Federal Register #2026-05976

Incidental Take Authorization for Northern Sea Otters During USCG Marine Construction in Alaska

This opportunity concerns the authorization of incidental take of northern sea otters during marine construction and pile driving at U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) facilities in Alaska. - Government Buyer: - U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), under the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Marine Mammals Management Office - Locations: - USCG Moorings Seward, Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC), Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska - USCG Moorings Sitka, Sitka Channel, Sitka, Alaska - USCG Base Kodiak, Womens Bay, Nyman Peninsula, Kodiak, Alaska - Services Requested: - Authorization for incidental, nonlethal harassment (take) of northern sea otters during pile driving and marine construction - Activities include installation and removal of steel, concrete, and timber piles at USCG facilities - Required implementation of mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures to minimize impacts on sea otters - Coordination with Alaska Native Tribes to address subsistence hunting concerns - Compliance with shutdown procedures in the event of unauthorized take - Notable Requirements: - Strict adherence to mitigation and monitoring protocols - Detailed reporting and consultation with FWS and other agencies - Estimated annual incidental take: up to 80 sea otters in Seward, 189 in Sitka, and 423 in Kodiak - No specific OEMs, vendors, or product part numbers are identified; the opportunity is open to qualified entities capable of performing marine construction with required environmental protections.

Description

This final rule issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior authorizes the incidental take of northern sea otters during specified marine construction and pile driving activities in Seward, Sitka, and Kodiak, Alaska. The rule is effective from March 27, 2026, through March 27, 2031, and is based on the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. It includes mitigation measures to minimize impacts on sea otters and involves coordination with Alaska Native Tribes to address subsistence hunting concerns. Comments on the rule are due by April 27, 2026.

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