Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for the Take of Marine Mammals Incidental to a Kodiak Ferry Terminal and Dock Improvements Project.

The DOT&PF proposes to reconstruct a deteriorating timber dock facility at Kodiak, Alaska. In-water pile driving (including removal of old piles and installation of new piles) is the only portion of the proposed project with potential to incidentally take marine mammals, which would occur from September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2016. DOT&PF has applied for incidental harassment authorization for the incidental take of a single species of marine mammal, western depleted population segment (wDPS) of Steller sea lion, that is listed as endangered under the ESA. Under section 7 of the ESA, DOT&PF and NMFS Office of Protected Resources (OPR), have conducted a joint formal consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office, on this proposed Project. NMFS issued its Biological Opinion which concluded that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of wDPS of Steller sea lions, or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat (NMFS 2015).

IHA is due to Applicant by 9/30/15