Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Whittier Ferry Terminal Alaska Class Ferry Modification Project, 56427-56444 [2019-22966]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56427-56444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22966]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RIN 0648-XR045]


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Whittier Ferry Terminal Alaska 
Class Ferry Modification Project

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

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request 
for comments on proposed authorization and possible renewal.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) for authorization to 
take marine mammals incidental to the Whittier Ferry Terminal Alaska 
Class Ferry Modification Project in Whittier, Alaska. Pursuant to the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its 
proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to 
incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS 
is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could 
be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, 
as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. 
NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision 
on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency 
responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than November 
21, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, 
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service. Physical comments should be sent to 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and electronic comments 
should be sent to [email protected].
    Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any 
other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the 
end of the comment period. Comments received electronically, including 
all attachments, must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. Attachments 
to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or 
Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the 
commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential 
business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Davis, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. Electronic copies of the application 
and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in 
this document, may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act. In case of problems accessing these 
documents, please call the contact listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The MMPA prohibits the ``take'' of marine mammals, with certain 
exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to 
allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of 
small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a 
specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified 
geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations 
are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a 
proposed incidental take authorization may be provided to the public 
for review.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses 
(where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods 
of taking and other ``means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact'' on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying 
particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, and on the availability of such species or stocks for 
taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to in shorthand as 
``mitigation''); and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, 
monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth.

[[Page 56428]]

    The definitions of all applicable MMPA statutory terms cited above 
are included in the relevant sections below.

National Environmental Policy Act

    To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A, 
NMFS must review our proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an 
incidental harassment authorization) with respect to potential impacts 
on the human environment.
    This action is consistent with categories of activities identified 
in Categorical Exclusion B4 (incidental harassment authorizations with 
no anticipated serious injury or mortality) of the Companion Manual for 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A, which do not individually or 
cumulatively have the potential for significant impacts on the quality 
of the human environment and for which we have not identified any 
extraordinary circumstances that would preclude this categorical 
exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has preliminarily determined that the 
issuance of the proposed IHA qualifies to be categorically excluded 
from further NEPA review.
    We will review all comments submitted in response to this notice 
prior to concluding our NEPA process or making a final decision on the 
IHA request.

Summary of Request

    On June 6, 2019, NMFS received a request from ADOT&PF for an IHA to 
take marine mammals incidental to the relocation of one dolphin at the 
Whittier Ferry Terminal in Whittier, Alaska. The application was deemed 
adequate and complete on September 27, 2019. ADOT&PF's request is for 
take of a small number of five species of marine mammals by Level B 
harassment. Neither ADOT&PF nor NMFS expects serious injury or 
mortality to result from this activity and, therefore, an IHA is 
appropriate.

Description of Proposed Activity

Overview

    ADOT&PF is seeking an IHA for ferry terminal modifications at the 
Whittier Ferry terminal in Whittier, AK. Whitter is located at the head 
of Passage Canal, a deep-water fjord within Prince William Sound. The 
project includes relocation of one dolphin to accommodate a new, Alaska 
Class Ferry, the M/V Hubbard, as it is wider than the ferries currently 
operating in Prince William Sound. The dolphin will be removed using a 
vibratory hammer, and reinstalled using both vibratory and impact 
hammers. Additionally, construction will include modifying the existing 
catwalk and landing and modifying the bridge girder connection. Pile 
removal and installation associated with the project are expected to 
result in Level B harassment of humpback whale, killer whale, Dall's 
porpoise, Steller sea lion, and harbor seal. The ensonified area is 
expected to reach 12.0 km beyond the project site in Passage Canal. In-
water construction is expected to occur over six work days during 
February and March 2020.

Dates and Duration

    The IHA will be effective from February 2020 to January 2021. The 
project, including mobilization and demobilization, is expected to 
occur during February and March 2020. In-water work will occur over six 
days with pile extraction and pile reinstallation each expected to 
occur over three days. Pile driving activity is expected to range from 
30 minutes to 150 minutes each day.

Specific Geographic Region

    The dolphin proposed to be moved is located on state submerged land 
(ADL 23147) at 60.777[deg] N, 148.683[deg] W at the Whittier Ferry 
Terminal in Whitter, AK. Whittier is located at the head of Passage 
Canal, a deep-water fjord within Prince William Sound. Passage Canal 
itself is a deep (to nearly 244 m [800 ft]) fjord approximately 9.7 
kilometers (km) (6 miles [mi]) long and 2.4 km (1.5 mi) wide. Several 
streams feed into the waterway including meltwater streams emanating 
from Learnard, Shakespeare, and Whittier glaciers. Tidal energy limits 
the production of nearshore kelps (e.g., Fuscus) and eelgrass (Zostera 
marina), and most marine invertebrates present are hard-bottom habitat 
species such as mussels, barnacles, limpets, chitons, and snails (U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 2015). Pacific herring (Clupea 
pallasii) is seasonally present at the head of the Passage Canal and 
appears to be the dominate fish found in the project area (USACE 2015), 
although major herring spawning areas within Prince William Sound are 
well outside Passage Canal (Alaska Department of Environmental 
Conservation [ADEC] 2005). Returning hatchery king salmon (Oncorhynchus 
tshawytscha) are also found in Passage Canal mid-May to mid-June, while 
native silver salmon (O. kisutch) runs are found mid-July through late 
August. Passage Canal supports the largest colony of black-legged 
kittiwakes in Prince William Sound (located 2.4 km [1.5 mi] north of 
the terminal).
    Because Whittier is connected to the Alaska Highway System via the 
Portage Glacier Highway and Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, it is a 
port of call for cruise ships and a popular destination for sport 
fisherman, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts. It is also the marine hub 
of the only road system connecting Anchorage with Prince William Sound.
    Figure 1: Project location in southern Alaska.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

[[Page 56429]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22OC19.005

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

Detailed Description of Specific Activity

    The proposed project would use a vibratory hammer to extract four 
30-inch (0.76m) piles, each 39.6 m (130 ft) in length, comprising 
dolphin S3 at the Whittier Ferry Terminal, and then reinstall them at a 
new location approximately 1.2 m (4 ft) southeast of the existing 
location using the same vibratory hammer. Each pile will then be 
proofed with an impact hammer to achieve a final depth of approximately 
19.8 m (65 ft) into the seafloor. ADOT&PF estimates that an average of 
1.5 piles will be removed or installed per day.
    Additional construction components include modifying the existing 
catwalk and landing and modifying the bridge girder connection. These 
ancillary actions occur above water, and are only expected to impact 
pinnipeds that are hauled out in the area where sound levels exceed in-
air harassment thresholds. There are no pinniped haul-out sites near 
the construction site, and no harassment from airborne sound is 
expected to result from project activities. Therefore, above-water 
construction activities will not be considered further in this 
document.

                                                                      Table 1--Pile Extraction and Reinstallation Activity
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                                                                                                                                                                                      Days of
          Pile type/activity               Number of          Vibratory duration             Impact duration              Strike duration          Total  hours   Average  piles    removal or
                                             piles                                                                                                                   per  day     reinstallation
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30-in Steel Extraction................               4  30 min........................  N/A......................  N/A..........................               2             1.5               3
30-in Steel Reinstallation............               4  45 min........................  30 min (400 strikes).....  0.1 sec......................               5             1.5               3
                                       ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................               8  300 min.......................  120 min (1600 strikes)...  N/A..........................               7             N/A               6
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    Proposed mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures are 
described in detail later in this document (please see Proposed 
Mitigation and Proposed Monitoring and Reporting).

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of Specified Activities

    Sections 3 and 4 of the application summarize available information 
regarding status and trends, distribution and habitat preferences, and 
behavior and life history, of the potentially affected species. 
Additional information regarding population trends and threats may be 
found in NMFS's Stock Assessment Reports (SARs; https://

[[Page 56430]]

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-
stock-assessments) and more general information about these species 
(e.g., physical and behavioral descriptions) may be found on NMFS's 
website (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/find-species).
    Table 2 lists all species with expected potential for occurrence in 
Passage Canal and summarizes information related to the population or 
stock, including regulatory status under the MMPA and ESA and potential 
biological removal (PBR), where known. For taxonomy, we follow 
Committee on Taxonomy (2016). PBR is 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 (as described in NMFS's 
SARs). While no mortality is anticipated or authorized here, PBR and 
annual serious injury and mortality from anthropogenic sources are 
included here as gross indicators of the status of the species and 
other threats.
    Marine mammal abundance estimates presented in this document 
represent the total number of individuals that make up a given stock or 
the total number estimated within a particular study or survey area. 
NMFS's stock abundance estimates for most species represent the total 
estimate of individuals within the geographic area, if known, that 
comprise that stock. For some species, this geographic area may extend 
beyond U.S. waters. All managed stocks in this region are assessed in 
NMFS's U.S. Alaska and U.S. Pacific SARs (e.g., Muto et al., 2019). All 
values presented in Table 2 are the most recent available at the time 
of publication and are available in the 2018 SARs (Muto et al., 2019 
and Carretta et al., 2019).

                                              Table 2--Marine Mammals That Could Occur in the Project Area
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                                                                               ESA/MMPA       Stock abundance
                                                                                status;       (CV, Nmin, most                                  Annual M/
           Common name              Scientific name           Stock          strategic (Y/    recent abundance                PBR                SI \3\
                                                                                N) \1\          survey) \2\
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                                          Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Mysticeti (baleen whales)
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Family Eschrichtiidae:
    Gray whale..................  Eschrichtius         Eastern North        -, -, N         26,960 (0.05,                                 801        139
                                   robustus.            Pacific.                             25,849, 2016).
    Family Balaenopteridae
     (rorquals).
    Fin whale...................  Balaenoptera         Northeast Pacific..  E, D, Y         see SAR (see SAR,                             5.1        0.6
                                   physalus.                                                 see SAR, 2013).
    Humpback whale..............  Megaptera            Central North        -, -, Y         10,103 (0.300,                                 83         26
                                   novaeangilae.        Pacific.                             7,891, 2006).
                                                       California/Oregon/   -, -, Y         2,900 (0.05, 2,784,                          16.7     >=40.2
                                                        Washington.                          2014).
                                                       Western North        E, D, Y         1,107 (0.300, 865,                              3        3.0
                                                        Pacific.                             2006).
    Minke whale.................  Balaenoptera         Alaska.............  -, -, N         N/A (see SAR, N/A,                   Undetermined          0
                                   acutorostra.                                              see SAR).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
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Family Delphinidae:
    Killer whale................  Orcinus orca.......  Eastern North        -, -, N         2,347c (N/A, 2,347,                            24          1
                                                        Pacific, Alaska                      2012).
                                                        Resident.
                                                       Gulf, Aleutian,      -, -, N         587c (N/A, 587,                              5.87          1
                                                        Bering Transient.                    2012).
                                                       AT1 Transient......  -, D, Y         7c (N/A, 7, 2017)..                          0.01          0
    Pacific white-sided dolphin.  Lagenorhynchus       North Pacific......  -, -, N         26,880 (Unknown,                     Undetermined          0
                                   obliquidens.                                              Unknown, 1990).
Family Phocoenidae (porpoises):
    Dall's porpoise.............  Phocoenoides dalli.  Alaska.............  -, -, N         83,400 (0.097, N/A,                  Undetermined         38
                                                                                             1991).
    Harbor porpoise.............  Phocoena...........  Gulf of Alaska.....  -, -, Y         31,046 (0.214, N/A,                  Undetermined         72
                                                                                             1998).
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                                                         Order Carnivora--Superfamily Pinnipedia
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Family Otariidae (eared seals
 and sea lions):
    California sea lion.........  Zalophus             U.S................  -, -, N         257,606 (N.A,......                        14,011      >=321
                                   californianus.                                           233,515, 2014).....
    Steller sea lion............  Eumetopias jubatus.  Western U.S........  E, D, Y         54,267a (Unknown,                             326        247
                                                                                             54,267, 2017).
Family Phocidae (earless seals):
    Pacific harbor seal.........  Phoca vitulina.....  Prince William       -, -, N         29,889 (see SAR,                              838        279
                                                        Sound.                               27,936, 2011).
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\1\ Endangered Species Act (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 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\ NMFS marine mammal stock assessment reports online at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of
  stock abundance. 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.

[[Page 56431]]

 
\3\ These values, found in NMFS's SARs, represent annual levels of human-caused mortality plus serious injury from all sources combined (e.g.,
  commercial fisheries, ship strike). Annual M/SI often cannot be determined precisely and is in some cases presented as a minimum value or range. A CV
  associated with estimated mortality due to commercial fisheries is presented in some cases.
Note: Italicized species are not expected to be taken or proposed for authorization.

    All species that could potentially occur in the proposed survey 
areas are included in Table 2. However, the temporal and/or spatial 
occurrence of gray whale, fin whale, minke whale, Pacific white-sided 
dolphin, harbor porpoise, and California sea lion are such that take is 
not expected to occur, and they are not discussed further beyond the 
explanation provided here. Gray whales do not regularly enter Prince 
William Sound, and charter operators have only observed gray whales in 
Passage Canal twice in the past 20 years (M. Bender, Lazy Otter 
Charters, pers. comm.; M. Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. 
comm.). Fin whales typically arrive to the Gulf of Alaska in May, well 
after the February and March work window, and there is only one record 
of a fin whale occurring within Passage Canal in the past 20 years (M. 
Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.). Minke whales are not 
expected to occur in the ensonified area, as in the past 20 years, 
marine mammal charter operators have seen fewer than five minke whales 
within Passage Canal, and they are typically found farther south during 
winter months (NMFS 2018b). Extensive marine mammal surveys conducted 
within Prince William Sound by Hall (1979) and Waite (2003) yielded no 
sightings of Pacific white-sided dolphins. Based on habitat preferences 
and past survey results, this dolphin is unlikely to occur in the 
Action Area, especially given the early spring work-window. Over the 
last 20 years, none have been observed in the inlet by charter 
operators (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.; M. Kopec, 
Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.). Harbor porpoise have not been 
observed in Passage Canal during over two decades of whale watching by 
one charter operator (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.), and 
are considered extremely rare in Passage Canal by another (M. Kopec, 
Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.). California sea lions are rarely 
sighted in southern Alaska. NMFS' anecdotal sighting database includes 
four sightings in Seward and Kachemak Bay, and they were also 
documented during the Apache 2012 seismic survey in Cook Inlet. 
However, California sea lions have not been observed in Passage Canal.
    In addition, the northern sea otter may be found in Whittier, AK. 
However, northern sea otters are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service and are not considered further in this document.

Humpback Whale

    The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangilae) is distributed 
worldwide in all ocean basins. Relatively high densities of humpback 
whales are found in feeding grounds in southeast Alaska and northern 
British Columbia, particularly during summer months. Humpbacks migrate 
to Alaska to feed after months of fasting in low latitude breeding 
grounds. The timing of migration varies among individuals: Most 
humpbacks begin returning to Alaska in spring and most depart Alaska 
for southern breeding grounds in fall or winter. Peak numbers of 
humpbacks in southeast Alaska occur during late summer to early fall, 
but because there is significant overlap between departing and 
returning whales, humpbacks can be found in Alaska feeding grounds in 
every month of the year (Baker et al. 1985, Straley 1990, Witteveen and 
Wynne 2017). There is also an apparent increase in the number of 
humpbacks overwintering in feeding grounds in Alaska (Straley et al. 
2018).
    Based on over two decades of whale watching activity in Passage 
Canal, humpback whales have been observed in Passage Canal on only very 
rare occasions and remained for very short periods (M. Bender, Lazy 
Otter Charters, pers. comm.). Reported occurrence is approximately once 
per year (M. Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.). However, 
there is a chance that a humpback may occur in Passage Canal if herring 
are present.
    Based on extensive photo identification data, NMFS has determined 
that individual humpback whales encountered in the Gulf of Alaska have 
an 89 percent probability of being from the recovered (delisted) Hawaii 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (Wade et al. 2016). Therefore, there 
is an 89 percent probability that a humpback occurring in Passage Canal 
is from the Hawaii DPS and Central North Pacific stock. Given the low 
overall likelihood of encountering any humpbacks, other DPSs of 
humpback whale will not be considered further in this document and any 
humpback whales seen will belong to the Central North Pacific stock.

Killer Whale

    Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are found in every ocean of the world 
(NMFS 2018c) and are the most widely distributed marine mammal 
(Leatherwood and Dahlheim 1978). NMFS considers three stocks of killer 
whales to seasonally inhabit Prince William Sound: Eastern North 
Pacific Alaska Resident stock (2,347 individuals); Gulf of Alaska, 
Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea Transient stock (587 individuals); and 
the small AT1 Transient stock (7 individuals) (Muto et al. 2019).
    On rare occasions killer whales have been reported to occur in 
Passage Canal, but they do not occur there on a regular basis (M. 
Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.). They are seen in the inlet 
approximately once each year (M. Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. 
comm.). Killer whales that may occur in Passage Canal during the 
project are expected to be either from the Eastern North Pacific Alaska 
Resident stock, or the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea 
Transient stock. Based on the AT1 Transient killer whale small stock 
size (seven individuals), and the small stock size in comparison with 
all killer whales potentially present in Prince William Sound (2,941 
individuals), we do not expect any AT1 Transients to enter Passage 
Canal during the project. AT1 Transient killer whales will not be 
considered further in this document.

Dall's Porpoise

    Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) are widely distributed in the 
North Pacific Ocean, usually in deep oceanic waters (183 m (>600 ft)), 
over the continental shelf or along slopes (NMFS 2018d, Hall 1979, Muto 
et al. 2019). They occur along the west coast of the United States 
ranging from California to the Bering Sea in Alaska (NMFS 2018d). 
Dall's porpoises occur in Alaskan waters year-round (Muto et al. 2019) 
and typically give birth between June and September to single calves 
(NMFS 2018d). They have occasionally been observed near the entrance of 
Passage Canal, but within the inlet they are considered exceedingly 
rare (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.; M. Kopec, Whittier 
Marine Charters, pers. comm.).

Steller Sea Lion

    The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) was listed as a 
threatened species under the ESA in 1990 following declines of 63 
percent on certain rookeries since 1985 and declines of 82 percent 
since 1960 (55 FR

[[Page 56432]]

12645, April 5, 1990). In 1997, two DPSs of Steller sea lion were 
identified based on differences in genetics, distribution, phenotypic 
traits, and population trends (62 FR 24345, May 5, 1997; Fritz et al. 
2013): the Eastern DPS found east of Cape Suckling (144[deg] W) and the 
Western DPS found west of Cape Suckling. At that time the Western DPS 
was up-listed to endangered due to continuing declines. However, the 
Eastern DPS population increased and was eventually removed from the 
ESA listing in 2013 (78 FR 66140, November 4, 2013).
    Steller sea lions are often seen near Whittier during May to August 
salmon runs but are irregularly seen in the project area the rest of 
the year, although as many as ten sea lions haul out year-round on a 
channel buoy within Shotgun Cove approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast 
of the project location (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.; 
M. Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.).
    Steller sea lion critical habitat within Prince William Sound 
includes three major haulouts (The Needle, Perry Island, and Point 
Eleanor), and several more haulouts plus two rookeries (Seal Rocks and 
Fish Island). When including the designated 20-nautical-mile (nm) zone 
around each denoting critical habitat (foraging), most of Prince 
William Sound falls within Steller sea lion critical habitat. However, 
the nearest major haulout is >20 nm from the project location; thus, no 
sea lion critical habitat falls within the Level B harassment zone.

Harbor Seal

    Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) range from Baja California north 
along the west coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, British 
Columbia, and southeast Alaska; west through the Gulf of Alaska, Prince 
William Sound, and the Aleutian Islands; and north in the Bering Sea to 
Cape Newenham and the Pribilof Islands. Harbor seals are irregularly 
present in the project area. Small numbers have been reported (K. 
Sinclair, Whittier Harbormaster, pers. comm.) in the Whittier boat 
harbor feeding on the mussels and barnacles growing on the harbor 
pilings but apparently remained only if this food source remained. They 
are occasionally seen mid-inlet throughout the year and four to ten 
individuals have recently been observed hauled out on a rock pinnacle 
at the mouth of Logging Camp Bay approximately 12.4 km (7.7 mi) 
northeast of the project area (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. 
comm.). Harbor seals are the species most likely to be present in the 
Level B harassment zone during the proposed pile driving.
    Harbor seals forage on fish and invertebrates (Wynne 2012). They 
are opportunistic feeders that forage in marine, estuarine, and 
freshwater habitats, adjusting their foraging behavior to take 
advantage of prey that are seasonally and locally abundant (Payne and 
Selzer 1989). In Alaska, harbor seals typically give birth to single 
pups between May and mid-July. The birthing location of harbor seal 
pups occurs at many different haul-out sites and is not restricted to a 
few major rookeries (Kinkhart et al. 2008). Pupping and weaning 
coincide with the summer haulout. (Sease 1992).

Marine Mammal Hearing

    Hearing is the most important sensory modality for marine mammals 
underwater, and exposure to anthropogenic sound can have deleterious 
effects. To appropriately assess the potential effects of exposure to 
sound, it is necessary to understand the frequency ranges marine 
mammals are able to hear. Current data indicate that not all marine 
mammal species have equal hearing capabilities (e.g., Richardson et 
al., 1995; Wartzok and Ketten, 1999; Au and Hastings, 2008). To reflect 
this, Southall et al. (2007) recommended that marine mammals be divided 
into functional hearing groups based on directly measured or estimated 
hearing ranges on the basis of available behavioral response data, 
audiograms derived using auditory evoked potential techniques, 
anatomical modeling, and other data. Note that no direct measurements 
of hearing ability have been successfully completed for mysticetes 
(i.e., low-frequency cetaceans). Subsequently, NMFS (2018a) described 
generalized hearing ranges for these marine mammal hearing groups (NMFS 
2018a). Generalized hearing ranges were chosen based on the 
approximately 65 decibel (dB) threshold from the normalized composite 
audiograms, with the exception for lower limits for low-frequency 
cetaceans where the lower bound was deemed to be biologically 
implausible and the lower bound from Southall et al. (2007) retained. 
Marine mammal hearing groups and their associated hearing ranges are 
provided in Table 3.

                  Table 3--Marine Mammal Hearing Groups
                              [NMFS, 2018a]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Hearing group                 Generalized hearing range *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-frequency (LF) cetaceans (baleen   7 Hz to 35 kHz
 whales).
Mid-frequency (MF) cetaceans           150 Hz to 160 kHz
 (dolphins, toothed whales, beaked
 whales, bottlenose whales).
High-frequency (HF) cetaceans (true    275 Hz to 160 kHz
 porpoises, Kogia, river dolphins,
 cephalorhynchid, Lagenorhynchus
 cruciger & L. australis).
Phocid pinnipeds (PW) (underwater)     50 Hz to 86 kHz
 (true seals).
Otariid pinnipeds (OW) (underwater)    60 Hz to 39 kHz
 (sea lions and fur seals).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Represents the generalized hearing range for the entire group as a
  composite (i.e., all species within the group), where individual
  species' hearing ranges are typically not as broad. Generalized
  hearing range chosen based on ~65 dB threshold from normalized
  composite audiogram, with the exception for lower limits for LF
  cetaceans (Southall et al. 2007) and PW pinniped (approximation).

    The pinniped functional hearing group was modified from Southall et 
al. (2007) on the basis of data indicating that phocid species have 
consistently demonstrated an extended frequency range of hearing 
compared to otariids, especially in the higher frequency range 
(Hemil[auml] et al., 2006; Kastelein et al., 2009; Reichmuth and Holt, 
2013).
    For more detail concerning these groups and associated frequency 
ranges, please see NMFS (2018a) for a review of available information. 
Five marine mammal species (three cetacean and two pinniped (one 
otariid and one phocid) species) have the reasonable potential to co-
occur with the proposed project activities. Please refer to Table 2. Of 
the cetacean species that may be present, one is classified as a low-
frequency cetacean (humpback whale),

[[Page 56433]]

one is classified as a mid-frequency cetacean (killer whale), and one 
is classified as a high-frequency cetacean (Dall's porpoise).

Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and Their 
Habitat

    This section includes a summary and discussion of the ways that 
components of the specified activity may impact marine mammals and 
their habitat. The Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment section 
later in this document includes a quantitative analysis of the number 
of individuals that are expected to be taken by this activity. The 
Negligible Impact Analysis and Determination section considers the 
content of this section, the Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment 
section, and the Proposed Mitigation section, to draw conclusions 
regarding the likely impacts of these activities on the reproductive 
success or survivorship of individuals and how those impacts on 
individuals are likely to impact marine mammal species or stocks.

Description of Sound Sources

    The marine soundscape is comprised of both ambient and 
anthropogenic sounds. Ambient sound is defined as the all-encompassing 
sound in a given place and is usually a composite of sound from many 
sources both near and far. The sound level of an area is defined by the 
total acoustical energy being generated by known and unknown sources. 
These sources may include physical (e.g., waves, wind, precipitation, 
earthquakes, ice, atmospheric sound), biological (e.g., sounds produced 
by marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates), and anthropogenic sound 
(e.g., vessels, dredging, aircraft, construction).
    The sum of the various natural and anthropogenic sound sources at 
any given location and time--which comprise ``ambient'' or 
``background'' sound--depends not only on the source levels (as 
determined by current weather conditions and levels of biological and 
shipping activity) but also on the ability of sound to propagate 
through the environment. In turn, sound propagation is dependent on the 
spatially and temporally varying properties of the water column and sea 
floor, and is frequency-dependent. As a result of the dependence on a 
large number of varying factors, ambient sound levels can be expected 
to vary widely over both coarse and fine spatial and temporal scales. 
Sound levels at a given frequency and location can vary by 10-20 dB 
from day to day (Richardson et al. 1995). The result is that, depending 
on the source type and its intensity, sound from the specified activity 
may be a negligible addition to the local environment or could form a 
distinctive signal that may affect marine mammals.
    In-water construction activities associated with the project would 
include impact pile driving, vibratory pile driving, and vibratory pile 
removal. The sounds produced by these activities fall into one of two 
general sound types: Impulsive and non-impulsive. Impulsive sounds 
(e.g., explosions, gunshots, sonic booms, impact pile driving) are 
typically transient, brief (less than 1 second), broadband, and consist 
of high peak sound pressure with rapid rise time and rapid decay (ANSI 
1986; NIOSH 1998; ANSI 2005; NMFS 2018a). Non-impulsive sounds (e.g. 
aircraft, machinery operations such as drilling or dredging, vibratory 
pile driving, and active sonar systems) can be broadband, narrowband or 
tonal, brief or prolonged (continuous or intermittent), and typically 
do not have the high peak sound pressure with raid rise/decay time that 
impulsive sounds do (ANSI 1995; NIOSH 1998; NMFS 2018a). The 
distinction between these two sound types is important because they 
have differing potential to cause physical effects, particularly with 
regard to hearing (e.g., Ward 1997 in Southall et al. 2007).
    Two types of pile hammers would be used on this project: Impact and 
vibratory. Impact hammers operate by repeatedly dropping a heavy piston 
onto a pile to drive the pile into the substrate. Sound generated by 
impact hammers is characterized by rapid rise times and high peak 
levels, a potentially injurious combination (Hastings and Popper 2005). 
Vibratory hammers install piles by vibrating them and allowing the 
weight of the hammer to push them into the sediment. Vibratory hammers 
produce significantly less sound than impact hammers. Peak sound 
pressure levels (SPLs) may be 180 dB or greater, but are generally 10 
to 20 dB lower than SPLs generated during impact pile driving of the 
same-sized pile (Oestman et al. 2009). Rise time is slower, reducing 
the probability and severity of injury, and sound energy is distributed 
over a greater amount of time (Nedwell and Edwards 2002; Carlson et al. 
2005).
    The likely or possible impacts of ADOT&PF's proposed activity on 
marine mammals could involve both non-acoustic and acoustic stressors. 
Potential non-acoustic stressors could result from the physical 
presence of the equipment and personnel; however, any impacts to marine 
mammals are expected to primarily be acoustic in nature. Acoustic 
stressors include effects of heavy equipment operation during pile 
installation and removal.

Acoustic Impacts

    The introduction of anthropogenic noise into the aquatic 
environment from pile driving and removal is the primary means by which 
marine mammals may be harassed from ADOT&PF's specified activity. In 
general, animals exposed to natural or anthropogenic sound may 
experience physical and psychological effects, ranging in magnitude 
from none to severe (Southall et al. 2007). In general, exposure to 
pile driving and removal noise has the potential to result in auditory 
threshold shifts and behavioral reactions (e.g., avoidance, temporary 
cessation of foraging and vocalizing, changes in dive behavior). 
Exposure to anthropogenic noise can also lead to non-observable 
physiological responses such an increase in stress hormones. Additional 
noise in a marine mammal's habitat can mask acoustic cues used by 
marine mammals to carry out daily functions such as communication and 
predator and prey detection. The effects of pile driving and removal 
noise on marine mammals are dependent on several factors, including, 
but not limited to, sound type (e.g., impulsive vs. non-impulsive), the 
species, age and sex class (e.g., adult male vs. mom with calf), 
duration of exposure, the distance between the pile and the animal, 
received levels, behavior at time of exposure, and previous history 
with exposure (Wartzok et al. 2004; Southall et al. 2007). Here we 
discuss physical auditory effects (threshold shifts) followed by 
behavioral effects and potential impacts on habitat.
    NMFS defines a noise-induced threshold shift (TS) as a change, 
usually an increase, in the threshold of audibility at a specified 
frequency or portion of an individual's hearing range above a 
previously established reference level (NMFS 2018a). The amount of 
threshold shift is customarily expressed in dB. A TS can be permanent 
or temporary. As described in NMFS (2018a), there are numerous factors 
to consider when examining the consequence of TS, including, but not 
limited to, the signal temporal pattern (e.g., impulsive or non-
impulsive), likelihood an individual would be exposed for a long enough 
duration or to a high enough level to induce a TS, the magnitude of the 
TS, time to recovery (seconds to minutes or hours to days), the 
frequency range of the exposure (i.e., spectral content), the hearing 
and vocalization frequency range of the exposed species relative to the 
signal's frequency spectrum (i.e.,

[[Page 56434]]

how an animal uses sound within the frequency band of the signal; e.g., 
Kastelein et al. 2014), and the overlap between the animal and the 
source (e.g., spatial, temporal, and spectral).
    Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)--NMFS defines PTS as a permanent, 
irreversible increase in the threshold of audibility at a specified 
frequency or portion of an individual's hearing range above a 
previously established reference level (NMFS 2018a). Available data 
from humans and other terrestrial mammals indicate that a 40 dB 
threshold shift approximates PTS onset (see Ward et al. 1958, 1959; 
Ward 1960; Kryter et al. 1966; Miller 1974; Ahroon et al. 1996; 
Henderson et al. 2008). PTS levels for marine mammals are estimates, as 
with the exception of a single study unintentionally inducing PTS in a 
harbor seal (Kastak et al. 2008), there are no empirical data measuring 
PTS in marine mammals largely due to the fact that, for various ethical 
reasons, experiments involving anthropogenic noise exposure at levels 
inducing PTS are not typically pursued or authorized (NMFS 2018a).
    Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS)--A temporary, reversible increase 
in the threshold of audibility at a specified frequency or portion of 
an individual's hearing range above a previously established reference 
level (NMFS 2018a). Based on data from cetacean TTS measurements (see 
Southall et al. 2007), a TTS of 6 dB is considered the minimum 
threshold shift clearly larger than any day-to-day or session-to-
session variation in a subject's normal hearing ability (Schlundt et 
al. 2000; Finneran et al. 2000, 2002). As described in Finneran (2015), 
marine mammal studies have shown the amount of TTS increases with 
cumulative sound exposure level (SELcum) in an accelerating fashion: At 
low exposures with lower SELcum, the amount of TTS is typically small 
and the growth curves have shallow slopes. At exposures with higher 
SELcum, the growth curves become steeper and approach linear 
relationships with the noise SEL.
    Depending on the degree (elevation of threshold in dB), duration 
(i.e., recovery time), and frequency range of TTS, and the context in 
which it is experienced, TTS can have effects on marine mammals ranging 
from discountable to serious (similar to those discussed in auditory 
masking, below). For example, a marine mammal may be able to readily 
compensate for a brief, relatively small amount of TTS in a non-
critical frequency range that takes place during a time when the animal 
is traveling through the open ocean, where ambient noise is lower and 
there are not as many competing sounds present. Alternatively, a larger 
amount and longer duration of TTS sustained during time when 
communication is critical for successful mother/calf interactions could 
have more serious impacts. We note that reduced hearing sensitivity as 
a simple function of aging has been observed in marine mammals, as well 
as humans and other taxa (Southall et al. 2007), so we can infer that 
strategies exist for coping with this condition to some degree, though 
likely not without cost.
    Currently, TTS data only exist for four species of cetaceans 
(bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus 
leucas), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and Yangtze finless 
porpoise (Neophocoena asiaeorientalis)) and five species of pinnipeds 
exposed to a limited number of sound sources (i.e., mostly tones and 
octave-band noise) in laboratory settings (Finneran 2015). TTS was not 
observed in trained spotted (Phoca largha) and ringed (Pusa hispida) 
seals exposed to impulsive noise at levels matching previous 
predictions of TTS onset (Reichmuth et al. 2016). In general, harbor 
seals and harbor porpoises have a lower TTS onset than other measured 
pinniped or cetacean species (Finneran 2015). Additionally, the 
existing marine mammal TTS data come from a limited number of 
individuals within these species. No data are available on noise-
induced hearing loss for mysticetes. For summaries of data on TTS in 
marine mammals or for further discussion of TTS onset thresholds, 
please see Southall et al. (2007), Finneran and Jenkins (2012), 
Finneran (2015), and Table 5 in NMFS (2018a). Installing piles requires 
a combination of impact pile driving and vibratory pile driving. For 
the project, these activities would not occur at the same time and 
there would likely be pauses in activities producing the sound during 
each day. Given these pauses and that many marine mammals are likely 
moving through the ensonified area and not remaining for extended 
periods of time, the potential for TS declines.
    Behavioral Harassment--Exposure to noise from pile driving and 
removal also has the potential to behaviorally disturb marine mammals. 
Available studies show wide variation in response to underwater sound; 
therefore, it is difficult to predict specifically how any given sound 
in a particular instance might affect marine mammals perceiving the 
signal. If a marine mammal does react briefly to an underwater sound by 
changing its behavior or moving a small distance, the impacts of the 
change are unlikely to be significant to the individual, let alone the 
stock or population. However, if a sound source displaces marine 
mammals from an important feeding or breeding area for a prolonged 
period, impacts on individuals and populations could be significant 
(e.g., Lusseau and Bejder 2007; Weilgart 2007; NRC 2005).
    Disturbance may result in changing durations of surfacing and 
dives, number of blows per surfacing, or moving direction and/or speed; 
reduced/increased vocal activities; changing/cessation of certain 
behavioral activities (such as socializing or feeding); visible startle 
response or aggressive behavior (such as tail/fluke slapping or jaw 
clapping); avoidance of areas where sound sources are located. 
Pinnipeds may increase their haul out time, possibly to avoid in-water 
disturbance (Thorson and Reyff 2006). Behavioral responses to sound are 
highly variable and context-specific and any reactions depend on 
numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors (e.g., species, state of 
maturity, experience, current activity, reproductive state, auditory 
sensitivity, time of day), as well as the interplay between factors 
(e.g., Richardson et al. 1995; Wartzok et al. 2003; Southall et al. 
2007; Weilgart 2007; Archer et al. 2010). Behavioral reactions can vary 
not only among individuals but also within an individual, depending on 
previous experience with a sound source, context, and numerous other 
factors (Ellison et al. 2012), and can vary depending on 
characteristics associated with the sound source (e.g., whether it is 
moving or stationary, number of sources, distance from the source). In 
general, pinnipeds seem more tolerant of, or at least habituate more 
quickly to, potentially disturbing underwater sound than do cetaceans, 
and generally seem to be less responsive to exposure to industrial 
sound than most cetaceans. Please see Appendices B-C of Southall et al. 
(2007) for a review of studies involving marine mammal behavioral 
responses to sound.
    Disruption of feeding behavior can be difficult to correlate with 
anthropogenic sound exposure, so it is usually inferred by observed 
displacement from known foraging areas, the appearance of secondary 
indicators (e.g., bubble nets or sediment plumes), or changes in dive 
behavior. As for other types of behavioral response, the frequency, 
duration, and temporal pattern of signal presentation, as well as 
differences in species sensitivity, are likely contributing factors to 
differences in response in any given circumstance (e.g., Croll et al. 
2001; Nowacek et al.

[[Page 56435]]

2004; Madsen et al. 2006; Yazvenko et al. 2007). A determination of 
whether foraging disruptions incur fitness consequences would require 
information on or estimates of the energetic requirements of the 
affected individuals and the relationship between prey availability, 
foraging effort and success, and the life history stage of the animal.
    In 2016, ADOT&PF documented observations of marine mammals during 
construction activities (i.e., pile driving and down-hole drilling) at 
the Kodiak Ferry Dock (see 80 FR 60636, October 7, 2015, for Final IHA 
Federal Register notice). In the marine mammal monitoring report for 
that project (ABR 2016), 1,281 Steller sea lions were observed within 
the behavioral disturbance zone during pile driving or drilling (i.e., 
documented as Level B harassment take). Of these, 19 individuals 
demonstrated an alert behavior, 7 were fleeing, and 19 swam away from 
the project site. All other animals were engaged in activities such as 
milling, foraging, or fighting and did not change their behavior. In 
addition, two sea lions approached within 20 meters of active vibratory 
pile driving activities. Harbor seals were observed within the 
disturbance zone during pile driving activities; none of them displayed 
disturbance behaviors. Killer whales were also observed within the 
Level B harassment zone during pile driving, and were travelling or 
milling. No signs of disturbance were noted for killer whales. Given 
the similarities in activities and habitat and the fact the same 
species are involved, we expect similar behavioral responses of marine 
mammals to the specified activity. That is, disturbance, if any, is 
likely to be temporary and localized (e.g., small area movements). 
Monitoring reports from other recent pile driving projects have 
observed similar behaviors.
    Masking--Sound can disrupt behavior through masking, or interfering 
with, an animal's ability to detect, recognize, or discriminate between 
acoustic signals of interest (e.g., those used for intraspecific 
communication and social interactions, prey detection, predator 
avoidance, navigation) (Richardson et al. 1995). Masking occurs when 
the receipt of a sound is interfered with by another coincident sound 
at similar frequencies and at similar or higher intensity, and may 
occur whether the sound is natural (e.g., snapping shrimp, wind, waves, 
precipitation) or anthropogenic (e.g., pile driving, shipping, sonar, 
seismic exploration) in origin. The ability of a noise source to mask 
biologically important sounds depends on the characteristics of both 
the noise source and the signal of interest (e.g., signal-to-noise 
ratio, temporal variability, direction), in relation to each other and 
to an animal's hearing abilities (e.g., sensitivity, frequency range, 
critical ratios, frequency discrimination, directional discrimination, 
age or TTS hearing loss), and existing ambient noise and propagation 
conditions. Masking of natural sounds can result when human activities 
produce high levels of background sound at frequencies important to 
marine mammals. Conversely, if the background level of underwater sound 
is high (e.g., on a day with strong wind and high waves), an 
anthropogenic sound source would not be detectable as far away as would 
be possible under quieter conditions and would itself be masked.
    Airborne Acoustic Effects--Pinnipeds that occur near the project 
site could be exposed to airborne sounds associated with pile driving 
and removal that have the potential to cause behavioral harassment, 
depending on their distance from pile driving activities. Cetaceans are 
not expected to be exposed to airborne sounds that would result in 
harassment as defined under the MMPA.
    Airborne noise would primarily be an issue for pinnipeds that are 
swimming or hauled out near the project site within the range of noise 
levels exceeding the acoustic thresholds. We recognize that pinnipeds 
in the water could be exposed to airborne sound that may result in 
behavioral harassment when looking with their heads above water. Most 
likely, airborne sound would cause behavioral responses similar to 
those discussed above in relation to underwater sound. For instance, 
anthropogenic sound could cause hauled-out pinnipeds to exhibit changes 
in their normal behavior, such as reduction in vocalizations, or cause 
them to temporarily abandon the area and move further from the source. 
However, these animals would previously have been `taken' because of 
exposure to underwater sound above the behavioral harassment 
thresholds, which are in all cases larger than those associated with 
airborne sound. Thus, the behavioral harassment of these animals is 
already accounted for in these estimates of potential take. Therefore, 
we do not believe that authorization of incidental take resulting from 
airborne sound for pinnipeds is warranted, and airborne sound is not 
discussed further here.

Marine Mammal Habitat Effects

    ADOT&PF's construction activities could have localized, temporary 
impacts on marine mammal habitat by increasing in-water sound pressure 
levels and slightly decreasing water quality. Construction activities 
are of short duration and would likely have temporary impacts on marine 
mammal habitat through increases in underwater sound. Increased noise 
levels may affect acoustic habitat (see masking discussion above) and 
adversely affect marine mammal prey in the vicinity of the project area 
(see discussion below). During impact and vibratory pile driving, 
elevated levels of underwater noise would ensonify the canal where both 
fish and mammals may occur and could affect foraging success.
In-Water Construction Effects on Potential Foraging Habitat
    ADOT&PF's project involves moving the four piles comprising dolphin 
S3 1.2 m (4 feet), thus all habitat modification would remain within 
the same footprint as the existing ferry terminal and facilities. The 
total seafloor area affected from extracting and relocating piles is 
about 15 m\2\ (161 ft\2\), a small area compared to the vast foraging 
area available to marine mammals in Prince William Sound. The pile 
driving process may result in removing barnacles and mussels (potential 
harbor seal prey) from the pilings, but once reseated, these pilings 
would again be available as substrate for these invertebrates.
    Pile installation and removal may temporarily increase turbidity 
resulting from suspended sediments. Any increases would be temporary, 
localized, and minimal. ADOT&PF must comply with state water quality 
standards during these operations by limiting the extent of turbidity 
to the immediate project area. In general, turbidity associated with 
pile installation is localized to about a 25-foot radius around the 
pile (Everitt et al. 1980). Cetaceans are not expected to be close 
enough to the project pile driving areas to experience effects of 
turbidity, and any pinnipeds could avoid localized areas of turbidity. 
Therefore, the impact from increased turbidity levels is expected to be 
discountable to marine mammals. Furthermore, pile driving and removal 
at the project site would not obstruct movements or migration of marine 
mammals.
    Avoidance by potential prey (i.e., fish) of the immediate area due 
to the temporary loss of this foraging habitat is also possible. The 
duration of fish avoidance of this area after pile driving stops is 
unknown, but a rapid return to normal recruitment, distribution and 
behavior is anticipated. Any behavioral avoidance by fish of the 
disturbed area

[[Page 56436]]

would still leave significantly large areas of fish and marine mammal 
foraging habitat in the nearby vicinity in Prince William Sound.
    The duration of the construction activities is relatively short, 
with pile driving and removal activities expected to occur during just 
seven hours over six days. Impacts to habitat and prey are expected to 
be temporary and minimal based on the short duration of activities.

In-Water Construction Effects on Potential Prey (Fish)

    Construction activities would produce continuous (i.e., vibratory 
pile driving) and pulsed (i.e., impact driving) sounds. Fish react to 
sounds that are especially strong and/or intermittent low-frequency 
sounds. Short duration, sharp sounds can cause overt or subtle changes 
in fish behavior and local distribution. Hastings and Popper (2005) 
identified several studies that suggest fish may relocate to avoid 
certain areas of sound energy. Additional studies have documented 
effects of pile driving on fish, although several are based on studies 
in support of large, multiyear bridge construction projects (e.g., 
Scholik and Yan 2001, 2002; Popper and Hastings 2009). Sound pulses at 
received levels of 160 dB may cause subtle changes in fish behavior. 
SPLs of 180 dB may cause noticeable changes in behavior (Pearson et al. 
1992; Skalski et al. 1992). SPLs of sufficient strength have been known 
to cause injury to fish and fish mortality.
    The most likely impact to fish from pile driving and drilling 
activities at the project area would be temporary behavioral avoidance 
of the area. The duration of fish avoidance of this area after pile 
driving stops is unknown, but a rapid return to normal recruitment, 
distribution and behavior is anticipated. In general, impacts to marine 
mammal prey species are expected to be minor and temporary due to the 
short timeframe for the project. Additionally, fish species that are 
important marine mammal prey, such as Pacific herring and salmon, are 
unlikely to be present in appreciable numbers during the February-March 
work window (Bishop and Green 2009, NMFS 2019).
    Construction activities, in the form of increased turbidity, have 
the potential to adversely affect fish in the project area. Increased 
turbidity is expected to occur in the immediate vicinity (on the order 
of 10 feet or less) of construction activities. However, suspended 
sediments and particulates are expected to dissipate quickly within a 
single tidal cycle. Given the limited area affected, any effects on 
fish are expected to be minor or negligible. In addition, best 
management practices would be in effect, which would limit the extent 
of turbidity to the immediate project area.
    In summary, given the short daily duration of sound associated with 
individual pile driving and drilling events and the relatively small 
areas being affected, pile driving activities associated with the 
proposed action are not likely to have a permanent, adverse effect on 
any fish habitat, or populations of fish species. Thus, we conclude 
that impacts of the specified activity are not likely to have more than 
short-term adverse effects on any prey habitat or populations of prey 
species. Further, any impacts to marine mammal habitat are not expected 
to result in significant or long-term consequences for individual 
marine mammals, or to contribute to adverse impacts on their 
populations.

Estimated Take

    This section provides an estimate of the number of incidental takes 
proposed for authorization through this IHA, which will inform both 
NMFS' consideration of ``small numbers'' and the negligible impact 
determination.
    Harassment is the only type of take expected to result from these 
activities. 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).
    Authorized takes would be by Level B harassment only, in the form 
of disruption of behavioral patterns for individual marine mammals 
resulting from exposure to pile driving and removal activities. Based 
on the nature of the activity and the anticipated effectiveness of the 
mitigation measures (i.e., shutdown zones) discussed in detail below in 
Proposed Mitigation section, Level A harassment is neither anticipated 
nor proposed to be authorized.
    As described previously, no mortality is anticipated or proposed to 
be authorized for this activity. Below we describe how the take is 
estimated.
    Generally speaking, we estimate take by considering: (1) Acoustic 
thresholds above which NMFS believes the best available science 
indicates marine mammals will be behaviorally harassed or incur some 
degree of permanent hearing impairment; (2) the area or volume of water 
that will be ensonified above these levels in a day; (3) the density or 
occurrence of marine mammals within these ensonified areas; and, (4) 
and the number of days of activities. We note that while these basic 
factors can contribute to a basic calculation to provide an initial 
prediction of takes, additional information that can qualitatively 
inform take estimates is also sometimes available (e.g., previous 
monitoring results or average group size). Below, we describe the 
factors considered here in more detail and present the proposed take 
estimate.
Acoustic Thresholds
    Using the best available science, NMFS has developed acoustic 
thresholds that identify the received level of underwater sound above 
which exposed marine mammals would be reasonably expected to be 
behaviorally harassed (equated to Level B harassment) or to incur PTS 
of some degree (equated to Level A harassment).
    Level B Harassment for non-explosive sources--Though significantly 
driven by received level, the onset of behavioral disturbance from 
anthropogenic noise exposure is also informed to varying degrees by 
other factors related to the source (e.g., frequency, predictability, 
duty cycle), the environment (e.g., bathymetry), and the receiving 
animals (hearing, motivation, experience, demography, behavioral 
context) and can be difficult to predict (Southall et al., 2007, 
Ellison et al., 2012). Based on what the available science indicates 
and the practical need to use a threshold based on a factor that is 
both predictable and measurable for most activities, NMFS uses a 
generalized acoustic threshold based on received level to estimate the 
onset of behavioral harassment. NMFS predicts that marine mammals are 
likely to be behaviorally harassed in a manner we consider Level B 
harassment when exposed to underwater anthropogenic noise above 
received levels of 120 dB re 1 microPascal ([mu]Pa) root mean square 
(rms) for continuous (e.g., vibratory pile-driving, drilling) and above 
160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) for non-explosive impulsive (e.g., seismic 
airguns) or intermittent (e.g., scientific sonar) sources.
    ADOT&PF's proposed activity includes the use of continuous 
(vibratory pile driving and removal) and impulsive (impact pile 
driving) sources, and therefore the 120 and 160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) 
thresholds are applicable.
    Level A harassment for non-explosive sources--NMFS' Technical 
Guidance for Assessing the Effects of

[[Page 56437]]

Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing (Version 2.0) (NMFS, 
2018a) identifies dual criteria to assess auditory injury (Level A 
harassment) to five different marine mammal groups (based on hearing 
sensitivity) as a result of exposure to noise from two different types 
of sources (impulsive or non-impulsive). ADOT&PF's proposed activity 
includes the use of impulsive (impact pile driving) and non-impulsive 
(vibratory pile driving and removal) sources.
    These thresholds are provided in the table below. The references, 
analysis, and methodology used in the development of the thresholds are 
described in NMFS 2018 Technical Guidance, which may be accessed at 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-acoustic-technical-guidance.

                  Table 4--Thresholds Identifying the Onset of Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    PTS Onset Acoustic Thresholds * (Received Level)
             Hearing group             -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Impulsive                          Non-impulsive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency (LF) Cetaceans..........  Cell 1: Lpk,flat: 219 dB;  Cell 2: LE,LF,24h: 199 dB
                                         LE,LF,24h: 183 dB.
Mid-Frequency (MF) Cetaceans..........  Cell 3: Lpk,flat: 230 dB;  Cell 4: LE,MF,24h: 198 dB
                                         LE,MF,24h: 185 dB.
High-Frequency (HF) Cetaceans.........  Cell 5: Lpk,flat: 202 dB;  Cell 6: LE,HF,24h: 173 dB
                                         LE,HF,24h: 155 dB.
Phocid Pinnipeds (PW) (Underwater)....  Cell 7: Lpk,flat: 218 dB;  Cell 8: LE,PW,24h: 201 dB
                                         LE,PW,24h: 185 dB.
Otariid Pinnipeds (OW) (Underwater)...  Cell 9: Lpk,flat: 232 dB;  Cell 10: LE,OW,24h: 219 dB
                                         LE,OW,24h: 203 dB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Dual metric acoustic thresholds for impulsive sounds: Use whichever results in the largest isopleth for
  calculating PTS onset. If a non-impulsive sound has the potential of exceeding the peak sound pressure level
  thresholds associated with impulsive sounds, these thresholds should also be considered.
Note: Peak sound pressure (Lpk) has a reference value of 1 [micro]Pa, and cumulative sound exposure level (LE)
  has a reference value of 1[micro]Pa\2\s. In this Table, thresholds are abbreviated to reflect American
  National Standards Institute standards (ANSI 2013). However, peak sound pressure is defined by ANSI as
  incorporating frequency weighting, which is not the intent for this Technical Guidance. Hence, the subscript
  ``flat'' is being included to indicate peak sound pressure should be flat weighted or unweighted within the
  generalized hearing range. The subscript associated with cumulative sound exposure level thresholds indicates
  the designated marine mammal auditory weighting function (LF, MF, and HF cetaceans, and PW and OW pinnipeds)
  and that the recommended accumulation period is 24 hours. The cumulative sound exposure level thresholds could
  be exceeded in a multitude of ways (i.e., varying exposure levels and durations, duty cycle). When possible,
  it is valuable for action proponents to indicate the conditions under which these acoustic thresholds will be
  exceeded.

Ensonified Area

    Here, we describe operational and environmental parameters of the 
activity that will feed into identifying the area ensonified above the 
acoustic thresholds, which include source levels and transmission loss 
coefficient.
    The sound field in the project area is the existing background 
noise plus additional construction noise from the proposed project. 
Marine mammals are expected to be affected via sound generated by the 
primary components of the project (i.e., impact pile driving, vibratory 
pile driving and removal). The maximum (underwater) area ensonified 
above the thresholds for behavioral harassment referenced above is 20.5 
km\2\ (7.9 mi\2\) and is governed by the inlet topography.
    The project includes vibratory and impact pile installation of 
steel pipe piles and vibratory removal of steel pipe piles. Source 
levels of pile installation and removal activities are based on reviews 
of measurements of the same or similar types and dimensions of piles 
available in the literature. Source levels for each pile size and 
driving method are presented in Table 5. The vibratory and impact 
source levels for 30-inch (0.76m) pile installation is from pile 
driving activities at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal in November 2015 
(Denes et al., 2016). Source levels for vibratory installation and 
removal of piles of the same diameter are assumed to be the same.

                              Table 5--Sound Source Levels for Pile Driving Methods
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Source level (SPL at 10m)
         Pile size and method          ------------------------------------------------     Literature source
                                            dB RMS         dB SEL a         dB peak
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30-inch Vibratory.....................           168.0             N/A             N/A  Denes et al. 2016.
30-inch Impact........................           191.3             N/A           206.0  Denes et al. 2016.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\[thinsp]Sound exposure level (dB re 1 [mu]Pa\2\-sec).

    Transmission loss (TL) is the decrease in acoustic intensity as an 
acoustic pressure wave propagates out from a source. TL parameters vary 
with frequency, temperature, sea conditions, current, source and 
receiver depth, water depth, water chemistry, and bottom composition 
and topography. The general formula for underwater TL is:

TL = B * Log10 (R1/R2), where

TL = transmission loss in dB
B = transmission loss coefficient
R1 = the distance of the modeled SPL from the driven 
pile, and
R2 = the distance from the driven pile of the initial 
measurement

    Absent site-specific acoustical monitoring with differing measured 
transmission loss, a practical spreading value of 15 is used as the 
transmission loss coefficient in the above formula. Site-specific 
transmission loss data for Whittier are not available, therefore the 
default coefficient of 15 is used to determine the distances to the 
Level A and Level B harassment thresholds.

[[Page 56438]]



               Table 6--Pile Driving Source Levels and Distances to Level B Harassment Thresholds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Level B                                         Level B
                                   Source level    threshold (dB    Propagation     Distance to     harassment
      Pile size and method         at 10m (dB re    re 1 [mu]Pa       (xLogR)         Level B       ensonified
                                   1 [mu]Pa rms)       rms)                       threshold (km)   area (km\2\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30-inch Vibratory...............           168.0             120              15            15.8            20.5
30-inch Impact..................           191.3             160              15             1.2            1.24
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When the NMFS Technical Guidance (2016) was published, in 
recognition of the fact that ensonified area/volume could be more 
technically challenging to predict because of the duration component in 
the new thresholds, we developed a User Spreadsheet that includes tools 
to help predict a simple isopleth that can be used in conjunction with 
marine mammal density or occurrence to help predict takes. We note that 
because of some of the assumptions included in the methods used for 
these tools, we anticipate that isopleths produced are typically going 
to be overestimates of some degree, which may result in some degree of 
overestimate of Level A harassment take. However, these tools offer the 
best way to predict appropriate isopleths when more sophisticated 3D 
modeling methods are not available, and NMFS continues to develop ways 
to quantitatively refine these tools, and will qualitatively address 
the output where appropriate. For stationary sources such as pile 
driving, NMFS User Spreadsheet predicts the distance at which, if a 
marine mammal remained at that distance the whole duration of the 
activity, it would incur PTS. Inputs used in the User Spreadsheet, and 
the resulting isopleths are reported below.

          Table 7--User Spreadsheet Input Parameters Used for Calculating Level A Harassment Isopleths
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        30-inch pile vibratory    30-inch pile impact
  Pile size and installation method        installation and      installation (SELcum)     30-inch pile impact
                                               removal                                      installation (PK)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spreadsheet Tab Used.................  A.(1)Vibratory pile      E.(1) Impact pile        E.(1) Impact pile
                                        driving.                 driving.                 driving.
Weighting Factor Adjustment (kHz)....  2.5....................  2......................  2.
Source Level ([email protected])...............  168.0 dB rms...........  191.3 dB rms...........  206 dB peak.
Number of piles within 24-h period...  1.5....................  1.5....................
Duration to drive a single pile        45.....................
 (minutes).
Strike Duration (seconds)............  .......................  0.1....................
Number of strikes per pile...........  .......................  400....................
Activity Duration (seconds) within 24- 4050...................  60.....................
 h period.
Propagation (xLogR)..................  15.....................  15.....................
Distance from source level             10.....................  10.....................  10.
 measurement (meters).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          Table 8--Calculated Distances to Level A Harassment Isopleths
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Level A harassment zone (m)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Activity                                                   High-
                                   Low-frequency   Mid-frequency     frequency        Phocid          Otariid
                                     cetaceans       cetaceans       cetaceans       pinnipeds       pinnipeds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30-inch Pile Vibratory                        22               2              32              13               1
 Installation and Removal.......
30-inch Pile Impact Installation             547              20             652             293              21
 (SELcum).......................
30-inch Pile Impact Installation               1              NA              19               2             N/A
 (PK)...........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marine Mammal Occurrence and Take Calculation and Estimation

    In this section we provide the information about the presence, 
density, or group dynamics of marine mammals that will inform the take 
calculations. No systematic surveys for marine mammals have occurred in 
Passage Canal. Animal presence is based on the observations by whale 
watching charters based out of Whittier, which specifically search for 
marine mammals in Passage Canal and one of which operates during the 
February and March construction window.
    Here we describe how the information provided above is brought 
together to produce a quantitative take estimate. Because reliable 
densities are not available and marine mammal presence in Passage Canal 
is minimal, take requests are species specific and a general take 
calculation formula does not apply.
Humpback Whale
    Based on over two decades of whale watching activity in Passage 
Canal, humpback whales have been observed in Passage Canal on only very 
rare occasions and remained for very short periods (M. Bender, Lazy 
Otter Charters, pers. comm.). Reported occurrence is approximately once 
per year (M. Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.).
    ADOT&PF estimates that one humpback whale may enter Passage Canal 
and remain in the Canal for several days during the project if herring 
are present. Therefore, ADOT&PF has requested take of one whale for 
each of the six project days for a total of six humpback whale takes.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for humpback whales extends 
547m from the source during impact installation of 30-inch (0.76m) 
piles (Table 8). Given the irregular and small presence of humpback 
whales in Passage Canal, and the fact that PSOs are expected to detect 
humpback whales before they enter the Level A harassment zone and 
implement

[[Page 56439]]

shutdowns to prevent take by Level A harassment, Level A harassment 
takes of humpback whales have not been requested and are not proposed 
to be authorized.
Killer Whale
    On rare occasions killer whales have been reported to make brief 
sorties into Passage Canal, but they are not regular residents there 
(M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.). They are seen in the 
inlet approximately once each year (M. Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, 
pers. comm.). ADOT&PF estimates that one pod may enter the Level B 
harassment zone during the project. Based on that estimate, ADOT&PF 
requests 20 killer whale takes, which equates to the largest, single 
pod (AB) entering the project area on one day of pile driving.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for killer whales extends 20 m 
from the source during impact installation of 30-inch (0.76m) piles 
(Table 8). Given the irregular and small presence of killer whales in 
Passage Canal, and the fact that PSOs are expected to detect killer 
whales before they enter the Level A harassment zone and implement 
shutdown zones to prevent take by Level A harassment, Level A 
harassment takes of killer whales have not been requested and are not 
proposed to be authorized.
Dall's Porpoise
    Dall's porpoises have occasionally been observed near the entrance 
of Passage Canal, but within the inlet they are considered exceedingly 
rare (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.; M. Kopec, Whittier 
Marine Charters, pers. comm.). ADOT&PF has requested take of five 
Dall's porpoise, based on the springtime average group size (4.59 
individuals) from Prince William Sound surveys conducted by Moran et 
al. (2018). The estimate assumes that one group enters the Level B 
harassment zone on one day of pile driving.
    The largest SELcum Level A harassment zone for Dall's 
porpoise extends 652m from the source during impact installation of 30-
inch (0.76m) piles (Table 8), while the Peak Level A harassment zone 
for the same activity is 19m (Table 8). As noted in Table 10, a 200-m 
shutdown zone will be implemented for Dall's porpoises. The 
SELcum Level A harassment zone includes a time component, 
however, we do not expect Dall's porpoises to remain in the area within 
652m during impact pile driving for a long enough period to experience 
Level A harassment. Therefore, takes of Dall's porpoises by Level A 
harassment have not been requested and are not proposed to be 
authorized.
Steller Sea Lion
    Steller sea lions are often seen near Whittier during May to August 
salmon runs but are irregularly seen in the Action Area the rest of the 
year, although as many as ten sea lions haul out year-round on a 
channel buoy within Shotgun Cove approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast 
of the Action Area (M. Bender, Lazy Otter Charters, pers. comm.; M. 
Kopec, Whittier Marine Charters, pers. comm.).
    An average of five Steller sea lions haul out on the buoy in 
Shotgun Cove. ADOT&PF estimates that half of those animals (average of 
2.5) may enter the Level B harassment zone on each of the six days of 
pile driving, and requests a total of 15 Level B harassment takes of 
Steller sea lions. Due to the limited prey availability in the project 
area in February and March (Bishop and Green 2009, NMFS 2019), NMFS 
acknowledges that the requested Level B harassment takes are unlikely 
to occur. However, the takes are being both proposed for authorization 
and analyzed at the request of the applicant to ensure MMPA coverage 
should they occur in the ensonified zone during the specified 
activities.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for otariid pinnipeds extends 
21m from the source during impact installation of 30-inch (0.76m) piles 
(Table 8). ADOT&PF is planning to implement a minimum 25-m shutdown 
zone during all pile installation and removal activities (see Proposed 
Mitigation section), which is expected to eliminate the potential for 
Level A harassment take of Steller sea lions. Therefore, takes of 
Steller sea lions by Level A harassment have not been requested and are 
not proposed to be authorized.
Harbor Seal
    Harbor seal use of the project area is occasional and sporadic. If 
food is available, small numbers of harbor seals may remain for 
extended periods in the Whittier boat harbors feeding on sessile 
invertebrates growing on harbor pilings. Otherwise, they are only 
occasionally seen in the mid-inlet, although sightings do occur year-
round. Recently, four to ten seals (typically about five) have been 
observed hauling out on a rock pinnacle in Logging Camp Bay located 
12.4 km (7.7 mi) east of the project area (M. Bender, Lazy Otter 
Charters, pers. comm.). ADOT&PF assumes that on any given day, half 
(2.5 average) of these seals might occur in the Level B harassment zone 
during each of the six days of pile driving, and therefore is 
requesting 15 Level B harassment takes of harbor seals.
    The largest SELcum Level A harassment zone for phocid 
pinnipeds extends 293m from the source during impact installation of 
30-inch (0.76m) piles (Table 8), while the Peak Level A harassment zone 
for the same activity is 1.6m (Table 8) . ADOT&PF is planning to 
implement a 50-m shutdown zone during vibratory pile installation and 
removal activities and a 100-m shutdown zone during impact pile 
installation for phocid pinnipeds (Table 10). The SELcum 
Level A harassment zone includes a time component, however, we do not 
expect harbor seals to remain in the area within 293m during impact 
pile driving for a long enough period to experience Level A harassment. 
Therefore, takes of harbor seals by Level A harassment have not been 
requested and are not proposed to be authorized.

                    Table 9--Estimated Take by Level B Harassment Only, by Species and Stock
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Proposed take
              Common name                         Stock                Stock       Level B take    as percentage
                                                                    abundance a                      of stock
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Humpback whale........................  Central North Pacific...          10,103             b 6            0.06
Killer whale..........................  Eastern North Pacific,             2,347              20            0.85
                                         Alaska Resident.
                                        Gulf, Aleutian, Bering               587              20            3.41
                                         Transient.
Dall's porpoise.......................  Alaska..................          83,400               5            0.01
Steller sea lion......................  Western U.S.............          54,267              15            0.03
Harbor seal...........................  Prince William Sound....          29,889              15            0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a Stock or DPS size is Nbest according to NMFS 2018 Stock Assessment Reports.
b For ESA section 7 consultation purposes, 89% of humpbacks in the project area are designated to the Hawaii
  DPS, therefore, this individual humpback whale is expected to be from the Hawaii DPS.


[[Page 56440]]

Proposed 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 (latter not applicable for this action). NMFS 
regulations require applicants for incidental take authorizations to 
include information about the availability and feasibility (economic 
and technological) of equipment, methods, and manner of conducting such 
activity or other means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact upon the affected species or stocks and their habitat (50 CFR 
216.104(a)(11)).
    In evaluating how mitigation may or may not be appropriate to 
ensure the least practicable adverse impact on species or stocks and 
their habitat, as well as subsistence uses where applicable, we 
carefully consider two primary factors:
    (1) The manner in which, and the degree to which, the successful 
implementation of the measure(s) is expected to reduce impacts to 
marine mammals, marine mammal species or stocks, and their habitat. 
This considers the nature of the potential adverse impact being 
mitigated (likelihood, scope, range). It further considers the 
likelihood that the measure will be effective if implemented 
(probability of accomplishing the mitigating result if implemented as 
planned), the likelihood of effective implementation (probability 
implemented as planned), and;
    (2) the practicability of the measures for applicant 
implementation, which may consider such things as cost, impact on 
operations, and, in the case of a military readiness activity, 
personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and impact on the 
effectiveness of the military readiness activity.
    In addition to the measures described later in this section, 
ADOT&PF will employ the following standard mitigation measures:
     Conduct briefings between construction supervisors and 
crews and the marine mammal monitoring team prior to the start of all 
pile driving activity, and when new personnel join the work, to explain 
responsibilities, communication procedures, marine mammal monitoring 
protocol, and operational procedures;
     For in-water heavy machinery work other than pile driving 
(e.g., standard barges, etc.), 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; or (2) positioning of the pile on the 
substrate via a crane (i.e., stabbing the pile);
     To minimize impacts from vessel interactions with marine 
mammals, the crew aboard project vessels (tugs, barges, and monitoring 
vessels) will follow NMFS's marine mammal viewing guidelines and 
regulations as practicable
     Work may only occur during daylight hours, when visual 
monitoring of marine mammals can be conducted;
     For those marine mammals for which Level B harassment take 
has not been requested, in-water pile installation/removal will shut 
down immediately if such species are observed within or on a path 
towards the monitoring zone (i.e., Level B harassment zone); and
     If take reaches the authorized limit for an authorized 
species, pile installation will be stopped as these species approach 
the Level B harassment zone to avoid additional take.
    The following mitigation measures would apply to ADOT&PF's in-water 
construction activities:
    Establishment of Shutdown Zone for Level A Harassment--For all pile 
driving/removal and drilling activities, ADOT&PF will establish a 
shutdown zone. The purpose of a shutdown zone is generally to define an 
area within which shutdown of activity would occur upon sighting of a 
marine mammal (or in anticipation of an animal entering the defined 
area). Shutdown zones will vary based on the activity type and marine 
mammal hearing group (see Table 10). The largest shutdown zones are 
generally for low frequency and high frequency cetaceans as shown in 
Table 10. The placement of Protected Species Observers (PSOs) during 
all pile driving and pile removal activities (described in detail in 
the Proposed Monitoring and Reporting Section) will ensure that the 
entire shutdown zone is visible during pile installation.

                          Table 10--Shutdown Zones During Pile Installation and Removal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Shutdown zone (m)
            Activity             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   LF cetaceans    MF cetaceans    HF cetaceans       Phocids        Otariids
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vibratory pile installation and               50
 removal........................
Impact pile installation........             550              25             200             100              25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Establishment of Monitoring Zones for Level B Harassment--ADOT&PF 
would establish monitoring zones to correlate with Level B harassment 
zones or zones of influence which are areas where SPLs are equal to or 
exceed the 160 dB rms threshold for impact driving and the 120 dB rms 
threshold during vibratory driving and drilling. Monitoring zones 
provide utility for observing by establishing monitoring protocols for 
areas adjacent to the shutdown zones. Monitoring zones enable observers 
to be aware of and communicate the presence of marine mammals in the 
project area outside the shutdown zone and thus prepare for a potential 
cease of activity should the animal enter the shutdown zone. The 
proposed monitoring zones are described in Table 11. Placement of PSOs 
on the shorelines around Passage Canal allow PSOs to observe marine 
mammals within Passage Canal. Should PSOs determine the monitoring zone 
cannot be effectively observed in its entirety, Level B harassment 
exposures will be recorded and extrapolated based upon the number of 
observed take and the percentage of the Level B harassment zone that 
was not visible.

[[Page 56441]]



                                    Table 11--Marine Mammal Monitoring Zones
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Activity                                            Monitoring zone (m)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vibratory pile installation and removal...............                                                    12,000
Impact pile installation..............................                                                     1,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Soft Start--The use of soft-start procedures are believed to 
provide additional protection to marine mammals by providing warning 
and/or giving marine mammals a chance to leave the area prior to the 
hammer operating at full capacity. For impact pile driving, contractors 
would be required to provide an initial set of strikes from the hammer 
at reduced energy, with each strike followed by a 30-second waiting 
period. This procedure would be conducted a total of three times before 
impact pile driving begins. Soft start would be implemented at the 
start of each day's impact pile driving and at any time following 
cessation of impact pile driving for a period of thirty minutes or 
longer. Soft start is not required during vibratory pile driving and 
removal activities.
    Pre-Activity Monitoring--Prior to the start of daily in-water 
construction activity, or whenever a break in pile driving/removal or 
drilling of 30 minutes or longer occurs, PSOs will observe the shutdown 
and monitoring zones for a period of 30 minutes. The shutdown zone will 
be cleared when a marine mammal has not been observed within the zone 
for that 30-minute period. If a marine mammal is observed within the 
shutdown zone, a soft-start cannot proceed until the animal has left 
the zone or has not been observed for 15 minutes. If the Level B 
harassment zone has been observed for 30 minutes and no species for 
which take is not authorized are present within the zone, soft start 
procedures can commence and work can continue even if visibility 
becomes impaired within the Level B harassment monitoring zone. When a 
marine mammal for which Level B harassment take is authorized is 
present in the Level B harassment zone, activities may begin and Level 
B harassment take will be recorded. As stated above, if the entire 
Level B harassment zone is not visible at the start of construction, 
piling or drilling activities can begin. If work ceases for more than 
30 minutes, the pre-activity monitoring of both the Level B harassment 
and shutdown zones will commence.

Proposed 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 
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. Effective reporting is critical both to 
compliance as well as ensuring that the most value is obtained from the 
required monitoring.
    Monitoring and reporting requirements prescribed by NMFS should 
contribute to improved understanding of one or more of the following:
     Occurrence of marine mammal species or stocks in the area 
in which take is anticipated (e.g., presence, abundance, distribution, 
density).
     Nature, scope, or context of likely marine mammal exposure 
to potential stressors/impacts (individual or cumulative, acute or 
chronic), through better understanding of: (1) Action or environment 
(e.g., source characterization, propagation, ambient noise); (2) 
affected species (e.g., life history, dive patterns); (3) co-occurrence 
of marine mammal species with the action; or (4) biological or 
behavioral context of exposure (e.g., age, calving or feeding areas).
     Individual marine mammal responses (behavioral or 
physiological) to acoustic stressors (acute, chronic, or cumulative), 
other stressors, or cumulative impacts from multiple stressors.
     How anticipated responses to stressors impact either: (1) 
Long-term fitness and survival of individual marine mammals; or (2) 
populations, species, or stocks.
     Effects on marine mammal habitat (e.g., marine mammal prey 
species, acoustic habitat, or other important physical components of 
marine mammal habitat).
     Mitigation and monitoring effectiveness.

Visual Monitoring

    Monitoring would be conducted 30 minutes before, during, and 30 
minutes after pile driving/removal activities. In addition, observers 
shall record all incidents of marine mammal occurrence, regardless of 
distance from activity, and shall document any behavioral reactions in 
concert with distance from piles being driven or removed. Pile driving 
activities include the time to install or 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.
    There will be at least two PSOs employed during all pile driving/
removal activities. PSO will not perform duties for more than 12 hours 
in a 24-hour period. For impact and vibratory pile driving and removal, 
one PSO would be positioned at the end of the terminal catwalk near the 
pile driving/removal activities at the best practical vantage point. A 
second PSO would be stationed approximately 2.5km down Shotgun Cove 
Road and Trail. For vibratory pile driving and removal, two additional 
PSOs will be stationed along Shotgun Cove Road and Trail, each 
approximately 2.5km down the trail from the previous PSO. Observed take 
will be extrapolated across unobserved portions of the Level B 
harassment zone.
    If Station 2 is not accessible by way of Shotgun Cove Road and 
Trail, a vessel will be used as a monitoring station. If Stations 3 or 
4 are not accessible by way of Shotgun Cove Road and Trail, take 
observed by PSOs at Stations 1 and 2 will be extrapolated across the 
unobserved portion of the project area.
    As part of monitoring, PSOs would scan the waters using binoculars, 
and/or spotting scopes, and would use a handheld GPS or range-finder 
device to verify the distance to each sighting from the project site. 
All PSOs would be trained in marine mammal identification and behaviors 
and are required to have no other project-related tasks while 
conducting monitoring. In addition, 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 and/or experienced 
professionals, with the following minimum qualifications:

[[Page 56442]]

     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;
     Independent observers (i.e., not construction personnel);
     Observers must have their CVs/resumes submitted to and 
approved by NMFS;
     Advanced education in biological science or related field 
(i.e., undergraduate degree or higher). Observers may substitute 
education or training for experience;
     Experience and ability to conduct field observations and 
collect data according to assigned protocols (this may include academic 
experience);
     At least one observer must have prior experience working 
as an observer;
     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.

Reporting

    A draft marine mammal monitoring report would be submitted to NMFS 
within 90 days after the completion of pile driving and removal 
activities. The report will include an overall description of work 
completed, a narrative regarding marine mammal sightings, and 
associated PSO data sheets. Specifically, the report must include:
     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;
     An estimate of total take based on proportion of the 
monitoring zone that was observed; and
     Other human activity in the area.
    If no comments are received from NMFS within 30 days, the draft 
final report will constitute the final report. If comments are 
received, a final report addressing NMFS comments must be submitted 
within 30 days after receipt of comments.
    In the unanticipated event that the specified activity clearly 
causes the take of a marine mammal in a manner prohibited by the IHA 
(if issued), such as an injury, serious injury or mortality, ADOT&PF 
would immediately cease the specified activities and report the 
incident to the Chief of the Permits and Conservation Division, Office 
of Protected Resources, NMFS, and the Alaska Regional Stranding 
Coordinator. The report would include the following information:
     Description of the incident;
     Environmental conditions (e.g., Beaufort sea state, 
visibility);
     Description of all marine mammal observations in the 24 
hours preceding the incident;
     Species identification or description of the animal(s) 
involved;
     Fate of the animal(s); and
     Photographs or video footage of the animal(s) (if 
equipment is available).
    Activities would not resume until NMFS is able to review the 
circumstances of the prohibited take. NMFS would work with ADOT&PF to 
determine what is necessary to minimize the likelihood of further 
prohibited take and ensure MMPA compliance. ADOT&PF would not be able 
to resume their activities until notified by NMFS via letter, email, or 
telephone.
    In the event that ADOT&PF discovers an injured or dead marine 
mammal, and the lead PSO determines that the cause of the injury or 
death is unknown and the death is relatively recent (e.g., in less than 
a moderate state of decomposition as described in the next paragraph), 
ADOT&PF would immediately report the incident to the Chief of the 
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
and the NMFS Alaska Stranding Hotline and/or by email to the Alaska 
Regional Stranding Coordinator. The report would include the same 
information identified in the paragraph above. Activities would be able 
to continue while NMFS reviews the circumstances of the incident. NMFS 
would work with ADOT&PF to determine whether modifications in the 
activities are appropriate.
    In the event that ADOT&PF discovers an injured or dead marine 
mammal and the lead PSO determines that the injury or death is not 
associated with or related to the activities authorized in the IHA 
(e.g., previously wounded animal, carcass with moderate to advanced 
decomposition, or scavenger damage), ADOT&PF would report the incident 
to the Chief of the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, and the NMFS Alaska Stranding Hotline and/or 
by email to the Alaska Regional Stranding Coordinator, within 24 hours 
of the discovery. ADOT&PF would provide photographs, video footage (if 
available), or other documentation of the stranded animal sighting to 
NMFS and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

Negligible Impact Analysis and Determination

    NMFS has defined negligible impact 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 (50 CFR 216.103). 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 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 harassment, NMFS considers 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 effects on habitat, and the likely effectiveness 
of the mitigation. We also assess the number, intensity, and context of 
estimated takes by evaluating this information relative to population 
status. Consistent with the 1989 preamble for NMFS's implementing 
regulations (54 FR 40338; September 29, 1989), the impacts from other 
past and ongoing anthropogenic activities are incorporated into this 
analysis via their

[[Page 56443]]

impacts on the environmental baseline (e.g., as reflected in the 
regulatory status of the species, population size and growth rate where 
known, ongoing sources of human-caused mortality, or ambient noise 
levels).
    Pile driving installation and removal activities associated with 
the 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, from underwater 
sounds generated from pile driving and removal. Potential takes could 
occur if individuals of these species are present in zones ensonified 
above the thresholds for Level B harassment identified above when these 
activities are underway.
    The takes from Level B harassment would be due to potential 
behavioral disturbance. No Level A harassment is anticipated given the 
nature of the activity and measures designed to minimize the 
possibility of injury to marine mammals. The potential for Level A 
harassment and the scale and intensity of Level B harassment are 
minimized through the construction method and the implementation of the 
planned mitigation measures (see Proposed Mitigation section).
    Effects on individuals that are taken by Level B harassment, on the 
basis of reports in the literature as well as monitoring from other 
similar activities, will likely be limited to reactions such as 
increased swimming speeds, increased surfacing time, or decreased 
foraging (if such activity were occurring) (e.g., Thorson and Reyff 
2006; HDR, Inc. 2012; Lerma 2014; ABR 2016). Most likely for pile 
driving, individuals will simply move away from the sound source and be 
temporarily displaced from the areas of pile driving and drilling, 
although even this reaction has been observed primarily only in 
association with impact pile driving. Level B harassment will be 
reduced to the level of least practicable adverse 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 area while the activity is occurring. While vibratory driving 
associated with the proposed project may produce sound at distances of 
many kilometers from the project site, thus intruding on some habitat, 
the ensonified area is already less-preferred habitat when the project 
is not underway. Therefore, we expect that animals annoyed by project 
sound would simply avoid the area and use more-preferred habitats.
    The project is also not expected to have significant adverse 
effects on affected marine mammals' habitats. The project activities 
would not modify existing marine mammal habitat for a significant 
amount of time. The activities may cause some fish to leave the area of 
disturbance, thus temporarily impacting marine mammals' foraging 
opportunities in a limited portion of the foraging range; but, because 
of the short duration of the activities and the relatively small area 
of the habitat that may be affected, the impacts to marine mammal 
habitat are not expected to cause significant or long-term negative 
consequences.
    In summary and as described above, the following factors primarily 
support our preliminary determination that the impacts resulting from 
this activity are not expected to adversely affect the species or stock 
through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival:
     No mortality is anticipated or authorized;
     No injury is anticipated or authorized;
     Any resulting Level B harassment is expected to be short-
term and of relatively low impact;
     The activity area does not include any known biologically 
important areas. In fact, nearby habitat is considered non-optimal 
given the low likelihood of many known prey resources during the months 
of the activity;
     The area impacted by the specified activity is very small 
relative to the overall habitat ranges of all species;
     The project area does not include ESA-designated critical 
habitat and does not overlap with any Biologically Important Areas 
(BIAs);
     The project is only taking place over six total pile 
driving/removal days;
     The project has the potential to impact less than 3.5% of 
each impacted stock; and
     The proposed mitigation measures are expected to reduce 
the effects of the specified activity to the level of least practicable 
adverse impact.
    In addition, although affected Steller sea lions are from a DPS 
that is listed under the ESA, it is unlikely that minor noise effects 
in a small, localized area of habitat would have any effect on the 
stocks' ability to recover. In combination, we believe that these 
factors, as well as the available body of evidence from other similar 
activities, demonstrate that the potential effects of the specified 
activities will have only minor, short-term effects on individuals. The 
specified activities are 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, NMFS preliminarily finds that the total marine 
mammal take from the proposed activity will have a negligible impact on 
all affected marine mammal species or stocks.

Small Numbers

    As noted above, only small numbers of incidental take may be 
authorized under Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA for 
specified activities other than military readiness activities. The MMPA 
does not define small numbers and so, in practice, where estimated 
numbers are available, NMFS compares the number of individuals taken to 
the most appropriate estimation of abundance of the relevant species or 
stock in our determination of whether an authorization is limited to 
small numbers of marine mammals. Additionally, other qualitative 
factors may be considered in the analysis, such as the temporal or 
spatial scale of the activities.
    Table 9 demonstrates the number of animals that could be exposed to 
received noise levels that could cause Level B harassment for the 
proposed work in Whittier. Our analysis shows that less than 1 percent 
of most affected stocks could be taken by Level B harassment, with the 
exception of the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea 
Transient stock of killer whales, for which less than four percent of 
the stock could be taken. The numbers of animals proposed to be taken 
for these stocks would be considered small relative to the relevant 
stock's abundances even if each estimated taking occurred to a new 
individual, which is an extremely unlikely scenario.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the proposed activity 
(including the proposed mitigation and monitoring measures) and the 
anticipated take of marine mammals, NMFS preliminarily finds that small 
numbers of marine mammals will be taken relative to the population size 
of the affected species or stocks.

Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination

    In order to issue an IHA, NMFS must find that the specified 
activity will not have an ``unmitigable adverse impact'' on the 
subsistence uses of the affected marine mammal species or stocks by 
Alaskan Natives. NMFS has defined ``unmitigable adverse impact'' in 50 
CFR

[[Page 56444]]

216.103 as an impact resulting from the specified activity: (1) That is 
likely to reduce the availability of the species to a level 
insufficient for a harvest to meet subsistence needs by: (i) Causing 
the marine mammals to abandon or avoid hunting areas; (ii) Directly 
displacing subsistence users; or (iii) Placing physical barriers 
between the marine mammals and the subsistence hunters; and (2) That 
cannot be sufficiently mitigated by other measures to increase the 
availability of marine mammals to allow subsistence needs to be met.
    Hunters from two native villages--Chenega Bay and Tatitlek--and 
native hunters living in Cordova annually harvest marine mammals within 
Prince William Sound as part of a subsistence lifestyle (Fall and 
Zimpelman 2016). Chenega Bay hunters annually harvest a few harbor 
seals and sea otters and have hunted Steller sea lions in the past 
(Wolfe et al. 2009). Most hunting occurs locally. Hunters from Tatitlek 
harvest harbor seals and sea lions over most of central Prince William 
Sound, although their hunting range does not extend to Passage Canal 
(Fall and Zimpelman 2016). Native hunters living in Cordova mostly 
harvest harbor seals but occasionally take sea otters and sea lions 
(Fall and Zimpelman 2016). All villages are greater than 100 km (62 mi) 
by boat travel from Passage Canal. The short-term, relatively low-
impact, Level B harassment takes resulting from construction activities 
associated with the Whittier Ferry Terminal modifications project will 
have no impact on the ability of hunters from these villages to harvest 
marine mammals. Therefore, NMFS has preliminarily 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)

    Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency insure that any 
action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize 
the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or 
result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated 
critical habitat. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, 
NMFS consults internally, in this case with the Alaska Region, 
Protected Resource Division Office, whenever we propose to authorize 
take for endangered or threatened species.
    NMFS is proposing to authorize take of western stock Steller sea 
lions under the MMPA. For purposes of the Endangered Species Act, the 
NMFS Permits and Conservation Division has preliminarily determined 
that this action is not likely to adversely affect western DPS Steller 
sea lions because we do not expect Steller sea lions to use habitats 
near Whittier during the season when construction will occur. Effects 
on western DPS Steller sea lions are thus extremely unlikely to occur, 
and considered discountable under the ESA. The Permits and Conservation 
Division will request concurrence in this determination from the NMFS 
Alaska Region, per section 7 of the ESA.

Proposed Authorization

    As a result of these preliminary determinations, NMFS proposes to 
issue an IHA to ADOT&PF for conducting pile installation and removal 
activities at the Whittier Ferry Terminal in Whittier, Alaska between 
February and March 2020, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, 
monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. A draft of the 
proposed IHA can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act.

Request for Public Comments

    We request comment on our analyses, the proposed authorization, and 
any other aspect of this Notice of Proposed IHA for the proposed pile 
driving project. We also request at this time comment on the potential 
renewal of this proposed IHA as described in the paragraph below. 
Please include with your comments any supporting data or literature 
citations to help inform decisions on the request for this IHA or a 
subsequent Renewal.
    On a case-by-case basis, NMFS may issue a one-year IHA renewal with 
an additional 15 days for public comments when (1) another year of 
identical or nearly identical activities as described in the Specified 
Activities section of this notice is planned or (2) the activities as 
described in the Specified Activities section of this notice would not 
be completed by the time the IHA expires and a Renewal would allow for 
completion of the activities beyond that described in the Dates and 
Duration section of this notice, provided all of the following 
conditions are met:
     A request for renewal is received no later than 60 days 
prior to expiration of the current IHA.
     The request for renewal must include the following:
    (1) An explanation that the activities to be conducted under the 
requested Renewal are identical to the activities analyzed under the 
initial IHA, are a subset of the activities, or include changes so 
minor (e.g., reduction in pile size) that the changes do not affect the 
previous analyses, mitigation and monitoring requirements, or take 
estimates (with the exception of reducing the type or amount of take 
because only a subset of the initially analyzed activities remain to be 
completed under the Renewal).
    (2) A preliminary monitoring report showing the results of the 
required monitoring to date and an explanation showing that the 
monitoring results do not indicate impacts of a scale or nature not 
previously analyzed or authorized.
     Upon review of the request for Renewal, the status of the 
affected species or stocks, and any other pertinent information, NMFS 
determines that there are no more than minor changes in the activities, 
the mitigation and monitoring measures will remain the same and 
appropriate, and the findings in the initial IHA remain valid.

    Dated: October 16, 2019.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-22966 Filed 10-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P