The U.S. Minerals Management Service has been funding and managing studies of the potential effects of man‐induced noise on marine mammals, particularly endangered cetaceans, in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas since 1978, and has expended approximately $5,000,000 toward those efforts. The purpose of such studies is to provide information needed for informed decision making pertaining to environmentally sound leasing and management of offshore oil and gas development on the Alaska OCS. Many of the noise/marine mammal interaction studies have been used to establish or modify lease terms or regulations for offshore operations in federal lease areas. Also, these results have been important in resolution of litigation pertaining to OCS oil and gas leasing/exploration. Specific case examples of how results have been applied will be presented and projection of future Alaska information needs in this discipline will be discussed.