Unalaska awarded its harbor contract before the sea otter permit was final

Unalaska's city council signed a $21.9 million contract on Sept. 8 to tear out and replace two floats at Storrs Harbor. The federal authorization covering what the pile driving will do to sea otters was, that day, still a proposal.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published the draft Aug. 11. It would permit the work to disturb up to 112 sea otters, about 0.22 percent of the Southwest Alaska stock, which is listed as threatened, and to cause permanent hearing loss in as many as 32 of them. Public comment on it closed Sept. 10, two days after the council voted.

The other federal piece is done. The National Marine Fisheries Service issued its own one-year authorization April 30, covering the marine mammals under its jurisdiction. Staff told the council environmental permitting was cleared.

Acting City Manager Marjorie Veeder recommended the contract, citing "the likely need to close the harbor in the near future" if the work is not done.

Western Marine Construction has until July 1, 2028, to reach substantial completion and Aug. 1 for final completion. Missing those dates costs the company $500 a day and $1,000 a day respectively.

Storrs is the only city facility serving boats 60 feet and under, with 71 slips and about 1,230 feet of floats used by commercial fishing vessels, recreational boats and transient traffic. The project has been a city legislative priority since 2014. The council also moved $10.6 million out of the general fund that night to cover the gap between the bid and the original estimate.