Oil and gas companies can now get permits to disturb marine mammals for five years

US regulators just made it easier for oil and gas companies to conduct seismic surveys in the Gulf of America. Companies can now get a single permit to incidentally disturb marine mammals for up to five years, instead of applying for shorter-term permits repeatedly.

Oil and gas companies use loud seismic blasts to map underground reserves. These blasts can injure or kill marine mammals. This rule change streamlines the permitting process, making it faster and less burdensome for companies to conduct these surveys. It means more predictable operations for the industry, but potentially more consistent disturbance for marine life.