Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southwest Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Kodiak, Alaska

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

Notice of receipt of application; proposed incidental harassment authorization; draft environmental assessment; request for comments.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, from Trident Seafoods Corporation, propose to authorize nonlethal incidental take by harassment of small numbers of the Southwest Alaska stock of northern sea otters ( Enhydra lutris kenyoni) for 1 year from the date of issuance of the incidental harassment authorization. The applicant requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with pile driving and marine construction activities in Near Island Channel in Kodiak, Alaska. We estimate that this project may result in the nonlethal incidental take by harassment of up to 460 northern sea otters from the Southwest Alaska stock. This proposed authorization, if finalized, will be for up to 3,160 takes of 460 northern sea otters by Level B harassment. No take by Level A harassment or lethal take are requested, or expected, and no such take will be authorized.

Comments on this proposed incidental harassment authorization and the accompanying draft environmental assessment must be received by June 9, 2025.

Accessing documents: You may view this proposed incidental harassment authorization, the application package, supporting information, draft environmental assessment, and the list of references cited herein at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2024-0204. Alternatively, you may request these documents from the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT .

Submitting comments: You may submit comments on the proposed authorization by one of the following methods:

• Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2024-0204.
• U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2024-0204, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
• We will post all comments athttps://www.regulations.gov. You may request that we withhold personal identifying information from public review; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. See Request for Public Comments for more information.