[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55459-55463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22211]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC107


Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Piling and Fill Removal in Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation 
Area, Washington

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given 
that we have issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the 
Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to incidentally 
harass, by Level B harassment only, harbor seals during restoration 
activities within the Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area 
(NRCA).

DATES: This authorization is effective from November 1, 2012, through 
March 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the IHA and related documents are available by 
writing to Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    A copy of the application, including references used in this 
document, may be obtained by visiting the Internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. For those members of the 
public unable to view these documents on the Internet, a copy may be 
obtained by writing to the address specified above or telephoning the 
contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Associated 
documents prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) are also available at the same site. Documents cited in this 
notice may also be viewed, by appointment, during regular business 
hours, at the aforementioned address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Laws, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the 
incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than 
commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain 
findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking 
is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is 
published in the Federal Register to provide public notice and initiate 
a 30-day comment period.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements 
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings 
are set forth. NMFS has

[[Page 55460]]

defined `negligible impact' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``* * * an impact 
resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably 
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the 
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival.''
    Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA established an expedited process 
by which citizens of the United States can apply for an authorization 
to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals by Level B 
harassment as defined below. Section 101(a)(5)(D) establishes a 45-day 
time limit for NMFS review of an application followed by a 30-day 
public notice and comment period on any proposed authorizations for the 
incidental harassment of marine mammals. Within 45 days of the close of 
the comment period, NMFS must either issue or deny the authorization. 
If authorized, the IHA may be effective for a period of one year.
    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the 
MMPA defines `harassment' as: ``any act of pursuit, torment, or 
annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering [Level B harassment].''

Summary of Request

    On May 18, 2012, we received an application from the DNR for an IHA 
for the taking, by Level B harassment only, of small numbers of harbor 
seals (Phoca vitulina) incidental to activities conducted in 
association with an ongoing habitat restoration project within the 
Woodard Bay NRCA, Washington. DNR was first issued an IHA that was 
valid from November 1, 2010, through February 28, 2011 (75 FR 67951), 
and was subsequently issued a second IHA that was valid from November 
1, 2011, through February 28, 2012 (76 FR 67419). Restoration activity 
planned for 2012-13 includes removal of fill and associated materials 
in Woodard Bay and Chapman Bay and removal of creosote pilings and 
structure in Chapman Bay. Pilings will be removed by vibratory hammer 
extraction methods or by direct pull with cables. The superstructure 
materials will be removed by excavator and/or cables suspended from a 
barge-mounted crane. The specified activities will occur only between 
November 1 through March 15 (2012-13), and are expected to require a 
maximum total of approximately 70 days.
Description of the Specified Activity
    In accordance with regulations implementing the MMPA, we published 
notice of the proposed IHA in the Federal Register on July 30, 2012 (77 
FR 44583). A complete description of the action was included in that 
notice and will not be reproduced here.
    The restoration activities planned under the IHA include all or 
part of the following:

1. Fill Removal

 Remove 13,000 yd\3\ of fill from Woodard Bay
 Remove 325 yd\3\ of fill from Chapman Bay
 Remove associated creosoted timber, pilings, metal scraps and 
concrete abutment

2. Piling and Structure Removal

 Remove 10,000 ft\2\ of pier superstructure and 470 pilings 
from Chapman Bay Pier
 Remove 30 anchor piles from Chapman Bay

    Fill removal from Woodard and Chapman Bays will be accomplished 
from the uplands by heavy equipment and haul trucks. The creosoted 
pilings in the fill will be removed from the uplands by a crane-mounted 
vibratory hammer. This portion of the project is estimated to take 
approximately 12-14 weeks to complete. The majority of fill removal 
work is located in Woodard Bay, which is separated from the harbor seal 
haul-out areas (located in Chapman Bay) by land. This work will likely 
result in less disturbance of harbor seals than will the work located 
in Chapman Bay. In addition, the material to be removed will be hauled 
offsite by the contractor via Whitham Road, which is the main road into 
the NRCA and which leads away from the haul-out area (see Figure 4 of 
DNR's application). Fill removal will largely occur above the Ordinary 
High Water Mark. Fill removal activities may occur between November 1 
and March 15. Chapman Bay fill removal is roughly 250 m from the south 
haul-out and 975 m from the north haul-out.
    Piling and structure removal work will be accomplished by barge and 
skiffs. The pilings will be removed by vibratory hammer or by direct 
pull with cables; both methods are suspended from a barge-mounted 
crane. The vibratory hammer is a large steel device lowered on top of 
the pile, which then grips and vibrates the pile until it is loosened 
from the sediment. The pile is then pulled up by the hammer and placed 
on a barge. For direct pull, a cable is set around the piling to grip 
and lift the pile from the sediment. The superstructure materials will 
be removed by excavator and/or cables suspended from a barge-mounted 
crane.
    Approximately 500 12- to 24-in diameter pilings, along with 
associated pier superstructure, will be removed near but not directly 
adjacent to haul-outs. After vibration, a choker is used to lift the 
pile out of the water where it is placed on the barge for transport to 
an approved disposal site. Pilings that cannot be removed by hammer or 
cable, or that break during extraction, will be recorded via GPS for 
divers to relocate at the final phase of project activities. The divers 
will then cut the pilings at or below the mudline using underwater 
chainsaws. Operations will begin on the pilings and structures that are 
furthest from the seal haul-out so that there is an opportunity for the 
seals to adjust to the presence of the contractors and their equipment. 
Vibratory extraction operations may occur between November 1 and 
January 15 and are expected to occur for approximately 20 days over the 
course of this work window. Other work days will be spent removing pier 
superstructure, which does not involve vibratory extraction, but has 
the potential to result in behavioral harassment due to the proximity 
to working crew. The portion of the Chapman Bay Pier that will be 
removed is approximately 100 m from the south haul-out area and 250 m 
from the north haul out.

Comments and Responses

    On July 30, 2012, we published a notice of proposed IHA (77 FR 
44583) in response to DNR's request to take marine mammals incidental 
to restoration activities and requested comments and information 
concerning that request. During the 30-day public comment period, we 
received comments from the Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) on the 
proposed IHA. No other comments were received from the public.
    The Commission provided two recommendations that it has provided 
for each of the past two IHAs issued to DNR for substantially similar 
work. The Commission recommends that we (1) require the DNR to monitor 
for the presence of and to characterize behavior of marine mammals 
during all proposed in-water activities; and (2) that we require 
monitoring before, during, and after all soft starts of pile removal 
activities to gather the data needed to determine the effectiveness of 
this technique as a mitigation measure. We disagree with these 
recommendations,

[[Page 55461]]

and the Commission has not provided any information that would lead us 
to offer different responses from those offered in the past. Therefore, 
those responses, which may be found in past Federal Register notices 
(75 FR 67951, 76 FR 67419), are not repeated here.

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity

    The only marine mammal species that may be harassed incidental to 
DNR's restoration activities is the harbor seal. Harbor seals are not 
listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA, nor are they 
categorized as depleted under the MMPA. We presented a more detailed 
discussion of the status of the Washington inland waters stock of 
harbor seals and its occurrence in the action area in the notice of the 
proposed IHA (77 FR 44583; July 30, 2012).

Potential Effects on Marine Mammals

    Potential effects of DNR's activities are likely to be limited to 
behavioral disturbance of seals at the two log boom haul-outs located 
in the action area. Other potential disturbance could result from the 
introduction of sound into the environment as a result of pile removal 
activities; however, this is unlikely to cause an appreciably greater 
amount of harassment in either numbers or degree, in part because it is 
anticipated that most seals will be disturbed initially by physical 
presence of crews and vessels or by sound from vessels.
    There is a general paucity of data on sound levels produced by 
vibratory extraction of timber piles; however, it is reasonable to 
assume that extraction will not result in higher sound pressure levels 
(SPLs) than vibratory installation of piles. As such, we assume that 
source levels from the specified activity will not be as high as 
average source levels for vibratory installation of 12-24 in steel 
piles (155-165 dB; Caltrans, 2009). Our general in-water harassment 
thresholds for pinnipeds exposed to continuous noise, such as that 
produced by vibratory pile extraction, are 190 dB root mean square 
(rms) re: 1 [mu]Pa as the potential onset of Level A (injurious) 
harassment and 120 dB RMS re: 1 [mu]Pa as the potential onset of Level 
B (behavioral) harassment.
    Vibratory extraction will not result in sound levels near 190 dB; 
therefore, injury will not occur. However, noise from vibratory 
extraction will likely exceed 120 dB near the source and may induce 
responses in-water such as avoidance or other alteration of behavior at 
time of exposure. However, seals flushing from haul-outs in response to 
small vessel activity and the presence of work crews would already be 
considered as `harassed'; therefore, any harassment resulting from 
exposure to sound pressure levels above the 120 dB criterion for 
behavioral harassment would not be considered additional.
    The airborne sound disturbance criteria currently used for Level B 
harassment is 90 dB rms re: 20 [mu]Pa for harbor seals. Based on 
information on airborne source levels measured for pile driving with 
vibratory hammer, removal of wood piles is unlikely to exceed 90 dB; 
further, the vibratory hammer will be outfitted with a muffling device 
ensuring that airborne SPLs are no higher than 80 dB.
    Potential effects of sound produced by the action on harbor seals 
were detailed in the notice of the proposed IHA (77 FR 44583; July 30, 
2012). In short, while it may be inferred that temporary hearing 
impairment (temporary threshold shift; TTS) could theoretically result 
from the DNR project, it is highly unlikely, due to the source levels 
and duration of exposure possible. It is expected that elevated sound 
will have only a negligible probability of causing TTS in individual 
seals. Further, seals are likely to be disturbed via the approach of 
work crews and vessels long before the beginning of any pile removal 
operations and would be apprised of the advent of increased underwater 
sound via the soft start of the vibratory hammer. It is not expected 
that airborne sound levels will induce any form of behavioral 
harassment, much less TTS in individual pinnipeds.
    The DNR and other organizations, such as the Cascadia Research 
Collective, have been monitoring the behavior of harbor seals present 
within the NRCA since 1977. Past disturbance observations at Woodard 
Bay NRCA have shown that seal harassment results from the presence of 
non-motorized vessels (e.g., recreational kayaks and canoes), motorized 
vessels (e.g., fishing boats), and people (Calambokidis and Leathery, 
1991; Buettner et al., 2008). Results of these studies are described in 
the proposed IHA notice for this action. Based on these studies, we 
anticipate that the presence of work crews and vessels will result in 
behavioral harassment, primarily by flushing seals off log booms, or by 
causing short-term avoidance of the area or similar short-term 
behavioral disturbance.
    In summary, based on the preceding discussion and on observations 
of harbor seals during past management activities in Woodard Bay, we 
have determined that impacts to harbor seals during restoration 
activities will be limited to behavioral harassment of limited duration 
and limited intensity (i.e., temporary flushing at most) resulting from 
physical disturbance. It is anticipated that seals would be initially 
disturbed by the presence of crew and vessels associated with the 
habitat restoration project. Seals entering the water following such 
disturbance could also be exposed to underwater SPLs greater than 120 
dB (i.e., constituting harassment); however, given the short duration 
and low energy of vibratory extraction of 12-24 in timber piles, PTS 
will not occur and TTS is not likely. Alternatively, the presence of 
work crews and vessels, or the introduction of sound into the water, 
could result in short-term avoidance of the area by seals seeking to 
use the haul-out. Abandonment of any portion of the haul-out is not 
expected, as harbor seals have been documented as quickly becoming 
accustomed to the presence of work crews. During similar activities 
carried out under the previous IHAs, seals showed no signs of 
abandonment or of using the haul-outs to a lesser degree.

Anticipated Effects on Habitat

    We provided a detailed discussion of the potential effects of this 
action on marine mammal habitat in the notice of the proposed IHA (77 
FR 44583; July 30, 2012). While marine mammal habitat will be 
temporarily ensonified by low sound levels resulting from habitat 
restoration effort, no impacts to the physical availability of haul-out 
habitat will occur. It is expected that, at most, temporary disturbance 
of habitat potentially utilized by harbor seal prey species may occur 
as piles are removed. The DNR's restoration activities will result in a 
long-term net positive gain for marine mammal habitat, compared with 
minimal short-term, temporary impacts.

Summary of Previous Monitoring

    Please see the notice of the proposed IHA (77 FR 44583; July 30, 
2012) for a summary of previous monitoring.

Mitigation

    In order to issue an IHA under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA, 
NMFS must set forth the permissible methods of taking pursuant to such 
activity, and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact on such species or stock and its habitat, paying particular 
attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, and on the availability of such species or stock for 
taking for certain subsistence uses.
    The DNR will continue certain mitigation measures stipulated in the 
previous IHAs, designed to minimize disturbance to harbor seals within 
the

[[Page 55462]]

action area in consideration of timing, location, and equipment use. 
Foremost, pile, structure, and fill removal will only occur between 
November and March, outside of harbor seal pupping and molting seasons. 
Therefore, no impacts to pups from the specified activity during these 
sensitive time periods will occur. In addition, the following measures 
will be implemented:
     The DNR will approach the action area slowly to alert 
seals to their presence from a distance and will begin pulling piles at 
the farthest location from the log booms used as harbor seal haul-out 
areas;
     No piles within 30 yd (27 m) of the two main haul-out 
locations identified in the IHA application will be removed;
     The contractor or observer will survey the operational 
area for seals before initiating activities and wait until the seals 
are at a sufficient distance (i.e., 50 ft [15 m]) from the activity so 
as to minimize the risk of direct injury from the equipment or from a 
piling or structure breaking free;
     The DNR will require the contractor to initiate a 
vibratory hammer soft start at the beginning of each work day; and
     The vibratory hammer power pack will be outfitted with a 
muffler to reduce in-air noise levels to a maximum of 80 dB.
    The soft start method involves a reduced energy vibration from the 
hammer for the first 15 seconds and then a 30-second waiting period. 
This method will be repeated twice before commencing with operations at 
full power.
    We have carefully evaluated the applicant's mitigation measures as 
proposed and considered their effectiveness in past implementation to 
determine whether they are likely to effect the least practicable 
adverse impact on the affected marine mammal species and stocks and 
their habitat. Our evaluation of potential measures includes 
consideration of the following factors in relation to one another: (1) 
The manner in which, and the degree to which, the successful 
implementation of the measure is expected to minimize adverse impacts 
to marine mammals, (2) the proven or likely efficacy of the specific 
measure to minimize adverse impacts as planned; (3) the practicability 
of the measure for applicant implementation, including consideration of 
personnel safety, and practicality of implementation.
    Injury, serious injury, or mortality to pinnipeds could likely only 
result from startling animals inhabiting the haul-out into a stampede 
reaction. Even in the event that such a reaction occurred, it is 
unlikely that it will result in injury, serious injury, or mortality, 
as the activities will occur outside of the pupping season, and access 
to the water from the haul-outs is relatively easy and unimpeded. 
However, DNR will approach haul-outs gradually from a distance, and 
will begin daily work at the farthest distance from the haul-out in 
order to eliminate the possibility of such events. During the previous 
years of work under our authorization, implementation of similar 
mitigation measures has resulted in no known injury, serious injury, or 
mortality (other than one event considered atypical and outside the 
scope of the mitigation measures considered in relation to disturbing 
seals from the haul-outs). Based upon the DNR's record of management in 
the NRCA, as well as information from monitoring DNR's implementation 
of the improved mitigation measures as prescribed under the previous 
IHAs, we have determined that the planned mitigation measures provide 
the means of effecting the least practicable adverse impacts on marine 
mammal species or stocks and their habitat.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an ITA for an activity, Section 101(a)(5)(D) of 
the MMPA states that we must set forth ``requirements pertaining to the 
monitoring and reporting of such taking''. The MMPA implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 216.104(a)(13) indicate that requests for IHAs 
must include the suggested means of accomplishing the necessary 
monitoring and reporting that will result in increased knowledge of the 
species and of the level of taking or impacts on populations of marine 
mammals that are expected to be present.
    DNR's monitoring plan adheres to protocols already established for 
Woodard Bay to the maximum extent practical for the specified activity. 
Monitoring of both the north and south haul-outs will occur for a total 
of 15 work days, during the first 5 days of project activities, when 
the contractors are mobilizing and starting use of the vibratory 
hammer; during 5 days when activities are occurring closest to the 
haul-out areas; and during 5 additional days, to include days when fill 
removal is occurring in Woodard Bay. It is not expected that Woodard 
Bay fill removal will result in seal disturbance; however, the 
stipulation that monitoring be conducted while this activity occurs is 
intended to ensure that such is the case. Monitoring of both haul-outs 
will be performed by at least one observer. The observer will (1) be 
on-site prior to crew and vessel arrival to determine the number of 
seals present pre-disturbance; (2) maintain a low profile during this 
time to minimize disturbance from monitoring; and (3) conduct 
monitoring beginning 30 minutes prior to crew arrival, during pile 
removal activities, and for 30 minutes after crew leave the site.
    The observer will record incidental takes (i.e., numbers of seals 
flushed from the haul-out). This information will be determined by 
recording the number of seals using the haul-out on each monitoring day 
prior to the start of restoration activities and recording the number 
of seals that flush from the haul-out or, for animals already in the 
water, display adverse behavioral reactions to vibratory extraction. A 
description of the disturbance source, the proximity in meters of the 
disturbance source to the disturbed animals, and observable behavioral 
reactions to specific disturbances will also be noted. In addition, the 
observer will record:
     The number of seals using the haul-out on each monitoring 
day prior to the start of restoration activities for that day;
     Seal behavior before, during and after pile and structure 
removal;
     Monitoring dates, times and conditions;
     Dates of all pile and structure removal activities; and
     After correcting for observation effort, the number of 
seals taken over the duration of the habitat restoration project.
    Within 30 days of the completion of the project, DNR will submit a 
monitoring report that will include a summary of findings and copies of 
field data sheets and relevant daily logs from the contractor.

Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment

    We are authorizing DNR to take harbor seals, by Level B harassment 
only, incidental to specified restoration activities. These activities, 
involving extraction of creosoted timber piles and removal of derelict 
pier superstructure and fill, are expected to harass marine mammals 
present in the vicinity of the project site through behavioral 
disturbance only. Estimates of the number of marine mammals that may be 
harassed by the activities are based upon actual counts of harbor seals 
harassed during days monitored under the previous IHAs, and the 
estimated total number of working days. Methodology of take estimation 
was discussed in detail in our notice of proposed IHA (77 FR 44583; 
July 30, 2012).

[[Page 55463]]

    DNR considers that 40 total work days (as opposed to the total work 
window, and not including days spent removing fill from the Woodard Bay 
area) may occur, potentially resulting in incidental harassment of 
harbor seals. Using the average count from monitoring under the 
previous IHAs, the result is an estimated incidental take of 1,680 
harbor seals (40 days x 42 seals per day). We consider this to be a 
highly conservative estimate in comparison with the estimated actual 
take of 875 seals from 2010 and 231 seals from 2011, which is 
nonetheless based upon the best available information.

Negligible Impact and Small Numbers Analysis and Determination

    We have defined `negligible impact' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``* * * an 
impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably 
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the 
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival.'' In determining whether or not authorized incidental take 
will have a negligible impact on affected species stocks, we consider a 
number of criteria regarding the impact of the proposed action, 
including the number, nature, intensity, and duration of Level B 
harassment take that may occur. Although DNR's restoration activities 
may harass pinnipeds hauled out in Woodard Bay, impacts are occurring 
to a small, localized group of animals. No mortality or injury is 
anticipated or authorized, and the specified activity is not expected 
to result in long-term impacts such as permanent abandonment of the 
haul-out. Seals will likely become alert or, at most, flush into the 
water in reaction to the presence of crews and equipment. However, 
seals have been observed as becoming habituated to physical presence of 
work crews, and quickly re-inhabit haul-outs upon cessation of 
stimulus. In addition, the specified restoration actions may provide 
improved habitat function for seals, both indirectly through a 
healthier prey base and directly through restoration and maintenance of 
man-made haul-out habitat. No impacts are expected at the population or 
stock level.
    No pinniped stocks known from the action area are listed as 
threatened or endangered under the ESA or determined to be strategic or 
depleted under the MMPA. Recent data suggests that harbor seal 
populations have reached carrying capacity.
    Although the estimated take of 1,680 is 11 percent of the estimated 
population of 14,612 for the Washington Inland Waters stock of harbor 
seals, the number of individual seals harassed will be lower, with 
individual seals likely harassed multiple times. In addition, although 
the estimated take is based upon the best information available, we 
consider the estimate to be highly conservative. For similar 
restoration activities in 2010-11, estimated actual take was much lower 
(875 seals over 35 work days in 2010 and 231 seals over 21 work days in 
2011).
    Mitigation measures will minimize onset of sudden and potentially 
dangerous reactions and overall disturbance. In addition, restoration 
work is not likely to affect seals at both haul-outs simultaneously, 
based on location of the crew and barge. Further, although seals may 
initially flush into the water, based on previous disturbance studies 
and maintenance activity at the haul-outs, the DNR expects seals will 
quickly habituate to piling and structure removal operations. For these 
reasons no long term or permanent abandonment of the haul-out is 
anticipated. Much of the work planned for 2012-13 consists of fill 
removal, which does not require in-water work or vessel support, and is 
largely located in Woodard Bay, which is shielded from the haul-out 
locations by land. The specified activity is not anticipated to result 
in injury, serious injury, or mortality to any harbor seal. The DNR 
will not conduct habitat restoration operations during the pupping and 
molting season; therefore, no pups will be affected by the specified 
activity and no impacts to any seals will occur as a result of the 
specified activity during these sensitive time periods.
    Based on the foregoing analysis, behavioral disturbance to 
pinnipeds in Woodard Bay will be of low intensity and limited duration. 
To ensure minimal disturbance, DNR will implement the mitigation 
measures described previously, which we have determined will serve as 
the means for effecting the least practicable adverse effect on marine 
mammal stocks or populations and their habitat. We find that DNR's 
restoration activities will result in the incidental take of small 
numbers of marine mammals, and that the requested number of takes will 
have no more than a negligible impact on the affected species and 
stocks.

Impact on Availability of Affected Species for Taking for Subsistence 
Uses

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated 
by this action.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    There are no ESA-listed marine mammals found in the action area; 
therefore, no consultation under the ESA is required.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as implemented by the regulations published 
by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, we prepared an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to consider the direct, indirect and cumulative effects 
to the human environment resulting from issuance of an IHA to DNR. We 
signed a Finding of No Significant Impact on October 27, 2010. We have 
reviewed the application and determined that there are no substantial 
changes to the action or new environmental impacts or concerns. 
Therefore, we have determined that a new or supplemental EA or 
Environmental Impact Statement is unnecessary. The EA referenced above 
is available for review at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm.

Determinations

    We have determined that the impact of conducting the specific 
activities described in this notice and in the IHA request in Woodard 
Bay, Washington may result, at worst, in temporary modifications in 
behavior (Level B harassment) of small numbers of marine mammals. 
Further, this activity is expected to result in a negligible impact on 
the affected stock of marine mammals. The provision requiring that the 
activity not have an unmitigable impact on the availability of the 
affected species or stock of marine mammals for subsistence uses is not 
implicated for this action.

Authorization

    As a result of these determinations, we have issued an IHA to DNR 
to conduct habitat restoration activities in Woodard Bay during the 
period of November 1, 2012, through March 15, 2013, provided the 
previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements 
are incorporated.

    Dated: September 4, 2012.
Helen M. Golde,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-22211 Filed 9-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P