Environmental Assessment on the Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization and Subsequent Rulemaking for Take of Small Numbers of Marine Mammals Incidental to the Port of Anchorage Terminal Redevelopment Project, Anchorage, Alaska

In November 2005, the NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources received an application from the Port of Anchorage and the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration for an authorization to take1, by Level B harassment, marine mammals incidental to Phase I of the Port’s Marine Terminal Redevelopment Project in Anchorage, Alaska. (This is a two-phase project.) However, in a supplemental letter, the Port indicated that modifications to the construction methods such that Phase I activities would occur entirely from land and not involve any significant in-water noise. On May 9, 2006, NOAA Fisheries concurred that Phase I of the Project would not result in the harassment of marine mammals incidental to construction activities. Therefore, an incidental take authorization was not necessary.