How do I submit a public comment on File No. 29889?

Follow the official notice linked on this page; it names the comment channel in its ADDRESSES section. This page includes talking points and a starter comment.

When is the public comment deadline for File No. 29889?

Comments are due by October 28, 2026. Comments received after the deadline may not be considered by the agency.

Do public comments actually change federal decisions?

Yes, when they are substantive. Agencies are legally required to read and respond to substantive comments before finalizing a rule, and specific personal comments about real places and real uses carry far more weight than identical form letters. Courts have overturned rules when agencies ignored substantive comments.

Protective action worth supporting

Support File No. 29889

Marine Mammals; File No. 29889

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration· Antarctic PeninsulaFederal Register 2026-19789 ↗

Wildlife Marine Mammals Scientific Research

NMFS' Southwest Fisheries Science Center has applied for a federal permit to conduct research on pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) in the Antarctic peninsula region. The application is being processed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which requires permits for scientific research involving marine mammals. This primarily affects Antarctic pinniped populations and the researchers who'll be conducting fieldwork.

What to say

Make these points, in your own words

I support this action and urge the agency to advance it.
Please account for the impacts on fish, wildlife, and the habitat they depend on.
Name the place: this decision affects Antarctic Peninsula and the people who use and value it.
Say something only you can say. The law requires the agency to consider and respond to substantive comments, and specifics are what make a comment substantive.

In the agency’s own words

Notice is hereby given that NMFS' Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037 (Responsible Party: Douglas Krause, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on pinnipeds in the Antarctic peninsula region.

Federal Register 2026-19789 ↗

The reporting behind this

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