BIOLOGICAL OPINION For the Alaska Federal/State Preparedness Plan for Response to Oil & Hazardous Substance Discharges/Releases Consultation with U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency Prepared by: Anchorage Fish and Wildlife Field Office U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 4700 BLM Rd Anchorage, AK 99507 February 27, 2015 Cover Photo. Spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) Unified Plan Biological Opinion iv Table of Contents Acronyms & Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................................... viii 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 10 1.1 Species Not Further Considered in this Opinion ............................................................................................... 11 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION ........................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Mechanical Countermeasures ........................................................................................................................... 13 Deflection and Containment .............................................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Non-mechanical Countermeasures and Monitoring .......................................................................................... 19 Application of Approved Chemical Dispersants by Vessels or Aircraft ............................................................ 19 In Situ Burning ................................................................................................................................................... 23 Other Non-mechanical Countermeasures and Monitoring ................................................................................. 24 2.3 Tracking and Surveillance ................................................................................................................................ 25 Use of Aircraft, Vessels, All-terrain Vehicles, or Heavy Machinery ................................................................. 25 Installation of Buoys .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Sample Collection .............................................................................................................................................. 26 2.4 Waste Management ........................................................................................................................................... 26 Waste Handling and Storage .............................................................................................................................. 26 Waste Transport ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Waste Treatment and/or Disposal ...................................................................................................................... 27 Decontamination ................................................................................................................................................ 27 2.5 Wildlife Protection/Mitigation Measures .......................................................................................................... 27 Recovery of Contaminated Carcasses to Prevent Contamination of Other Wildlife .......................................... 27 Deterrence .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Pre-emptive Capture and Relocation of Uncontaminated Wildlife & ................................................................ 28 Capture, Treatment, and Release of Contaminated Wildlife .............................................................................. 28 Strategic Avoidance ........................................................................................................................................... 28 2.6 Decision-Making Processes .............................................................................................................................. 28 Response Planning ............................................................................................................................................. 29 During an Incident ............................................................................................................................................. 30 2.7 Interrelated and Interdependent Actions ........................................................................................................... 34 2.8 Assumptions...................................................................................................................................................... 34 2.9 Action Area and Life of the Project .................................................................................................................. 35 3.0 STATUS OF THE SPECIES ................................................................................................................................. 36 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE ........................................................................................................................ 36 4.1 Sea otter ............................................................................................................................................................ 36 Status in the Action Area ................................................................................................................................... 36 Critical Habitat Designation and Use ................................................................................................................. 37 Threats and Possible Stressors in the Action Area ............................................................................................. 38 Recovery ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 4.2 Short-Tailed Albatross ...................................................................................................................................... 41 Status in the Action Area ................................................................................................................................... 41 Threats and Possible Stressors in the Action Area ............................................................................................. 41 Recovery ............................................................................................................................................................ 43 4.3 Polar Bear ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 Status in the Action Area ................................................................................................................................... 43 Threats and Possible Stressors in the Action Area ............................................................................................. 45 Recovery ............................................................................................................................................................ 49 4.4 Walrus ............................................................................................................................................................... 50 Status in the Action Area ................................................................................................................................... 50 Threats and Possible Stressors in the Action Area ............................................................................................. 50 Recovery ............................................................................................................................................................ 55 4.5 Spectacled Eider ............................................................................................................................................... 55 Status in the Action Area ................................................................................................................................... 55 Critical Habitat Designation and Use ................................................................................................................. 57 Unified Plan Biological Opinion v Threats and Possible Stressors in the Action Area ............................................................................................. 57 Recovery ............................................................................................................................................................ 61 4.6 Steller’s Eider ................................................................................................................................................... 61 Status in the Action Area ................................................................................................................................... 61 Critical Habitat Use and Designation ................................................................................................................