Federal Register #2026-11127

NOAA Issues Modified Marine Mammal Authorization for Port of Alaska Construction Project

This notice concerns a regulatory modification related to marine mammal protection during a major public works project at the Port of Alaska. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources - Project Overview: - Modified Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued for the Don Young Port of Alaska - Covers incidental take (harassment) of marine mammals during the Cargo Terminals Replacement (CTR) project - Project activities include in-water construction and demolition, specifically vibratory extraction of 42-, 48-, and 72-inch steel pipe piles - Key Requirements: - Updates shutdown and harassment zones for pile extraction to minimize acoustic disturbance to marine mammals - No changes to the number of authorized takes or regulatory findings - Mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements remain in effect - OEMs and Vendors: - No OEMs or commercial vendors are named; this is a regulatory/environmental compliance action, not a procurement - Additional Information: - The USPTO SPARK Pilot Program is also mentioned but is unrelated to procurement or the Port of Alaska project - Place of Performance: - Port of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska - Federal facility context - Notable: - This is not a solicitation for goods or services, but a regulatory notice for environmental compliance

Description

A modified letter of authorization (LOA) has been issued to the Don Young Port of Alaska for the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to the Cargo Terminals Replacement project at the existing port facility in Anchorage, Alaska over five years (2026-2031). The modification updates shutdown and harassment zones for vibratory extraction of 42-inch, 48-inch, and 72-inch steel pipe piles. NMFS determined the impacts remain consistent with the final rule, with no change in authorized takes or regulatory findings. The LOA includes mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements to minimize adverse impacts on marine mammals.

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