BARTER, EXPORTATION, AND IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE AND PLANTS","PART 18—MARINE MAMMALS","Subpart J—Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Production Activities in the Beaufort Sea and Adjacent Northern Coast of Alaska"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-10-28/title-50.xml","current_through":"2026-10-28","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-30T05:55:12Z","sha256":"80c5c29644c8384fbad1022e3b10102e5525ca3e80168c397c96c171324855e7","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":false,"prev":"us/50-cfr-18.127","next":"us/50-cfr-18.129"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}