Incidental Take Authorization: Port of Kalama Expansion Project, Kalama, Washington

NOAA Fisheries has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Port of Kalama (POK) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to construction activities associated with an expansion project at the POK on the Lower Columbia River, Washington.

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the POK for the Renewal of their currently active IHA to take marine mammals incidental to construction activities associated with an expansion project at the POK on the Lower Columbia River, Washington. These activities are identical to those covered in the current authorization. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 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.

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the POK for the re-issuance of a previously issued (see below) IHA with the only change being effective dates that are one year later (October 19, 2019 – October 18, 2020). The initial IHA authorized take of three species of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to construction activities associated with an expansion project at the POK on the Lower Columbia River, Washington. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers would not change, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting would remain the same. We are, therefore, issuing a second IHA to cover the identical incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.

Conceptual site plan

Project location map