Public Comment Period: North Barge Expansion Project Marine Mammal Take Authorization

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska (QTU) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals during the North Barge Expansion Project at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The project involves vibratory pile driving, impact pile driving, and down-the-hole (DTH) drilling to construct a new barge ramp, dock, and expanded container storage yard. Construction is expected to occur over approximately 62 days between April and November 2027. NMFS has preliminarily determined that the project will have a negligible impact on marine mammal species and stocks. The proposed authorization covers six species, including humpback whales, minke whales, killer whales, harbor porpoises, Steller sea lions, and harbor seals. The agency proposes to authorize Level B harassment for all six species and Level A harassment for a subset of three species (humpback whales, Steller sea lions, and harbor seals). To minimize impacts, QTU must implement mitigation measures including clearance and shutdown zones, soft-start procedures for impact pile driving, and visual monitoring by NMFS-approved Protected Species Observers (PSOs). The IHA would be valid for one year, with a potential for a one-time, 1-year renewal if specific conditions are met. Public comments on the proposed authorization are requested within 30 days of publication.