In response to a request from Trident Seafoods Corporation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to authorize nonlethal, incidental take by harassment of small numbers of the Southwest Alaska stock of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) for 1 year from the date of issuance of the incidental harassment authorization. The applicant requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with pile driving and marine construction activities in Near Island Channel in Kodiak, Alaska. We estimate that this project may result in the nonlethal incidental take by harassment of up to 460 northern sea otters from the Southwest Alaska stock. This proposed authorization, if finalized, will be for up to 3,160 takes of 460 northern sea otters by Level B harassment. No take by Level A harassment or lethal take are requested, or expected, and no such take will be authorized.
The proposed incidental harassment authorization and supporting documents are available for public review and comment at www.regulations.gov, docket number FWS-R7-ES-2023-0212. The public comment period is from January 25, 2024 to February 26, 2024. Once the public comment period closes, we will review all submitted comments prior to making a final determination.
Comments may be submitted electronically or by U.S. Mail:
Electronic Submission: Federal eRulemaking Portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to the appropriate Docket No.
U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R7–ES–2023–212, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803
All comments received on a proposed authorization during the comment period will be posted at http://www.regulations.gov. You may request that we withhold personal identifying information from public review; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
