Biological Opinion: National Park Service Monitoring Activities in Alaska’s National Parks
March 01, 2019
This biological opinion considers the effects of National Park Service Monitoring activities and bird research in Alaska national parks, like the Glacier Bay National Park, Southwest Alaska Network, and adjoining coastlines in Northern Gulf of Alaska.
The National Park Service proposes to conduct gull (Glaucous-winged Gull) research and weather monitoring studies in Glacier Bay National Park and marine mammal and bird surveys through the Southwest Alaska Network of National Parks Inventory and Monitoring Program. The NOAA Fisheries Permits Division proposes to issue a Letter of Authorization pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), to NPS for harassment of marine mammals incidental to the proposed activities (83 FR 64078). When issued, the LOA will be valid from 2019 through 2024, and will authorize the incidental harassment of endangered western Distinct Population Segment (DPS) Steller sea lions.
Action Agencies: NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources,Permits and Conservation Division and National Park Service, Glacier Bay National Park and Southwest Alaska Network
NMFS Consultation Number: AKR-2019-9851