The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday published a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) describing how offshore oil and natural gas activities in the U.S. Beaufort and Chukchi seas could affect marine mammals and the Alaska Native communities that depend on them for subsistence.

Measures to lessen potential effects of oil and gas activity also are examined in the document. Among other things the draft document looks at measures NOAA could adopt over the next five years as it issues incidental take authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the area. In addition it would contribute to decisions made by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on issuing permits for seismic surveys.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to allow the incidental and unintentional take of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens if their actions would have only a negligible effect on the species and would not reduce the availability of the mammals to the Alaska Natives who rely on them.

As part of its analysis, NOAA examines various measures to minimize potential harmful effects from sound, discharge of pollutants and presence of vessels that can be part of these operations. “We know how important marine mammals are to healthy Arctic ecosystems and the people who depend on them for food and cultural traditions,” said NOAA’s said Eric Schwaab, assistant administrator for the Fisheries Service. “We want to hear comments on these proposed alternatives to lessen any effects of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic.”

Several mitigation measures are detailed, such as closing areas to exploration during whale migration and feeding, and during traditional whale and seal hunts. If adopted, these measures could reduce the effects on marine mammals and ensure they remain available to the communities that depend on them for their diets and cultural traditions, according to NOAA.

Officials with the NOAA and the BOEM plan to travel to eight North Slope communities to hold public hearings in late January and February on the DEIS. The times and locations of the public hearings in Barrow, Kaktovik, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Point Lay and Wainwright are to be announced early in 2012 in the Federal Register.

After receiving public comments during the 45-day comment period and from the public hearings, NOAA plans to finalize the EIS in 2012. It then would be used to guide decisions by BOEM about permitting oil and gas exploration and by NOAA about incidental take authorizations that allow unintentional take of small numbers of marine mammals.

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