Federal Register #2026-07768

Incidental Harassment Authorizations for Marine Mammals During Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild, Baltimore, MD

This opportunity concerns regulatory authorizations for marine mammal protection during the Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild project in Baltimore, MD. - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce - Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation (project sponsor) - Project Scope: - Rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including installation of approximately 835 steel pipe piles (728 in Year 1, 107 in Year 2) using vibratory and impact pile driving - Construction activities span the Patapsco River, Chesapeake Bay, Curtis Bay, Bear Creek, and Port of Baltimore - Regulatory Focus: - NMFS proposes to issue two consecutive Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) for the incidental take (Level B harassment) of Tamanends bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) during construction - Authorizations may be renewed for an additional year if needed - Mitigation and Monitoring Requirements: - Use of soft start techniques and bubble curtains for noise attenuation during pile driving - Establishment of shutdown zones to minimize impacts on marine mammals - Mandatory presence of NMFS-approved Protected Species Observers (PSOs) for visual monitoring, reporting, and compliance - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as this is a regulatory process rather than a procurement of goods or services - Notable for its emphasis on environmental compliance and marine mammal protection during a major federal infrastructure project

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild project in Baltimore, Maryland. NMFS proposes to issue two consecutive incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) for this purpose and is also considering possible one-time, 1-year renewals under certain conditions. The notice requests public comments on the proposed authorizations and renewals, which will be considered before a final decision is made. The project involves activities that may disturb marine mammals, and mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are proposed to minimize impacts.

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