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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648-XE293]
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Notice; request for comments on proposed renewal incidental harassment authorization.
 SUMMARY: NMFS received a request from the Port of Bellingham for the renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) (hereinafter, the initial IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to the Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal Project in Bellingham, WA. The Port of Bellingham activities are nearly identical to those covered in the current authorization and will not be completed prior to the IHA's expiration. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 
                        ( print page 80891)
                        prior to issuing the currently active IHA, NMFS requested comments on both the proposed IHA and the potential for renewing the initial authorization if certain requirements were satisfied. The renewal requirements have been satisfied, and NMFS is now providing an additional 15-day comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed renewal not previously provided during the initial 30-day comment period.
 DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than October 21, 2024.
 ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, and should be submitted via email to 
                        *ITP.cockrell@noaa.gov.* *Instructions:*
                         NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. Comments, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size. Attachments to comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel or Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted online at 
                        *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​permit/​incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act*
                         without change. All personal identifying information (
                        *e.g.,*
                         name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. Electronic copies of the original application, renewal request, 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/​action/​incidental-take-authorization-port-bellinghams-bellingham-shipping-terminal-bellingham.*
                         In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed below.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Cockrell, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Marine Mammal Protection Act (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 promulgated or, if the taking is limited to harassment, an incidental harassment authorization is issued. 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 here as “mitigation measures”). NMFS must also prescribe requirements pertaining to monitoring and reporting of such takings. The definition of key terms such as “take,” “harassment,” and “negligible impact” can be found in the MMPA and the NMFS's implementing regulations (see 16 U.S.C. 1362; 50 CFR 216.103). NMFS' regulations implementing the MMPA at 50 CFR 216.107(e) indicate that IHAs may be renewed for additional periods of time not to exceed 1-year for each reauthorization. In the notice of proposed IHA for the initial IHA, NMFS described the circumstances under which we would consider issuing a renewal for this activity, and requested public comment on a potential renewal under those circumstances. Specifically, on a case-by-case basis, NMFS may issue a one-time 1-year renewal of an IHA following notice to the public providing an additional 15 days for public comments when (1) up to another year of identical, or nearly identical, activities as described in the Detailed Description of Specified Activities section of the initial IHA issuance notice is planned or (2) the activities as described in the Description of the Specified Activities and Anticipated Impacts section of the initial IHA issuance notice would not be completed by the time the initial IHA expires and a renewal would allow for completion of the activities beyond that described in the 
                    **DATES**
                     section of the notice of issuance of the initial IHA, provided all of the following conditions are met: 1. A request for renewal is received no later than 60 days prior to the needed renewal IHA effective date (recognizing that the renewal IHA expiration date cannot extend beyond 1 year from expiration of the initial IHA). 2. The request for renewal must include the following: An explanation that the activities to be conducted under the requested renewal IHA are identical to the activities analyzed under the initial IHA, are a subset of the activities, or include changes so minor (*e.g.,*
                     reduction in pile size) that the changes do not affect the previous analyses, mitigation and monitoring requirements, or take estimates (with the exception of reducing the type or amount of take); and
                A preliminary monitoring report showing the results of the required monitoring to date and an explanation showing that the monitoring results do not indicate impacts of a scale or nature not previously analyzed or authorized. 3. Upon review of the request for renewal, the status of the affected species or stocks, and any other pertinent information, NMFS determines that there are no more than minor changes in the activities, the mitigation and monitoring measures will remain the same and appropriate, and the findings in the initial IHA remain valid. An additional public comment period of 15 days (for a total of 45 days), with direct notice by email, phone, or postal service to commenters on the initial IHA, is provided to allow for any additional comments on the proposed renewal. A description of the renewal process may be found on our website at: 
                    *http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​national/​marine-mammal-protection/​incidental-harassment-authorization-renewals.*
                     Any comments received on the potential renewal, along with relevant comments on the initial IHA, have been considered in the development of this proposed IHA renewal, and a summary of agency responses to applicable comments is included in this notice. NMFS will consider any additional public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested renewal, and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) This action is consistent with categories of activities identified in Categorical Exclusion B4 (incidental take authorizations with no anticipated 
                    ( print page 80892)
                    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 determined that the issuance of the initial IHA qualified to be categorically excluded from further NEPA review. NMFS has preliminarily determined that the application of this categorical exclusion remains appropriate for this renewal IHA. History of Request On November 6, 2023, NMFS issued an IHA to the Port of Bellingham to take marine mammals incidental to the Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal Project in Bellingham, WA (88 FR 77972, November 11, 2023), effective from November 6, 2023 through November 6, 2024. On September 20, 2024, NMFS received an application for the renewal of that initial IHA. As described in the application for renewal IHA, the activities for which incidental take is requested are nearly identical to those covered in the initial authorization and will not be completed prior to its expiration. Under the initial IHA a number of piles have been removed but no pile installations have occurred. As required, the Port of Bellingham also provided preliminary monitoring data, which confirms that the Port of Bellingham had implemented the required mitigation and monitoring, and also showed that no impacts of a scale or nature not previously analyzed or authorized have occurred as a result of the activities conducted. Description of the Specified Activities and Anticipated Impacts The purpose of the project at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal is to repair some of the failing wharf and pier structures of the terminal. As described in detail in the notice for the initial IHA (88 FR 77972, November 11, 2023), in-water construction would include both pile removal and installation of a multiple types of piles with vibratory and impact hammers. A minor change to the activities conducted by the Port of Bellingham was requested in the renewal letter. The initial IHA noted that the Port of Bellingham would limit vibratory pile driving time to 90 minutes per day. The Port of Bellingham would increase the vibratory pile driving time to 360 minutes per day for this renewal period. This change would increase the size of the Level A harassment zones and shutdown zones associated with vibratory pile driving and removal analyzed in the initial IHA (see Description of Proposed Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Measures). The increase to proposed shutdown zones follows the same goals for mitigation articulated in the notice of the initial proposed IHA, 
                    *i.e.,*
                     the shutdown zones are equal to the estimated Level A harassment zones, and there is no increase to the estimated take numbers. Therefore, NMFS has determined that this change is minor and that the action remains eligible for renewal. The construction is still expected to occur for 87 non-consecutive days. Sounds produced by these activities may result in take, by Level A harassment and Level B harassment, of marine mammals located in Bellingham Bay. Incidental takes to the in-water pile driving and removal in this renewal would be at the same level as authorized in the initial IHA. Four marine mammal species are expected to experience Level B harassment and one species has the potential for Level A harassment (see Estimated Take). All documents related to the initial IHA are available on our website: 
                    *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​action/​incidental-take-authorization-port-bellinghams-bellingham-shipping-terminal-bellingham.* Detailed Description of the Activity A detailed description of the construction activities for which take is proposed here may be found in the notices of the proposed (88 FR 65953, September 26, 2023) and final (88 FR 77972, November 11, 2023) IHAs for the initial authorization. The location of the activities and the types of equipment planned for use are identical to those described in the previous notices. The only minor change is the increase of vibratory installation from 90 minutes per day to 360 minutes per day. The longer duration of vibratory hammer use will create larger harassment and, therefore, shutdown zones than those analyzed in the initial IHA. NMFS has preliminarily determined that the amount of take authorized through the initial IHA remains sufficient to cover the likely effects of the planned activity, and no changes to authorized take numbers are proposed. The proposed renewal would be effective for a period not exceeding 1 year from the date of expiration of the initial IHA. Description of Marine Mammals A description of the marine mammals in the area of the activities for which authorization of take is proposed here, including information on abundance, status, distribution, and hearing, may be found in the notices of the proposed and final IHAs for the initial authorization. NMFS has reviewed the monitoring data from the initial IHA, recent draft Stock Assessment Reports, information on relevant Unusual Mortality Events, and other scientific literature, and determined there is no new information that affects which species or stocks have the potential to be affected or the pertinent information in the Description of the Marine Mammals in the Area of Specified Activities contained in the supporting documents for the initial IHA. It should be noted that the Draft 2023 NMFS' Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) updated stock abundances for the Eastern Distinct Population Segment for Steller sea lions (
                    *Eumetopias jubatus*) and harbor seals (
                    *Phoca vitulina*) (Carretta 
                    *et al.*
                     2023). For Steller sea lions, the abundance decreased slightly from the initial IHA stock abundance estimate of 43,201 individuals to 36,308 individuals. During the development of the initial IHA the Washington Northern Inland Waters stock of harbor seals had an unknown abundance. Since then, the abundance estimate in the Draft 2023 SARs has been updated to 16,451 individuals. None of these population changes impact the findings made in support of the initial IHA. Additional information on all stocks affected by this action is available in the NMFS' U.S. Pacific SARs (available online at: 
                    *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​national/​marine-mammal-protection/​marine-mammal-stock-assessment-reports*). Potential Effects on Marine Mammals and Their Habitat A description of the potential effects of the specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat for the activities for which an authorization of incidental take is proposed here may be found in the notices of the proposed and final IHAs for the initial authorization. NMFS has reviewed the monitoring data from the initial IHA, recent draft SARs, information on relevant Unusual Mortality Events, and other scientific literature, and determined that there is no new information that affects our initial analysis of impacts on marine mammals and their habitat.
                    ( print page 80893) Estimated Take A detailed description of the methods and inputs used to estimate take for the specified activity are found in the notices of the proposed and final IHAs for the initial authorization. Specifically, the source levels, days of operation, and marine mammal occurrence data applicable to this authorization remain unchanged from the previously issued IHA. Similarly, the stocks taken, methods of take, and types of take remain unchanged from the previously issued IHA, as do the number of takes, which are indicated below in table 1. Table 1—Estimated Take by Level A and Level B Harassment, by Species and Stock
Common name
Stock
Stock
                             
                                abundance a
Level A
Level B
Total take
Take as
                             percentage 
                             of stockHarbor porpoise
Washington Inland Waters
11,233
0
261
261
2.3Steller sea lion
Eastern U.S
36,308
0
87
87
0.2California sea lion
U.S
257,606
0
87
87
<0.1Harbor seal
Washington Northern Inland Waters
16,451
264
2,029
3,050
18.5a
                         Stock or DPS size is Nbest according to NMFS 2023 Draft Stock Assessment Reports.
 Description of Proposed Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Measures The proposed mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures included as requirements in this authorization are nearly identical to those included in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     notice announcing the issuance of the initial IHA, and the discussion of the least practicable adverse impact included in that document and the notice of the proposed IHA remains accurate. As noted above, the increase vibratory pile installation time from 90 minutes per day to 360 minutes per day has increased the size of the shutdown zones as noted in table 2 of this section. The applicant and NMFS analyzed the Level A harassment and associated shutdown zones using vibratory pile installation duration of 90 minutes a day, for inputs in the optional User Spreadsheet tool as reported in table 5 of the final IHA 
                    **Federal Register**
                     notice (88 FR 77972, November 14, 2023). In the request for renewal of the initial IHA the applicant has requested that NMFS analyze and revise the shutdown zones associated with an increase in vibratory pile driving time to 360 minutes per day. Using the optional User Spreadsheet tool the applicants and NMFS analyzed and revised the shutdown zones based on this expected increase in vibratory pile installation duration. The following standard mitigation measures are proposed for this renewal: Shutdown zones for Level A harassment as specified in the initial IHA with the exception of vibratory pile installation where the Port of Bellingham expects to drive piles for 360 minutes a day. The updated shutdown zones are shown in table 2. Table 2—Updated Shutdown Zones During Vibratory Pile Installation
Activity
Shutdown zones (m) 1HF cetaceans
Phocids
OtariidsVibratory installation (360 minutes)
75 (30)
30 (20)
10 (10)1
                         Shutdown zones shown in parentheticals are what was included in the initial IHA.
 Protected species observers (PSO) observing the monitoring zones established in the initial IHA during all pile installation and removal activities.
                Soft start procedures for impact pile driving consisting of an initial set of strikes from the hammer at reduced energy, with each strike followed by a 30-second waiting period.
                The use of a marine pile-driving energy attenuator (*i.e.,*
                     air bubble curtain system) will be implemented by the Port of Bellingham during impact pile driving of all steel pipe piles.
                Prior to the start of daily in-water construction activity, or whenever a break in pile driving/removal of 30 minutes or longer occurs, PSOs will observe the shutdown and monitoring zones for a period of 30 minutes. If a marine mammal is observed within the shutdown zone, a soft start cannot proceed until the animal has left the zone or has not been observed for 15 minutes. Monitoring and reporting requirements associated with this renewal are as follows. A minimum of one PSO will be on duty during impact pile driving activities and a minimum of two PSOs during vibratory installation/removal.
                Observers would be required to use approved data forms.
                A draft report would be submitted to NMFS within 90 days of the completion of marine mammal monitoring. The report would include marine mammal observations pre-activity, during-activity, and post-activity during pile driving days (and associated PSO data sheets). Comments and Responses As noted previously, NMFS published a notice of a proposed IHA (88 FR 65953, September 26, 2023) and solicited public comments on both our proposal to issue the initial IHA for the Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal and on the potential for a renewal IHA, should certain requirements be met. All public comments were addressed in the notice announcing the issuance of the initial IHA (88 FR 77972, November 11, 2023) and none of the comments specifically pertained to the renewal of the 2023 IHA. Preliminary Determinations The construction activities are nearly identical to those analyzed for the initial IHA, as are the method of taking and the effects of the action. The higher vibratory drive time does increase the size of the Level A harassment zones and shutdown zones slightly. This increase in zone sizes, however, does not change the anticipated take numbers analyzed in the initial IHA. In analyzing 
                    ( print page 80894)
                    the effects of the activities for the initial IHA, NMFS determined that the Port of Bellingham's activities would have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks and that the authorized take numbers of each species or stock were small relative to the relevant stocks (
                    *e.g.,*
                     less than one-third of the abundance of all stocks). Although some marine mammal abundances have changed since the initial IHA, none of this new information affects NMFS' determinations supporting issuance of the initial IHAs. The mitigation measures and monitoring and reporting requirements as described above are nearly identical to the initial IHA. NMFS has preliminarily concluded that there is no new information suggesting that our analysis or findings should change from those reached for the initial IHA. This includes consideration of the estimated abundance of Steller sea lions and harbor seals decreasing slightly and being defined respectively. Based on the information and analysis contained here and in the referenced documents, NMFS has determined the following: (1) the required mitigation measures will effect the least practicable impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat; (2) the authorized takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species or stocks; (3) the authorized takes represent small numbers of marine mammals relative to the affected stock abundances; (4) the Port of Bellingham'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. Proposed Renewal IHA and Request for Public Comment As a result of these preliminary determinations, NMFS proposes to issue a renewal IHA to the Port of Bellingham for conducting Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal project in Bellingham, WA, from November 8, 2024 to November 8, 2025, provided the previously described mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. A draft of the proposed and final initial IHA can be found at 
                    *https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​action/​incidental-take-authorization-port-bellinghams-bellingham-shipping-terminal-bellingham.*
                     We request comment on our analyses, the proposed renewal IHA, and any other aspect of this notice. Please include with your comments any supporting data or literature citations to help inform our final decision on the request for MMPA authorization. Dated: October 1, 2024. Kimberly Damon-Randall, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.


[FR Doc. 2024-22987 Filed 10-3-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P