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ADOT Tongass Narrows IHA 2019 Application

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ADOT Tongass Narrows IHA 2019 Application Application for Marine Mammal Protection Act Incidental Harassment Authorizations Tongass Narrows Project (Ketchikan-Gravina Island Access, Revilla New Ferry Berth, & New Gravina Island Shuttle Ferry Berth Projects) ) State Project #s: SFHWY00085, SFHWY00109, SEIS - 67698 Submitted to: National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-3226 June 11, 2019 Revision #4 of applications submitted on September 11, 2018, October 12, 2018, and March 1, 2019 Prepared for: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities 6860 Glacier Highway Juneau, Alaska 99801 Prepared by: HDR 2525 C Street, Suite 500 Anchorage, AK 99503 The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by DOT&PF pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated November 3, 2017 and executed by FHWA and DOT&PF. 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Tongass Narrows Project | Application for MMPA Incidental Harassment Authorizations Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities CONTENTS Section Page 1 Description of Activities ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Purpose and Need ...................................................................................... 2 1.3 Project Activities ..................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Phase 1 ............................................................................................................ 7 1.3.2 Phase 2 .......................................................................................................... 14 1.4 Applicable Permits/Authorizations......................................................................... 17 2 Dates, Duration, and Geographical Region of Activities .......................................... 19 2.1 Dates and Durations of Activities .......................................................................... 19 2.2 Geographical Setting ............................................................................................ 21 2.2.1 Physical Environment ..................................................................................... 21 2.2.2 Acoustic Environment ..................................................................................... 22 3 Species and Abundance of Marine Mammals ........................................................... 23 4 Affected Species Status and Distribution.................................................................. 25 4.1 Steller Sea Lion .................................................................................................... 25 4.1.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 25 4.1.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 25 4.1.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Harbor Seal .......................................................................................................... 29 4.2.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 29 4.2.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 29 4.2.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 29 4.3 Harbor Porpoise ................................................................................................... 30 4.3.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 30 4.3.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 30 4.3.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 31 4.4 Dall’s Porpoise...................................................................................................... 31 4.4.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 31 4.4.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 31 4.4.1 Life History ...................................................................................................... 31 4.5 Pacific White-sided Dolphin .................................................................................. 32 4.5.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 32 4.5.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 32 4.5.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 32 4.6 Killer Whale .......................................................................................................... 33 4.6.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 33 4.6.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 33 4.6.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 34 4.7 Humpback Whale ................................................................................................. 34 4.7.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 34 4.7.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 35 4.7.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 35 4.8 Minke Whale ......................................................................................................... 36 4.8.1 Status and Distribution .................................................................................... 36 Page i of 98 Tongass Narrows Project | Application for MMPA Incidental Harassment Authorizations Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities 4.8.2 Presence in Project Area ................................................................................ 36 4.8.3 Life History ...................................................................................................... 36 5 Type of Incidental Take Authorization Requested .................................................... 37 5.1 Incidental Harassment Authorization .................................................................... 37 5.2 Take Authorization Request.................................................................................. 37 5.3 Method of Incidental Taking .................................................................................. 38 6 Take Estimates for Marine Mammals ......................................................................... 39 6.1 In-Air and Underwater Sound Descriptors ............................................................. 39 6.2 Applicable Noise Criteria ...................................................................................... 40 6.2.1 Level A Harassment........................................................................................ 41 6.2.2 Level B Harassment........................................................................................ 41 6.3 Description of Noise Sources ................................................................................ 42 6.3.1 Ambient Sound ............................................................................................... 42 6.3.2 Underwater Noise Levels ................................................................................ 43 6.3.3 In-Air Noise Levels .......................................................................................... 43 6.4 Distances to Sound Thresholds ............................................................................ 44 6.4.1 Underwater Noise ........................................................................................... 44 6.4.2 Airborne Noise ................................................................................................ 66 6.5 Estimated Takes ................................................................................................... 66 6.5.1 Steller Sea Lion .............................................................................................. 66 6.5.2 Harbor Seal .................................................................................................... 67 6.5.3 Harbor Porpoise .............................................................................................. 68 6.5.4 Dall’s Porpoise ................................................................................................ 69 6.5.5 Pacific White-sided Dolphin ............................................................................ 69 6.5.6 Killer Whale .................................................................................................... 69 6.5.7 Humpback Whale ..........................................................................................
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