Federal Register #2026-09305

NOAA Seeks Comment on Marine Mammal Incidental Take Authorization for Ward Creek Bridge Replacement, Ketchikan, Alaska

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is seeking public comment on a proposal to issue two consecutive Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) for the Ward Creek Bridge Replacement Project in Ketchikan, Alaska. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) is the project proponent - Project Scope: - Replacement of Ward Creek Bridge involving pile driving, down-the-hole drilling, blasting, and associated road reconstruction - Construction activities may incidentally disturb marine mammals in Ward Cove and Tongass Narrows - Marine Mammal Protection Requirements: - Authorization covers incidental take (Level A and Level B harassment) of seven marine mammal species (ten stocks), including humpback whales, killer whales, Dall's porpoises, harbor porpoises, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and northern elephant seals - No serious injury or mortality is expected - Strict mitigation measures required, including: - Visual monitoring by NMFS-approved Protected Species Observers (PSOs) - Shutdown zones and soft-start techniques for pile driving - Measures to limit sediment disturbance - Detailed monitoring and reporting obligations - Services Requested: - NMFS-approved PSO services for visual monitoring during construction - Compliance with marine mammal protection protocols - NAICS Codes: - 237110 (Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction) - 237310 (Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction) - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Adherence to federal marine mammal protection standards - Detailed mitigation, monitoring, and reporting procedures - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as this is a regulatory authorization, not a procurement for goods

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) for authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the Ward Creek Bridge Replacement Project in Ketchikan, Alaska. NMFS is proposing to issue two consecutive incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) for this purpose and is requesting public comments on the proposed IHAs and possible one-year renewals. The project involves construction activities such as pile driving and removal, which may disturb marine mammals but are not expected to cause serious injury or mortality. Mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures will be required to minimize impacts on marine mammals and their habitat.

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