[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3378-3390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01107]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE234


Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; 
Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation Project

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

ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request 
for comments and information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the Washington State 
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for an authorization to take small 
numbers of 10 species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, 
incidental to proposed construction activities for the Coupeville 
Timber Tower Preservation Project in Washington State. Pursuant to the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its 
proposal to issue an authorization to WDOT to incidentally take, by 
harassment, small numbers of marine mammals for a period of 1 year.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than February 
22, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to Jolie 
Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. The mailbox address for providing email 
comments is [email protected]. NMFS is not responsible for email 
comments sent to addresses other than the one provided here. Comments 
sent via email, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25-
megabyte file size.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm without change. All Personal Identifying Information 
(for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the 
commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    A copy of the application may be obtained by writing to the address 
specified above or visiting the internet at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may also be 
viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the 
aforementioned address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Guan, 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

[[Page 3379]]

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 provided to the public for 
review.
    An 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 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 U.S. can apply for a one-year authorization to 
incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment, 
provided that there is no potential for serious injury or mortality to 
result from the activity. 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.

Summary of Request

    On June 9, 2015, WSDOT submitted a request to NOAA requesting an 
IHA for the possible harassment of small numbers of marine mammal 
species incidental to construction associated with the Coupeville 
Timber Towers Preservation Project at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal in 
Washington State, between July 15, 2016, and July 14, 2017. On 
September 22, WSDOT submitted a revised IHA application which 
incorporated rigorous monitoring and mitigation measures that would 
prevent the take of humpback whales and the Southern Resident killer 
whales, which are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 
revised IHA application requests the take of small numbers of 10 marine 
mammal species incidental to the Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation 
Project. NMFS determined that the IHA application was complete on 
October 1, 2015. NMFS is proposing to authorize the Level B harassment 
of the following marine mammal species/stocks: harbor seal, California 
sea lion, Steller sea lion (eastern Distinct Population Segment, or 
DPS), northern elephant seal, killer whale (West Coast transient 
stock), gray whale, minke whale, harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, and 
Pacific white-sided dolphin.

Description of the Specified Activity

Overview

    WSDOT proposes to conduct Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation 
Project at the Washington Coupeville Ferry Terminal on Whidbey Island, 
Washington (Figure 1-2 of the IHA application), to upgrade the existing 
transfer span towers at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal.
    Eight 24-inch diameter hollow steel piles would be installed to 
support the towers, and concrete caps will be installed on top of the 
towers in order to support the headframe that houses the pulleys for 
the transfer span cables. Five to seven 12-inch timber piles would be 
removed to allow room for the new steel piles to be installed. The 
remaining tower timber piles would remain in place to help support the 
structure. Up to 6 temporary 24-inch diameter hollow steel piles would 
be installed to support the transfer span and towers cable systems 
during construction. All pile installation would be using impact pile 
driving.
    Temporary steel piles would be removed with a vibratory hammer. 
Timber piles would be removed with a vibratory hammer or by direct pull 
using a chain wrapped around the pile. Although timber piles may be 
removed by means unlikely to result in harassment of marine mammals, we 
assume for purposes of this analysis that all timber piles would be 
removed with a vibratory hammer. The crane operator would take measures 
to reduce turbidity, such as vibrating the pile slightly to break the 
bond between the pile and surrounding soil, and removing the pile 
slowly; or if using direct pull, keep the rate at which piles are 
removed low enough to meet regulatory turbidity limit requirements. If 
piles are so deteriorated they cannot be removed using either the 
vibratory or direct pull method, the operator would use a clamshell to 
pull the piles from below the mudline. All work would occur in water 
depths between -10 and -20 feet mean lower-low water.

Dates and Duration

    The number of days it would take to complete the project depends on 
the difficulty in removing and installing piles. Only one hammer 
(either vibratory or impact) will be in operation at a time. Durations 
are conservative, and the actual amount of time to remove and install 
will likely be less. Duration estimates are:
    Vibratory removal of timber piles would take approximately 30 
minutes per pile, with 5-7 piles removed over two days.
    Impact driving of each temporary 24-inch steel pile would take 
approximately 15 minutes, (approximately 700 strikes per pile), with up 
to 6 piles installed over 2 days. Temporary piles do not need to be 
impacted as deep as permanent piles, therefore the duration is shorter.
    Impact driving of each permanent 24-inch steel pile would take 
approximately 30 minutes, (approximately 1,400 strikes per pile), with 
8 piles installed over 2 days.
    Vibratory removal of each temporary 24-inch steel pile would take 
approximately 30 minutes, with up to 6 piles removed over 2 days.
    A summary of the pile to be removed and installed is provided in 
Table 1.

                        Table 1--Summary of Piles To Be Removed and Driven for the Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation Project
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   Duration
           Size             Install or remove/pile type         Number of piles           Hammer noise type      (minutes per     Duration     Duration
                                                                                                                     pile)        (hours)       (days)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-inch..................  Remove timber (existing)....  5-7.........................  Vibratory..............              30          3.5            2
24-inch..................  Install steel (temporary)...  6...........................  Impact.................              15          1.5            2
24-inch..................  Install steel (permanent)...  8...........................  Impact.................              30            4            2
24-inch..................  Remove steel (temporary)....  6...........................  Vibratory..............              30            3            2
    Totals...............  ............................  5-7 existing removed........  .......................  ..............           12            8

[[Page 3380]]

 
                           ............................  6 temporary installed/
                                                          removed.
                           ............................  8 permanent installed.......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specified Geographic Region

    The proposed Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation Project would be 
conducted at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal, located on Whidbey Island, 
Island County, Washington (Figure 1-2 of the IHA application). See 
WSDOT's application for further information regarding the specified 
geographic region.

Detailed Description of Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation Project

    The following construction sequence is anticipated:

 Remove timber piles
 Install temporary steel piles
 Install permanent steel piles
 Install concrete caps
 Transfer headframe to new pile caps
 Remove temporary piles

    Detailed descriptions of these activities are provided below.
(1) Vibratory Hammer Removal
    Vibratory hammer extraction is a common method for removing timber 
and steel piling. A vibratory hammer is suspended by cable from a crane 
and derrick, and positioned on the top of a pile. The pile is then 
unseated from the sediments by engaging the hammer, creating a 
vibration that loosens the sediments binding the pile, and then slowly 
lifting up on the hammer with the aid of the crane.
    Once unseated, the crane continues to raise the hammer and pulls 
the pile from the sediment. When the pile is released from the 
sediment, the vibratory hammer is disengaged and the pile is pulled 
from the water and placed on a barge for transfer upland. Figure 1-4 
shows a timber pile being removed with a vibratory hammer.
(2) Direct Pull and Clamshell Removal
    Older timber pilings are prone to breaking at the mudline because 
of damage from marine borers and vessel impacts. In some cases, removal 
with a vibratory hammer is not possible if the pile is too fragile to 
withstand the hammer force. Broken or damaged piles may be removed by 
wrapping the piles with a cable and pulling them directly from the 
sediment with a crane.
    If the piles break below the waterline, the pile stubs will be 
removed with a clamshell bucket, a hinged steel apparatus that operates 
like a set of steel jaws. The bucket will be lowered from a crane and 
the jaws will grasp the pile stub as the crane pulled up. The broken 
piling and stubs will be loaded onto the barge for off-site disposal. 
Clamshell removal will be used only if necessary, as it will produce 
temporary, localized turbidity impacts. Turbidity will be kept within 
required regulatory limits. Direct pull and clamshell removal do not 
produce noise that could impact marine mammals. Direct pull and 
clamshell removal of piles are not expected to affect marine mammals.
(3) Impact Hammer Installation
    Impact hammers can be used to install plastic/steel core, wood, 
concrete, or steel piles. An impact hammer is a steel device that works 
like a piston. Impact hammers are usually large, though small impact 
hammers are used to install small diameter plastic/steel core piles. 
Impact hammers have guides (called a lead) that hold the hammer in 
alignment with the pile while a heavy piston moves up and down, 
striking the top of the pile, and drives it into the substrate from the 
downward force of the hammer on the top of the pile.
    To drive the pile, the pile is first moved into position and set in 
the proper location using a choker cable or vibratory hammer. Once the 
pile is set in place, pile installation with an impact hammer can take 
less than 15 minutes under good conditions, to over an hour under poor 
conditions (such as glacial till and bedrock, or exceptionally loose 
material in which the pile repeatedly moves out of position).

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity

    The marine mammal species under NMFS jurisdiction most likely to 
occur in the proposed construction area include Pacific harbor seal 
(Phoca vitulina richardsi), northern elephant seal (Mirounga 
angustirostris), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Steller 
sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), killer whale (Orcinus orca) (transient 
and Southern Resident stocks), Eastern North Pacific gray whale 
(Eschrichtius robustus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), minke 
whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), harbor porpoise (Phocoena 
phocoena), Dall's porpoise (P. dalli), and Pacific white-sided dolphin 
(Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). The Western North Pacific gray whale has 
been observed off the Northwest Pacific, however, the occurrence of 
this gray whale population in the vicinity of the project area is very 
unlikely.

                    Table 2--Marine Mammal Species Potentially Present in Region of Activity
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              Species                         ESA Status                MMPA Status             Occurrence
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor Seal........................  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Frequent.
California Sea Lion................  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Frequent.
Northern Elephant Seal.............  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Occasional.
Steller Sea Lion (eastern DPS).....  Not listed.................  Under review..........  Rare.
Harbor Porpoise....................  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Frequent.
Dall's Porpoise....................  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Occasional.
Pacific White-sided dolphin........  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Occasional.
Killer Whale.......................  Endangered (Southern         Depleted..............  Occasional.
                                      Resident).
Killer whale.......................  Not listed (transient).....  Non-depleted..........  Occasional.
Gray Whale.........................  Delisted (Eastern North      Unclassified..........  Occasional.
                                      Pacific).
Humpback Whale.....................  Endangered.................  Depleted..............  Rare.

[[Page 3381]]

 
Minke Whale........................  Not listed.................  Non-depleted..........  Rare.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    General information on the marine mammal species found in 
Washington coastal waters can be found in Caretta et al. (2015), which 
is available at the following URL: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/pdf/pacific_sars_2014_final_noaa_swfsc_tm_549.pdf. Refer to that 
document for information on these species. A list of marine mammals in 
the vicinity of the action and their status are provided in Table 2. 
Specific information concerning these species in the vicinity of the 
proposed action area is provided in detail in the WSDOT's IHA 
application. Currently, NMFS is conducting a review of the discrete 
population segments (DPS) of humpback whales for potential delisting, 
and the Northeast Pacific humpback whale could be delisted from the ESA 
list if the review determines that this population has recovered 
significantly.

Potential Effects of the Specified Activity on Marine Mammals

    This section includes a summary and discussion of the ways that the 
types of stressors associated with the specified activity (e.g., pile 
removal and pile driving) may impact marine mammals. The ``Estimated 
Take by Incidental Harassment'' section later in this document will 
include a quantitative analysis of the number of individuals that are 
expected to be taken by this activity. The ``Negligible Impact 
Analysis'' section will include the analysis of how this specific 
activity will impact marine mammals and will consider the content of 
this section, the ``Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment'' section, 
the ``Proposed Mitigation'' section, and the ``Anticipated Effects on 
Marine Mammal Habitat'' section to draw conclusions regarding the 
likely impacts of this activity on the reproductive success or 
survivorship of individuals and from that on the affected marine mammal 
populations or stocks.
    When considering the influence of various kinds of sound on the 
marine environment, it is necessary to understand that different kinds 
of marine life are sensitive to different frequencies of sound. Based 
on available behavioral data, audiograms have been derived using 
auditory evoked potentials, anatomical modeling, and other data, 
Southall et al. (2007) designate ``functional hearing groups'' for 
marine mammals and estimate the lower and upper frequencies of 
functional hearing of the groups. The functional groups and the 
associated frequencies are indicated below (though animals are less 
sensitive to sounds at the outer edge of their functional range and 
most sensitive to sounds of frequencies within a smaller range 
somewhere in the middle of their functional hearing range):

 Low frequency cetaceans (13 species of mysticetes): functional 
hearing is estimated to occur between approximately 7 Hz and 25 kHz;
 Mid-frequency cetaceans (32 species of dolphins, six species 
of larger toothed whales, and 19 species of beaked and bottlenose 
whales): functional hearing is estimated to occur between approximately 
150 Hz and 160 kHz;
 High frequency cetaceans (eight species of true porpoises, six 
species of river dolphins, Kogia, the franciscana, and four species of 
cephalorhynchids): functional hearing is estimated to occur between 
approximately 200 Hz and 180 kHz; and
 Pinnipeds in Water: functional hearing is estimated to occur 
between approximately 75 Hz and 75 kHz, with the greatest sensitivity 
between approximately 700 Hz and 20 kHz.

    As mentioned previously in this document, 11 marine mammal species 
(7 cetacean and 4 pinniped species) are likely to occur in the proposed 
seismic survey area. Of the 7 cetacean species likely to occur in the 
proposed project area, 3 are classified as low-frequency cetaceans 
(i.e., humpback, gray, and minke whales), 2 are classified as mid-
frequency cetaceans (i.e., killer whale and Pacific white-sided 
dolphin), and 2 are classified as high-frequency cetaceans (i.e., 
harbor and Dall's porpoises) (Southall et al., 2007). A species' 
functional hearing group is a consideration when we analyze the effects 
of exposure to sound on marine mammals.
    Marine mammals exposed to high-intensity sound repeatedly or for 
prolonged periods can experience hearing threshold shift (TS), which is 
the loss of hearing sensitivity at certain frequency ranges (Kastak et 
al. 1999; Schlundt et al. 2000; Finneran et al. 2002; 2005). TS can be 
permanent (PTS), in which case the loss of hearing sensitivity is 
unrecoverable, or temporary (TTS), in which case the animal's hearing 
threshold will recover over time (Southall et al. 2007). Since marine 
mammals depend on acoustic cues for vital biological functions, such as 
orientation, communication, finding prey, and avoiding predators, 
hearing impairment could result in the reduced ability of marine 
mammals to detect or interpret important sounds. Repeated noise 
exposure that causes TTS could lead to PTS.
    Experiments on a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) and beluga 
whale (Delphinapterus leucas) showed that exposure to a single watergun 
impulse at a received level of 207 kPa (or 30 psi) peak-to-peak (p-p), 
which is equivalent to 228 dB (p-p) re 1 [mu]Pa, resulted in a 7 and 6 
dB TTS in the beluga whale at 0.4 and 30 kHz, respectively. Thresholds 
returned to within 2 dB of the pre-exposure level within 4 minutes of 
the exposure (Finneran et al. 2002). No TTS was observed in the 
bottlenose dolphin. Although the source level of one hammer strike for 
pile driving is expected to be much lower than the single watergun 
impulse cited here, animals being exposed for a prolonged period to 
repeated hammer strikes could receive more noise exposure in terms of 
sound exposure level (SEL) than from the single watergun impulse 
(estimated at 188 dB re 1 [mu]Pa\2\-s) in the aforementioned experiment 
(Finneran et al. 2002).
    Chronic exposure to excessive, though not high-intensity, noise 
could cause masking at particular frequencies for marine mammals that 
utilize sound for vital biological functions (Clark et al. 2009). 
Masking is the obscuring of sounds of interest by other sounds, often 
at similar frequencies. Masking generally occurs when sounds in the 
environment are louder than, and of a similar frequency as, auditory 
signals an animal is trying to receive. Masking can interfere with 
detection of acoustic signals, such as communication calls, 
echolocation sounds, and environmental sounds important to marine 
mammals. Therefore, under certain circumstances, marine mammals whose 
acoustical sensors or

[[Page 3382]]

environment are being severely masked could also be impaired.
    Masking occurs at the frequency band which the animals utilize. 
Since noise generated from in-water vibratory pile removal and driving 
is mostly concentrated at low frequency ranges, it may have little 
effect on high-frequency echolocation sounds by odontocetes (toothed 
whales), which may hunt California sea lion and harbor seal. However, 
the lower frequency man-made noises are more likely to affect the 
detection of communication calls and other potentially important 
natural sounds, such as surf and prey noise. The noises may also affect 
communication signals when those signals occur near the noise band, and 
thus reduce the communication space of animals (e.g., Clark et al. 
2009) and cause increased stress levels (e.g., Foote et al. 2004; Holt 
et al. 2009).
    Unlike TS, masking can potentially impact the species at community, 
population, or even ecosystem levels, as well as individual levels. 
Masking affects both senders and receivers of the signals and could 
have long-term chronic effects on marine mammal species and 
populations. Recent science suggests that low frequency ambient sound 
levels in the world's oceans have increased by as much as 20 dB (more 
than 3 times, in terms of SPL) from pre-industrial periods, and most of 
these increases are from distant shipping (Hildebrand 2009). All 
anthropogenic noise sources, such as those from vessel traffic and pile 
removal and driving, contribute to the elevated ambient noise levels, 
thus intensifying masking.
    Finally, in addition to TS and masking, exposure of marine mammals 
to certain sounds could lead to behavioral disturbance (Richardson et 
al. 1995), such as: changing durations of surfacing and dives, number 
of blows per surfacing, or moving direction and/or speed; reduced/
increased vocal activities; changing/cessation of certain behavioral 
activities, such as socializing or feeding; visible startle response or 
aggressive behavior, such as tail/fluke slapping or jaw clapping; 
avoidance of areas where noise sources are located; and/or flight 
responses (e.g., pinnipeds flushing into water from haulouts or 
rookeries). The onset of behavioral disturbance from anthropogenic 
noise depends on both external factors (characteristics of noise 
sources and their paths) and the receiving animals (hearing, 
motivation, experience, demography), and is therefore difficult to 
predict (Southall et al. 2007).
    The activities of workers in the project area may also cause 
behavioral reactions by marine mammals, such as pinnipeds flushing from 
the jetty or pier or moving farther from the disturbance to forage. 
However, observations of the area show that it is unlikely that more 
than 10 to 20 individuals of pinnipeds would be present in the project 
vicinity at any one time. Therefore, even if pinnipeds were flushed 
from the haul-out, a stampede is very unlikely, due to the relatively 
low number of animals onsite. In addition, proposed mitigation and 
monitoring measures would minimize the startle behavior of pinnipeds 
and prevent the animals from flushing into the water.
    The biological significance of many of these behavioral 
disturbances is difficult to predict, especially if the detected 
disturbances appear minor. However, the consequences of behavioral 
modification could be expected to be biologically significant if the 
change affects growth, survival, or reproduction. Some of these types 
of significant behavioral modifications include: Drastic change in 
diving/surfacing patterns (such as those thought to be causing beaked 
whale strandings due to exposure to military mid-frequency tactical 
sonar); habitat abandonment due to loss of desirable acoustic 
environment; and cessation of feeding or social interaction.

Potential Effects on Marine Mammal Habitat

    The primary potential impacts to marine mammal habitat are 
associated with elevated sound levels produced by vibratory pile 
removal and pile driving in the area. However, other potential impacts 
to the surrounding habitat from physical disturbance are also possible.

Potential Impacts on Prey Species

    With regard to fish as a prey source for cetaceans and pinnipeds, 
fish are known to hear and react to sounds and to use sound to 
communicate (Tavolga et al. 1981) and possibly avoid predators (Wilson 
and Dill 2002). Experiments have shown that fish can sense both the 
strength and direction of sound (Hawkins 1981). Primary factors 
determining whether a fish can sense a sound signal, and potentially 
react to it, are the frequency of the signal and the strength of the 
signal in relation to the natural background noise level.
    The level of sound at which a fish will react or alter its behavior 
is usually well above the detection level. Fish have been found to 
react to sounds when the sound level increased to about 20 dB above the 
detection level of 120 dB (Ona 1988); however, the response threshold 
can depend on the time of year and the fish's physiological condition 
(Engas et al. 1993). In general, fish react more strongly to pulses of 
sound rather than non-pulse signals (such as noise from pile driving) 
(Blaxter et al. 1981), and a quicker alarm response is elicited when 
the sound signal intensity rises rapidly compared to sound rising more 
slowly to the same level.
    During the coastal construction only a small fraction of the 
available habitat would be ensonified at any given time. Disturbance to 
fish species would be short-term and fish would return to their pre-
disturbance behavior once the pile driving activity ceases. Thus, the 
proposed construction would have little, if any, impact on the 
abilities of marine mammals to feed in the area where construction work 
is planned.
    Finally, the time of the proposed construction activity would avoid 
the spawning season of the ESA-listed salmonid species.

Water and Sediment Quality

    Short-term turbidity is a water quality effect of most in-water 
work, including pile driving. WSDOT must comply with state water 
quality standards during these operations by limiting the extent of 
turbidity to the immediate project area.
    Roni and Weitkamp (1996) monitored water quality parameters during 
a pier replacement project in Manchester, Washington. The study 
measured water quality before, during and after pile driving. The study 
found that construction activity at the site had ``little or no effect 
on dissolved oxygen, water temperature and salinity'', and turbidity 
(measured in nephelometric turbidity units [NTU]) at all depths nearest 
the construction activity was typically less than 1 NTU higher than 
stations farther from the project area throughout construction.
    Similar results were recorded during pile removal operations at two 
WSDOT ferry facilities. At the Friday Harbor terminal, localized 
turbidity levels (from three timber pile removal events) were generally 
less than 0.5 NTU higher than background levels and never exceeded 1 
NTU. At the Eagle Harbor maintenance facility, local turbidity levels 
(from removal of timber and steel piles) did not exceed 0.2 NTU above 
background levels. In general, turbidity associated with pile 
installation is localized to about a 25-foot radius around the pile 
(Everitt et al. 1980).
    Cetaceans are not expected to be close enough to the Coupeville 
Ferry Terminal to experience turbidity, and any pinnipeds will be 
transiting the terminal area and could avoid localized areas of 
turbidity. Therefore, the impact from increased turbidity levels is

[[Page 3383]]

expected to be discountable to marine mammals.

Passage Obstructions

    Pile removal and driving at the project site will not obstruct 
movements of marine mammals. Construction at Coupeville will occur 
within 35 m of the shoreline, leaving 5.5 km of Admiralty Inlet for 
marine mammals to pass unaffected by construction noise.

Proposed Mitigation Measures

    In order to issue an incidental take authorization 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.
    For WSDOT's proposed Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation Project, 
WSDOT worked with NMFS and proposed the following mitigation measures 
to minimize the potential impacts to marine mammals in the project 
vicinity. The primary purposes of these mitigation measures are to 
minimize sound levels from the activities, to monitor marine mammals 
within designated zones of influence (ZOI) corresponding to NMFS' 
current Level B harassment thresholds and, if marine mammals with the 
ZOI appear disturbed by the work activity, to initiate immediate 
shutdown or power down of the piling hammer, making it very unlikely 
potential injury or TTS to marine mammals would occur and ensuring that 
Level B behavioral harassment of marine mammals would be reduced to the 
lowest level practicable.

Time Restriction

    Work would occur only during daylight hours, when visual monitoring 
of marine mammals can be conducted. In addition, all in-water 
construction will be limited to the period between July 15, 2016, and 
February 15, 2017.

Underwater Noise Attenuation Device

    An air bubble curtain system or other noise attenuation device 
would be employed during impact installation or proofing of steel piles 
unless the piles are driven on dry areas.

Establishment of Exclusion Zone and Level B Harassment Zones of 
Influence

    Before the commencement of in-water pile driving activities, WSDOT 
would establish Level A exclusion zones and Level B zones of influence 
(ZOIs). The received underwater sound pressure levels (SPLs) within the 
exclusion zone would be 190 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa and above for 
pinnipeds and 180 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa and above for cetaceans. The 
Level B ZOIs would encompass areas where received underwater SPLs are 
higher than 160 dB (rms) and 120 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa for impulse 
noise sources (impact pile driving) and non-impulse noise sources 
(vibratory pile removal), respectively.
    Based on in-water measurements at the WSDOT Port Townsend Ferry 
Terminal (WSDOT 2011a), removal of 12-in timber piles generated 149 to 
152 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa with an overall average value of 150 dB 
(rms) re 1 [micro]Pa measured at 16 m. A worst-case noise level for 
vibratory removal of 12-in timber piles would be 152 dB (rms) re 1 
[micro]Pa at 16 m.
    Based on in-water measurements at the WSDOT Port Townsend Ferry 
terminal, impact pile driving of 24-in steel piles ranged from 172 
to185 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa measured at 10 m during the use of an air 
bubble curtain (WSDOT 2014a). An air bubble curtain would be used to 
attenuate steel pile impact driving noise during this project. A worst-
case noise level for impact driving of 24-in steel piles would be 185 
dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa at 10 m.
    Data for vibratory removal of 24-inch temporary steel piles is not 
available, so it is conservatively assumed to be the same as vibratory 
driving. Based on in-water measurements at the same location as the 
activity considered here (previously known as the WSDOT Keystone Ferry 
Terminal), vibratory driving of 24-in steel piles ranged from 164 to 
176 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa with an overall average value of 171 dB 
(rms) re 1 [micro]Pa. Distances from hydrophone to pile ranged between 
6 and 11 m (WSDOT 2010a). A worst-case noise level for vibratory 
removal of 24-in steel piles will be 176 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa at 6 
m.
    Using a simple practical spreading model (sound transmission loss 
of 4.5dB per doubling distance) to determine the distance where 
underwater sound will attenuate to the 120 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa 
threshold, the ZOIs are calculated below:
     152 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa at 16 m (12-in timber 
vibratory pile removal): ~2.3 km/1.4 mi
     176 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa at 6 m (24-in steel vibratory 
pile removal): ~32 km/20 mi (land is reached at ~31 km/19 mi)
    The vibratory pile removal source levels do not exceed the Level A 
harassment criteria.
    Using 185 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa at 10 m for 24-in impact pile 
driving and the practical spreading loss model, the distances to the 
thresholds are calculated:
     the 190 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa pinniped Level A 
harassment exclusion zone is reached within 5 m/15 ft.
     the 180 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa cetacean Level A 
harassment exclusion zone is reached within 22 m/72 ft.
     the 160 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa Level B ZOI is reached 
within 464 m/1,523 ft.
    The more conservative cetacean injury zone (22 m/72 ft.) will be 
used to set the 24-inch steel Zone of Exclusion (ZOE).
    A summary distances and areas of the exclusion zones for Level A 
harassment and ZOI for Level B harassment is provide in Table 3 below.

   Table 2--Distances and Areas of Level A and Level B Harassment Zones for Vibratory and Impact Pile Driving
                                                   Activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Distance to     Distance to     Distance to     Distance to      ZOI size
       Pile driving method          190 dB (m)      180 dB (m)      160 dB (m)      120 dB (km)       (km\2\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vibratory pile removal (12-in                 NA              NA              NA             2.3             6.4
 timber)........................
Vibratory pile removal (24-in                 NA              NA              NA              32             140
 steel).........................
Impact driving (24-in steel                    5              22             464              NA             1.5
 pile)..........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soft Start

    A ``soft-start'' technique is intended to allow marine mammals to 
vacate the area before the pile driver reaches full power. Whenever 
there has been downtime of 30 minutes or more without pile driving, the 
contractor will initiate the driving with ramp-up procedures.
    For vibratory hammers, the contractor shall initiate the driving 
for 15 seconds

[[Page 3384]]

at reduced energy, followed by a 1 minute waiting period. This 
procedure shall be repeated two additional times before continuous 
driving is started. This procedure shall also apply to vibratory pile 
removal.
    For impact driving, an initial set of three strikes would be made 
by the hammer at 40-percent energy, followed by a 1-minute waiting 
period, then two subsequent three-strike sets at 40-percent energy, 
with 1-minute waiting periods, before initiating continuous driving.

Shutdown and Power-Down Measures

    WSDOT shall implement shutdown if a marine mammal is sighted within 
or approaching the Level A exclusion zone. In-water construction 
activities shall be suspended until the marine mammal is sighted moving 
away from the exclusion zone, or if a large cetacean is not sighted for 
30 minutes or if a small cetacean or pinniped is not sighted for 15 
minutes after the shutdown.
    In addition, WSDOT would implement shutdown measure when Southern 
Resident killer whales (as identified by Orca Network, NMFS, or other 
qualified source) or when humpback whales are detected or are notified 
by local marine mammal researchers to approach the ZOIs during pile 
removal and pile driving, therefore preventing Level B takes of 
Southern Resident killer whales and humpback whales.
    If a killer whale approaches the ZOI during pile driving or 
removal, and it is unknown whether it is a Southern Resident killer 
whale or a transient killer whale, it shall be assumed to be a Southern 
Resident killer whale and WSDOT shall implement the shutdown measure.
    Finally, WSDOT would implement shutdown or measure to prevent Level 
B takes when the take of any other species or stock of marine mammal is 
approaching the take limited authorized under the IHA (if issued).

Coordination With Local Marine Mammal Research Network

    Prior to the start of daily pile driving, the Orca Network and/or 
Center for Whale Research would be contacted to find out the location 
of the nearest marine mammal sightings. Daily sightings information can 
be found on the Orca Network Twitter site (https://twitter.com/orcanetwork), which would be checked several times a day.
    The Orca Sightings Network consists of a list of over 600 (and 
growing) residents, scientists, and government agency personnel in the 
U.S. and Canada. Sightings are called or emailed into the Orca Network 
and immediately distributed to other sighting networks including: The 
Northwest Fisheries Science Center of NMFS, the Center for Whale 
Research, Cascadia Research, the Whale Museum Hotline and the British 
Columbia Sightings Network.
    ``Sightings'' information collected by the Orca Network includes 
detection by hydrophone. The SeaSound Remote Sensing Network is a 
system of interconnected hydrophones installed in the marine 
environment of Haro Strait (west side of San Juan Island) to study orca 
communication, in-water noise, bottom-fish ecology and local climatic 
conditions. A hydrophone at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center 
measures average in-water sound levels and automatically detects 
unusual sounds. These passive acoustic devices allow researchers to 
hear when different marine mammals come into the region. This acoustic 
network, combined with the volunteer (incidental) visual sighting 
network allows researchers to document presence and location of various 
marine mammal species.
    With this level of coordination in the region of activity, WSDOT 
will be able to get real-time information on the presence or absence of 
whales before starting any pile driving.

Mitigation Conclusions

    NMFS has carefully evaluated the applicant's proposed mitigation 
measures and considered a range of other measures in the context of 
ensuring that NMFS prescribes the means of effecting the least 
practicable impact on the affected marine mammal species and stocks and 
their habitat. Our evaluation of potential measures included 
consideration of the following factors in relation to one another:

 The manner in which, and the degree to which, the successful 
implementation of the measure is expected to minimize adverse impacts 
to marine mammals
 The proven or likely efficacy of the specific measure to 
minimize adverse impacts as planned
 The practicability of the measure for applicant 
implementation.

    Any mitigation measure(s) prescribed by NMFS should be able to 
accomplish, have a reasonable likelihood of accomplishing (based on 
current science), or contribute to the accomplishment of one or more of 
the general goals listed below:

    (1) Avoidance or minimization of injury or death of marine mammals 
wherever possible (goals 2, 3, and 4 may contribute to this goal).
    (2) A reduction in the numbers of marine mammals (total number or 
number at biologically important time or location) exposed to received 
levels of pile driving and pile removal or other activities expected to 
result in the take of marine mammals (this goal may contribute to 1, 
above, or to reducing harassment takes only).
    (3) A reduction in the number of times (total number or number at 
biologically important time or location) individuals would be exposed 
to received levels of pile driving and pile removal, or other 
activities expected to result in the take of marine mammals (this goal 
may contribute to 1, above, or to reducing harassment takes only).
    (4) A reduction in the intensity of exposures (either total number 
or number at biologically important time or location) to received 
levels of pile driving, or other activities expected to result in the 
take of marine mammals (this goal may contribute to a, above, or to 
reducing the severity of harassment takes only).
    (5) Avoidance or minimization of adverse effects to marine mammal 
habitat, paying special attention to the food base, activities that 
block or limit passage to or from biologically important areas, 
permanent destruction of habitat, or temporary destruction/disturbance 
of habitat during a biologically important time.
    (6) For monitoring directly related to mitigation--an increase in 
the probability of detecting marine mammals, thus allowing for more 
effective implementation of the mitigation.
    Based on our evaluation of the applicant's proposed measures, as 
well as other measures considered by NMFS, NMFS has preliminarily 
determined that the proposed mitigation measures provide the means of 
effecting the least practicable impact on marine mammals species or 
stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, 
mating grounds, and areas of similar significance.

Proposed Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an incidental take authorization (ITA) for an 
activity, section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA states that NMFS 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 ITAs must include the 
suggested means of accomplishing the necessary monitoring and reporting 
that will result in

[[Page 3385]]

increased knowledge of the species and of the level of taking or 
impacts on populations of marine mammals that are expected to be 
present in the proposed action area. WSDOT submitted a marine mammal 
monitoring plan as part of the IHA application. It can be found at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm. The plan may be 
modified or supplemented based on comments or new information received 
from the public during the public comment period.
    Monitoring measures prescribed by NMFS should accomplish one or 
more of the following general goals:
    (1) An increase in the probability of detecting marine mammals, 
both within the mitigation zone (thus allowing for more effective 
implementation of the mitigation) and in general to generate more data 
to contribute to the analyses mentioned below;
    (2) An increase in our understanding of how many marine mammals are 
likely to be exposed to levels of pile driving that we associate with 
specific adverse effects, such as behavioral harassment, TTS, or PTS;
    (3) An increase in our understanding of how marine mammals respond 
to stimuli expected to result in take and how anticipated adverse 
effects on individuals (in different ways and to varying degrees) may 
impact the population, species, or stock (specifically through effects 
on annual rates of recruitment or survival) through any of the 
following methods:
     Behavioral observations in the presence of stimuli 
compared to observations in the absence of stimuli (need to be able to 
accurately predict received level, distance from source, and other 
pertinent information);
     Physiological measurements in the presence of stimuli 
compared to observations in the absence of stimuli (need to be able to 
accurately predict received level, distance from source, and other 
pertinent information);
     Distribution and/or abundance comparisons in times or 
areas with concentrated stimuli versus times or areas without stimuli;
    (4) An increased knowledge of the affected species; and
    (5) An increase in our understanding of the effectiveness of 
certain mitigation and monitoring measures.

Proposed Monitoring Measures

    WSDOT shall employ NMFS-approved protected species observers (PSOs) 
to conduct marine mammal monitoring for its Coupeville timber towers 
preservation project. During pile removal and installation, land-based 
and vessel-based PSOs would monitor the area from the best observation 
points available. The number of PSOs will be based on the sizes of 
ensonified zones and to ensure that the entire zones are monitored.
     During 24-inch steel impact pile driving, two land-based 
PSOs monitors will monitor the ZOE and ZOI. Pile driving will be paused 
if any marine mammal approaches the exclusion zone(s), which equate to 
the 22-m Level A harassment zone for those species for which take is 
authorized and to the larger Level B harassment zone for all other 
species.
     During vibratory timber pile removal, two land-based PSOs 
will monitor the ZOI, as shown in Figure 2 of WSDOT's Marine Mammal 
Monitoring Plan.
     During 24-inch vibratory pile removal, 7 land-based PSOs 
and one monitoring boat with a PSO and boat operator will monitor the 
ZOI, as shown in Figure 3 of WSDOT's Marine Mammal Monitoring Plan.
     If weather prevents safe use of the boat in the main 
channel of the ZOI, the boat will be used in other areas of the ZOI 
that are safe, such as the southwest corner of the ZOI, where lack of 
public access prevents stationing a land-based PSO.
    The PSOs would observe and collect data on marine mammals in and 
around the project area for 30 minutes before, during, and for 30 
minutes after all pile removal and pile installation work. If a PSO 
observes a marine mammal within or approaching the exclusion zone, the 
PSO would notify the work crew to initiate shutdown measures.
    Monitoring of marine mammals around the construction site shall be 
conducted using high-quality binoculars (e.g., Zeiss, 10 x 42 power). 
To verify the required monitoring distance, the exclusion zones and 
ZOIs will be determined by using a range finder or hand-held global 
positioning system device.
    During the project, in-water measurements of vibratory pile removal 
and driving and impact pile driving noises may be taken to determine if 
the vibratory ZOIs need to be modified.

Proposed Reporting Measures

    WSDOT would be required to submit a final monitoring report within 
90 days after completion of the construction work or the expiration of 
the IHA (if issued), whichever comes earlier. This report would detail 
the monitoring protocol, summarize the data recorded during monitoring, 
and estimate the number of marine mammals that may have been harassed. 
NMFS would have an opportunity to provide comments on the report, and 
if NMFS has comments, WSDOT would address the comments and submit a 
final report to NMFS within 30 days.
    In addition, NMFS would require WSDOT to notify NMFS' Office of 
Protected Resources and NMFS' Stranding Network within 48 hours of 
sighting an injured or dead marine mammal in the vicinity of the 
construction site. WSDOT shall provide NMFS with the species or 
description of the animal(s), the condition of the animal(s) (including 
carcass condition, if the animal is dead), location, time of first 
discovery, observed behaviors (if alive), and photo or video (if 
available).
    In the event that WSDOT finds an injured or dead marine mammal that 
is not in the vicinity of the construction area, WSDOT would report the 
same information as listed above to NMFS as soon as operationally 
feasible.
Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment
    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].
    As discussed above, in-water pile removal and pile driving 
(vibratory and impact) generate loud noises that could potentially 
harass marine mammals in the vicinity of WSDOT's proposed Coupeville 
timber tower preservation project.
    As mentioned earlier in this document, currently NMFS uses 120 dB 
re 1 [micro]Pa and 160 dB re 1 [micro]Pa at the received levels for the 
onset of Level B harassment from non-impulse (vibratory pile driving 
and removal) and impulse sources (impact pile driving) underwater, 
respectively. Table 4 summarizes the current NMFS marine mammal take 
criteria.

[[Page 3386]]



   Table 4--Current Acoustic Exposure Criteria for Non-explosive Sound
                               Underwater
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Criterion             Criterion definition       Threshold
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level A Harassment (Injury)...  Permanent Threshold     180 dB re 1
                                 Shift (PTS) (Any        [micro]Pa
                                 level above that        (cetaceans).
                                 which is known to      190 dB re 1
                                 cause TTS).             [micro]Pa
                                                         (pinnipeds).
                                                        root mean square
                                                         (rms).
Level B Harassment............  Behavioral Disruption   160 dB re 1
                                 (for impulse noises).   [micro]Pa
                                                         (rms).
Level B Harassment............  Behavioral Disruption   120 dB re 1
                                 (for non-impulse        [micro]Pa
                                 noise).                 (rms).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As explained above, exclusion zones and ZOIs will be established 
that encompass the areas where received underwater sound pressure 
levels (SPLs) exceed the applicable thresholds for Level A and Level B 
harassments, respectively.
    With the exception of harbor seals, Steller sea lion and harbor 
porpoise, it is anticipated that all of the marine mammals that enter 
the Level B acoustical harassment ZOIs will be exposed to pile driving 
and removal noise only as they are transiting the area. Only harbor 
seals, Steller sea lion and harbor porpoise are expected to forage and 
haulout in the Coupeville ZOIs with any frequency and could be exposed 
multiple times during a project.
    As mentioned earlier, the distances to NMFS threshold for Level B 
(harassment) take for impact pile driving and vibratory pile removal 
were estimated as follows:
     ZOI-1: the 160 dB (rms) impact pile driving harassment 
threshold for 24'' steel = 464 m/1,523 ft.
     ZOI-2: the 120 dB (rms) vibratory harassment threshold for 
12-inch timber vibratory pile removal: = ~2.3 km/1.4 mi.
     ZOI-3: the 120 dB (rms) vibratory harassment threshold for 
24-inch steel vibratory pile removal: = ~32 km/20 mi (land is reached 
at ~31 km/19 mi).
    Airborne noises can affect pinnipeds, especially resting seals 
hauled out on rocks or sand spits. The 90 dB (rms) re 20 [mu]Pa harbor 
seal threshold was estimated at 126 ft/38 m, and the 100 dB (rms) re 20 
[mu]Pa sea lion threshold at 40 ft/12 m.
    The closest documented harbor seal haulout is the Rat Island/
Kilisut Harbor Spit haulout in Port Townsend Bay, 5.5 miles southwest. 
The closest documented California sea lion haulout is a channel marker 
buoy located off Whidbey Island's Bush Point, 9 miles south. The 
closest documented Steller sea lion haulout is Craven Rock haulout, 
east of Marrowstone Island 5.5 miles south of the ferry terminal.
    In-air disturbance could therefore occur only to those pinnipeds 
moving on the surface through the immediate pier area, within 
approximately 126 ft/38 m and 40 ft/12 m of pile removal and driving. 
However, these individuals would also likely be exposed to underwater 
sound produced by the project. We do not consider potential effects 
from airborne noise further in this analysis.
    No Level A take is expected due to implementing monitoring and 
mitigation measures such as installing air bubble curtain device for 
all impact pile driving and implementing shut-down measures for marine 
mammals about to enter the exclusion zones.
    Incidental take for each species is estimated by determining the 
likelihood of a marine mammal being present within a ZOI during active 
pile driving or removal. Expected marine mammal presence is determined 
by past observations and general abundance near the project site during 
the construction window. Typically, potential take is estimated by 
multiplying the area of the ZOI by the local animal density. This 
provides an estimate of the number of animals that might occupy the ZOI 
at any given moment. The take requests were estimated using local 
marine mammal data sets (e.g., The Whale Museum, Orca Network, state 
and federal agencies) based on observations and surveys.
    The calculation for marine mammal exposures is estimated by:
    Exposure estimate = N x days of pile driving/removal, where:

    N = # of animals based on long-term observations by local 
researchers.

    Specifically, daily marine mammal occurrence (N) for harbor seal, 
Steller sea lion, and harbor porpoise are based on the observation data 
from the Orca Network (WSDOT 2015). Daily marine mammal occurrence for 
Dall's porpoise, transient killer whale, gray whale, and minke whale 
are based on the observation data from the Whale Museum (WSDOT). The 
occurrence of the rest of the marine mammal species which do not 
frequently occur in the proposed project area are based on limited 
sighting occurrence over the years (WSDOT 2015).
    Using this approach, a summary of estimated takes of marine mammals 
incidental to WSDOT's Coupeville Timber Towers Preservation Project are 
provided in Table 5.

Table 5--Estimated Numbers of Marine Mammals That May Be Exposed to Received Noise Levels That Could Cause Level
                                             B Behavioral Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated
                             Species                              marine  mammal     Abundance      Percentage
                                                                       takes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific harbor seal.............................................           1,600          11,036           14.49
California sea lion.............................................              22         296,750            0.01
Steller sea lion................................................             328          60,131            0.55
Northern elephant seal..........................................              22         179,000            0.01
Harbor porpoise.................................................             220          10,682            2.06
Dall's porpoise.................................................              36          42,000            0.09
Killer whale, transient.........................................              40             243           16.46
Pacific white-sided dolphin.....................................              22          26,930            0.08
Gray whale......................................................              12          20,990            0.06
Minke whale.....................................................              24             478            5.02
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 3387]]

Analysis and Preliminary Determinations

Negligible Impact

    Negligible impact is ``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'' (50 CFR 216.103). A 
negligible impact finding is based on the lack of likely adverse 
effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival (i.e., population-
level effects). An estimate of the number of Level B harassment takes, 
alone, is not enough information on which to base an impact 
determination. In addition to considering estimates of the number of 
marine mammals that might be ``taken'' through behavioral harassment, 
NMFS must consider other factors, such as the likely nature of any 
responses (their intensity, duration, etc.), the context of any 
responses (critical reproductive time or location, migration, etc.), as 
well as the number and nature of estimated Level A harassment takes, 
the number of estimated mortalities, and effects on habitat.
    WSDOT's proposed Coupeville timber tower preservation project would 
involve vibratory pile removal and impact and vibratory pile driving 
activities. Elevated underwater noises are expected to be generated as 
a result of these activities; however, these noises are expected to 
result in no mortality or Level A harassment and limited Level B 
harassment of marine mammals. WSDOT would employ attenuation device 
(e.g., air bubble curtain) during impact pile driving, thus eliminating 
the potential for injury (including PTS) and TTS from noise impact. For 
vibratory pile removal and pile driving, noise levels are not expected 
to reach the level that may cause TTS, injury (including PTS), or 
mortality to marine mammals. Therefore, NMFS does not expect that any 
animals would experience Level A harassment (including injury or PTS) 
or Level B harassment in the form of TTS from being exposed to in-water 
pile removal and pile driving associated with WSDOT's construction 
project.
    Additionally, the sum of noise from WSDOT's proposed Coupeville 
timber tower preservation construction activities is confined to a 
limited area by surrounding landmasses; therefore, the noise generated 
is not expected to contribute to increased ocean ambient noise. In 
addition, due to shallow water depths in the project area, underwater 
sound propagation of low-frequency sound (which is the major noise 
source from pile driving) is expected to be poor. Therefore, the actual 
ZOIs are expected to be smaller than what were modeled.
    In addition, WSDOT's proposed activities are localized and of short 
duration. The entire project area is limited to WSDOT's Coupeville 
timber towers preservation construction work. The entire project 
duration for the construction would involve 12 hours in 8 days. These 
low-intensity, localized, and short-term noise exposures may cause 
brief startle reactions or short-term behavioral modification by the 
animals. These reactions and behavioral changes are expected to subside 
quickly when the exposures cease. Moreover, the proposed mitigation and 
monitoring measures are expected to reduce potential exposures and 
behavioral modifications even further. WSDOT would implement rigorous 
monitoring and mitigation measures to prevent takes of ESA-listed 
species such as Southern Resident killer whales and humpback whales. 
Additionally, no important feeding and/or reproductive areas for marine 
mammals are known to be near the proposed action area (Calambokidis et 
al. 2015). Therefore, the take resulting from the proposed Coupeville 
timber tower preservation work is not reasonably expected to, and is 
not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the marine mammal species or 
stocks through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.
    The proposed project area is not a prime habitat for marine 
mammals, nor is it considered an area frequented by marine mammals. 
Therefore, behavioral disturbances that could result from anthropogenic 
noise associated with WSDOT's construction activities are expected to 
affect marine mammals on an infrequent and limited basis.
    The project also is not expected to have significant adverse 
effects on affected marine mammals' habitat, as analyzed in detail in 
the ``Anticipated Effects on Marine Mammal Habitat'' section. The 
project activities would not modify existing marine mammal habitat. The 
activities may cause some fish to leave the area of disturbance, thus 
temporarily impacting marine mammals' foraging opportunities in a 
limited portion of the foraging range; but, because of the short 
duration of the activities and the relatively small area of the habitat 
that may be affected, the impacts to marine mammal habitat are not 
expected to cause significant or long-term negative consequences.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into 
consideration the implementation of the proposed monitoring and 
mitigation measures, NMFS preliminarily finds that the total marine 
mammal take from WSDOT's Coupeville timber tower preservation project 
will have a negligible impact on the affected marine mammal species or 
stocks.
Small Number
    Based on analyses provided above, it is estimated that 
approximately 1,600 harbor seals, 22 California sea lions, 328 Steller 
sea lions, 22 northern elephant seals, 220 harbor porpoises, 36 Dall's 
porpoises, 40 transient killer whales, 22 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 
12 gray whales, and 24 minke whales could be exposed to received noise 
levels that could cause Level B behavioral harassment from the proposed 
construction work at the Coupeville Ferry Terminal in Washington State. 
These numbers represent approximately 0.01% to 11.9% of the populations 
of these species that could be affected by Level B behavioral 
harassment, respectively (see Table 5 above), which are small 
percentages relative to the total populations of the affected species 
or stocks.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into 
consideration the implementation of the mitigation and monitoring 
measures, which are expected to reduce the number of marine mammals 
potentially affected by the proposed action, NMFS preliminarily finds 
that small numbers of marine mammals will be taken relative to the 
populations of the affected species or stocks.

Impact on Availability of Affected Species for Taking for Subsistence 
Uses

    There are no subsistence uses of marine mammals in the proposed 
project area; and, thus, no subsistence uses impacted by this action. 
Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of affected 
species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of such species or stocks for taking for subsistence 
purposes.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    The humpback whale and the Southern Resident stock of killer whale 
are the only marine mammal species currently listed under the ESA that 
could occur in the vicinity of WSDOT's proposed construction projects. 
WSDOT would implement rigorous monitoring and mitigation measures to 
prevent takes of these ESA-listed species. NMFS' Permits and 
Conservation Division coordinated with NMFS West

[[Page 3388]]

Coast Regional Office (WCRO) and reviewed the WSDOT's proposed 
monitoring and mitigation measures and determined that with the 
implementation of these measures, ESA-listed species would not be 
affected. Therefore, WCRO concurs that section 7 consultation under the 
ESA is not warranted for the issuance of the IHA.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    NMFS prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 
proposed issuance of an IHA, pursuant to NEPA, to determine whether or 
not this proposed activity may have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This analysis will be completed prior to the issuance or 
denial of this proposed IHA.

Proposed Authorization

    As a result of these preliminary determinations, NMFS proposes to 
issue an IHA to WSDOT for conducting the Coupeville timber tower 
preservation project, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, 
monitoring, and reporting requirements are incorporated. The proposed 
IHA language is provided next.
    1. This Authorization is valid from July 15, 2016, through July 14, 
2017.
    2. This Authorization is valid only for activities associated in-
water construction work at the Coupeville timber tower preservation 
project in the State of Washington.
    3. (a) The species authorized for incidental harassment takings, 
Level B harassment only, are: Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina 
richardsi), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), Steller sea 
lion (Eumetopias jubatus), northern elephant seals (Mirounga 
angustirostris), transient killer whales (Orcinus orca), Pacific white-
sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), gray whale (Eschrichtius 
robustus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), and Dall's porpoise 
(Phocoena dalli).
    (b) The authorization for taking by harassment is limited to the 
following acoustic sources and from the following activities:
 Impact and vibratory pile driving;
 Vibratory pile removal; and
    (c) The taking of any marine mammal in a manner prohibited under 
this Authorization must be reported within 24 hours of the taking to 
the West Coast Administrator (206-526-6150), National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) and the Chief of the Permits and Conservation Division, 
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, at (301) 427-8401, or her designee 
(301-427-8418).
    4. The holder of this Authorization must notify the Chief of the 
Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, at 
least 48 hours prior to the start of activities identified in 3(b) 
(unless constrained by the date of issuance of this Authorization in 
which case notification shall be made as soon as possible).
5. Prohibitions
    (a) The taking, by incidental harassment only, is limited to the 
species listed under condition 3(a) above and by the numbers listed in 
Table 5. The taking by Level A harassment, injury or death of these 
species or the taking by harassment, injury or death of any other 
species of marine mammal is prohibited and may result in the 
modification, suspension, or revocation of this Authorization.
    (b) The taking of any marine mammal is prohibited whenever the 
required protected species observers (PSOs), required by condition 
7(a), are not present in conformance with condition 7(a) of this 
Authorization.
6. Mitigation
(a) Time Restriction
    In-water construction work shall occur only during daylight hours, 
when visual monitoring of marine mammals can be conducted.
(b) Underwater Noise Attenuation Device
    An air bubble curtain system or other noise attenuation device 
shall be employed during impact installation or proofing of steel piles 
unless the piles are driven on dry areas.
(c) Establishment of Exclusion Zone and Level B Harassment Zones of 
Influence
    Before the commencement of in-water pile driving activities, WSDOT 
would establish Level A exclusion zones and Level B zones of influence 
(ZOIs).
    (i) The Level A exclusion zones shall encompass areas where 
received underwater sound pressure levels (SPLs) are higher than 190 dB 
(rms) re 1 [micro]Pa for pinnipeds and 180 dB (rms) re 1 [micro]Pa for 
cetaceans.
    (ii) The Level B ZOIs shall encompass areas where received 
underwater SPLs are higher than 160 dB (rms) and 120 dB (rms) re 1 
[mu]Pa for impulse noise sources (impact pile driving) and non-impulses 
noise sources (vibratory pile removal), respectively.
    (iii) The exclusion zones and ZOIs shall be established based on 
modeled calculation listed in Table 4, and maybe adjusted based on 
sound source verification (SSV) measurements during test pile driving.
    (d) Monitoring of marine mammals shall take place starting 30 
minutes before pile driving begins until 30 minutes after pile driving 
ends.
(e) Soft Start
    (i) When there has been downtime of 30 minutes or more without pile 
driving, the contractor will initiate the driving with ramp-up 
procedures described below.
    (ii) For vibratory hammers, the contractor shall initiate the 
driving for 15 seconds at reduced energy, followed by a 1 minute 
waiting period. This procedure shall be repeated two additional times 
before continuous driving is started. This procedure shall also apply 
to vibratory pile removal.
    (iii) For impact driving, an initial set of three strikes would be 
made by the hammer at 40-percent energy, followed by a 1-minute waiting 
period, then two subsequent three-strike sets at 40-percent energy, 
with 1-minute waiting periods, before initiating continuous driving.
(f) Shutdown Measures
    (i) WSDOT shall implement shutdown measures if a marine mammal is 
sighted within or approaching the Level A exclusion zone. In-water 
construction activities shall be suspended until the marine mammal is 
sighted moving away from the exclusion zone, or if a large cetacean is 
not sighted for 30 minutes or if a small cetacean or pinniped is not 
sighted for 15 minutes after the shutdown.
    (ii) In addition, WSDOT would implement shutdown measures when 
Southern Resident killer whales (as identified by Orca Network, NMFS, 
or other qualified source) or when humpback whales are detected to 
approach the ZOIs during pile removal and pile driving, therefore 
preventing Level B takes of Southern Resident killer whales and 
humpback whales.
    (iii) If a killer whale approaches the ZOI during pile driving or 
removal, and it is unknown whether it is a Southern Resident killer 
whale or a transient killer whale, it shall be assumed to be a Southern 
Resident killer whale and WSDOT shall implement the shutdown measure.
    (iv) WSDOT shall implement shutdown or power-down measures to 
prevent Level B takes when the take of any other species or stock of 
marine mammal is approaching the take limited authorized under this 
authorization.
    (v) WSDOT shall implement shutdown measures if marine mammals with 
the ZOI appear disturbed by the work activity.

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(g) Coordination with Local Marine Mammal Research Network
    Prior to the start of daily pile driving, WSDOT will contact the 
Orca Network and/or Center for Whale Research to get real-time 
information on the presence or absence of whales before starting any 
pile driving.
7. Monitoring
(a) Protected Species Observers
    WSDOT shall employ NMFS-approved PSOs to conduct marine mammal 
monitoring for its construction project.
    (i) Visual acuity in both eyes (correction is permissible) 
sufficient for discernment of moving targets at the water's surface 
with ability to estimate target size and distance. Use of binoculars 
will be required to correctly identify the target.
    (ii) Experience or training in the field identification of marine 
mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds).
    (iii) Sufficient training, orientation or experience with the 
construction operation to provide for personal safety during 
observations.
    (iv) Ability to communicate orally, by radio or in person, with 
project personnel to provide real time information on marine mammals 
observed in the area as necessary.
    (v) Experience and ability to conduct field observations and 
collect data according to assigned protocols (this may include academic 
experience).
    (vi) Writing skills sufficient to prepare a report of observations 
that would include such information as the number and type of marine 
mammals observed; the behavior of marine mammals in the project area 
during construction, dates and times when observations were conducted; 
dates and times when in-water construction activities were conducted; 
and dates and times when marine mammals were present at or within the 
defined ZOI.
    (b) Monitoring Protocols: PSOs shall be present on site at all 
times during pile removal and driving.
    (i) A range finder or hand-held global positioning system device 
will be used to ensure that the Level A exclusion zones and Level B 
behavioral harassment ZOIs are monitored.
    (ii) A 30-minute pre-construction marine mammal monitoring will be 
required before the first pile driving or pile removal of the day. A 
30-minute post-construction marine mammal monitoring will be required 
after the last pile driving or pile removal of the day. If the 
constructors take a break between subsequent pile driving or pile 
removal for more than 30 minutes, then additional pre-construction 
marine mammal monitoring will be required before the next start-up of 
pile driving or pile removal.
    (iii) Marine mammal visual monitoring will be conducted for 
different ZOIs based on different sizes of piles being driven or 
removed.
    (A) During 24-inch steel impact pile driving, two land-based PSOs 
monitors will monitor the ZOE and ZOI. Pile driving will be paused if 
any marine mammal approaches the exclusion zone.
    (B) During vibratory timber pile removal, two land-based PSOs will 
monitor the ZOI.
    (C) During 24-inch vibratory pile removal, 7 land-based PSOs and 
one monitoring boat with a PSO and boat operator will monitor the ZOI.
    (D) If weather prevents safe use of the boat in the main channel of 
the ZOI, the boat will be used in other areas of the ZOI that are safe, 
such as the southwest corner of the ZOI, where lack of public access 
prevents stationing a land-based PSO.
    (iv) If marine mammals are observed, the following information will 
be documented:
    (A) Species of observed marine mammals;
    (B) Number of observed marine mammal individuals;
    (C) Behavior of observed marine mammals;
    (D) Location within the ZOI; and
    (E) Animals' reaction (if any) to pile-driving activities
8. Reporting
    (a) WSDOT shall provide NMFS with a draft monitoring report within 
90 days of the conclusion of the construction work or within 90 days of 
the expiration of the IHA, whichever comes first. This report shall 
detail the monitoring protocol, summarize the data recorded during 
monitoring, and estimate the number of marine mammals that may have 
been harassed.
    (b) If comments are received from the NMFS West Coast Regional 
Administrator or NMFS Office of Protected Resources on the draft 
report, a final report shall be submitted to NMFS within 30 days 
thereafter. If no comments are received from NMFS, the draft report 
will be considered to be the final report.
    (c) In the unanticipated event that the construction activities 
clearly cause the take of a marine mammal in a manner prohibited by 
this Authorization (if issued), such as an injury, serious injury, or 
mortality, WSDOT shall immediately cease all operations and immediately 
report the incident to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, 
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, and the West Coast Regional 
Stranding Coordinators. The report must include the following 
information:
    (i) Time, date, and location (latitude/longitude) of the incident;
    (ii) Description of the incident;
    (iii) Status of all sound source use in the 24 hours preceding the 
incident;
    (iv) Environmental conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction, sea 
state, cloud cover, visibility, and water depth);
    (v) Description of marine mammal observations in the 24 hours 
preceding the incident;
    (vi) Species identification or description of the animal(s) 
involved;
    (vii) The fate of the animal(s); and
    (viii) Photographs or video footage of the animal (if equipment is 
available).
    Activities shall not resume until NMFS is able to review the 
circumstances of the prohibited take. NMFS shall work with WSDOT to 
determine what is necessary to minimize the likelihood of further 
prohibited take and ensure MMPA compliance. WSDOT may not resume their 
activities until notified by NMFS via letter, email, or telephone.
    (E) In the event that WSDOT discovers an injured or dead marine 
mammal, and the lead PSO determines that the cause of the injury or 
death is unknown and the death is relatively recent (i.e., in less than 
a moderate state of decomposition as described in the next paragraph), 
WSDOT will immediately report the incident to the Chief, Permits and 
Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, and the 
West Coast Regional Stranding Coordinators. The report must include the 
same information identified above. Activities may continue while NMFS 
reviews the circumstances of the incident. NMFS will work with WSDOT to 
determine whether modifications in the activities are appropriate.
    (F) In the event that WSDOT discovers an injured or dead marine 
mammal, and the lead PSO determines that the injury or death is not 
associated with or related to the activities authorized in the IHA 
(e.g., previously wounded animal, carcass with moderate to advanced 
decomposition, or scavenger damage), WSDOT shall report the incident to 
the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, and the West Coast Regional Stranding Coordinators, 
within 24 hours of the discovery. WSDOT shall provide photographs or 
video footage (if available) or other documentation of the stranded 
animal sighting to NMFS and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

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WSDOT can continue its operations under such a case.
    9. This Authorization may be modified, suspended or withdrawn if 
the holder fails to abide by the conditions prescribed herein or if 
NMFS determines that the authorized taking is having more than a 
negligible impact on the species or stock of affected marine mammals, 
or if there is an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of 
such species or stocks for subsistence uses.
    10. A copy of this Authorization must be in the possession of each 
contractor who performs the construction work at the Coupeville Ferry 
Terminal.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
Perry Gayaldo,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01107 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P