Search Results for keywords:"Incidental Harassment Authorization"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes granting an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for their ferry terminal project in Angoon, Alaska, which could incidentally affect marine mammals. The authorization allows for a limited number of marine mammals to be harassed, primarily through noise from pile driving activities, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NMFS has laid out specific mitigation and monitoring measures to minimize impacts, and these activities are not expected to significantly harm marine mammal populations. The public is invited to comment on the proposal and the potential one-year renewal of the IHA.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed giving the National Science Foundation permission to potentially disturb northern sea otters during a marine survey in the northeast Pacific Ocean. This activity is intended to take place from May 1 to June 30, 2021, and involves using sound waves in the ocean, which might bother the otters. Up to 13 otters could be affected, but the goal is to ensure that this does not harm the species as a whole. The Service is also seeking public feedback on this plan and the related environmental assessment.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has received a request from the U.S. Navy to renew an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) for the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). This renewal allows for the incidental taking of marine mammals during the construction needed for relocating NOAA research vessels at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. The activities are nearly identical to those already analyzed in an existing authorization and the renewal will allow continuation for up to another year. NMFS has preliminarily determined that the proposed actions will not have a significant impact on marine mammals and seeks additional public comments before making a final decision.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed issuing an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) that would allow the United States Army Corps of Engineers to take small numbers of marine mammals during geotechnical surveys in St. George, Alaska. These surveys aim to support the construction of a small boat harbor and may incidentally affect northern fur seals, harbor seals, and possibly other marine mammals. The IHA includes measures to reduce impacts, such as temporarily stopping work if certain marine mammals are nearby and avoiding work during sensitive times, like when northern fur seals are pupping. Public comments on the proposal are being requested.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the Maine Department of Transportation to allow the incidental taking of marine mammals during a construction project at Lubec Harbor in Maine. This involves the potential disturbance to five species of marine mammals due to sound from pile driving and drilling activities. The NMFS is seeking public comments on the proposed authorization to ensure marine mammals are least impacted. They propose certain mitigation measures to minimize disturbances and are considering allowing a one-year renewal if necessary, under specific conditions.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed granting an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to South Fork Wind, LLC, which would allow the company to take certain marine mammals incidentally during the construction of the South Fork Offshore Wind Project. This project involves pile driving and high-resolution geophysical surveys off the coast of Rhode Island, which may affect marine mammals. NMFS evaluated potential impacts to marine mammals, including endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale, and proposed stringent mitigation measures, such as seasonal restrictions and monitoring, to minimize potential harm. Public comments are requested on this proposal, with the possibility of a one-year renewal under certain conditions.

The U.S. Navy has requested the renewal of an incidental harassment authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to allow for the taking of marine mammals during construction activities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine. These activities, which have been delayed, involve modifications to Dry Dock 1 and are similar to those previously authorized, with minimal changes. The NMFS ensures these activities have a negligible impact on marine life, and they have opened a 15-day public comment period to gather further input. The Navy is required to follow specific measures to minimize impacts, including monitoring and reporting any interactions with marine mammals during construction.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for activities related to construction at the Station Siuslaw River in Florence, Oregon. This authorization allows the USCG to incidentally harass, but not seriously harm, small numbers of certain marine mammals, like harbor seals and sea lions, during pile driving activities. The measures aim to minimize the impact on marine mammals, and the authorization specifies monitoring and reporting requirements. NMFS determined that the project will not significantly harm marine mammal populations or habitats and will not adversely impact any species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the University of Texas at Austin. This authorization allows UT to accidentally disturb certain marine mammals, like dolphins, while conducting a marine geophysical survey off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico. The survey will use low-energy seismic airguns to gather data, and measures are in place to minimize impact on the animals. The authorization also includes monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure marine mammal protection.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has reissued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for construction activities involved in the Unalaska Channels Deepening Project in Alaska. This reissuance is necessary due to project delays and extends the period of the initial authorization. The authorization allows for the incidental harassment of four species of marine mammals, like humpback whales and Steller sea lions, ensuring that the impacts remain negligible. The reissued IHA maintains the same mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements as originally approved, and complies with environmental laws including the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).