Biological Opinion United States Army Corps of Engineers Furie Cook Inlet Towing and Drilling, Cook Inlet, Alaska

This opinion considers the effects of tugs towing, holding, and positioning a jack-up rig (the Enterprise 151 drilling rig), production drilling, vessel support operations, and aircraft support operations.

The action may affect the endangered fin whale, threatened Mexico distinct population segment (DPS) humpback whale, endangered Western North Pacific (WNP) DPS humpback whale, endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale and its critical habitat, as well as endangered Western DPS Steller sea lion.

This opinion is based on information provided in the IHA Application and Proposed IHA (89 FR 51102, June 14, 2024); consultation communications (emails and virtual meetings); recent consultations completed in the same region; previous monitoring reports; and marine mammal surveys conducted in Cook Inlet. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS’s Anchorage, Alaska Regional office.