ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Maine Department of Transportation (ME DOT) to Take Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to In-Water Construction in Eastport, Maine

The proposed activity, which could affect marine mammals, includes installation of steel piles and steel sheet piles using vibratory and impact pile driving and an underwater saw. Maine DOT is requesting an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to take, by Level B Harassment only, small numbers of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus) during the specified activity.

This EA is a NMFS EA written in 2014 for the same applicant (Maine DOT) previous IHA (same location, same work). Maine DOT is requesting to have a final IHA by end of Jan/early Feb 2017. The proposed IHA will have to go out for public comment early to mid November. Very tight turnaround.