Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to modify an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that was issued to the USCG on December 20, 2024, and effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, to take small numbers of nine species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to the construction activities associated with fast response cutter (FRC) homeporting in Sitka, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to modify the IHA. This modification includes changes to the duration, project design, and take estimates. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested modification of the MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648-XF546] AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; proposed modification of an incidental harassment authorization; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to modify an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that was issued to the USCG on December 20, 2024, and effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, to take small numbers of nine species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to the construction activities associated with fast response cutter (FRC) homeporting in Sitka, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to modify the IHA. This modification includes changes to the duration, project design, and take estimates. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested modification of the MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than April 17, 2026. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service and should be submitted via email to ITP.clevenstine@noaa.gov . Electronic copies of the application a…
Citation: 91 FR 16672
