Federal Register #2026-06484

Incidental Harassment Authorization for Marine Mammal Takes during Mission Bay Ferry Landing Project, San Francisco Bay

This opportunity concerns the proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) for the Port of San Francisco's Mission Bay Ferry Landing Project, overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Port of San Francisco (project proponent) - Project Scope: - Construction of the Mission Bay Ferry Landing in San Francisco Bay, California - Activities include vibratory pile driving, pile extraction, and down-the-hole (DTH) pile driving - Installation and extraction of various piles: - 14-inch steel H-piles (temporary, up to 80 installations/extractions) - 48-inch steel caisson (permanent) - 24-inch octagonal concrete piles - 30-inch steel caisson sleeves (temporary) - 36-inch steel pipe piles (permanent, 8 units) - Services Requested: - Marine mammal monitoring and mitigation services - Provision of qualified Protected Species Observers (PSOs) - Observer training - Implementation of a Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan - Unique Requirements: - Strict mitigation protocols, including shutdown zones and use of bubble curtains during DTH driving - Monitoring and reporting to minimize impacts on marine mammals - Authorization covers take by Level B harassment only (no mortality or Level A harassment expected) - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as this is a regulatory authorization rather than a procurement of goods or services. - Place of Performance: - San Francisco Bay, Port of San Francisco Southern Waterfront, Yerba Buena Island, and Pier 39 K-Dock, all in San Francisco, California.

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Port of San Francisco for authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the Mission Bay Ferry Landing Project in San Francisco Bay, California. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS proposes to issue an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) for activities including pile driving and extraction that may disturb marine mammals. The authorization includes mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements to minimize impacts. Public comments are invited on the proposal and potential one-year renewals.

View original listing