Public Comment Period: North Barge Expansion Project Marine Mammal Incidental Harassment Authorization

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska (QTU) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The authorization is sought for activities related to the North Barge Expansion Project located in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. NMFS is currently soliciting public comments regarding the proposed issuance of this authorization. Additionally, the agency is requesting feedback on the potential for a one-time, one-year renewal of the authorization, provided specific regulatory requirements are met. Interested parties must submit comments to Howard Goldstein at the NMFS Office of Protected Resources by September 10, 2026. All submissions must be sent via email and adhere to a 25-megabyte file size limit. NMFS will review all public input before reaching a final decision on the permit issuance.