The following job announcement is listed on _www.usajobs.gov_ */for 14 days/* (through Sept 27th) under the following announcement #s: NMFS-PIR-2011-0059 (federal status) NMFS-PIR-2011-0060 (public) This position is located in the Office of Protected Resources, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at Silver Spring, MD. The incumbent will perform review, research, analyses, and writing required to process applications for Incidental Take Authorizations (ITAs) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and to assess the environmental impacts of ITA issuance under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). ITAs authorize the incidental take of marine mammals by non-fishing activities including, but not limited to, activities related to military readiness (e.g., U.S. Navy training) and the national energy mandate (oil/gas activities including seismic surveys, exploration and production.) The individual selected for this position will: * Process incidental take authorization requests pursuant to Marine Mammal Protection Act mandate and NMFS' policies, including: reviewing applications; coordinating with applicants; responding to public comments; and drafting all necessary documents. * Evaluate, conduct, and draft National Environmental Policy Act analyses. * Critically analyze scientific literature, agency documents, and other applicable information to assess impacts of activities on marine mammals and develop/evaluate mitigation and monitoring to support agency findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. * Support program planning, monitoring, improvement, and policy development. * Communicate program policies, requirements, and issues to the public and other Federal Agencies, as well as to other NOAA programs and leadership.