List of Incidental Take Regulations in Alaska

Currently Proposed Incidental Take Regulations 

On November 7, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a proposed rule to revise the incidental take regulations for the incidental harassment of polar bears and Pacific walruses that may result from oil and gas industry activities on the North Slope of Alaska and adjacent waters. The proposed revisions, if finalized, would allow for the incidental take of small numbers of polar bears by both Level A and Level B harassment. This proposed revision is in response to an order by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The FWS will be accepting public comments for 30 days.  You can see the proposed revisions and comment by visiting www.regulations.gov and searching docket number: FWS-R7-ES-2024-0140. Supporting documents will also be available on this site. 

In response to requests from the oil and gas industry, the FWS has issued similar incidental take regulations for industry activities on the North Slope and Southern Beaufort Sea areas since 1993. 

Proposed Revisions to the Southern Beaufort Sea Incidental Take Regulations: Questions and Answers

Active Incidental Take Regulations  

• Gulf of Alaska Incidental Take Regulations for 2022–2027. See 87 FR 50041 (August 15, 2022)  
• Beaufort Sea Incidental Take Regulations for 2021–2026. See 86 FR 42982 (August 5, 2021) and 50 CFR 18 subpart J 

Summary Table of Incidental Take Regulations Promulgated by the Service