[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86538-86544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28850]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA736]


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Service Pier Extension Project 
on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Issuance of a modified incidental harassment authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given 
that NMFS has issued a modified incidental harassment authorization 
(IHA) to United States Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass marine 
mammals incidental to the Service Pier Extension (SPE) project at Naval 
Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington.

DATES: This modified IHA is valid from the original date of issuance 
through July 15, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pauline, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401. Electronic copies of the original 
application and supporting documents (including NMFS Federal Register 
notices of the original proposed and final authorizations, and the 
previous IHA), as well as a list of the references cited in this 
document, may be obtained online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the 
contact listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The MMPA prohibits the ``take'' of marine mammals, with certain 
exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 
et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to 
allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of 
small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a 
specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified 
geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations 
are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a 
proposed incidental take authorization may be provided to the public 
for review.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses 
(where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods 
of taking and other ``means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact'' on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying 
particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, and on the availability of such species or stocks for 
taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to in shorthand as 
``mitigation''); and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, 
monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth.

History of Request

    On June 28, 2018, NMFS published a notice of our issuance of an IHA 
authorizing take of five species of marine mammals by Level A and Level 
B harassment incidental to the SPE project (83 FR 30406). Species 
authorized for take included killer whale (Orcinus orca), harbor 
porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), California sea lion (Zalophus 
californianus), Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), and harbor seal 
(Phoca vitulina). The effective dates of that IHA were July 16, 2019 
through July 15, 2020. On February 4, 2019, the Navy informed NMFS that 
the project was being

[[Page 86539]]

delayed by one full year. None of the work identified in the initial 
IHA had occurred and no marine mammals had been taken during the 
effective dates of the initial IHA (July 16, 2018 through July 1, 
2019). Therefore, the Navy submitted a formal request for reissuance of 
the initial IHA with new effective dates of July 16, 2020 through July 
15, 2021. NMFS re-issued this IHA on July 3, 2019 (84 FR 31844). The 
IHA covered construction work identical to what was analyzed and 
authorized through the initial IHA.
    On October 14, 2020, NMFS received a request from the Navy for a 
modification to the current IHA due to an elevated harbor seal take 
rate. The Navy felt that without an increase in authorized take of 
harbor seal they would be forced to repeatedly shut down whenever 
animals entered into specified Level A harassment zones. This would 
likely prolong the duration of in-water construction activities and add 
increased costs to the project.
    Therefore, the Navy requested a modification of the IHA to increase 
authorized take of harbor seal by Level A harassment. NMFS published 
the notice of the proposed IHA modification in the Federal Register on 
November 24, 2020 (85 FR 74989). The mitigation, monitoring, and 
reporting measures remain the same as prescribed in the initial IHA 
with minor revisions to mitigation requirements. No additional take is 
authorized for species other than harbor seal. Moreover, the IHA would 
still expire on July 15, 2021.

Description of the Specified Activity and Anticipated Impacts

    The modified IHA would include the same construction activities 
(i.e., impact pile driving, vibratory pile driving, vibratory pile 
removal) in the same locations that were described in the initial IHA, 
The monitoring and reporting measures remain the same as prescribed in 
the initial IHA, while minor revisions to the required mitigation 
measures have been authorized. NMFS refers the reader to the documents 
related to the initial IHA issued on June 28, 2018 (83 FR 30406), for 
more detailed description of the project activities. Other relevant 
documents include the notice of proposed IHA and request for comments 
(83 FR 10689; March 12, 2018), notice of reissued IHA (84 FR 31844, 
July 3, 2019), and notice of proposed IHA modification (85 FR 74989; 
November 24, 2020).

Detailed Description of the Action

    A detailed description of the construction activities is found in 
these previous documents. The location, timing, and nature of the 
activities, including the types of piles and methods of installation 
and removal are identical to those described in the previous notices.

Public Comments

    A notice of proposed IHA modification was published in the Federal 
Register on November 24, 2020 (85 FR 74989). During the 15-day public 
comment period, NMFS received comments from the Marine Mammal 
Commission (Commission). NMFS has posted the comments online at: 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act. A summary of the comments as well 
as NMFS' responses are below.
    Comment 1: The Commission recommended that NMFS reduce all shut-
down zones for phocids during vibratory and impact pile driving and 
removal to at least 25 m or even 10 m.
    Response: NMFS does not concur with the Commission's recommendation 
of decreasing shutdown zones beyond what NMFS had proposed in the 
Federal Register notice of a modified IHA. While multiple shutdowns are 
problematic due to habituated seals entering shutdown zones, the Navy 
is equally concerned about the possibility of exceeding authorized take 
of seals. Additional measures authorized under this IHA will decrease 
shutdowns to a level that is practicable for the Navy while also 
increasing authorized take to avoid exceeding authorized limits. When 
any of the three most-habituated seals enters into Level A harassment 
zones during either impact or vibratory driving, they will be recorded 
as Level A harassment takes. However, pile driving operations will be 
allowed to continue since the three habituated seals are responsible 
for most of the work stoppages and recorded takes during both impact 
and vibratory driving. These seals can be individually identified and 
monitored in order to avoid repeated takes of a single animal. 
Additionally, a smaller phocid Level A harassment and shutdown zone 
will be established and monitored based on in situ sound source 
verification (SSV) testing for impact driving. The SSV testing showed a 
Level A harassment isopleth of 92 m compared to a 217 m isopleth 
authorized in the existing IHA, resulting in lower takes of seals.
    NMFS notes that the reduction in shutdown zones recommended by the 
Commission would not have any effect on take of harbor seals by Level A 
harassment. The Level A harassment zones (92 m for impact driving and 
30 m for vibratory with the exception of habituated seals) would remain 
unchanged and takes would occur in those zones even if smaller shutdown 
zones were established and monitored. There could be some decrease in 
the number of shutdowns, but since most shutdowns are caused by the 
three most-habituated seals, who are exempted from the shutdowns at 92 
m and 30 m under the modified IHA, any reduction would likely be minor. 
Furthermore, establishment and monitoring of the larger shutdown zones 
proposed by NMFS will limit exposure to sound levels that could result 
in permanent threshold shift (PTS) for seals other than the three 
highly-habituated animals.
    Comment 2: The Commission recommended that NMFS increase the number 
of Level A harassment takes from 445 to 509 to account for the 
incidental taking of all harbor seals known to occur in the project 
area on the 48 remaining in-water work days.
    Response: The Commission's recommendation is based on data that was 
collected near the time when the notice of proposed IHA was published 
(85 FR 74989; November 24, 2020). When NMFS was drafting the notice of 
proposed IHA, the Navy had recorded 58 takes of harbor seal by Level A 
harassment. The most up-to-date information regarding take of harbor 
seals after submission of the notice of proposed IHA to the Federal 
Register was provided by the Navy on November 21, 2020. The Navy 
reported that there had been 85 takes of harbor seal by Level A 
harassment up to that date with 48 days of in-water work remaining. 
NMFS agrees with the Commission's recommendation that eight harbor seal 
takes by Level A harassment should be authorized for each remaining day 
of in-water work resulting in 384 takes. This value has been added to 
the 125 takes by Level A harassment originally authorized resulting in 
a total of 509 Level A harassment takes. The total number of takes by 
both Level A harassment and Level B harassment has not changed (5,725) 
because the new Level A takes are assumed to occur to animals that 
would have previously been counted as taken by Level B harassment. 
Therefore, NMFS has reduced authorized Level B harassment take of 
harbor seal from 5,600 in the initial IHA to 5,216 in the modified IHA. 
The total numbers of incidental takes by Level A and Level B harassment 
as a percentage of population remains the same as shown in Table 2.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommended that NMFS reassess the

[[Page 86540]]

number of Level A harassment takes authorized for harbor seals during 
the Navy's Transit Protection Program (TPP) Year 1 activities and 
whether to authorize Level A harassment takes for Year 2 activities. 
The Commission also recommended that NMFS modify the Navy's TPP 
authorizations to reduce all shut-down zones for phocids during 
vibratory and impact pile driving and removal and increase the number 
of Level A harassment takes to account for the eight harbor seals known 
to occur in the project area on each day of activities.
    Response: NMFS will consider the Commission's input regarding 
existing and future IHA's pertaining to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.

Changes From Proposed IHA Modification

    NMFS has increased authorized take of harbor seals by Level A 
harassment from 445 in the proposed IHA to 509 in the modified IHA 
while take by Level B harassment has been reduced from 5,280 to 5,216. 
The rationale for this change is provided in the Estimated Take 
section.

Description of Marine Mammals

    A description of the marine mammals in the area of the activities 
is found in the notice of proposed IHA and request for comments (83 FR 
10689; March 3, 2018); notice of initial IHA issued on June 28, 2018 
(83 FR 30406); notice of reissued IHA (84 FR 31844, July 3, 2019); and 
notice of proposed IHA modification (85 FR 74989; November 24, 2020), 
which remain applicable to this modified IHA as well. In addition, NMFS 
has reviewed recent Stock Assessment Reports, information on relevant 
Unusual Mortality Events, and recent scientific literature, and 
determined that no new information affects our original analysis of 
impacts under the initial IHA.

Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and Their 
Habitat

    A description of the potential effects of the specified activities 
on marine mammals and their habitat may be found in the documents 
supporting the initial IHA (83 FR 30406; June 28, 2018) which remains 
applicable to the issuance of this modified IHA. There is no new 
information on potential effects.
    For harbor seals, observations indicate that eight identified 
individuals are often observed in relatively close proximity to the 
pile driving operations. Three of the eight animals occur more 
frequently, often on a daily basis. Given this, there is a higher 
likelihood than initially considered that these animals may incur PTS 
at a low-moderate level due to the repeated, longer-duration exposure 
to higher levels of sound.

Estimated Take

    A detailed description of the methods and inputs used to estimate 
take for the specified activity are found in the notice of IHA for the 
initial authorization (83 FR 30406; June 28, 2018). The pile 
installation and removal equipment that may result in take, as well as 
the source levels, marine mammal stocks taken, marine mammal density 
data and the methods of take estimation applicable to this 
authorization remain unchanged from the previously issued IHA. The 
number of authorized takes is also identical with the exception of 
harbor seals.
    The in-water work window (when ESA-listed salmonids are least 
likely to be present) runs from July 16, 2020 through January 15, 2021. 
Pile installation started September 4, 2020 with both vibratory and 
impact pile drivers being employed. After in-water work commenced, 
protected species observers (PSOs) began recording a specific group of 
harbor seals that consistently entered and remained in the Level A 
harassment zone. (Note that the term PSO has replaced marine mammal 
observer (MMO) in this notice as well as the draft modified IHA, 
although the functions and duties of each are identical). This has 
resulted in excessive shutdowns. Due to these frequent shutdowns the 
pile installation project is behind schedule. PSOs have identified at 
least eight harbor seals that frequent the project area and have become 
habituated to the in-water construction work. These seals include four 
pups and four adults which have all been individually identified. Three 
of the pups are seen in the project area on almost a daily basis. The 
pups approach the work site repeatedly during the day and stay in the 
work area for up to 90 minutes. Two of the pups and all of the adults 
have had occasional behavioral reactions to pile driving activity. For 
example, PSOs have recorded seals occasionally exhibiting behaviors 
such as startled response and fast swimming away from the activity.
    On October 14, 2020, NMFS received a request from the Navy for a 
modification to the current IHA due to an elevated harbor seal take 
rate. NMFS concurred that under the current take rate, the Navy would 
likely exceed authorized take prior to the effective end data of the 
IHA.
    The Navy utilized NMFS' User Spreadsheet to calculate the Level A 
harassment isopleths associated with project activities which was 
developed as part of the NMFS Technical Guidance (2016) in recognition 
of the fact that ensonified area/volume could be more technically 
challenging to predict because of the duration component in the new 
thresholds. Inputs to the model for the initial IHA are shown in Table 
1. This model calculated a 217-m Level A harassment isopleth for 
phocids (i.e., harbor seals) during impact driving of 36-in steel 
piles. The size of this PTS harassment zone for 36-steel pile impact 
driving is relatively large compared to PTS zones for both impact and 
vibratory driving of other pile types and sizes. The large zone size 
and habituation of a limited number of seals has contributed to a 
greater phocid take rate than was initially calculated.

 Table 1--Inputs for Determining Distances to Cumulative PTS Thresholds
                      [36<gr-thn-eq> Steel impact]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Impact pile driving
      Spreadsheet tab used       ---------------------------------------
                                  Initial IHA inputs     Modified IHA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Level (Single Strike/shot  173 dB (assumes 8   177 dB (assumes 8
 SEL).                             dB attenuation)     dB attenuation)
                                   \1\.                \2\.
Weighting Factor Adjustment       Weighting override  Weighting override
 (kHz) \3\.                        (Grebner et al.     (Grebner et al.
                                   2016).              2016).
Number of strikes per day.......  1,600.............  1,600.
Number of piles per day within    2.................  2.
 24-h period.
Propagation (xLogR).............  15................  25.

[[Page 86541]]

 
Distance of source level          10................  10.
 measurement (meters).
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\1\ Navy 2015.
\2\ Wood et al. 2020.
\3\ For impact driving, the transmission loss (TL) model described above
  incorporated frequency weighting adjustments by applying the auditory
  weighting function over the entire 1-second SEL spectral data sets.
  Additional information may be found in the Federal Register notice of
  issuance of a final IHA (83 FR 30420; June 28, 2018).

    The Navy conducted SSV testing in September 2020 and compared the 
results to values generated by the NMFS User Spreadsheet in the initial 
IHA. Due to some of assumptions built into the model, the User 
Spreadsheet generates PTS isopleths that are potentially overestimates. 
Testing was conducted during impact driving of four 36-in steel piles 
both with and without bubble curtains and recorded values were inserted 
into the use spreadsheet. The acoustic data for each pile strike were 
frequency weighted for phocidae following NMFS guidance (2016) and then 
averaged. This resulted in an average phocid weighted single strike SEL 
of 177 dB re 1[mu]Pa2s at 10 m. Using the measured transmission loss of 
25 (far field) and an assumption of 1,600 strikes per day, the 
resulting isopleth for phocids was 92 meters (Wood et al. 2020).
    With NMFS' approval, the Navy retroactively utilized the revised 
Level A harassment isopleth of 92 m and recalculated the harbor seal 
take. Distances to each taken animal were recorded as part of the 
marine mammal monitoring plan. This reduced the total take count by 29, 
bringing the revised total from 87 to 58 takes. Approximately 33 
percent of total takes occurred during impact driving outside the 92 m 
zone. The Navy reduced the shutdown zone size based on SSV data and 
retroactively recalculated take to allow for continuation of in-water 
construction while public comments were being solicited through this 
Federal Register notice (85 FR 74989; November 24, 2020) and the 
modified IHA was being finalized.
    While vibratory is the preferred method of installation, impact 
driving has been needed daily due at the project site, largely due to 
sediment conditions. Additionally, there is a 30-m shut down zone (26-m 
injury zone) during vibratory driving. The PSOs reported that three 
habituated individuals frequently approach in close proximity to the 
piles within the 30-m shutdown zone during vibratory driving. Given 
these factors, the Navy concluded that would still be needed, even if 
the Level A harassment isopleth during impact driving is reduced from 
217 m to 92 m.
    PSOs report that up to eight animals frequent the project site and 
are believed to be habituated by varying degrees to in-water 
construction activities. Some of them regularly enter and remain within 
Level A harassment and shutdown zones. Three of these individuals 
already noted above appear daily in the Level A harassment zone, while 
the remainder of the group of eight are observed less frequently (every 
other or every third day). All eight seals have been observed in the 
previous Level A harassment zone (217 m) on some occasions, with an 
average of five to six seen on each day. The Navy requested that NMFS 
authorize an additional four takes by Level A harassment per day. This 
would allow for one take per day by Level A harassment for each of the 
three daily visitors (three takes per day), as well as one additional 
Level A harassment take per day that could be incurred by any of the 
other five individuals if one of them entered the shutdown zone each 
day prior to detection, or if a few of them entered every few days. 
Based on the information provided, NMFS proposed that average of four 
harbor seal takes per day by Level A harassment would occur.
    Based on the Commission's recommendation, NMFS has authorized 
increased take of harbor seal by Level A harassment as a precautionary 
measure. For example, one or more of the five less-habituated seals 
could become more habituated and join the three most habituated animals 
on daily incursions into a Level A harassment zone. If this occurred 
the Navy would likely exceed the authorized take limit NMFS put forth 
in the modified IHA proposal.
    Based upon pile installation rates achieved to date as reported by 
the Navy, all of the days remaining within the in-water work window 
(48) will be needed to complete this segment of the project before the 
current work window closes. As described above and based on the 
Commission's recommendation, NMFS has authorized increased harbor take 
to eight per day by Level A harassment for an additional 384 takes (8 
takes/day * 48 days) between now and January 15, 2021 when the in-water 
work window ends. The 384 takes are added to the initial 125 authorized 
takes for a total of 509 takes by Level A harassment. Most of these 
takes will occur to a smaller number of habituated individuals 
identified by the Navy.
    The total numbers of incidental takes by Level A and Level B 
harassment, including proposed updated harbor seal Level A harassment 
and as a percentage of population, is shown in Table 2 below. The total 
number of takes (Level A and Level B harassment combined) has not 
changed because the new Level A takes are assumed to occur to animals 
that would have previously been counted as taken by Level B harassment. 
Therefore, NMFS has reduced authorized Level B harassment take of 
harbor seal from 5,600 in the initial IHA to 5,216.

 Table 2--Total Numbers of Authorized Takes by Level A and Level B Harassment and as a Percentage of Population
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                                                                          Authorized take
                             Species                             --------------------------------     Percent
                                                                      Level A         Level B       population
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Killer whale....................................................               0              48            19.7

[[Page 86542]]

 
Harbor porpoise.................................................               0           2,728            24.3
Steller sea lion................................................               0             503             1.2
California sea lion.............................................               0           7,816             2.6
Harbor seal.....................................................             509           5,216             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Since the total number of combined takes by Level A and Level B 
harassment remains unchanged (5,725) from the number authorized in the 
existing IHA, the rationale supporting our small numbers determination 
for the Hood Canal stock of harbor seal is applicable here and remains 
valid.

Description of Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Measures

    With the exception of the revised shutdown provisions for harbor 
seals discussed below, the monitoring, and reporting measures described 
here are identical to those included in the Federal Register notice 
announcing the initial IHA (83 FR 30406; June 28, 2018).
    Use of Vibratory Installation--The Navy will employ vibratory 
installation to the greatest extent possible when driving steel piles 
to minimize high sound pressure levels associated with impact pile 
driving. Impact driving of steel piles will only occur when required by 
geotechnical conditions or to proof load-bearing piles driven by 
vibratory methods.
    Timing Restrictions--To minimize the number of fish exposed to 
underwater noise and other construction disturbance, in-water work will 
occur during the in-water work window previously described when ESA-
listed salmonids are least likely to be present (USACE, 2015), July 16-
January 15.
    All in-water construction activities will occur during daylight 
hours (sunrise to sunset) except from July 16 to September 15, when 
impact pile driving will only occur starting 2 hours after sunrise and 
ending 2 hours before sunset, to protect foraging marbled murrelets 
during the nesting season (April 15-September 23).
    Use of Bubble Curtain--A bubble curtain will be employed during 
impact installation or proofing of steel piles where water depths are 
greater than 0.67 m (2 ft). A noise attenuation device is not required 
during vibratory pile driving. If a bubble curtain or similar measure 
is used, it will distribute air bubbles around 100 percent of the 
piling perimeter for the full depth of the water column. Any other 
attenuation measure must provide 100 percent coverage in the water 
column for the full depth of the pile. The lowest bubble ring shall be 
in contact with the mudline for the full circumference of the ring. The 
weights attached to the bottom ring shall ensure 100 percent mudline 
contact. No parts of the ring or other objects shall prevent full 
mudline contact.
    A performance test of the bubble curtain shall be conducted prior 
to initial use for impact pile driving. The performance test shall 
confirm the calculated pressures and flow rates at each manifold ring. 
The contractor shall also train personnel in the proper balancing of 
air flow to the bubblers. The contractor shall submit an inspection/
performance report to the Navy for approval within 72 hours following 
the performance test. Corrections to the noise attenuation device to 
meet the performance stands shall occur prior to use for impact 
driving.
    Soft-Start--During impact driving the Navy is required to initiate 
sound from the hammer at reduced energy followed by a 30 second waiting 
period, then two subsequent reduced energy strike sets.
    A soft-start procedure will be used for impact pile driving at the 
beginning of each day's in-water pile driving or any time impact pile 
driving has ceased for more than 30 minutes.
    Establishment of Shutdown Zones and Disturbance Zones--For all 
impact and vibratory driving of piles, shutdown and disturbance zones 
will be established and monitored. All shutdown and disturbance zones 
remain the same as those included in the initial IHA, except for the 
shutdown zone for harbor seals during impact driving of steel piles for 
which the modifications are described below. The Navy will focus 
observations within 1,000 m for all species during these activities but 
will record all observations. During impact driving of concrete piles 
the Navy will focus on monitoring within 100 m but will record all 
observations. The Navy will monitor and record marine mammal 
observations within zones and extrapolate these values across the 
entirety of the Level B zone as part of the final monitoring report. To 
the extent possible, the Navy will record and report on any marine 
mammal occurrences, including behavioral disturbances, beyond 1,000 m 
for steel pile installation and 100 m for concrete pile installation.
    The shutdown zones are based on the distances from the source 
predicted for each threshold level. Although different functional 
hearing groups of cetaceans and pinnipeds were evaluated, the threshold 
levels used to develop the disturbance zones were selected to be 
conservative for cetaceans (and therefore at the lowest levels); as 
such, the disturbance zones for cetaceans were based on the high 
frequency threshold (harbor porpoise). The shutdown zones are based on 
the maximum calculated Level A harassment radius for pinnipeds and 
cetaceans during installation of 36-inch steel and concrete piles with 
impact techniques, as well as during vibratory pile installation and 
removal. These actions serve to protect marine mammals, allow for 
practical implementation of the Navy's marine mammal monitoring plan 
and reduce the risk of a take. The shutdown zone during any non-pile 
driving activity will always be a minimum of 10 m (33 ft) to prevent 
injury from physical interaction of marine mammals with construction 
equipment.
    During impact pile driving of steel piles, the shutdown, Level A, 
and Level B zones as shown in Table 3 will be monitored out to the 
greatest extent possible with a focus on monitoring within 1,000 m for 
steel pile and 100 m for concrete pile installation.
    The Navy's IHA allows for the modification of shutdown zones if 
hydroacoustic monitoring is conducted. The Navy conducted a SSV test 
since the initial IHA was issued and it indicates that the Level A 
harassment isopleth for harbor seals occurs at 92 m instead of 217 m. 
Therefore, at the Navy's request and with concurrence from NMFS, the 
shutdown zone has been reduced from 220 m to 95 m during impact driving 
of all steel piles (i.e., both 36-in and 24-in steel piles).

[[Page 86543]]

This is the only change to Level A or Level B harassment zone 
authorized as part of this modified IHA.

        Table 3--Shutdown, Level A, and Level B Harassment Isopleths During Impact Driving of Steel Piles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Level B isopleth   Level A isopleth    Shutdown zone
                  Marine mammal group                         (meters)           (meters)           (meters)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cetaceans..............................................                541                740                750
Harbor Seal............................................                541                 92                 95
Sea Lions..............................................                541                 12                 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The shutdown, Level A, and Level B isopleths for all other impact 
driving remains unchanged from the notice of the issuance of the 
initial IHA (83 FR 30406; June 28, 2018).
    The reduced size of the shutdown zone for harbor seals along with 
the increase in authorized take by Level A harassment should preclude 
the Navy from exceeding its authorized take limit for this species. 
However, even with a 95-m shutdown zone during impact driving and a 30-
m shutdown zone during vibratory driving, it is highly likely that the 
Navy will continue to experience frequent work stoppages due to 
frequent visits by habituated harbor seals. This will result in 
continued schedule delays and cost overruns and may potentially require 
an extra year of in-water construction activities. Given this 
information, it is not practicable for the Navy to shut down or delay 
pile driving activities every time a harbor seal is observed in a 
shutdown zone.
    Therefore, shutdowns will be initiated for harbor seals when 
observed approaching or entering the Level A harassment zones as 
described above, except when one or more of the three habituated harbor 
seals identified as daily visitors approaches or enters an established 
shutdown zone. In such cases, a single take by Level A harassment shall 
be recorded for each individual seal for the entire day and operations 
will be allowed to continue without interruption. The behavior of these 
three daily visitors will be monitored and recorded as well as the 
duration of time spent within the harassment zones. This information 
will be recorded individually for each of the three seals. If any other 
seals, including the five habituated seals identified as frequent 
visitors, approaches or enters into a Level A harassment zone, shutdown 
must occur.
    The minimum shutdown zone during any pile driving activity will 
always be a minimum of 10 m. Shutdown is mandatory whenever an animal 
is within 10 m of pile driving location regardless of the exception 
noted above. In such instances, in-water pile driving operations may 
only continue after 15 minutes have passed or the animal is seen 
heading away from the 10-m shutdown zone.
    The revisions in the mitigation, including the shutdown exception 
for habituated harbor seals, are necessary to allow for the practicable 
completion of the Navy's specified activities. Although the predicted 
Level A harassment take numbers are higher than initially projected 
because of the behavior of the eight habituated animals, the likelihood 
of take by Level A harassment is lower than initially expected because 
the Level A harassment zone is smaller than initially predicted based 
on the new SSV. NMFS has considered the new take numbers and revised 
mitigation measures for harbor seals and determined that they will 
effect the least practicable adverse impact on harbor seals and their 
habitat. Nothing has changed since the initial IHA for other species or 
stocks and our analysis and conclusions remain the same.
    Visual Monitoring--Monitoring must be conducted by qualified 
protected PSOs with minimum qualifications described in the Federal 
Register notice of the issuance of the initial IHA (83 FR 30406; June 
28, 2018). During pile driving, there will be three-five PSOs working 
depending on the location, site accessibility and line of sight for 
adequate coverage.
    Reporting--PSOs must record specific information as described in 
the Federal Register notice of the issuance of the initial IHA (83 FR 
30406; June 28, 2018). Within 90 days after completion of pile driving 
and removal activities, the Navy must provide NMFS with a monitoring 
report which includes summaries of recorded takes and estimates of the 
number of marine mammals that may have been harassed. If no comments 
are received from NMFS within 30 days, the draft final report will 
constitute the final report. If comments are received, a final report 
addressing NMFS comments must be submitted within 30 days after receipt 
of comments.
    In the unanticipated event that: (1) The specified activity clearly 
causes the take of a marine mammal in a manner prohibited by the IHA 
(if issued), such as an injury, serious injury or mortality; (2) an 
injured or dead animal is discovered and cause of death is known; or 
(3) an injured or dead animal is discovered and cause of death is not 
related to the authorized activities, the Navy will follow the 
protocols described in the Section 3 of Marine Mammal Monitoring Report 
(Appendix D of the application).
    Based on our evaluation of the applicant's measures in 
consideration of the increased estimated take for harbor seals, as well 
as the modified shutdown provisions for harbor seals, NMFS has re-
affirmed the determination that the required mitigation measures 
provide the means effecting the least practicable impact on harbor 
seals and their habitat.

Determinations

    With the exception of the revised harbor seal shutdown provisions, 
the Navy's in-water construction activities as well as monitoring and 
reporting requirements are unchanged from those covered in the initial 
IHA. The effects of the activity, taking into consideration the added 
mitigation and related monitoring measures, remain unchanged, 
notwithstanding the increase to the authorized amount of harbor seal 
take by Level A harassment. The nature of the pile driving project 
precludes the likelihood of serious injury or mortality. While injury 
could occur in a small group of habituated animals (eight or fewer), it 
would likely be limited to PTS at lower frequencies where pile driving 
energy is concentrated, and unlikely to result in significant impacts 
to individual fitness, reproduction, or survival of these individuals.
    With approximately 48 in-water construction days remaining, NMFS 
has authorized an increase in harbor seal take by Level A harassment to 
509. Even in consideration of the increased numbers of take by Level A 
harassment, the impacts of these exposures, as noted above, may result 
in moderate injury to a limited number of harbor seals but are not 
expected to accrue to the degree that the fitness of any individuals is 
markedly impacted. Further, given the

[[Page 86544]]

small number of individuals potentially impacted in this manner, no 
impacts on annual rates of recruitment or survival are likely to 
result.
    Separately, as described previously, the increase in Level A 
harassment take corresponds to a commensurate decrease in the predicted 
number of Level B harassment and the total number of takes remains 
unchanged. Therefore, we re-affirm that small numbers of harbor seals 
will be taken relative to the population size of the Hood Canal stock 
of harbor seal.
    In conclusion, there is no new information suggesting that our 
effects analysis or negligible impact finding for harbor seals should 
change.
    Based on the information contained here and in the referenced 
documents, NMFS has reaffirmed the following: (1) The required 
mitigation measures will effect the least practicable impact on marine 
mammal species or stocks and their habitat; (2) the proposed authorized 
takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal 
species or stocks; (3) the proposed authorized takes represent small 
numbers of marine mammals relative to the affected stock abundances; 
and (4) the Navy's activities will not have an unmitigable adverse 
impact on taking for subsistence purposes as no relevant subsistence 
uses of marine mammals are implicated by this action, and (5) 
appropriate monitoring and reporting requirements are included.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    No incidental take of ESA-listed species is authorized or expected 
to result from this activity. Therefore, NMFS has determined that 
formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA is not required for this 
action.

National Environmental Policy Act

    To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A, 
NMFS must review our proposed action (i.e., the modification of an IHA) 
with respect to potential impacts on the human environment.
    This action is consistent with categories of activities identified 
in Categorical Exclusion B4 (IHAs with no anticipated serious injury or 
mortality) of the Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative Order 216-
6A, which do not individually or cumulatively have the potential for 
significant impacts on the quality of the human environment and for 
which we have not identified any extraordinary circumstances that would 
preclude this categorical exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has determined 
that the issuance of the modified IHA qualifies to be categorically 
excluded from further NEPA review.

Authorization

    NMFS has issued a modified IHA to the for in-water construction 
associated with the SPE project on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington 
effective until July 15, 2021. The only change is an increase in the 
authorized take of harbor seal take by Level A harassment from 125 to 
509.

    Dated: December 21, 2020.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-28850 Filed 12-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P