Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Wharf Maintenance Project, 36510-36519 [2015-15621]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36510-36519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15621]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD857


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Wharf Maintenance Project

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given 
that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to 
the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment 
only, five species of marine mammals during construction activities as 
part of a wharf maintenance project conducted in the Hood Canal, 
Washington.

DATES: This IHA is effective from July 16, 2015, through January 15, 
2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Laws, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability

    An electronic copy of the Navy's application and supporting 
documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, 
may be obtained by visiting the Internet at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/construction.htm. In case of problems accessing 
these documents, please call the contact listed above (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request by U.S. 
citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial 
fishing) within a specified area, the incidental, but not intentional, 
taking of small numbers of marine mammals, providing that certain 
findings are made and the necessary prescriptions are established.
    The incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals may be 
allowed only if NMFS (through authority delegated by the Secretary) 
finds that the total taking by the specified activity during the 
specified time period will (i) have a negligible impact on the species 
or stock(s) and (ii) not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant). Further, the permissible methods of taking and requirements 
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking 
must be set forth.
    The allowance of such incidental taking under section 101(a)(5)(A), 
by harassment, serious injury, death, or a combination thereof, 
requires that regulations be established. Subsequently, a Letter of 
Authorization may be issued pursuant to the prescriptions established 
in such regulations, providing that the level of taking will be 
consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under 
the specific regulations. Under section 101(a)(5)(D), NMFS may 
authorize such incidental taking by harassment only, for periods of not 
more than one year, pursuant to requirements and conditions contained 
within an IHA. The establishment of these prescriptions requires notice 
and opportunity for public comment.
    NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``. . . 
an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be 
reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely 
affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of 
recruitment or survival.'' Except with respect to certain activities 
not pertinent here, section 3(18) of the MMPA defines ``harassment'' 
as: ``. . . any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the 
potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
[Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine 
mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of 
behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, 
breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering [Level B 
harassment].''

Summary of Request

    On November 4, 2014, we received a request from the Navy for 
authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pile driving and 
removal associated with maintenance of an explosives handling wharf 
(EHW-1) in the Hood Canal at Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor, WA (NBKB). 
The Navy submitted revised versions of the request on February 27 and 
March 17, 2015. The latter of these was deemed adequate and complete. 
The Navy plans to replace four structurally unsound piles, between July 
16, 2015, and January 15, 2016.
    The use of both vibratory and impact pile driving is expected to 
produce underwater sound at levels that have the potential to result in 
behavioral harassment of marine mammals. Species with the expected 
potential to be present during all or a portion of the in-water work 
window include the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus monteriensis), 
California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), harbor seal (Phoca 
vitulina richardii), killer whale (transient only; Orcinus orca), and 
harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina). These species may occur 
year-round in the Hood Canal, with the exception of the Steller sea 
lion, which is present only from fall to late spring (approximately 
late September to early May), and the California sea lion, which is 
only present from late summer to late spring (approximately late August 
to early June).
    This is the third such IHA for similar work on the same structure. 
The Navy previously received IHAs for a two-year maintenance project at 
EHW-1 conducted in 2011-12 and 2012-13 (76 FR 30130 and 77 FR 43049). 
Additional IHAs were issued to the Navy in recent years for marine 
construction projects on the NBKB waterfront, including the 
construction of a second explosives handling wharf (EHW-2) immediately 
adjacent to EHW-1. Three consecutive IHAs were issued for that project, 
in 2012-13 (77 FR 42279), 2013-14 (78 FR 43148), and 2014-15 (79 FR 
43429). Additional projects include the Test Pile Project (TPP), 
conducted in 2011-12 in the proposed footprint of the EHW-2 to collect 
geotechnical data and test methodology in advance of the project (76 FR 
38361) and a minor project to install a new mooring for an existing 
research barge, conducted in 2013-14 (78 FR 43165). In-water work 
associated with all projects was conducted only during the approved in-
water work window (July 16-February 15). Monitoring reports for all of 
these projects are available on the Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/construction.htm and provide environmental 
information related to issuance of this IHA.

Description of the Specified Activity

    Additional detail regarding the specified activity was provided in 
our Federal Register notice of proposed authorization (80 FR 22477; 
April 22, 2015); please see that document or

[[Page 36511]]

Navy's application for more information.

Overview

    NBKB provides berthing and support services to Navy submarines and 
other fleet assets. The Navy plans to complete necessary maintenance at 
the EHW-1 facility at NBKB as part of ongoing maintenance conducted as 
necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the wharf and ensure 
its continued functionality to support necessary operational 
requirements. The EHW-1 facility, constructed in 1977, requires ongoing 
maintenance due to the deterioration of the wharf's existing piling 
sub-structure. The planned action includes the replacement of four 
existing 24-in hollow pre-stressed octagonal concrete piles with four 
new 30-in concrete filled steel pipe piles. Existing piles will be 
removed using a pneumatic hammer and a crane. Vibratory pile driving 
will be the primary method used to install new piles, though an impact 
hammer may be used if substrate conditions prevent the advancement of 
piles to the required depth or to verify the load-bearing capacity. 
Sound attenuation measures (i.e., bubble curtain) would be used during 
all impact hammer operations.

Dates and Duration

    The Navy's specified activity will occur only during July 16 
through January 15, within the allowable season for in-water work at 
NBKB. This window is established by the Washington Department of Fish 
and Wildlife in coordination with NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS) to protect juvenile salmon. A maximum of eight pile 
driving days will occur, but the eight days could occur at any time 
during the window. Vibratory driving, as compared with impact driving 
or pile removal via pneumatic chipping, is expected to occur on only 
four total days.
    Impact pile driving during the first half of the in-water work 
window (July 16 to September 23) may only occur between two hours after 
sunrise and two hours before sunset to protect breeding marbled 
murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus; an Endangered Species Act [ESA]-
listed bird under the jurisdiction of USFWS). Vibratory driving during 
the first half of the window, and all in-water work conducted between 
September 23 and January 15, may occur during daylight hours (sunrise 
to sunset). Other construction (not in-water) may occur between 7 a.m. 
and 10 p.m., year-round. Therefore, in-water work is restricted to 
daylight hours (at minimum) and there is at least a nine-hour break 
during the 24-hour cycle from all construction activity.

Specific Geographic Region

    NBKB is located on the Hood Canal approximately 32 km west of 
Seattle, Washington (see Figures 2-1 through 2-3 in the Navy's 
application). The Hood Canal is a long, narrow fjord-like basin of the 
western Puget Sound. Throughout its 108-km length, the width of the 
canal varies from 1.6-3.2 km and exhibits strong depth/elevation 
gradients and irregular seafloor topography in many areas. Although no 
official boundaries exist along the waterway, the northeastern section 
extending from the mouth of the canal at Admiralty Inlet to the 
southern tip of Toandos Peninsula is referred to as northern Hood 
Canal. NBKB is located within this region. Please see Section 2 of the 
Navy's application for detailed information about the specific 
geographic region, including physical and oceanographic 
characteristics.

Detailed Description of Activities

    Maintenance of necessary facilities for handling of explosive 
materials is part of the Navy's sea-based strategic deterrence mission, 
and the Navy has determined that EHW-1 structural integrity is 
compromised due to deterioration of the wharf's piling sub-structure. 
The EHW-1 consists of two 30-m access trestles and a main pier deck 
that measures approximately 215 m in length. The wharf is supported by 
both 16-in and 24-in hollow octagonal pre-cast concrete piles. 
Additionally, there are steel and timber fender piles on the outboard 
and inboard edges of the wharf (see Figures 1-1 through 1-4 in the 
Navy's application).
    The Navy plans to replace four structurally unsound 24-in hollow 
prestressed octagonal concrete piles, as well as performing additional 
repair and replacement work above water that would not be expected to 
result in effects to marine mammals. The piles will be replaced with 
four 30-in concrete filled steel piles. Piles to be removed will first 
be scored by a diver using a small pneumatic hammer and then removed by 
crane. Pile installation will utilize vibratory pile drivers to the 
greatest extent possible, and the Navy anticipates that most piles will 
be able to be vibratory driven to within several feet of the required 
depth. Pile drivability is, to a large degree, a function of soil 
conditions and the type of pile hammer. The soil conditions encountered 
during geotechnical explorations at NBKB indicate existing conditions 
generally consist of fill or sediment of very dense glacially 
overridden soils, and recent experience at other construction locations 
along the NBKB waterfront indicates that most piles should be able to 
be driven with a vibratory hammer to proper embedment depth. However, 
difficulties during pile driving may be encountered as a result of 
obstructions, such as rocks or boulders, which may exist throughout the 
project area. If difficult driving conditions occur, usage of an impact 
hammer will occur. Impact driving may also be used to verify load-
bearing capacity, or proof, installed piles.

Comments and Responses

    We published a notice of receipt of Navy's application and proposed 
IHA in the Federal Register on April 22, 2015 (80 FR 22477). During the 
thirty-day comment period, we received a letter from the Marine Mammal 
Commission (Commission). The comments and our responses are provided 
here, and the comments have been posted on the Internet at: 
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/construction.htm. Please see 
the comment letters for full rationale behind the recommendations we 
respond to below.
    Comment 1: The Commission recommends that we require the Navy to 
use the relevant ensonified areas associated with EHW-1 activities and 
the unadjusted harbor seal density estimate of 9.92 rather than 7.93 
seals/km\2\ to estimate the number of seals that could be taken during 
those activities.
    Response: We addressed the Commission's concern, which was 
previously known to us, in detail on pages 22496-22497 of our notice of 
proposed authorization (80 FR 22477; April 22, 2015). While the 
Commission makes several valid points, we disagree with the 
recommendation in relation to the specific context of this project. As 
we do with all applicants and for all proposed authorizations, we will 
consider all available information and the most appropriate use of that 
information in the context of the specified activity and in light of 
the Commission's position on this issue prior to proposing any future 
authorizations related to Navy activity in the Hood Canal.
    Comment 2: The Commission recommends that we require the Navy to 
use vessel-based observers to monitor the full extent of the Level B 
harassment zones, including areas beyond the port security barrier and 
waterfront restricted area (WRA), for impact and vibratory pile driving 
and pile removal to (1) determine the numbers of marine mammals taken 
and total number of takes during those activities and (2)

[[Page 36512]]

characterize the effects on those mammals, including cetaceans.
    Response: The Commission states that the proposed visual monitoring 
plan is insufficient because a significant portion of the Level B 
harassment zone resulting from vibratory pile driving cannot be 
observed from the shore-based positions reasonably available to the 
Navy. Expanding visual coverage of the 120-dB root mean square (rms) 
harassment zone (estimated at 41.6 km\2\) would require deployment of 
small vessels beyond the WRA, because no viable access exists to get 
observers onto the far shoreline and because the beach area is lost at 
high tide. NBKB is a nuclear weapons-handling facility with strict 
security protocols regarding entrance or exit from the WRA that would 
make deployment of small vessels impracticable for such a small-scale 
project (maximum of eight days). There is no available facility for 
housing such vessels outside NBKB.
    We routinely deal with actions involving very large Level B 
harassment zones and typically require, at most, only limited 
monitoring of the further reaches of such zones due to practicability 
concerns. Monitoring of farther reaches of such zones during a subset 
of activity is typically an acceptable way to understand marine mammal 
occurrence in the action area such that extent of incidental take may 
be estimated. In anticipation of the particular situation at NBKB, 
i.e., poor ability to readily deploy vessel-based monitors outside the 
WRA, we worked with Navy to develop a strong monitoring effort 
(including dedicated vessel-based line-transect surveys in the absence 
of noise-producing activity) in 2011 that was intended to inform 
knowledge of the occurrence of marine mammals in the far-field for 
multiple years of work. In context of this specified activity, we do 
not believe that further such effort is commensurate with the level of 
activity proposed and have determined it to be impracticable. Prior to 
proposing any future authorizations related to Navy activity in the 
Hood Canal, we will consider whether additional monitoring requirements 
are warranted.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommends that we require the Navy to 
use better methods to estimate the numbers of marine mammals taken and 
the total numbers of takes during EHW-1 activities rather than the 
extrapolation method recently used for other waterfront activities.
    Response: We agree with the Commission's recommendation and will 
consider methodological improvements in concert with the Navy and the 
Commission.

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity

    The marine mammal species that may be harassed incidental to the 
specified activity are the harbor seal, California sea lion, Steller 
sea lion, harbor porpoise, and transient killer whales. We presented a 
detailed discussion of the status of these stocks and their occurrence 
in the action area in the notice of the proposed IHA (80 FR 22477; 
April 22, 2015).
    Table 1 lists the marine mammal species with expected potential for 
occurrence in the vicinity of NBKB during the project timeframe and 
summarizes key information regarding stock status and abundance. 
Taxonomically, we follow Committee on Taxonomy (2014). Please see NMFS' 
Stock Assessment Reports (SAR), available at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars, 
for more detailed accounts of these stocks' status and abundance. The 
harbor seal, California sea lion and harbor porpoise are addressed in 
the Pacific SARs (e.g., Carretta et al., 2014, 2015), while the Steller 
sea lion and transient killer whale are treated in the Alaska SARs 
(e.g., Allen and Angliss, 2014, 2015).

                                           Table 1--Marine Mammals Potentially Present in the Vicinity of NBKB
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                                                                                        Stock abundance                                    Relative
                                                                ESA/MMPA status;        (CV, Nmin, most                  Annual  M/   occurrence in Hood
               Species                        Stock            strategic (Y/N) \1\      recent abundance     PBR \3\       SI \4\      Canal; season of
                                                                                          survey) \2\                                     occurrence
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                            Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
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                                                                   Family Delphinidae
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Killer whale.........................  West coast                              -; N   243 (n/a; 2009)....          2.4            0  Rare; year-round
                                        transient \6\.                                                                                (but last observed
                                                                                                                                      in 2005).
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                                                             Family Phocoenidae (porpoises)
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Harbor porpoise......................  Washington inland                       -; N   10,682 (0.38;                unk        >=2.2  Possible regular
                                        waters \7\.                                    7,841; 2003).                                  presence; year-
                                                                                                                                      round.
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                                                         Order Carnivora--Superfamily Pinnipedia
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                                                      Family Otariidae (eared seals and sea lions)
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California sea lion..................  U.S................                     -; N   296,750 (n/a;              9,200          389  Seasonal/common;
                                                                                       153,337; 2011).                                Fall to late
                                                                                                                                      spring (Aug to
                                                                                                                                      Jun).
Steller sea lion.....................  Eastern U.S. \5\...                     -; N   60,131-74,448 (n/a;    \9\ 1,645         92.3  Seasonal/
                                                                                       36,551; 2008-13)                               occasional; Fall
                                                                                       \8\.                                           to late spring
                                                                                                                                      (Sep to May).

[[Page 36513]]

 
                                                             Family Phocidae (earless seals)
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Harbor seal..........................  Hood Canal \7\.....                     -; N   3,555 (0.15; unk;            unk          0.2  Common; Year-round
                                                                                       1999).                                         resident.
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\1\ ESA status: Endangered (E), Threatened (T)/MMPA status: Depleted (D). A dash (-) indicates that the species is not listed under the ESA or
  designated as depleted under the MMPA. Under the MMPA, a strategic stock is one for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds PBR (see
  footnote 3) or which is determined to be declining and likely to be listed under the ESA within the foreseeable future. Any species or stock listed
  under the ESA is automatically designated under the MMPA as depleted and as a strategic stock.
\2\ CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of stock abundance. In some cases, CV is not applicable. For killer whales, the
  abundance values represent direct counts of individually identifiable animals; therefore there is only a single abundance estimate with no associated
  CV. For certain stocks of pinnipeds, abundance estimates are based upon observations of animals (often pups) ashore multiplied by some correction
  factor derived from knowledge of the species (or similar species) life history to arrive at a best abundance estimate; therefore, there is no
  associated CV. In these cases, the minimum abundance may represent actual counts of all animals ashore.
\3\ Potential biological removal, defined by the MMPA as the maximum number of animals, not including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a
  marine mammal stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum sustainable population size (OSP).
\4\ These values, found in NMFS' SARs, represent annual levels of human-caused mortality plus serious injury from all sources combined (e.g., commercial
  fisheries, subsistence hunting, ship strike). Annual M/SI often cannot be determined precisely and is in some cases presented as a minimum value. All
  values presented here are from the draft 2014 SARs (www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/draft.htm).
\5\ Abundance estimates (and resulting PBR values) for these stocks are new values presented in the draft 2014 SARs. This information was made available
  for public comment and is currently under review and therefore may be revised prior to finalizing the 2014 SARs. However, we consider this information
  to be the best available for use in this document.
\6\ The abundance estimate for this stock includes only animals from the ``inner coast'' population occurring in inside waters of southeastern Alaska,
  British Columbia, and Washington--excluding animals from the ``outer coast'' subpopulation, including animals from California--and therefore should be
  considered a minimum count. For comparison, the previous abundance estimate for this stock, including counts of animals from California that are now
  considered outdated, was 354.
\7\ Abundance estimates for these stocks are greater than eight years old and are therefore not considered current. PBR is considered undetermined for
  these stocks, as there is no current minimum abundance estimate for use in calculation. We nevertheless present the most recent abundance estimates,
  as these represent the best available information for use in this document.
\8\ Best abundance is calculated as the product of pup counts and a factor based on the birth rate, sex and age structure, and growth rate of the
  population. A range is presented because the extrapolation factor varies depending on the vital rate parameter resulting in the growth rate (i.e.,
  high fecundity or low juvenile mortality).
\9\ PBR is calculated for the U.S. portion of the stock only (excluding animals in British Columbia) and assumes that the stock is not within its OSP.
  If we assume that the stock is within its OSP, PBR for the U.S. portion increases to 2,193.

Potential Effects of the Specified Activity on Marine Mammals and Their 
Habitat

    We provided a detailed discussion of the potential effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat in the notice of 
the proposed IHA (80 FR 22477; April 22, 2015). Please see that 
document for more information.

Mitigation

    In order to issue an IHA under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA, 
NMFS must set forth the permissible methods of taking pursuant to such 
activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable impact on 
such species or stock and its habitat, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on 
the availability of such species or stock for taking for certain 
subsistence uses. Please see our notice of the proposed IHA (80 FR 
22477; April 22, 2015) for a more detailed description of the planned 
mitigation.
    Measurements from similar pile driving events, including from 
previously monitored construction activity on the NBKB waterfront, were 
coupled with practical spreading loss to estimate zones of influence. 
These values were then used to develop mitigation measures for EHW-1 
pile driving activities. In addition to the measures described later in 
this section, the Navy will employ the following standard mitigation 
measures:
    (a) Conduct briefings between construction supervisors and crews, 
marine mammal monitoring team, and Navy staff prior to the start of all 
pile driving activity, and when new personnel join the work, in order 
to explain responsibilities, communication procedures, marine mammal 
monitoring protocol, and operational procedures.
    (b) For in-water heavy machinery work other than pile driving 
(using, e.g., standard barges, tug boats, barge-mounted excavators, or 
clamshell equipment used to place or remove material), if a marine 
mammal comes within 10 m, operations shall cease and vessels shall 
reduce speed to the minimum level required to maintain steerage and 
safe working conditions. This type of work could include the following 
activities: (1) Movement of the barge to the pile location; (2) 
positioning of the pile on the substrate via a crane (i.e., stabbing 
the pile); (3) removal of the pile from the water column/substrate via 
a crane (i.e., deadpull); or (4) the placement of sound attenuation 
devices around the piles. For these activities, monitoring will take 
place from 15 minutes prior to initiation until the action is complete.

Monitoring and Shutdown for Pile Driving

    The following measures will apply to the Navy's mitigation through 
shutdown and disturbance zones:
    Shutdown Zone--For all pile driving activities, the Navy will 
establish a shutdown zone intended to contain the area in which SPLs 
equal or exceed the 180/190 dB rms acoustic injury criteria. Modeled 
distances for shutdown zones are shown in Table 2. The Navy will 
implement a minimum shutdown zone of 29 m radius for cetaceans and 10 m 
radius for pinnipeds around all pile driving activity. However, no 
cetaceans have been observed within the floating port security barrier, 
which is approximately 500 m from the wharf.
    Disturbance Zone--Disturbance zones are the areas in which SPLs 
equal or exceed 160 and 120 dB rms (for pulsed and non-pulsed 
continuous sound, respectively). Nominal radial distances for 
disturbance zones are shown in Table 2. Given the size of the 
disturbance zone for vibratory pile driving, it is impossible to 
guarantee

[[Page 36514]]

that all animals would be observed or to make comprehensive 
observations of fine-scale behavioral reactions to sound, and only a 
portion of the zone (e.g., what may be reasonably observed by visual 
observers stationed within the WRA) will be monitored. In order to 
document observed incidents of harassment, monitors record all marine 
mammal observations, regardless of location.
    Monitoring Protocols--Monitoring will be conducted before, during, 
and after pile driving activities. In addition, observers will record 
all incidents of marine mammal occurrence, regardless of distance from 
activity, and will document any behavioral reactions in concert with 
distance from piles being driven. Observations made outside the 
shutdown zone will not result in shutdown; that pile segment would be 
completed without cessation, unless the animal approaches or enters the 
shutdown zone, at which point all pile driving activities would be 
halted. Monitoring will take place from fifteen minutes prior to 
initiation through thirty minutes post-completion of pile driving 
activities. Pile driving activities include the time to remove a single 
pile or series of piles, as long as the time elapsed between uses of 
the pile driving equipment is no more than thirty minutes. Please see 
the Marine Mammal Monitoring Plan (available at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/ and as Appendix C of the Navy's application), 
developed by the Navy with our approval, for full details of the 
monitoring protocols.
    The following additional measures apply to visual monitoring:
    (1) Monitoring will be conducted by qualified observers, who will 
be placed at the best vantage point(s) practicable to monitor for 
marine mammals and implement shutdown/delay procedures when applicable 
by calling for the shutdown to the hammer operator. Qualified observers 
are trained biologists, with the following minimum qualifications:
     Visual acuity in both eyes (correction is permissible) 
sufficient for discernment of moving targets at the water's surface 
with ability to estimate target size and distance; use of binoculars 
may be necessary to correctly identify the target;
     Advanced education in biological science or related field 
(undergraduate degree or higher required);
     Experience and ability to conduct field observations and 
collect data according to assigned protocols (this may include academic 
experience);
     Experience or training in the field identification of 
marine mammals, including the identification of behaviors;
     Sufficient training, orientation, or experience with the 
construction operation to provide for personal safety during 
observations;
     Writing skills sufficient to prepare a report of 
observations including but not limited to the number and species of 
marine mammals observed; dates and times when in-water construction 
activities were conducted; dates and times when in-water construction 
activities were suspended to avoid potential incidental injury from 
construction sound of marine mammals observed within a defined shutdown 
zone; and marine mammal behavior; and
     Ability to communicate orally, by radio or in person, with 
project personnel to provide real-time information on marine mammals 
observed in the area as necessary.
    (2) Prior to the start of pile driving activity, the shutdown zone 
will be monitored for fifteen minutes to ensure that it is clear of 
marine mammals. Pile driving will only commence once observers have 
declared the shutdown zone clear of marine mammals; animals will be 
allowed to remain in the shutdown zone (i.e., must leave of their own 
volition) and their behavior will be monitored and documented. The 
shutdown zone may only be declared clear, and pile driving started, 
when the entire shutdown zone is visible (i.e., when not obscured by 
dark, rain, fog, etc.). In addition, if such conditions should arise 
during impact pile driving that is already underway, the activity would 
be halted.
    (3) If a marine mammal approaches or enters the shutdown zone 
during the course of pile driving operations, activity will be halted 
and delayed until either the animal has voluntarily left and been 
visually confirmed beyond the shutdown zone or fifteen minutes have 
passed without re-detection of the animal. Monitoring will be conducted 
throughout the time required to drive a pile.

Sound Attenuation Devices

    Bubble curtains will be used during all impact pile driving. The 
device must distribute air bubbles around one hundred percent of the 
piling perimeter for the full depth of the water column, and the lowest 
bubble ring must be in contact with the mudline for the full 
circumference of the ring. In order to avoid loss of attenuation from 
design and implementation errors in the absence of such testing, a 
performance test of the device must be conducted prior to initial use. 
The performance test will confirm the calculated pressures and flow 
rates at each manifold ring. In addition, the contractor must train 
personnel in the proper balancing of air flow to the bubblers and must 
submit an inspection/performance report to the Navy within 72 hours 
following the performance test.

Timing Restrictions

    In Hood Canal, designated timing restrictions exist for pile 
driving activities to avoid in-water work when juvenile salmonids are 
likely to be present. The in-water work window is July 16-January 15. 
Until September 23, impact pile driving will only occur starting two 
hours after sunrise and ending two hours before sunset due to marbled 
murrelet nesting season. After September 23, in-water construction 
activities will occur during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).

Soft Start

    Soft start will be required for impact and vibratory pile driving. 
For impact driving, contractors will provide an initial set of strikes 
from the impact hammer at reduced energy, followed by a thirty-second 
waiting period, then two subsequent reduced energy strike sets. Soft 
start for impact driving will be required at the beginning of each 
day's pile driving work and at any time following a cessation of impact 
pile driving of thirty minutes or longer. Vibratory soft start involves 
a requirement to initiate sound from vibratory hammers for fifteen 
seconds at reduced energy followed by a thirty-second waiting period. 
This procedure is repeated two additional times. However, if a variable 
moment hammer proves infeasible for use with this project, or if unsafe 
working conditions during soft starts are reported by the contractor 
and verified by an independent safety inspection, the Navy may 
discontinue use of the vibratory soft start measure.
    We have carefully evaluated the Navy's planned mitigation measures 
and considered their effectiveness in past implementation to determine 
whether they are likely to effect the least practicable impact on the 
affected marine mammal species and stocks and their habitat. Our 
evaluation of potential measures included consideration of the 
following factors in relation to one another: (1) The manner in which, 
and the degree to which, the successful implementation of the measure 
is expected to minimize adverse impacts to marine mammals, (2) the 
proven or likely efficacy of the specific measure to minimize adverse 
impacts as planned;

[[Page 36515]]

and (3) the practicability of the measure for applicant implementation.
    Any mitigation measure(s) we prescribe should be able to 
accomplish, have a reasonable likelihood of accomplishing (based on 
current science), or contribute to the accomplishment of one or more of 
the general goals listed below:
    (1) Avoidance or minimization of injury or death of marine mammals 
wherever possible (goals 2, 3, and 4 may contribute to this goal).
    (2) A reduction in the number (total number or number at 
biologically important time or location) of individual marine mammals 
exposed to stimuli expected to result in incidental take (this goal may 
contribute to 1, above, or to reducing takes by behavioral harassment 
only).
    (3) A reduction in the number (total number or number at 
biologically important time or location) of times any individual marine 
mammal would be exposed to stimuli expected to result in incidental 
take (this goal may contribute to 1, above, or to reducing takes by 
behavioral harassment only).
    (4) A reduction in the intensity of exposure to stimuli expected to 
result in incidental take (this goal may contribute to 1, above, or to 
reducing the severity of behavioral harassment only).
    (5) Avoidance or minimization of adverse effects to marine mammal 
habitat, paying particular attention to the prey base, blockage or 
limitation of passage to or from biologically important areas, 
permanent destruction of habitat, or temporary disturbance of habitat 
during a biologically important time.
    (6) For monitoring directly related to mitigation, an increase in 
the probability of detecting marine mammals, thus allowing for more 
effective implementation of the mitigation.
    Based on our evaluation of the Navy's planned measures, including 
information from monitoring of the Navy's implementation of the 
mitigation measures as prescribed under previous IHAs for this and 
other projects in the Hood Canal, we have determined that the planned 
mitigation measures provide the means of effecting the least 
practicable impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their 
habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and 
areas of similar significance.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an IHA for an activity, section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth ``requirements pertaining to 
the monitoring and reporting of such taking''. The MMPA implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 216.104(a)(13) indicate that requests for 
incidental take authorizations must include the suggested means of 
accomplishing the necessary monitoring and reporting that will result 
in increased knowledge of the species and of the level of taking or 
impacts on populations of marine mammals that are expected to be 
present in the proposed action area.
    Any monitoring requirement we prescribe should accomplish one or 
more of the following general goals:
    1. An increase in the probability of detecting marine mammals, both 
within defined zones of effect (thus allowing for more effective 
implementation of the mitigation) and in general to generate more data 
to contribute to the analyses mentioned below;
    2. An increase in our understanding of how many marine mammals are 
likely to be exposed to stimuli that we associate with specific adverse 
effects, such as behavioral harassment or hearing threshold shifts;
    3. An increase in our understanding of how marine mammals respond 
to stimuli expected to result in incidental take and how anticipated 
adverse effects on individuals may impact the population, stock, or 
species (specifically through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival) through any of the following methods:
     Behavioral observations in the presence of stimuli 
compared to observations in the absence of stimuli (need to be able to 
accurately predict pertinent information, e.g., received level, 
distance from source);
     Physiological measurements in the presence of stimuli 
compared to observations in the absence of stimuli (need to be able to 
accurately predict pertinent information, e.g., received level, 
distance from source);
     Distribution and/or abundance comparisons in times or 
areas with concentrated stimuli versus times or areas without stimuli;
    4. An increased knowledge of the affected species; or
    5. An increase in our understanding of the effectiveness of certain 
mitigation and monitoring measures.
    The Navy submitted a marine mammal monitoring plan as part of their 
IHA application, which can be found on the Internet at 
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/. Similar plans have been 
successfully implemented by the Navy under previous IHAs issued for 
work conducted at NBKB.

Visual Marine Mammal Observations

    The Navy will collect sighting data and behavioral responses to 
construction for marine mammal species observed in the region of 
activity during the period of activity. All observers will be trained 
in marine mammal identification and behaviors and are required to have 
no other construction-related tasks while conducting monitoring. The 
Navy will monitor the shutdown zone and disturbance zone before, 
during, and after pile driving, with observers located at the best 
practicable vantage points. Based on our requirements, the Marine 
Mammal Monitoring Plan would implement the following procedures for 
pile driving:
     A dedicated monitoring coordinator will be on-site during 
all construction days. The monitoring coordinator will oversee marine 
mammal observers. The monitoring coordinator will serve as the liaison 
between the marine mammal monitoring staff and the construction 
contractor to assist in the distribution of information.
     MMOs would be located at the best vantage point(s) in 
order to properly see the entire shutdown zone and as much of the 
disturbance zone as possible. A minimum of three MMOs will be on duty 
during all pile driving activity, with two of these monitoring the 
shutdown zones.
     During all observation periods, observers will use 
binoculars and the naked eye to search continuously for marine mammals.
     If the shutdown zones are obscured by fog or poor lighting 
conditions, pile driving at that location will not be initiated until 
that zone is visible. Should such conditions arise while impact driving 
is underway, the activity would be halted.
     The shutdown and disturbance zones around the pile will be 
monitored for the presence of marine mammals before, during, and after 
any pile driving or removal activity.
    Individuals implementing the monitoring protocol will assess its 
effectiveness using an adaptive approach. Monitoring biologists will 
use their best professional judgment throughout implementation and seek 
improvements to these methods when deemed appropriate. Any 
modifications to protocol will be coordinated between NMFS and the 
Navy.

Data Collection

    We require that observers use approved data forms. Among other 
pieces of information, the Navy will record detailed information about 
any

[[Page 36516]]

implementation of shutdowns, including the distance of animals to the 
pile and description of specific actions that ensued and resulting 
behavior of the animal, if any. In addition, the Navy will attempt to 
distinguish between the number of individual animals taken and the 
number of incidents of take. We require that, at a minimum, the 
following information be collected on the sighting forms:
     Date and time that monitored activity begins or ends;
     Construction activities occurring during each observation 
period;
     Weather parameters (e.g., percent cover, visibility);
     Water conditions (e.g., sea state, tide state);
     Species, numbers, and, if possible, sex and age class of 
marine mammals;
     Description of any observable marine mammal behavior 
patterns, including bearing and direction of travel and distance from 
pile driving activity;
     Distance from pile driving activities to marine mammals 
and distance from the marine mammals to the observation point;
     Locations of all marine mammal observations; and
     Other human activity in the area.

Reporting

    A draft report will be submitted within ninety calendar days of the 
completion of the in-water work window. The report will include marine 
mammal observations pre-activity, during-activity, and post-activity 
during pile driving days, and will also provide descriptions of any 
problems encountered in deploying sound attenuating devices, any 
behavioral responses to construction activities by marine mammals and a 
complete description of all mitigation shutdowns and the results of 
those actions and an extrapolated total take estimate based on the 
number of marine mammals observed during the course of construction. A 
final report must be submitted within thirty days following resolution 
of comments on the draft report.

Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment

    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, 
section 3(18) of the MMPA defines ``harassment'' as: ``. . . Any act of 
pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a 
marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; 
or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal 
stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, 
including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 
feeding, or sheltering [Level B harassment].''
    All anticipated takes would be by Level B harassment resulting from 
vibratory and impact pile driving and involving temporary changes in 
behavior. The proposed mitigation and monitoring measures are expected 
to minimize the possibility of injurious or lethal takes such that take 
by Level A harassment, serious injury, or mortality is considered 
discountable. However, it is unlikely that injurious or lethal takes 
would occur even in the absence of the planned mitigation and 
monitoring measures. Estimated take by incidental harassment was 
described in detail in our notice of proposed IHA (80 FR 22477; April 
22, 2015) and is summarized here.
    The Navy has requested authorization for the incidental taking of 
small numbers of Steller sea lions, California sea lions, harbor seals, 
transient killer whales, and harbor porpoises in the Hood Canal that 
may result from pile driving during construction activities associated 
with the wharf maintenance project described previously in this 
document. In order to estimate the potential incidents of take that may 
occur incidental to the specified activity, we first estimated the 
extent of the sound field that may be produced by the activity and then 
considered those estimated sound fields in combination with information 
about marine mammal density or abundance in the project area.
    In order to determine reasonable SPLs and their associated effects 
on marine mammals that are likely to result from pile driving at NBKB, 
studies with similar properties to the specified activity were 
evaluated, including measurements conducted for driving of steel piles 
at NBKB as part of the TPP (Illingworth & Rodkin, 2012). Please see 
Appendix B of the Navy's application for a detailed description of the 
information considered in determining reasonable proxy source level 
values. The Navy used representative source levels (for installation of 
30-in steel pipe pile) of 195 dB rms for impact driving and 166 dB rms 
for vibratory driving. For impact driving, 8 dB effective attenuation 
was assumed due to use of a bubble curtain and was therefore subtracted 
from the source level. Practical spreading was assumed in determining 
appropriate transmission loss.
    We assumed that vibratory pile driving could occur on any of the 
eight days and that sound levels associated with vibratory removal 
would be conservative in relation to pile removal via pneumatic 
chipping. Acoustic measurements for pneumatic chipping were previously 
performed during maintenance work at EHW-1 in 2012, with an average 
value of 141 dB rms measured at 10 m (RMDT, 2013). Therefore, we do not 
explicitly consider pile removal (via pneumatic chipping) separately 
from pile installation activity.

  Table 2--Calculated Distance(s) to and Area Encompassed by Underwater
         Marine Mammal Sound Thresholds During Pile Installation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Threshold                   Distance              Area
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impact driving, pinniped injury  6 m................  113 m\2\.
 (190 dB).
Impact driving, cetacean injury  29 m...............  2,630 m\2\.
 (180 dB).
Impact driving, disturbance      631 m..............  0.9 km\2\.
 (160 dB).
Vibratory driving, pinniped      n/a................
 injury (190 dB).
Vibratory driving, cetacean      n/a................
 injury (180 dB).
Vibratory driving, disturbance   6.3 km.............  41.6 km\2\.
 (120 dB).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hood Canal does not represent open water, or free field, 
conditions. Therefore, sounds would attenuate as they encounter land 
masses or bends in the canal. As a result, the calculated distance and 
areas of impact for the 120-dB threshold cannot actually be attained at 
the project area. See Figure 6-1 of the Navy's application for a 
depiction of the size of areas in which each underwater sound threshold 
is predicted to occur at the project area due to pile driving.
    For all species, the most appropriate information available was 
used to estimate the number of potential

[[Page 36517]]

incidents of take. For harbor seals, this involved published literature 
describing harbor seal research conducted in Washington and Oregon, 
including counts and research specific to Hood Canal (Huber et al., 
2001; Jeffries et al., 2003; London et al., 2012). Killer whales are 
known from two periods of occurrence (2003 and 2005) and are not known 
to preferentially use any specific portion of the Hood Canal. 
Therefore, potential occurrence was assumed as likely maximum group 
size (Houghton et al., in prep.) in concert with a nominal number of 
days present, in order to provide for small possibility that killer 
whales could be present. The best information available for the 
remaining species in Hood Canal came from surveys conducted by the Navy 
at the NBKB waterfront or in the vicinity of the project area (see 
Appendix A of the Navy's application). Density or abundance 
information, used in concert with the information provided in Table 2 
and with an assumption of eight total days of pile driving and removal, 
is provided with authorized numbers of take in Table 3.

     Table 3--Number of Potential Incidental Takes of Marine Mammals Within Various Acoustic Threshold Zones
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Underwater
                                                                 -------------------------------- Percentage  of
                     Species                          Density                      Level B (120        stock
                                                                      Level A       dB) \1\ \2\      abundance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California sea lion.............................          \3\ 71               0             568             0.2
Steller sea lion................................           \3\ 6               0              48             0.1
Harbor seal.....................................            7.93               0           2,640              74
Killer whale (transient)........................             n/a               0              12         \4\ 4.9
Harbor porpoise.................................           0.149               0              48             0.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 160-dB acoustic harassment zone associated with impact pile driving would always be subsumed by the 120-
  dB harassment zone produced by vibratory driving. Therefore, takes are not calculated separately for the two
  zones.
\2\ For species with associated density, density was multiplied by largest ZOI (i.e., 41.6 km\2\). The resulting
  value was rounded to the nearest whole number and multiplied by the days of activity. For species with
  abundance only, that value was multiplied directly by the days of activity. We assume for reasons described
  earlier that no takes would result from airborne noise.
\3\ Figures presented are abundance numbers, not density, and are calculated as the average of average daily
  maximum numbers per month, and presented for the month with the highest value. Abundance numbers are rounded
  to the nearest whole number for take estimation.
\4\ We assumed that a single pod of six killer whales could be present for as many as two days of the duration,
  and that harbor porpoise have the likely potential to be affected by project activities for as many as four
  days of the duration.

Changes From the Proposed Authorization

    In the proposed authorization, we provided an erroneous estimate of 
32.4 km\2\ for the 120-dB Level B harassment zone. That estimate has 
been corrected to 41.6 km\2\, as shown in Table 2. This change resulted 
in increased take estimates for the two species for which density, 
rather than abundance, is used. The authorized take number for harbor 
seals and harbor porpoise has been increased from 2,056 to 2,640 and 
from 40 to 48, respectively. We assessed these changes in relation to 
our preliminary determinations, and concluded that the increased 
numbers do not affect those determinations, described below.

Analyses and Determinations

Negligible Impact Analysis

    NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``. . . 
an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be 
reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely 
affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of 
recruitment or survival.'' A negligible impact finding is based on the 
lack of likely adverse effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival (i.e., population-level effects). An estimate of the number of 
Level B harassment takes alone is not enough information on which to 
base an impact determination. In addition to considering estimates of 
the number of marine mammals that might be ``taken'' through behavioral 
harassment, we consider other factors, such as the likely nature of any 
responses (e.g., intensity, duration), the context of any responses 
(e.g., critical reproductive time or location, migration), as well as 
the number and nature of estimated Level A harassment takes, the number 
of estimated mortalities, and effects on habitat.
    Pile driving activities associated with the wharf maintenance 
project, as outlined previously, have the potential to disturb or 
displace marine mammals. Specifically, the specified activities may 
result in take, in the form of Level B harassment (behavioral 
disturbance) only, from underwater sounds generated from pile driving. 
Potential takes could occur if individuals of these species are present 
in the ensonified zone when pile driving is happening, which is likely 
to occur because (1) harbor seals, which are frequently observed along 
the NBKB waterfront, are present within the WRA; (2) sea lions, which 
are less frequently observed, transit the WRA en route to haul-outs to 
the south at Delta Pier; or (3) cetaceans or pinnipeds transit the 
larger Level B harassment zone outside of the WRA.
    No injury, serious injury, or mortality is anticipated given the 
methods of installation and measures designed to minimize the 
possibility of injury to marine mammals. The potential for these 
outcomes is minimized through the construction method and duration and 
the implementation of the planned mitigation measures. Specifically, 
vibratory hammers will be the primary method of installation, and this 
activity does not have significant potential to cause injury to marine 
mammals due to the relatively low source levels produced (less than 180 
dB rms) and the lack of potentially injurious source characteristics. 
Impact pile driving produces short, sharp pulses with higher peak 
levels and much sharper rise time to reach those peaks. The entire 
duration of the specified activity would be eight days; given the 
intensity of potential effects as described below, we do not expect 
that such a short duration could produce a greater than negligible 
impact on the affected stocks.
    When impact driving is necessary, required measures (use of a sound 
attenuation system, which reduces overall source levels as well as 
dampening the sharp, potentially injurious peaks, and implementation of 
shutdown zones) significantly reduce any possibility of injury. Given 
sufficient ``notice'' through use of soft start, marine mammals are 
expected to move away from a sound source that is annoying prior to its 
becoming

[[Page 36518]]

potentially injurious. The likelihood that marine mammal detection 
ability by trained observers is high under the environmental conditions 
described for Hood Canal further enables the implementation of 
shutdowns to avoid injury, serious injury, or mortality.
    Effects on individuals that are taken by Level B harassment, on the 
basis of reports in the literature as well as monitoring from past 
projects at NBKB, will likely be limited to reactions such as increased 
swimming speeds, increased surfacing time, or decreased foraging (if 
such activity were occurring). Most likely, individuals will simply 
move away from the sound source and be temporarily displaced from the 
areas of pile driving, although even this reaction has been observed 
primarily only in association with impact pile driving. In response to 
vibratory driving, harbor seals (which may be somewhat habituated to 
human activity along the NBKB waterfront) have been observed to orient 
towards and sometimes move towards the sound. Repeated exposures of 
individuals to levels of sound that may cause Level B harassment are 
unlikely to result in hearing impairment or to significantly disrupt 
foraging behavior. Thus, even repeated Level B harassment of some small 
subset of the overall stock is unlikely to result in any significant 
realized decrease in fitness to those individuals, and thus would not 
result in any adverse impact to the stock as a whole. Level B 
harassment will be reduced to the level of least practicable impact 
through use of mitigation measures described herein and, if sound 
produced by project activities is sufficiently disturbing, animals are 
likely to simply avoid the project area while the activity is 
occurring.
    For pinnipeds, no rookeries are present in the project area, there 
are no haul-outs other than those provided opportunistically by man-
made objects, and the project area is not known to provide foraging 
habitat of any special importance. No cetaceans are expected within the 
WRA. The pile driving activities analyzed here are similar to other 
nearby construction activities within the Hood Canal, including recent 
projects conducted by the Navy at the same location as well as work 
conducted in 2005 for the Hood Canal Bridge (SR-104) by the Washington 
State Department of Transportation, which have taken place with no 
reported injuries or mortality to marine mammals, and no known long-
term adverse consequences from behavioral harassment.
    In summary, this negligible impact analysis is founded on the 
following factors: (1) The possibility of injury, serious injury, or 
mortality may reasonably be considered discountable; (2) the 
anticipated incidences of Level B harassment consist of, at worst, 
temporary (maximum of eight days) modifications in behavior; (3) the 
absence of any major rookeries and only a few isolated and 
opportunistic haul-out areas near or adjacent to the project site; (4) 
the absence of cetaceans within the WRA and generally sporadic 
occurrence outside the WRA; (5) the absence of any other known areas or 
features of special significance for foraging or reproduction within 
the project area; and (6) the presumed efficacy of the planned 
mitigation measures in reducing the effects of the specified activity 
to the level of least practicable impact. In addition, none of these 
stocks are listed under the ESA or designated as depleted under the 
MMPA. All of the stocks for which take is authorized are thought to be 
increasing or to be within OSP size. In combination, we believe that 
these factors, as well as the available body of evidence from other 
similar activities, including those conducted at the same time of year 
and in the same location, demonstrate that the potential effects of the 
specified activity will have only short-term effects on individuals. 
The specified activity is not expected to impact rates of recruitment 
or survival and will therefore not result in population-level impacts. 
Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into 
consideration the implementation of the proposed monitoring and 
mitigation measures, we find that the total marine mammal take from 
Navy's wharf maintenance activities will have a negligible impact on 
the affected marine mammal species or stocks.

Small Numbers Analysis

    The numbers of animals authorized to be taken for all stocks (other 
than harbor seals) would be considered small relative to the relevant 
stocks or populations (ranging from 0.1 to 4.9 percent) even if each 
estimated taking occurred to a new individual--an extremely unlikely 
scenario. For pinnipeds occurring at the NBKB waterfront, there will 
almost certainly be some overlap in individuals present day-to-day. 
Further, for the pinniped species, these takes could potentially occur 
only within some small portion of the overall regional stock. For 
example, of the estimated 296,750 California sea lions, only certain 
adult and subadult males--believed to number approximately 3,000-5,000 
by Jeffries et al. (2000)--travel north during the non-breeding season. 
That number has almost certainly increased with the population of 
California sea lions--the 2000 SAR for California sea lions reported an 
estimated population size of 204,000-214,000 animals--but likely 
remains a relatively small portion of the overall population.
    For harbor seals, takes are likely to occur only within some 
portion of the population, rather than to animals from the Hood Canal 
stock as a whole. As described previously (see ``Description of Marine 
Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity'' in our notice of 
proposed authorization), established harbor seal haul-outs are located 
at such a distance from the project site that we would not expect the 
majority of individual animals comprising the total stock to occur 
within the affected area, especially over such a short duration (eight 
days maximum). Therefore, we expect that the authorized take level 
represents repeated exposures of a much smaller number of individuals 
in relation to the total stock size. Further, animals that are resident 
to Hood Canal, to which any incidental take would accrue, represent 
only seven percent of the best estimate of the larger Washington inland 
waters harbor seal abundance.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into 
consideration the implementation of the mitigation and monitoring 
measures, we find that small numbers of marine mammals will be taken 
relative to the populations of the affected species or stocks.

Impact on Availability of Affected Species for Taking for Subsistence 
Uses

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated 
by this action. Therefore, we have determined that the total taking of 
affected species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact 
on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for 
subsistence purposes.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    No marine mammal species listed under the ESA are expected to be 
affected by these activities. Therefore, we have determined that a 
section 7 consultation under the ESA is not required.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42

[[Page 36519]]

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as implemented by the regulations published by 
the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Navy 
prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the direct, 
indirect and cumulative effects to the human environment resulting from 
the wharf maintenance project. NMFS made the Navy's EA available to the 
public for review and comment, in relation to its suitability for 
adoption by NMFS in order to assess the impacts to the human 
environment of issuance of an IHA to the Navy. Also in compliance with 
NEPA and the CEQ regulations, as well as NOAA Administrative Order 216-
6, NMFS has reviewed the Navy's EA, determined it to be sufficient, and 
adopted that EA and signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
on June 8, 2015. The Navy's EA and NMFS' FONSI for this action may be 
found on the Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental/construction.htm.

Authorization

    As a result of these determinations, we have issued an IHA to the 
Navy for the described wharf maintenance activities in the Hood Canal, 
from July 16, 2015 through January 15, 2016, provided the previously 
mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are 
incorporated.

    Dated: June 22, 2015.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-15621 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P