Proposed Rule to Allow Unintentional Polar Bear Encounters During Alaska Oil and Gas Seismic Work

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a rule that would let SAExploration, Inc. unintentionally disturb or harm small numbers of polar bears while conducting seismic exploration on Alaska’s North Slope. The authorization would cover a five-year window from July 2026 through November 2028.

Why it matters: This is a regulatory update that changes how oil and gas seismic work interacts with polar bear protection rules in a specific part of Alaska. It does not approve new drilling or exploration, but it sets the compliance framework the industry must follow if the rule is finalized. The practical effect is mostly administrative: it defines what counts as an acceptable wildlife encounter, what monitoring is required, and how the agency will track those interactions over the next five years.

Who it affects

• SAExploration, Inc. and other seismic contractors working on Alaska’s North Slope

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This proposed rule comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is published in the Federal Register; readers should consult the full document and official comment instructions before relying on any details.

Agency: Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service
Source: Federal Register — read the official document