All, The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is pleased to announce the availability of the Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS is now available on the project website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/arctic.htm. The purpose of the DEIS is to evaluate, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of implementing the alternative approaches for authorizing the take of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas exploration activities in the Arctic Ocean pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is a cooperating agency on this DEIS, and as such, this DEIS also evaluates the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of implementing the alternative approaches for authorizing geological and geophysical surveys and ancillary activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act in the Arctic Ocean. The North Slope Borough is also a cooperating agency on this DEIS. NMFS approved the DEIS for public review, and the Notice of Availability (NOA) will be published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2011. Once published, a link to the NOA can be found on the project website listed above. *Public Comment Period:* Comments on the Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean DEIS will be accepted at public hearings and during the public comment period until February 13, 2012, and can be submitted using the methods listed here: - Email: arcticeis.comments@noaa.gov - Mail: Director, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 - Fax: (301) 713-0376 We request that you include your name and affiliation in your comments and background documents to support your comments as appropriate. *THE DEADLINE FOR PROVIDING COMMENTS IS FEBRUARY 13, 2012.* *Public Hearings:* Public hearings will be held in late January and early February 2012, in the communities of Barrow, Kaktovik, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Point Lay, and Wainwright. Final dates and times have not yet been set. Once the final hearing dates, locations, and times are set, a notice will publish in the Federal Register. Another email will also be posted to this list serve with that information once it is finalized. The DEIS may be viewed online at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/arctic.htm. To obtain a paper copy of or a CD containing the Draft PEIS, please send a written request to the project postal or email address noted above with your physical address. The document will be provided within 10 days of processing the request. To read the press release about this DEIS go to: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20111222_arcticenvironmentalimpact.... Thank you for your interest and participation in the Effects of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Ocean DEIS. -- Candace Nachman Fishery Biologist National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources Permits and Conservation Division 1315 East West Highway, Rm 3503 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Ph: (301) 427-8429 Fax: (301) 713-0376 Web: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/