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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, from the City of Unalaska, propose to authorize incidental take by harassment of small numbers of Southwest Alaska stock northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) for a period of up to 1 year from the date of issuance. The applicant has requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with pile driving and marine construction at the Robert Storrs Harbor in Unalaska, Alaska. This proposed authorization, if finalized, would be for incidental take by Level A harassment and Level B harassment of northern sea otters from the Southwest Alaska stock. We invite comments on the proposed incidental harassment authorization and the accompanying draft environmental assessment from the public, Tribes, and local, State, and Federal agencies.