Biological Opinion on the Proposed Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC for Shallow Geohazard and Strudel Scour Surveys in Foggy Island Bay, Beaufort Sea, Alaska

The NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division proposes to issue an incidental harassment authorization pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC for harassment of marine mammals, endangered bowhead whales, threatened Arctic ringed seals, and Beringia Distinct Population Segment bearded seals, incidental to open water shallow geohazard surveys in the Beaufort Sea (80 FR 27901).

After reviewing the current status of ESA-listed whale and seal species, the environmental baseline for the action area, the anticipated effects of the proposed activities, and the possible cumulative effects, it is NMFS’s biological opinion that the Permits Division’s proposed action of issuing an IHA to Hilcorp is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the following species:
• Bowhead whale
• Arctic ringed seal
• Beringia DPS bearded sea

Action Agency: Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA