Dear Colleagues, On Friday, September 22, 2023, NOAA Fisheries will open a 30-day public comment period on the proposed incidental take regulations related to Atlantic Shores’ Atlantic Shores South Project <https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/atlantic-shores-south>. The project would be located offshore New Jersey within the New Jersey Wind Energy Area. Under Offshore Renewable Energy Certificates, the project would provide clean energy to New Jersey. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, these regulations would govern the “take” of small numbers of marine mammals exposed to elevated underwater noise generated by the project’s activities over a five-year period. NOAA Fisheries has preliminarily determined authorizing the requested take would have a negligible impact on all affected marine mammal species and stocks. The proposed regulations include mandatory mitigation measures that avoid or minimize the impacts of the activities on marine mammals and their habitat, as well as monitoring and reporting requirements to better understand those impacts. The public comment period on the proposed regulations will be open September 22, 2023 to October 23, 2023. Documents associated with this proposed action, including information on how to submit a public comment, will be available on our website <https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-atlantic-shores-offshore-wind-llc-construction-atlantic-shores> . This regulatory action is part of NOAA’s ongoing work to ensure the nation’s deployment of offshore wind energy is done in a manner that avoids and minimizes impacts to protected resources and their habitats. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you, Kelsey - - - - - *Kelsey Potlock, M.Phil* *(she/her/hers)* *Marine Resources Management Specialist* Permits and Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce www.fisheries.noaa.gov Google Voice Phone Number: (301) 427-8410 Email: *kelsey.potlock@noaa.gov <kelsey.potlock@noaa.gov>*><((((º>·.¸. ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º>·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> [image: icon-facebook.png] <https://www.facebook.com/NOAAFisheries>[image: icon-twitter.png] <http://www.twitter.com/noaafisheries>[image: icon-youtube.png] <http://www.youtube.com/usnoaafisheriesgov>[image: icon-instagram.png] <http://www.instagram.com/noaafisheries>[image: icon-linkedin.png] <http://www.linkedin.com/company/noaa-fisheries>