NOAA Fisheries announced proposed regulations to govern the incidental take of marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Program Act related to U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army military readiness activities in the Hawaii-California Training and Testing Study Area. These proposed regulations would authorize take of individuals of 40 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, land-based launches, and vibratory and impact pile driving and extraction. In addition, this proposed rule would authorize serious injury or mortality for up to seven 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, Coast Guard, and Army 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 July 16 to August 15, 2025. NOAA Fisheries 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. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. -- *Leah Davis* Biologist, Permits and Conservation Division Office of Protected Resources | NOAA Fisheries (301) 427- 8431 www.fisheries.noaa.gov