Federal Register #2026-20789

NMFS Seeks Comment on Marine-Mammal Authorization for Juneau Seawalk Extension

This Federal Register notice concerns marine-mammal protections for the City and Borough of Juneau’s Seawalk Extension Project, not a government purchase solicitation. - Government entities: The City and Borough of Juneau requested the authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. - Project work: Extend the existing seawalk from Franklin Dock to AJ Dock, remove existing docks, floats, mooring dolphins, and abandoned timber piles, and install a new seawalk, cruise-ship mooring dolphin, and access catwalk. Work includes temporary pile installation and removal, vibratory and impact pile driving, and down-the-hole drilling. - Requested authorization: NMFS is considering an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) for marine-mammal impacts from construction. The proposal anticipates Level B harassment for five species and Level A harassment for a subset of two species; serious injury or mortality is not anticipated. NMFS is also considering a possible one-time renewal. - Notable requirements and safeguards: Proposed measures include marine-mammal clearance and shutdown zones, soft starts for impact pile driving, monitoring by NMFS-approved protected species observers, and monitoring and reporting. Bubble curtains are not proposed because strong tides and intertidal conditions would limit their effectiveness and make them economically impracticable. - OEMs and vendors: No commercial OEMs, vendors, products, part numbers, or purchase quantities are identified. This is a request for public comment on a proposed authorization, not a procurement solicitation.

Description

NMFS is seeking public comment on a proposed incidental harassment authorization for the City and Borough of Juneau’s Seawalk Extension Project in Juneau, Alaska. The proposed authorization would cover incidental takes of marine mammals during the specified construction activities. NMFS is also requesting comment on a possible one-time, one-year renewal, subject to the conditions described in the notice. Comments must be received by November 12, 2026.

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