Federal Register #2026-09046

NOAA Proposes Marine Mammal Take Authorizations for Navy Bulkhead Replacement at Naval Station Newport

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking public input on proposed authorizations for the U.S. Navy's bulkhead replacement project at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. - Government Buyer: - Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Project Overview: - S50S/LNG and S499 Bulkheads Replacement Project at Naval Station Newport - Replacement or repair of approximately 1,160 linear feet of deteriorating bulkheads, sheet pile, and revetment along Coddington Cove waterfront - Construction activities include impact and vibratory pile driving and down-the-hole (DTH) excavation over two years - Products Requested: - Steel sheet pile (Z28, 228 units for S50S/LNG; Z26, 166 units for S499) - Steel pipe pile (18-inch, 111 permanent and 68 temporary for S50S/LNG; 84 permanent and 52 temporary for S499) - Services Requested: - Impact pile driving - Vibratory pile driving and extraction - Down-the-hole (DTH) excavation - Protected Species Observer (PSO) services for marine mammal monitoring - Preparation and submission of a Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Implementation of mitigation measures to protect marine mammals, including visual monitoring by NMFS-approved PSOs, soft start techniques, shutdown zones, and strict reporting protocols - Authorizations cover Level B harassment of seven marine mammal species and Level A harassment of five species - Work limited to daylight hours and subject to NMFS approval of monitoring and mitigation plans - No specific OEMs or vendors are named; procurement is focused on regulatory authorization and environmental compliance for construction activities

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during construction activities associated with the S50S/LNG and S499 Bulkheads Replacement Project at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. The project involves replacing or repairing deteriorating bulkheads along the Coddington Cove waterfront over a two-year period. NMFS proposes to issue two consecutive 1-year incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) with possible one-time renewals, and is requesting public comments on the proposed authorizations and renewals. The project includes mitigation measures such as visual monitoring and soft start techniques to minimize impacts on marine mammals.

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