NMFS Marine Facilities Replacement Program Comment Period Deadline

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a proposed rule regarding the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's Marine Facilities Replacement Program (MFRP) in North Puget Sound. The commission is seeking authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to take marine mammals incidental to construction activities over a five-year period. NMFS is proposing regulations that outline permissible methods of taking, mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts on marine mammal stocks, and specific requirements for monitoring and reporting. These measures are intended to ensure compliance with the MMPA while allowing the necessary infrastructure replacement work to proceed. The agency is currently soliciting public comments on the proposed regulations. Interested parties must submit their feedback by September 10, 2026, using the docket number NOAA-NMFS-2026-1255. NMFS will review all submitted comments before making a final determination on whether to promulgate the requested regulations.