# Marine Mammals; Incidental Take of Polar Bears and Pacific Walruses in the Beaufort Sea and North Slope of Alaska

**Action Urgency Score:** 30/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Type | Final rule |
| Action | Final rule. |
| Published | 2026-10-19 |
| Effective | 2026-10-19 |
| Significant | No |
| CFR parts | 50 CFR 18 |
| Summary | We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 from the Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA), finalize regulations facilitating the authorization of incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) during year-round oil and gas industry activities in the Beaufort Sea (Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)) and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. Take may result from oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transport |
| Document number | 2026-21371 |

## Why this score
- Final rule.

Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/19/2026-21371/marine-mammals-incidental-take-of-polar-bears-and-pacific-walruses-in-the-beaufort-sea-and-north). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T21:40:49.974Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.