Biological Opinion Alaska Railroad Corporation Seward Marine Terminal Freight Dock Expansion, Seward, Alaska

NMFS Consultation Number: AKRO-2024-03274

This opinion considers the effects of pile driving activities (including vibratory and impact pile driving), fill placement, rock revetment installation, and vessel transit of materials and construction barges through habitat occupied by ESA-listed marine mammals and the proposed sunflower sea star.

The action may affect the endangered blue whale, endangered fin whale, endangered sei whale, threatened Mexico distinct population segment (DPS) humpback whale, endangered Western North Pacific DPS humpback whale, endangered Central America DPS humpback whale, endangered Western North Pacific DPS gray whale, endangered North Pacific right whale, endangered sperm whale, endangered Southern Resident DPS killer whale, endangered Cook Inlet DPS beluga whale, endangered Western DPS Steller sea lion, Mexico DPS humpback whale critical habitat, Western North Pacific DPS humpback whale critical habitat, Southern Resident DPS killer whale critical habitat, Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat, and Steller sea lion critical habitat.

This opinion is based on information provided in the IHA application and the proposed IHA (90 FR 14792; April 4, 2025. Other sources of information relied upon include consultation communications (emails, phone calls, and virtual meetings), recent consultations completed in the same region, and previous monitoring reports. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS’s Alaska, office.