Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Transit Protection Program Pier and Support Facilities Project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington, 68291-68304 [2020-23852]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68291-68304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23852]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA499]


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Transit Protection Program Pier 
and Support Facilities Project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington

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

ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given 
that NMFS has issued two incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) to 
the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B 
harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities 
associated with the Transit Protection Program Pier and Support 
Facilities Project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor in Silverdale, 
Washington over two years.

DATES: These authorizations are effective from July 16, 2021 to January 
15, 2022, and July 16, 2022 to January 15, 2023, respectively.

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/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-construction-activities. 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 the 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 the takings are set forth. The definitions 
of all applicable MMPA statutory terms cited above are included in the 
relevant sections below.

Summary of Request

    On January 14, 2020, NMFS received a request from the Navy for an 
IHA to

[[Page 68292]]

take marine mammals incidental to the Transit Protection Program Pier 
and Support Facilities Project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor in 
Silverdale, Washington over two years. The Navy submitted a revised 
application on March 23, 2020, which was deemed adequate and complete 
on June 10, 2020. The Navy's request is for take of a small number of 
five species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment and Level A 
harassment. Neither the Navy nor NMFS expects serious injury or 
mortality to result from this activity and, therefore, IHAs are 
appropriate.
    The IHAs will be effective from July 16, 2021 to January 15, 2022 
for Year 1 activities, and July 16, 2022 to January 15, 2023 for Year 2 
activities.

Description of the Specified Activity

    The Navy is proposing to construct and operate a pier for berthing 
of Transit Protection Program (TPP) blocking vessels, which provide 
security escort to Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines between Naval 
Base Kitsap Bangor and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. These vessels are 
currently berthed on a space-available basis at various locations at 
Kitsap Bangor. Kitsap Bangor is located on Hood Canal approximately 20 
miles (mi) (32 kilometers (km)) west of Seattle, Washington. The Navy 
anticipates that construction for the TPP project, including vibratory 
and impact pile driving and vibratory pile removal, will occur over two 
years. The IHAs are effective from July 16, 2021 to January 15, 2022 
for Year 1 activities, and July 16, 2022 to January 15, 2023 for Year 2 
activities.
    The Navy plans to construct a pier for berthing TPP blocking 
vessels. The TPP pier will consist of an L-shaped, pile-supported 
trestle from shore connecting to a pile-supported main pier section. 
The Navy will also install two dolphins, one south and one north of the 
pier which will be used solely for mooring support. Additionally, the 
contractor will construct a temporary work trestle (falsework piles and 
timber decking) for use during construction.
    A detailed description of the planned construction project is 
provided in the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHAs (85 FR 
48206; August 10, 2020). Since that time, no changes have been made to 
the planned construction activities. Therefore, a detailed description 
is not provided here. Please refer to that Federal Register notice for 
the description of the specific activity.

Comments and Responses

    A notice of NMFS' proposal to issue IHAs to the Navy was published 
in the Federal Register on August 10, 2020 (85 FR 48206). That notice 
described, in detail, the Navy's activity, the marine mammal species 
that may be affected by the activity, and the anticipated effects on 
marine mammals, their habitat, planned amount and manner of take, and 
planned mitigation, monitoring and reporting measures. During the 30-
day public comment period, NMFS received a comment letter from the 
Marine Mammal Commission (Commission); the Commission's recommendations 
and our responses are provided here, and the comments have been posted 
online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-construction-activities. 
Please see the Commission's letter for full detail regarding 
justification for their recommendations.
    Comment 1: The Commission noted that NMFS reanalyzed bubble curtain 
data collected by Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc. (Illingworth and Rodkin, 
2012) at Kitsap and proposed to use an average source level reduction 
of 8 decibels (dB). The Commission notes that the assumed 8 dB source 
level reduction may be appropriate for near field impacts such as Level 
A harassment but it is not appropriate for far-field impacts, 
particularly Level B harassment. The Commission further provided an 
example, stating that Illingworth and Rodkin (2012) measured the source 
level reduction for the mid-water hydrophone of 36-inch (in) pile TTP#2 
to be only 5 dB at 145 meters (m), and stated that source level 
reduction was 5 dB at 120 m for both the mid-water and deep hydrophone 
during installation of 48-in pile TP#11 and 4 to 5 dB at 754 m for both 
hydrophones during installation of 48-in pile TP#5. The Commission 
states that all such measurements are comparable to the Level A 
harassment zones estimated for low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency 
(HF) cetaceans and phocids (158-351 m) and the Level B harassment zone 
(541 m).
    The Commission stated that bubble curtains that are placed 
immediately around the pile do not achieve consistent reductions in 
sound levels because they cannot attenuate ground-borne sound. 
Appreciable attenuation is not observed for the sound that resonates 
through the ground into the far field or for low-frequency sound in 
general, and an 8-dB source level reduction factor is unsubstantiated 
by the data. The Commission thus recommends that NMFS (1) refrain from 
using the 8-dB source level reduction factor for far-field impacts 
(>100 m) and (2) consult with acousticians, including those at the 
University of Washington-Applied Physics Laboratory, regarding the 
appropriate source level reduction factor to use to minimize near-field 
(<100 m) and far-field effects on marine mammals.
    Response: NMFS does not agree with the Commission's assessment on 
bubble curtain efficacy that is based on near- and far-distance 
(referred as ``near-field'' and ``far-field'' by the Commission). While 
NMFS typically recommends a 7 dB reduction at 10 m for using bubble 
curtains during in-water impact pile driving, this value is based on a 
study conducted by the California Department of Transportation 
(CALTRANS) in 2003 and 2004, and is applied to situations where no 
specific measurements pertaining to the project are available. In the 
case of the proposed Naval Base Kitsap Bangor construction project, 
Illingworth & Rodkin conducted a detailed study in 2011 (Illingworth & 
Rodkin, 2012) and showed an average noise level reduction of 8 dB at 10 
m when a bubble curtain is in place. Based on the review of the IHA 
application, NMFS determined that applying an 8 dB reduction for the 
source level at 10 m is more appropriate, because the type of piles as 
well as the design and deployment of the bubble curtain proposed for 
use in this project are the same as those in the 2011 Illingworth & 
Rodkin study.
    In addition, in its comments, the Commission mistakenly treated the 
measurements taken by Illingworth & Rodkin (Illingworth and Rodkin, 
2012) at 145 m, 120 m, and 754 m as ``source levels.'' These are 
actually received sound levels at far-distances. A source level is the 
sound level measured or back-calculated at 1 m from the source, or, in 
the case of in-water pile driving, it's more commonly referred to sound 
levels measured at approximately 10 m from the pile. Although the 
measured levels at far-distances (i.e., >100 m) showed less differences 
(e.g., 4-5 dB) from those that were measured at near source at 10 m 
(e.g., 8 dB), this is likely due to propagation effects that some of 
the sediment-borne acoustic energy that was not attenuated by the 
bubble curtain re-emerged into the water-column at much further 
distances. However, this information should not be used to suggest that 
a different noise level reduction needs to be used for long-distance 
(Level B harassment distance) impact assessment. Since the applicant 
used a conservative practical spreading modeling (i.e., 15 log (r)), 
acoustic energy that is lost due to boundary refraction and reflection 
is not considered in determining the impact distances, and this loss is 
in addition to the practical spreading. Therefore, the

[[Page 68293]]

small differences at far-distances between with and without bubble 
curtains indicates that the bubble curtain is less effective in 
attenuating additional acoustic energy beyond that within the water 
column.
    Comment 2: The Commission recommends that, for both final 
authorizations, NMFS (1) revise the currently-proposed condition 
6(b)(ix) to require the Navy to include in the monitoring report the 
number of individuals of each species detected within the Level A and B 
harassment zones and the numbers of marine mammals taken by Level and B 
harassment, by species (i.e., observed takes), (2) include the standard 
requirement that the Navy include in its monitoring report an 
extrapolation of the estimated takes by Level B harassment based on the 
number of observed exposures within the Level B harassment zone and the 
percentage of the Level B harassment zone that was not visible (i.e., 
extrapolated takes), and (3) include an additional requirement that the 
Navy include in its monitoring report the total number of Level B 
harassment takes based on both the observed and extrapolated takes for 
each species.
    Response: The final IHAs require the Navy to include in the 
monitoring report the number of individuals of each species 
(differentiated by month as appropriate) detected within the Level A 
and Level B harassment zones, and estimates of number of marine mammals 
taken by Level A and Level B harassment, by species, as recommended by 
the Commission. The final IHA does not include the requirement deemed 
``standard'' by the Commission, that the Navy include in its monitoring 
report an extrapolation of the estimated takes by Level B harassment 
based on the number of observed exposures within the Level B harassment 
zone and the percentage of the Level B harassment zone that was not 
visible (i.e., extrapolated takes), and therefore, does not include the 
additional requirement recommended by the Commission that the Navy 
include in its monitoring report the total number of Level B harassment 
takes based on both the observed and extrapolated takes for each 
species. However, both IHAs do include a requirement for the Navy to 
report the estimated percentage of the Level B harassment zone that was 
not visible.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommends that NMFS reinforce the need 
for the Navy to keep a running tally of the total takes, based on 
observed and extrapolated takes, for Level A and B harassment 
consistent with condition 4(i) in the final Year 1 authorization and 
4(g) of the final Year 2 authorization.
    Response: We agree that the Navy must ensure they do not exceed 
authorized takes but do not concur with the recommendation. NMFS is not 
responsible for ensuring that Navy does not operate in violation of an 
issued IHA.
    Comment 4: The Commission stated that it has raised ongoing 
concerns regarding NMFS's renewal process over the past few years, and 
notes that although NMFS recently responded to those concerns, the 
Commission has not yet had time to consider fully whether and how it 
plans to respond. For purposes of its comment letter regarding this 
IHA, the Commission recommends that NMFS refrain from issuing a renewal 
for any authorization unless it is consistent with the procedural 
requirements specified in section 101(a)(5)(D)(iii) of the MMPA.
    Response: In prior responses to comments about IHA Renewals (e.g., 
84 FR 52464; October 02, 2019 and 85 FR 53342, August 28, 2020), NMFS 
has explained how the Renewal process, as implemented, is consistent 
with the statutory requirements contained in section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA, provides additional efficiencies beyond the use of 
abbreviated notices, and, further, promotes NMFS' goals of improving 
conservation of marine mammals and increasing efficiency in the MMPA 
compliance process. Therefore, we intend to continue implementing the 
Renewal process.
    Comment 5: The Commission again recommends that NMFS either make 
its determinations regarding small numbers and negligible impact based 
on the total number and type of taking for each species or stock for 
both authorizations combined or delay the Year 2 activities until 2023 
if a renewal authorization is issued for the Year 1 activities.
    Response: As stated in informal correspondence with the Commission 
regarding this project, the Navy's activities would occur in a linear 
fashion. Therefore, activities described in association with the Year 1 
IHA would not occur concurrently with activities described in 
association with the Year 2 IHA, whether occurring under the issued 
Year 1 IHA or under a renewal of the Year 1 IHA, if necessary. There is 
a chance they could occur within the same in-water work period if a 
renewal is issued for Year 1. Therefore, the Commission's 
recommendation is moot.

Changes From the Proposed IHA to Final IHA

    As a result of an informal comment from the Commission, NMFS 
corrected an error in the California sea lion take estimates in both 
IHAs, to reflect a maximum average of 60 sea lions per day, rather than 
54. Please see the Estimated Take section for additional information on 
this take estimation. NMFS also updated the distance to the Level B 
harassment isopleths for vibratory pile driving of 24-inch, 30-inch, 
and 36-inch pile driving to standardize rounding across pile types in 
response to a Commission comment. These updated distances are reflected 
in Table 5 of this notice, and Table 2 of each IHA.
    NMFS added additional requirements for reporting stranded marine 
mammals to both IHAs, as suggested by the Commission. Please see the 
Reporting section for additional information. Additionally, NMFS 
removed two mitigation measures, regarding soft start and bubble 
curtains during impact pile driving, from the Year 2 IHA, as the Navy 
does not plan to conduct impact pile driving in Year 2, also suggested 
by the Commission. NMFS also removed a measure from both IHAs requiring 
the Navy to submit PSO CVs to NMFS for approval prior to pile driving.

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://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 1 lists all species or stocks for which take is expected and 
authorized for this action, 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 (2020). 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

[[Page 68294]]

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 
comprises 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. Pacific and Alaska SARs (e.g., Carretta et al., 2020). All 
values presented in Table 1 are the most recent available at the time 
of publication and are available in the 2019 SARs (Carretta et al., 
2020, Muto et al., 2020).

                                                      Table 1--Species for Which Take Is Authorized
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                                                                                        ESA/ MMPA  status;   Stock abundance  (CV,
             Common name                  Scientific name               Stock             strategic (Y/N)      Nmin, most recent       PBR     Annual M/
                                                                                                \a\          abundance survey) \b\               SI \c\
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                            Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Superfamily Odontoceti (toothed whales, dolphins, and porpoises)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Delphinidae:
    Killer Whale....................  Orcinus orca...........  West Coast Transient...  -, -, N             \d\ 243 (N/A, 243,            2.4          0
                                                                                                             2009).
    Family Phocoenidae (porpoises)..
    Harbor porpoise:................  Phocoena phocoena......  Washington Inland        -, -, N             11,233 (0.37, 8,308,           66      >=7.2
                                                                Waters.                                      2015).
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                                                         Order Carnivora--Superfamily Pinnipedia
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Family Otariidae (eared seals and
 sea lions):
    California Sea Lion.............  Zalophus californianus.  United States..........  -, -, N             257,606 (N/A, 233,515,     14,011       >321
                                                                                                             2014).
    Steller sea lion................  Eumetopias jubatus       Eastern U.S............  -, -, N             43,201 \e\ (see SAR,        2,592        113
                                       monteriensis.                                                         43,201, 2017).
Family Phocidae (earless seals):
    Harbor seal.....................  Phoca vitulina.........  Washington Inland        -, -, N             1,088 (0.15, UNK,             UNK        0.2
                                                                Waters, Hood Canal.                          1999) \f\.
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\a\ 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.
\b\ NMFS marine mammal stock assessment reports online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-stock-assessment-reports-region. CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of stock abundance.
\c\ 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 mortality/serious injury (M/SI) often cannot be determined precisely and is in some cases presented as a
  minimum value or range.
\d\ Based on counts of individual animals identified from photo-identification catalogues. Surveys for abundance estimates of these stocks are conducted
  infrequently.
\e\ Best estimate of pup and non-pup counts, which have not been corrected to account for animals at sea during abundance surveys.
\f\ The abundance estimate for this stock is greater than eight years old and is therefore not considered current. PBR is considered undetermined for
  this stock, as there is no current minimum abundance estimate for use in calculation. We nevertheless present the most recent abundance estimates, as
  these represent the best available information for use in this document.

    As indicated above, all five species (with five managed stocks) in 
Table 1 temporally and spatially co-occur with the activity to the 
degree that take is reasonably likely to occur, and we have authorized 
it. While humpback whale, gray whale, Southern Resident killer whale, 
Dall's porpoise, and bottlenose dolphin have been sighted in the area, 
the temporal and spatial occurrence of these species is such that take 
is not expected to occur, and they are not discussed further beyond the 
explanation provided here.
    Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have been detected year-
round in small numbers in Puget Sound. In Hood Canal, after an absence 
of sightings for over 15 years, an individual was seen over a 1-week 
period in early 2012, with additional 1-day sightings in 2015, 2016, 
and 2017 (Orca Network, 2019). However, these sightings are exceptions 
to the normal occurrence of the species in Washington inland waters. 
Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) have been infrequently documented 
in Hood Canal waters over the past decade. There were five sightings in 
2017 and one in 2018 (Orca Network, 2017, 2019). These sightings are an 
exception to the normal seasonal occurrence of gray whales in Puget 
Sound feeding areas. The Southern Resident killer whale stock is 
resident to the inland waters of Washington state and British Columbia; 
however, it has not been seen in Hood Canal in over 15 years. Dall's 
porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) was documented once in Hood Canal in 2009 
and more recently once in 2018 (Orca Network, 2019); however, Dall's 
porpoises are unlikely to be present in Hood Canal. Bottlenose dolphin 
(Tursiops truncatus) were documented in Hood Canal twice in 2018 (Orca 
Network, 2019); however, bottlenose dolphins are unlikely to be present 
in Hood Canal.
    A detailed description of the species likely to be affected by the 
Navy's project, including brief introductions to the species and 
relevant stocks as well as available information regarding population 
trends and threats, and information regarding local occurrence, were 
provided in the Federal Register notice for the proposed IHAs (85 FR 
48206; August 10, 2020); since that time, we are not aware of any 
changes in the status of these species and stocks; therefore, detailed 
descriptions are not provided here. Please refer to that Federal 
Register notice for these descriptions. Please also refer to NMFS' 
website (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/find-species) for generalized 
species accounts.

[[Page 68295]]

Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and Their 
Habitat

    The effects of underwater noise from the Navy's construction 
activities have the potential to result in behavioral harassment of 
marine mammals in the vicinity of the survey area. The notice of 
proposed IHAs (85 FR 48206; August 10, 2020) included a discussion of 
the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals and the potential 
effects of underwater noise from the Navy's construction activities on 
marine mammals and their habitat. That information and analysis is 
incorporated by reference into these final IHA determinations and is 
not repeated here; please refer to the notice of proposed IHAs (85 FR 
48206; August 10, 2020).

Estimated Take

    This section provides an estimate of the number of incidental takes 
authorized through these IHAs, which will inform both NMFS's 
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 are primarily by Level B harassment, as use of the 
acoustic sources (i.e., vibratory and impact pile driving) has the 
potential to result in disruption of behavioral patterns for individual 
marine mammals. There is also some potential for auditory injury (Level 
A harassment) to result, primarily for phocids, because predicted 
auditory injury zones are larger than for mid-frequency cetaceans and 
otariids, and Navy expects that protected species observers (PSOs) will 
not be able to effectively observe the entire Level A harassment zone 
due to the numerous docks in the area. Auditory injury is unlikely to 
occur for mid-frequency cetaceans, high-frequency cetaceans, and 
otariids. The required mitigation and monitoring measures are expected 
to minimize the severity of the taking to the extent practicable.
    As described previously, no mortality is anticipated or 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 take estimate.

Acoustic Thresholds

    NMFS recommends the use of 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 permanent threshold shift (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 [mu]Pa (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.
    Navy's planned activity includes the use of continuous (vibratory 
pile driving) 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 Anthropogenic Sound on Marine 
Mammal Hearing (Version 2.0) (Technical Guidance, 2018) 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). Navy's planned activity includes the use 
of impulsive (impact pile driving) and non-impulsive (vibratory pile 
driving) 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 2--Thresholds Identifying the Onset of Permanent Threshold Shift
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     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.

[[Page 68296]]

 
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 planned project. 
Marine mammals are expected to be affected via sound generated by the 
primary components of the project (i.e., impact pile driving and 
vibratory pile driving and removal). The largest calculated Level B 
harassment zone is approximately 11.7 km (7.3 mi) from the source, with 
an area of approximately 49.1 km\2\ (18.9 mi\2\).
    The source levels were derived from the Navy's document titled 
``Proxy Source Sound Levels and Potential Bubble Curtain Attenuation 
for Acoustic Modeling of Nearshore Marine Pile Driving at Navy 
Installations in Puget Sound'' (Navy 2015a). In that document, the Navy 
reviewed relevant data available for various types and sizes of piles 
typically used for pile driving and recommend proxy source values for 
Navy installations in Puget Sound. This document is included as 
Appendix B in the Navy's application. Source levels for each pile size 
and activity are presented in Table 3.
    The Navy will implement bubble curtains (e.g. pneumatic barrier 
typically comprised of hosing or PVC piping that disrupts underwater 
noise propagation; see Mitigation Measures section below) during impact 
pile driving, with the possible exception of short periods when the 
device is turned off to test the effectiveness of the noise attenuation 
device. We have reduced the source level for these activities by 8 dB 
in consideration of site-specific measurements of source level 
reduction with use of bubble curtains (Navy, 2015). These reductions 
ranged from 8 dB to 10 dB. In their analysis, the Navy averaged 
different metrics for the same pile size. NMFS independently calculated 
the average source level reduction, averaging reductions of the same 
metric (ex: Root-mean-square sound pressure level (SPLrms)) reported 
for both 36-in and 48-in piles. As such, NMFS calculated an SEL 
reduction of 8.5 dB, an SPLrms reduction of 8 dB, and a peak sound 
pressure level (SPLpk) reduction of 10 dB. Therefore, given that the 
site-specific 8 dB reduction proposed by the Navy is the same or lower 
than the result of NMFS's site-specific calculation, NMFS accepted 
Navy's proposal to use an 8 dB reduction during impact pile driving.

                                      Table 3--Project Sound Source Levels
                                                  [Navy, 2015]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Source level at 10m
         Pile type and size           Installation method  -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                 dB RMS            dB Peak           dB SEL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36-inch Steel......................  Impact...............           \a\ 194           \a\ 211           \a\ 181
24-inch Steel......................  Vibratory............               161  ................  ................
30-inch Steel......................  .....................               166  ................  ................
36-inch Steel......................  .....................               166  ................  ................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Unattenuated

    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 the TPP pier site are not available, 
therefore the default coefficient of 15 is used to determine the 
distances to the Level A and Level B harassment thresholds.
    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

[[Page 68297]]

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 4--User Spreadsheet Input Parameters Used for Calculating Level A Harassment Isopleths
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                              Distance
                                                        Weighting                        Number of   Duration to   Number of                 from source
   Pile size and installation       Spreadsheet tab       factor       Source level        piles       drive a    strikes per  Propagation      level
             method                       used          adjustment                      within 24-h  single pile      pile        (xLogR)    measurement
                                                          (kHz)                            period      (minutes)                              (meters)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36-inch Steel-Impact............  (E.1) Impact pile              2  173 dB SEL \a\....            4           30          400           15            10
                                   driving.
24-inch Steel-Vibratory.........  (A.1) Vibratory              2.5  161 dB RMS........        \b\ 5           60
                                   pile driving.
30-inch Steel-Vibratory.........  ...................  ...........  166 dB RMS
36-inch Steel-Vibratory.........  ...................  ...........  166 dB RMS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ This source level includes an 8dB reduction from the use of a bubble curtain.
\b\ The Navy expects to install only 4 piles per day using a vibratory hammer; however, for purposes of calculating the Level A harassment zones, they
  have conservatively assumed that they may install 5 piles per day.


                                                            Table 5--Calculated Distances to Level A and Level B Harassment Isopleths
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Distance to Level A harassment isopleth (m)                                       Distance to
                                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     Level B
         Pile type and size             Installation method                                                                                                                         harassment
                                                                       LF cetacean           MF cetacean           HF Cetacean                   Phocid               Otariid      isopleth (m)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36-inch Steel.......................  Impact.................  294 (1m pk)...............              11  351 (14m pk)..............  158 (1m pk)..............              12             541
24-inch Steel.......................  Vibratory..............  20........................               2  30........................  12.......................               1           5,412
30-inch Steel.......................                           43........................               4  64........................  26.......................               2          11,659
36-inch Steel.......................                           43........................               4  64........................  26.......................               2          11,659
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. We describe how the information provided above is brought 
together to produce a quantitative take estimate.
Killer Whale
    Transient killer whales occasionally occur throughout Puget Sound 
but are rare in Hood Canal. In Puget Sound, they are typically observed 
in small groups with an average group size of six individuals 
(Houghton, 2012). Based on this Puget Sound average, the Navy estimated 
that two groups of six whales may occur within the Level B harassment 
zone during construction each year, and has requested 12 Level B 
harassment takes of killer whale for Year 1 and Year 2. NMFS concurs 
with this estimate, and has authorized 12 Level B harassment takes of 
killer whale in each year. Given the estimated number of construction 
days in Year 2 (10 days), NMFS expects that 12 Level B harassment takes 
is a conservative estimate for Year 2, but is appropriate given that it 
accounts for the occurrence of just two groups.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for mid-frequency cetaceans 
extends 11 m from the source during impact pile driving of 36-inch 
steel piles (Table 5). Given the small size of the Level A harassment 
zones, we do not expect Level A harassment take of killer whales to 
occur. Additionally, the Navy is planning to implement a 355 m shutdown 
zone for all cetaceans during that activity (Table 7). These shutdown 
zones are expected to eliminate the potential for Level A harassment 
take of killer whale. Therefore, NMFS has not authorized Level A 
harassment take of killer whale in Year 1 or Year 2.
Harbor Porpoise
    Harbor porpoises may be present in all major regions of Puget Sound 
throughout the year. Aerial surveys conducted throughout 2013 to 2015 
in Puget Sound indicated density in Puget Sound was 0.91 individuals/
km\2\) (95 percent Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.72-1.10, all seasons 
pooled) and density in Hood Canal was 0.44/km\2\ (95 percent CI = 0.29-
0.75, all seasons pooled) (Smultea et al., 2017). Mean group size of 
harbor porpoises in Puget Sound in the 2013-2015 surveys was 1.7 in 
Hood Canal.
    In consideration of the harbor porpoise take estimate, the Navy 
conservatively assumed that vibratory installation of 36-inch piles 
will occur on every in-water work day, given that that activity 
resulted in the largest Level B harassment zone. The Navy estimated 
Level B harassment takes of harbor porpoise by multiplying the 0.44 
animals/km\2\ by 49.1 km\2\ (estimated Level B harassment zone during 
vibratory driving of 36-inch piles) by the number of in-water workdays 
during each year. Therefore, during Year 1, the Navy estimated 1,728 
Level B harassment takes (0.44 animals/km\2\ x 49.1km\2\ x 80 days). 
During Year 2, the Navy estimated 216 Level B harassment takes (0.44 
animals/km\2\ x 49.1 km\2\ x 10 days). NMFS concurs with this approach, 
and has authorized 1,728 Level B harassment takes of harbor porpoise in 
Year 1, and 216 Level B harassment takes of harbor porpoise in Year 2.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for high-frequency cetaceans 
extends 351 m from the source during impact pile driving of 36-inch 
steel piles (Table 5). The Navy is planning to implement

[[Page 68298]]

a 355 m shutdown zone for all cetaceans during that activity (Table 7), 
which incorporates the entire Level A harassment zone, and the 14 m 
peak PTS isopleth (Table 5). Therefore, the shutdown zones are expected 
to eliminate the potential for Level A harassment take of harbor 
porpoise, and NMFS has not authorized Level A harassment take of harbor 
porpoise.
Steller Sea Lion
    Steller sea lions are routinely seen hauled out from mid-September 
through May on submarines at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, with a maximum 
haulout count of 15 individuals in November 2018. Because the daily 
average number of Steller sea lions hauled out at Kitsap Bangor has 
increased since 2013 compared to prior years, the Navy relied on 
monitoring data from July 2012 through February 2019 to determine the 
average of the maximum count of hauled out Steller sea lions for each 
month in the in-water work window (Navy, 2016, 2019). While pinnipeds 
may haul out longer than the period required for pile driving, 
therefore not being exposed to underwater sound, the Navy 
conservatively assumed that any Steller sea lion that hauls out at 
Kitsap Bangor may enter the Level B harassment zone each day during 
pile driving.
    For each in-water work month, the Navy averaged the maximum number 
of hauled out Steller sea lions observed in a single survey at Kitsap 
Bangor during that month for each year (2008 to 2019; see Appendix A of 
the Navy's application). The Navy then averaged these monthly averages 
across the entire in-water work period, resulting in a maximum average 
of four Steller sea lions hauled out per day. The Navy assumed that 
each of these animals may enter the Level B harassment zone on each in-
water work day. Therefore, the Navy requested 320 Level B harassment 
takes of Steller sea lion in Year 1 (4 Steller sea lions x 80 in-water 
work days), and 40 Level B harassment takes of Steller sea lions during 
Year 2 (4 Steller sea lions x 10 in-water work days). NMFS concurs with 
this approach and has authorized 320 Level B harassment takes of 
Steller sea lion during Year 1, and 40 Level B harassment takes of 
Steller sea lion during Year 2.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for otariids extends 11 m from 
the source during impact pile driving of 36-inch steel piles (Table 5). 
Given the small size of the Level A harassment zones, we do not expect 
Level A harassment take of Steller sea lion to occur. Additionally, the 
Navy is planning to implement a 15m shutdown zone during that activity 
(Table 7). The Navy's shutdown zones are expected to eliminate the 
potential for Level A harassment take of Steller sea lion. Therefore, 
NMFS has not authorized Level A harassment take of Steller sea lion.
California Sea Lion
    From August through June, California sea lions routinely haul out 
on the PSB floats and submarines at Kitsap Bangor. For each in-water 
work month, the Navy averaged the maximum number of hauled out 
California sea lions observed in a single survey at Kitsap Bangor 
during that month for each year (2008 to 2019; see Appendix A of the 
Navy's application). NMFS averaged these monthly averages across the 
entire in-water work period, resulting in a maximum average of 60 
California sea lions hauled out per day. (The proposed rule incorrectly 
indicated an average of 54 California sea lions hauled out per day.) 
The daily average number of California sea lions hauled out at Kitsap 
Bangor has increased since 2013 compared to prior years. Therefore, 
NMFS relied on monitoring data from July 2012 through February 2019 to 
determine the average of the maximum count (Navy, 2016, 2019).
    While pinnipeds may haul out longer than the period required for 
pile driving, therefore not being exposed to underwater sound, the Navy 
conservatively assumed that any California sea lion hauled out at 
Kitsap Bangor may swim into the Level B harassment zone on each pile 
driving day. NMFS concurs, and therefore, NMFS has authorized 4,800 
Level B harassment takes of California sea lion in Year 1 (60 
California sea lions x 80 in-water work days), and 600 Level B 
harassment takes of California sea lions during Year 2 (60 California 
sea lions x 10 in-water work days).
    The largest Level A harassment zone for otariids extends 11 m from 
the source during impact pile driving of 36-inch steel piles (Table 5). 
Given the small size of the Level A harassment zones, we do not expect 
Level A harassment take of California sea lion to occur. Additionally, 
the Navy is planning to implement a 15 m shutdown zone during that 
activity (Table 7). The Navy's shutdown zones are expected to eliminate 
the potential for Level A harassment take of California sea lion. 
Therefore, NMFS has not authorized Level A harassment take of 
California sea lion.
Harbor Seal
    The harbor seal is the only species of marine mammal that is 
consistently abundant and considered resident in Hood Canal (Jeffries 
et al., 2003). The closest major haulouts to Kitsap Bangor that are 
regularly used by harbor seals are the mouth of the Dosewallips River 
located approximately 13.2 km (8.2 mi) away. No harbor seal haulouts 
were seen on the shoreline opposite Kitsap Bangor (the east-side of the 
Toandos Peninsula) during 2015 and 2016 beach seine surveys. A small 
haulout occurs at Kitsap Bangor under Marginal Wharf and small numbers 
of harbor seals are known to routinely haul out around the Carderock 
pier (see Figure 1-2 of the Navy's application). Boat-based surveys and 
monitoring indicate that harbor seals regularly swim in the waters at 
Kitsap Bangor. Hauled out adults, mother/pup pairs, and neonates have 
been documented occasionally but quantitative data are limited. 
Incidental surveys in August and September 2016 recorded as many as 28 
harbor seals hauled out under Marginal Wharf or swimming in adjacent 
waters. Assuming a few other individuals may be present elsewhere on 
the Kitsap Bangor waterfront, the Navy estimates that 35 harbor seals 
may be present during summer and early fall months. Based on haulout 
survey data from Naval Station Everett (Navy, 2016), the number of 
harbor seals present at Kitsap Bangor is likely to be lower in late 
fall and winter months.
    The Navy conservatively assumed that each of the estimated 35 
harbor seals may occur within the Level B harassment zone on each pile 
driving day. Therefore, the Navy requested 2,800 Level B harassment 
takes of harbor seal in Year 1 (35 harbor seals x 80 in-water work 
days), and 350 Level B harassment takes of harbor seal during Year 2 
(35 harbor seals x 10 in-water work days). NMFS concurs with this 
approach and has authorized 2,800 Level B harassment takes of harbor 
seal during Year 1, and 350 Level B harassment takes of harbor seal 
during Year 2.
    The largest Level A harassment zone for phocids during Year 1 
extends 158 m during impact installation of 36-inch steel piles (Table 
5). The Navy is planning to implement a 160 m shutdown zone during that 
activity (Table 7), which incorporates the entire Level A harassment 
zone, and the 1 m peak PTS isopleth (Table 5). However, the Navy 
estimates that some harbor seals may enter, and remain inside the Level 
A harassment zone undetected by PSOs for a period long enough to be

[[Page 68299]]

taken by Level A harassment during Year 1. NMFS concurs, and has 
authorized 20 Level A harassment takes of harbor seal in Year 1 (1 
harbor seal for every 4 in-water work days).
    During Year 2, the largest Level A harassment zone for phocids 
extends 26 m from the source during vibratory pile driving of 30 and 
36-inch steel piles, as no impact pile driving is planned for Year 2. 
The Navy expects to be able to effectively monitor this zone and 
implement a 30 m shutdown zone. Therefore, the Navy does not expect 
Level A harassment take to occur during Year 2. NMFS concurs that the 
Navy's shutdown zones are expected to eliminate the potential for Level 
A harassment take of harbor seal in Year 2, and has not authorized 
Level A harassment take of harbor seal in Year 2.

                                                         Table 6--Estimated Take by Level A and Level B Harassment, by Species and Stock
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    Year 1                                              Year 2
                                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                          Level B
               Species                         Stock                Stock abundance           Level A         Level B       Total take  (percent of     harassment      Total take  (percent of
                                                                                            harassment      harassment              stock)            take  (percent            stock)
                                                                                               take            take                                      of stock)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killer whale........................  West Coast Transient...  243......................                              12  12 (4.9)..................              12  12 (4.9).
Harbor porpoise.....................  Washington Inland        11,233...................               0           1,728  1,728 (15.4)..............             216  216 (1.9).
                                       Waters.
Steller sea lion....................  Eastern U.S............  43,201...................                             320  320 (0.7).................              40  40 (0.1).
California sea lion.................  United States..........  257,606..................                           4,800  4,800 (1.9)...............             600  600 (0.2).
Harbor seal.........................  Washington Inland        Unknown..................              20           2,800  2,820 (Unknown)...........             350  350 (Unknown).
                                       Waters, Hood Canal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mitigation Measures

    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 the 
activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable impact on 
the species or stock and its habitat, paying particular attention to 
rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on 
the availability of the 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 the 
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, the 
Navy will employ the following mitigation measures:
     For in-water heavy machinery work other than pile driving, 
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;
     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 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 entering the 
Level B harassment zone; and
     If take reaches the authorized limit for an authorized 
species, pile installation/removal will shut down immediately if these 
species approach the Level B harassment zone to avoid additional take.
    The following mitigation measures apply to the Navy's in-water 
construction activities.
     Establishment of Shutdown Zones--The Navy will establish 
shutdown zones for all pile driving and removal activities. The purpose 
of a shutdown zone is generally to define an area within which shutdown 
of the activity will 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 
(Table 7). In addition to the shutdown zones listed in Table 7, the 
Navy plans to shut down pile driving if a cetacean is observed within 
the Level B harassment zone.
     PSOs--The placement of PSOs during all pile driving and 
removal activities (described in detail in the Monitoring and Reporting 
section) will ensure that the entire shutdown zone is visible during 
pile driving and removal (except where structures may interfere with 
visibility of harbor seals). Should environmental conditions 
deteriorate such that marine mammals within the entire shutdown zone 
will not be visible (e.g., fog, heavy rain), pile driving and removal 
must be delayed until the PSO is confident marine mammals within the 
shutdown zone could be detected.

[[Page 68300]]



                          Table 7--Shutdown Zones During Pile Installation and Removal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Cetaceans          Phocids          Otariids
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Vibratory Pile Driving................................              65 m              30 m              10 m
All Impact Pile Driving...................................             355 m             160 m              15 m
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Monitoring for Level A and Level B Harassment--The Navy 
will monitor the Level B harassment zones (areas where SPLs are equal 
to or exceed the 160 dB rms threshold for impact driving and the 120 dB 
rms threshold during vibratory pile driving) to the extent practicable 
and the Level A harassment zones. 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 cessation of 
activity should the animal enter the shutdown zone. Placement of PSOs 
on the pier, shoreline, and a vessel (see Monitoring and Reporting) 
around the TPP site will allow PSOs to observe marine mammals within 
the Level B harassment zones.
     Pre-activity Monitoring--Prior to the start of daily in-
water construction activity, or whenever a break in pile driving/
removal 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 considered 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. 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. If the entire Level B harassment 
zone is not visible at the start of construction, pile driving 
activities can begin. If work ceases for more than 30 minutes, the pre-
activity monitoring of the shutdown zones will commence.
     Soft Start--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 will 
be required to provide an initial set of three strikes from the hammer 
at reduced energy, followed by a 30-second waiting period. This 
procedure will be conducted three times before impact pile driving 
begins. Soft start will 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 30 minutes or longer.
     Pile driving energy attenuator--The Navy will use a marine 
pile-driving energy attenuator (i.e., air bubble curtain system) during 
impact pile driving. The use of sound attenuation will reduce SPLs and 
the size of the zones of influence for Level A harassment and Level B 
harassment. Bubble curtains will meet the following requirements:
    [cir] The bubble curtain must distribute air bubbles around 100 
percent of the piling perimeter for the full depth of the water column.
    [cir] The lowest bubble ring shall be in contact with the mudline 
for the full circumference of the ring, and the weights attached to the 
bottom ring shall ensure 100 percent mudline contact. No parts of the 
ring or other objects shall prevent full mudline contact.
    [cir] The bubble curtain shall be operated such that there is 
proper (equal) balancing of air flow to all bubblers.
    Based on our evaluation of the Navy's mitigation measures, NMFS has 
determined that the planned mitigation measures provide the means 
effecting the least practicable impact on the affected species or 
stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, 
mating grounds, and areas of similar significance.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an IHA for an activity, section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth requirements pertaining to the 
monitoring and reporting of such taking. The MMPA implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 216.104 (a)(13) indicate that requests for 
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 
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

    Marine mammal monitoring must be conducted in accordance with the 
Marine Mammal Monitoring Plan. Marine mammal monitoring during pile 
driving and removal must be conducted by NMFS-approved PSOs in a manner 
consistent with the following:
     Independent PSOs (i.e., not construction personnel) who 
have no other assigned tasks during monitoring periods must be used;
     At least one PSO must have prior experience performing the 
duties of a PSO during construction activity pursuant to a NMFS-issued 
incidental take authorization.

[[Page 68301]]

     Where a team of three or more PSOs are required, a lead 
observer or monitoring coordinator must be designated. The lead 
observer must have prior experience working as a marine mammal observer 
during construction;
     Other PSOs may substitute education (degree in biological 
science or related field) or training for experience; and
    PSOs must have the following additional qualifications:
     Ability to conduct field observations and collect data 
according to assigned protocols.
     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, times, and reason for implementation 
of mitigation (or why mitigation was not implemented when required); 
and marine mammal behavior.
     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.
    At least two PSOs will monitor for marine mammals during all pile 
driving and removal activities. PSO locations will provide a view of 
the entire shutdown zone for all activities, other than areas where 
structures may potentially block limited portions of the zone, and as 
much of the Level B harassment zones as possible. PSO locations are as 
follows:
    i. During vibratory pile driving, two PSOs will be stationed on the 
pier or shore.
    ii. During impact pile driving, two PSOs will be stationed on the 
pier, and one additional PSO will observe from a vessel positioned 
approximately 200 m from shore.
    Monitoring will 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 30 minutes.

Reporting

    A draft marine mammal monitoring report will 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:
     Dates and times (begin and end) of all marine mammal 
monitoring.
     Construction activities occurring during each daily 
observation period, including how many and what type of piles were 
driven or removed and by what method (i.e., impact or vibratory).
     Weather parameters and water conditions during each 
monitoring period (e.g., wind speed, percent cover, visibility, sea 
state).
     The number of marine mammals observed, by species, 
relative to the pile location and if pile driving or removal was 
occurring at time of sighting.
     Age and sex class, if possible, of all marine mammals 
observed.
     PSO locations during marine mammal monitoring.
     Distances and bearings of each marine mammal observed to 
the pile being driven or removed for each sighting (if pile driving or 
removal was occurring at time of sighting).
     Description of any marine mammal behavior patterns during 
observation, including direction of travel and estimated time spent 
within the Level A and Level B harassment zones while the source was 
active.
     Number of individuals of each species (differentiated by 
month as appropriate) detected within the monitoring zone, and 
estimates of number of marine mammals taken, by species (a correction 
factor may be applied to total take numbers, as appropriate).
     Detailed information about any implementation of any 
mitigation triggered (e.g., shutdowns and delays), a description of 
specific actions that ensued, and resulting behavior of the animal, if 
any.
     Description of attempts to distinguish between the number 
of individual animals taken and the number of incidences of take, such 
as ability to track groups or individuals.
    If no comments are received from NMFS within 30 days, the draft 
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 event that a live marine mammal is found stranded, whether 
on shore or in or on any structure or vessel, the following steps shall 
be taken:
    i. Project personnel who discover the marine mammal shall 
immediately notify the most appropriate onsite personnel with relevant 
expertise (e.g., marine mammal observers) as well as the Navy (if non-
Navy project personnel initially discover the animal).
    ii. The Navy shall then immediately notify the West Coast Regional 
Stranding Coordinator, NMFS, and, in consultation with the Stranding 
Coordinator, shall immediately notify the most appropriate qualified 
individual (i.e., biologist or veterinarian) to respond to the event.
    iii. In the interim, or in the event that no qualified individual 
other than onsite marine mammal observers is available to respond to 
the event, the Navy shall manage the event response and shall take 
action to prevent any further deterioration of the animal's condition, 
to the extent possible. Appropriate action may be specific to the 
event. At minimum, the Navy should provide shade for the animal (if 
possible), shall not move the animal or cause the animal to move, and 
shall suspend project activity until the situation is resolved.
    iv. The Navy shall report the incident to the Office of Protected 
Resources (OPR), NMFS, within 48 hours after discovery.
    In the event that personnel involved in the construction activities 
discover an injured or dead marine mammal, the IHA-holder shall report 
the incident to the Office of Protected Resources (OPR) (301-427-8401), 
NMFS and to the West Coast Region Stranding Hotline (866-767-6114) as 
soon as feasible. If the death or injury was clearly caused by the 
specified activity, the IHA-holder must immediately cease the specified 
activities until NMFS is able to review the circumstances of the 
incident and determine what, if any, additional measures are 
appropriate to ensure compliance with the terms of the IHA. The IHA-
holder must not resume their activities until notified by NMFS.
    The report must include the following information:
    i. Time, date, and location (latitude/longitude) of the first 
discovery (and updated location information if known and applicable);
    ii. Species identification (if known) or description of the 
animal(s) involved;
    iii. Condition of the animal(s) (including carcass condition if the 
animal is dead);

[[Page 68302]]

    iv. Observed behaviors of the animal(s), if alive;
    v. If available, photographs or video footage of the animal(s); and
    vi. General circumstances under which the animal was discovered.

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 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).
    To avoid repetition, this introductory discussion of our analyses 
applies to all of the species listed in Table 6, given that many of the 
anticipated effects of this project on different marine mammal stocks 
are expected to be relatively similar in nature. Where there are 
meaningful differences between species or stocks in anticipated 
individual responses to activities, impact of expected take on the 
population due to differences in population status, or impacts on 
habitat, they are described independently in the analysis below. The 
analysis below applies to both the Year 1 and Year 2 IHAs, except where 
noted otherwise.
    Pile driving 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 A harassment and Level B harassment from underwater 
sounds generated by pile driving and removal. Potential takes could 
occur if marine mammals are present in zones ensonified above the 
thresholds for Level A or Level B harassment, identified above, while 
activities are underway.
    The nature of the pile driving project precludes the likelihood of 
serious injury or mortality. The mitigation is expected to ensure that 
no Level A harassment occurs to any species except harbor seal, which 
may be taken by Level A harassment during Year 1 activities. The nature 
of the estimated takes anticipated to occur are similar among all 
species and similar in Year 1 and Year 2, other than the potential 
Level A harassment take of harbor seal in Year 1, described further 
below.
    For all species and stocks, take will occur within a limited 
portion of Hood Canal, and for the Hood Canal stock of harbor seals, 
the project site is approximately 13.2 km (8.2 mi) away from the 
nearest major haulout at the mouth of the Dosewallips River. For all 
species other than harbor seal, take will be limited to Level B 
harassment only due to potential behavioral disturbance and TTS. 
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). 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 planned project may produce sound at distances of 
many kilometers from the project site, the project site itself is 
located on a busy waterfront with high amounts of vessel traffic. 
Therefore, we expect that animals disturbed by project sound will 
simply avoid the area and use more-preferred habitats, particularly as 
pile driving is expected to occur for a maximum of five hours per day. 
Further, the instances of take authorized for killer whale West Coast 
Transient stock, harbor porpoise Washington Inland Waters stock, 
Steller sea lion Eastern U.S. stock, and California sea lion United 
States stock is small when compared to stock abundance.
    In addition to the expected effects resulting from Level B 
harassment, we anticipate that harbor seals may sustain some Level A 
harassment in the form of auditory injury in Year 1 only. However, 
animals that experience PTS will likely only receive slight PTS, i.e. 
minor degradation of hearing capabilities within regions of hearing 
that align most completely with the frequency range of the energy 
produced by pile driving (i.e., the low-frequency region below 2 
kilohertz (kHz)), not severe hearing impairment or impairment in the 
reigns of greatest hearing sensitivity. If hearing impairment does 
occur, it is most likely that the affected animal will lose a few dBs 
in its hearing sensitivity, which in most cases, is not likely to 
meaningfully affect its ability to forage and communicate with 
conspecifics. As described above, we expect that marine mammals will be 
likely to move away from a sound source that represents an aversive 
stimulus, especially at levels that would be expected to result in PTS, 
given sufficient notice through use of soft start.
    As noted above in the Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of 
Specified Activities, the Navy has identified a few observations of 
harbor seal births at Kitsap Bangor. However, Kitsap Bangor is not a 
significant rookery area; observation of these births are very rare, 
and only a few have been reported. The closest major haulouts to Kitsap 
Bangor that are regularly used by harbor seals are at the mouth of the 
Dosewallips River, located approximately 13.2 km (8.2 mi) away. Given 
the rarity of harbor seal births at Kitsap Bangor and the maximum of 
five hours of pile driving anticipated in a day, we do not expect 
harbor seals to give birth in the TPP project area while the project is 
underway.
    The project is also not expected to have significant adverse 
effects on affected marine mammals' habitats. The project activities 
will 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 determination that the impacts

[[Page 68303]]

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 or serious injury is anticipated or 
authorized.
     For all species except harbor seal, no Level A harassment 
is anticipated or authorized.
     The Level A harassment exposures are anticipated to result 
only in slight PTS, within the lower frequencies associated with pile 
driving for harbor seals only;
     The intensity of anticipated takes by Level B harassment 
is relatively low for all stocks.
     Pile driving is only expected to occur for a maximum of 
five hours in a day.
     We do not expect significant or long-term negative effects 
to marine mammal habitat.
    Year 1 IHA--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 monitoring and 
mitigation measures, NMFS finds that the total marine mammal take from 
the Navy's construction activities will have a negligible impact on all 
affected marine mammal species or stocks.
    Year 2 IHA--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 monitoring and 
mitigation measures, NMFS finds that the total marine mammal take from 
the Navy's construction activities 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. When the predicted number of 
individuals to be taken is fewer than one third of the species or stock 
abundance, the take is considered to be of small numbers. Additionally, 
other qualitative factors may be considered in the analysis, such as 
the temporal or spatial scale of the activities.
    For the Washington Inland Waters, Hood Canal stock of harbor seal, 
no current abundance estimate is available. The most recent abundance 
estimate for harbor seals in Washington inland waters is from 1999, 
which estimated 1,088 harbor seals in the Washington Inland Waters, 
Hood Canal stock. It is generally believed that harbor seal populations 
have increased significantly since (e.g., Mapes, 2013). The estimated 
instances of take of the Washington Inland Waters, Hood Canal stock of 
harbor seals in Year 1 (Table 6) appear high when compared to the 
latest stock abundance from 1999. However, when other qualitative 
factors are used to inform an assessment of the likely number of 
individual harbor seals taken, the resulting numbers are considered 
small in Year 1 and Year 2.
    We anticipate that estimated takes of harbor seals are likely to 
occur only within some portion of the relevant population, rather than 
to animals from the stock as a whole. For example, takes anticipated to 
occur at Kitsap Bangor are expected to accrue to the same individual 
seals that routinely occur on haulouts at these locations, rather than 
occurring to new seals on each construction day. In summary, harbor 
seals taken as a result of the specified activities are expected to 
comprise only a limited portion of individuals comprising the overall 
relevant stock abundance. Therefore, we find that small numbers of 
harbor seals will be taken relative to the population size of the Hood 
Canal stock of harbor seal in Year 1 and Year 2.
    For all other species and stocks, our analysis shows that, in Year 
1 and Year 2, take of all species or stocks is below one third of the 
estimated stock abundance. The number of animals authorized to be taken 
for the killer whale West Coast Transient stock, harbor porpoise 
Washington Inland Waters stock, Steller sea lion Eastern U.S. stock, 
and California sea lion United States stock, would be considered small 
relative to the relevant stock's abundances even if each estimated 
taking occurred to a new individual, which is an unlikely scenario.
    Year 1 IHA- Based on the analysis contained herein of the activity 
(including the mitigation and monitoring measures) and the anticipated 
take of marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals 
will be taken relative to the population size of the affected species 
or stocks in Year 1 of the project.
    Year 2 IHA- Based on the analysis contained herein of the activity 
(including the mitigation and monitoring measures) and the anticipated 
take of marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals 
will be taken relative to the population size of the affected species 
or stocks in Year 2 of the project.

Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination

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

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 evaluate our proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an IHA) 
and alternatives with respect to potential impacts on the human 
environment. This action is consistent with categories of activities 
identified in Categorical Exclusion B4 of the Companion Manual for NAO 
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 
preclude this categorical exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has determined 
that this action qualifies to be categorically excluded from further 
NEPA review.

Endangered Species Act

    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 whenever we propose to authorize take for 
endangered or threatened species.
    No incidental take of ESA-listed species is authorized or expected 
to result from this activity. Therefore, NMFS has determined that 
formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA is not required for this 
action.

[[Page 68304]]

Authorization

    NMFS has issued two IHAs to the Navy for the potential harassment 
of small numbers of five marine mammal species incidental to Transit 
Protection Program Pier and Support Facilities Project at Naval Base 
Kitsap Bangor in Silverdale, Washington over two years, provided the 
previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring and reporting requirements 
are followed.

    Dated: October 23, 2020.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23852 Filed 10-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P