Incidental Take Authorization: United States Navy's Maintenance and Pile Replacement Project in Puget Sound, Washington

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the United States Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to 2 years of construction activities associated with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest Maintenance and Pile Replacement project in Puget Sound, Washington. NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue two consecutive 1-year incidental harassment authorizations to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.