Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Transit Protection Program Pier and Support Facilities Project at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington

Résumé

NMFS is proposing to modify the incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) that were issued to the United States Navy (Navy) on September 25, 2020 for the Transit Protection Program (TPP) construction, due to an elevated harbor seal take rate at the nearby Naval Base Kitsap Bangor Service Pier Project that was unanticipated during the initial analysis for these TPP IHAs. NMFS is proposing to modify the TPP project IHAs to increase authorized take by Level A harassment of harbor seal in the Year 1 IHA, and add Level A harassment take of harbor seal to the Year 2 IHA. NMFS is also proposing to revise the shutdown mitigation provisions for harbor seals in the modified IHAs, and adjust the effective dates of both IHAs to accommodate the Navy's plans to delay the project. The monitoring and reporting measures remain the same as prescribed in the initial IHAs, and no additional take was requested for other species. NMFS will consider public comments on the requested modifications prior to making any final decision and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.