# The Permit Knows Where the Machine Is > Two numbers and one blank sit in the stock table of the Arctic permit NMFS issued the Navy on September 10th. Published 2026-09-12 by Alaska AI. 9 slides. Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-09-12/ ## The story The permit can find the robot. It can't count the seal. Sound is how the machine knows where it is. Above the ice, a glider gets its position from a satellite modem. Under the ice, that signal can't reach it. The notice says gliders then navigate by trilateration from moored acoustic sound sources, the geometry of intersecting circles. 30 seconds, every four hours, all year. Up to six moorings are fixed acoustic navigation sources at 900 to 950 Hz. Each sends a 30 second pulse every four hours. Two buoys drift on that cycle. Levels this year stay under 185 dB re 1 uPa at 1 m. About 639,237 square kilometres of water. Its closest point to the Alaska coast is 204 kilometres, or 110 nautical miles. The work crosses the US exclusive economic zone, the high seas north of Alaska, and part of Canada's. Every zone here, drawn at one scale. Vessels hold 457 metres from observed cetaceans and 183 metres from other observed marine mammals. Deployment and recovery of a source carries a 55 metre zone. The estimated range to temporary hearing threshold shift is under 15 metres. A 22 day cruise. A full year of transmission. The cruise is planned for 22 days from September 22nd, on a ship the notice calls ice strengthened rather than icebreaking. The sources keep transmitting until September 13th, 2027. Mitigation that needs an observer works only while one is aboard. The same page gives the seal's number as UND. Beaufort beluga, 39,258, from a 1992 survey. Eastern Chukchi beluga, 13,305, from 2017, at a coefficient of variation of 0.51. Arctic ringed seal, the one species here listed as threatened, undetermined. Position, fixed. The rest is undetermined. The authorization runs from September 14th and by statute can't run longer than a year. This is the ninth year of the project. It relies on a Biological Opinion issued on September 13th, 2022. Three private citizens wrote in. The robot's fix or the seal's number. Year 10 is already inside the comment scope of Year 9. Which of those two numbers should the next authorization improve? ## What we verified - The Federal Register notice published September 10th carries the action line Notice, issuance of incidental harassment authorization, so the authorization is decided and not proposed. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-10/html/2026-18459.htm), primary document, 2026-09-10. - NMFS states the authorization is effective from September 14th through September 13th, 2027. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-10/html/2026-18459.htm), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The notice carries the NOAA regulatory identifier RTID 0648-XF889, which is an identifier and not a measurement. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-10/html/2026-18459.htm), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The issuance occupies Federal Register volume 91 pages 57547 through 57550, which makes 91 FR 57547 its citation address. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-10/html/2026-18459.htm), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The notice title names the action as Year 9 of the Office of Naval Research Arctic Research Activities in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-10/html/2026-18459.htm), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The proposed notice says this authorization covers the ninth year of a larger project for which the Office of Naval Research obtained prior authorizations and renewals. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The issuance states there are no changes to the specified activity, the species taken, the numbers or methods of take, or the mitigation and monitoring measures set out in the proposed notice. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The proposed notice describes the activity as using acoustic sources and receivers to provide a means of performing under-ice navigation for autonomous underwater vehicles. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The proposed notice describes the activity as the development of a new system under the Arctic Mobile Observing System. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The proposed notice places the Arctic Mobile Observing System inside the Navy Arctic and Global Prediction Program. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The study area is approximately 639,237 square kilometres. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The closest point of the study area to the Alaska coast is 204 kilometres, which the notice also gives as 110 nautical miles. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The activity would occur across the US Exclusive Economic Zone in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, partially in the high seas north of Alaska and within part of the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - Up to six moorings described as fixed acoustic navigation sources transmitting at 900 Hz would be configured with active acoustic sources. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - Two drifting ice gateway buoys would be configured with active acoustic sources. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The moorings and ice gateway buoys would operate for a period of one year. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The 900 Hz navigation moorings transmit a 30 second pulse every four hours. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The 900 to 950 Hz mooring sources carry a not to exceed source level of 180 dB set by system design limits. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The source level column in the notice is headed with the reference convention dB re 1 microPascal at 1 m, so the numbers are source levels and not received levels. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - Up to one REMUS 600 uncrewed undersea vehicle is covered, with an 8 to 14 kHz acoustic communications source at a not to exceed level of 185 dB. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The notice says REMUS use is not anticipated during the September 2026 cruise and is included only in case of future use inside the authorization period. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - Up to 20 Argo type autonomous profiling floats may be deployed in the central Beaufort Sea. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - Argo floats drift at 1,500 m depth and collect temperature and salinity profiles from 2,000 m to the sea surface once every 10 days. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The notice says that in ice covered waters the gliders navigate by trilateration from moored acoustic sound sources, or by dead reckoning if the navigation signals are unavailable. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The gliders move at a speed of 0.25 metres per second, which the notice gives as approximately 23 km per day. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The gliders are buoyancy driven, carry satellite modems for two way communication and can transit to depths of up to 1,000 m. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The very low frequency 35 Hz mooring source carries the highest not to exceed level in the table at 190 dB. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The notice states that no very low frequency 35 Hz sources would be used in Year 9 because of hardware availability. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The issuance states that source levels from acoustic sources would not exceed 185 dB by system design limits. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The research cruise is planned for only 22 days in September and October, according to the issuance. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The proposed notice gives the first cruise a planned start date of September 22nd. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The issuance names the vessels as Research Vessel Sikuliaq, US Coast Guard Cutter HEALY, or another vessel. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The proposed notice says the R/V Sikuliaq is not an icebreaking ship but an ice strengthened ship. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - A potential second cruise in summer 2027 may include up to 8 days of icebreaking activities. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The Office of Naval Research request was for take of beluga whales and ringed seals by Level B harassment only. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The issuance states that take by Level A harassment is neither anticipated nor authorized based on the nature of the planned activities. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - NMFS did not authorize take by Level A harassment from icebreaking. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The issuance states there is one marine mammal species with confirmed occurrence in the study area listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Arctic subspecies of ringed seal. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The NMFS Alaska Regional Office Biological Opinion relied on for this authorization was issued on September 13th, 2022 and concluded the action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Arctic ringed seals. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The stock abundance estimate the notice gives for the Beaufort Sea beluga stock is 39,258, with a coefficient of variation of 0.229, from a 1992 survey. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The stock abundance estimate the notice gives for the Eastern Chukchi beluga stock is 13,305, with a coefficient of variation of 0.51, from a 2017 survey. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - The notice lists the abundance of the Arctic ringed seal stock as undetermined, and its potential biological removal as undetermined. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/07/22/2026-14816.txt), primary document, 2026-07-22. - NMFS received three comment letters from private citizens during the 30 day public comment period. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - Vessels must maintain a mitigation zone of 457 m around all observed cetaceans and 183 m around all other observed marine mammals. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - During deployment and recovery of moored and drifting acoustic sources the Office of Naval Research must implement a mitigation zone of 55 m around the deployed source. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - NMFS states that all authorizations it issues, whether an initial authorization or a renewal, are valid for a period of not more than one year. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The only reference to subsistence in the issuance is the statutory standard NMFS must apply, which asks whether the taking will have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the stock for subsistence uses where relevant. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The issuance says modeling did not predict Level A take of beluga whale because the acoustic sources are continuous with a low duty cycle and a relatively short ping duration of 4 to 30 seconds. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The issuance states the estimated range to temporary hearing threshold shift is less than 15 m and that the range to auditory injury would be smaller still. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The issuance was signed by Kimberly Damon-Randall, Director of the NMFS Office of Protected Resources, and dated September 4th, then filed on September 9th. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-10/html/2026-18459.htm), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The proposed notice was published on July 22nd at 91 FR 46055 and the issuance cites it as the document it incorporates. [Federal Register plain text, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/09/10/2026-18459.txt), primary document, 2026-09-10. - The proposed notice action line invited comment on the proposed authorization and on a possible renewal of it. [Federal Register via GPO govinfo, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-22/html/2026-14816.htm), primary document, 2026-07-22. Slides and the deck PDF are linked from the canonical page.