Alaska LNG project can now legally disturb marine mammals for 5 years

The US government has approved rules allowing the Alaska LNG project to disturb marine mammals in Cook Inlet for five years. This means the project can move forward with construction and operation activities that might affect whales and seals, as long as they follow specific rules.

This rule clears a major regulatory hurdle for the Alaska LNG project, allowing it to proceed with activities that would otherwise be illegal under marine mammal protection laws. It sets the terms for how a large energy infrastructure project can operate in an ecologically sensitive area. This decision could influence how future energy projects are permitted in similar environments.