Dear Colleagues, This morning, NOAA Fisheries announced proposed regulations to govern the incidental take of marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Program Act related to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard military readiness activities in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area. These proposed regulations would authorize take of individuals of 41 species of marine mammals by Level A and Level B harassment incidental to the use of sonar and other transducers, in-water detonations, air guns, and vibratory and impact pile driving and extraction. The definition of harassment as applied to a military readiness activities is: Any act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); or any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering, to a point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned or significantly altered (Level B harassment). In addition, this proposed rule would authorize serious injury or mortality for up to six takes of large whales from vessel strikes over the 7-year authorization period. NOAA Fisheries has preliminarily determined that the number and manner of “take” proposed for authorization would have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species and stocks. NOAA Fisheries, Navy, and Coast Guard have worked together to develop a comprehensive suite of mitigation measures that will ensure the “least practicable adverse impact” on marine mammals and their habitat. They have also developed a robust monitoring plan specifically for these activities to help better understand the effects of military readiness activities on marine mammals. The public comment period on the proposed regulations is open from May 9th 2025- June 9th 2025. NMFS will consider all comments related to the proposed rule prior to making any final decision on the requested regulations. Documents associated with this proposed action are available on our website <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-military-readiness-activities-atlantic-fleet-training-and> . If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. *Alyssa Clevenstine* Marine Resources Management Specialist Permits and Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/office-protected-resources>, NOAA Fisheries (301) 427-8489