Modification of Incidental Harassment Authorization for Marine Mammals Affected by U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter Homeporting Construction in Sitka, Alaska
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to modify an existing Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) originally issued on December 20, 2024. The authorization covers the incidental taking of small numbers of nine species of marine mammals by both Level A (potential injury) and Level B (behavioral disturbance) harassment during construction activities related to homeporting a Fast Response Cutter (FRC) in Sitka, Alaska. The originally issued IHA is effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. The proposed modification would amend the authorization's duration, project design parameters, and take estimates for the nine affected marine mammal species. These changes reflect updates to the scope or schedule of the construction project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is opening a public comment period before making any final decision on whether to issue the modified IHA. All agency responses to public comments will be summarized and published in the final decision notice, ensuring transparency in the regulatory process.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Modification of an existing IHA originally issued December 20, 2024, effective September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
- Changes to the IHA duration — revised project timeline affecting the authorization window
- Updates to project design parameters for the FRC homeporting construction in Sitka, Alaska
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
U.S. Coast Guard must obtain modified Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) from NMFS before conducting construction activities for Fast Response Cutter homeporting in Sitka, Alaska
NMFS must open and conduct a public comment period on the proposed IHA modification before issuing a final decision
NMFS must summarize all agency responses to public comments and publish them in the final decision notice
U.S. Coast Guard must comply with the modified authorization's duration, project design parameters, and take estimates for nine marine mammal species
U.S. Coast Guard must limit incidental taking of marine mammals to small numbers only, as specified in the modified IHA