# 2026-04857: Alaska's Pier Upgrade Might Accidentally Bug Some Seals

2026-04857, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Port of Adak Pier 5 Improvements Project at Adak Island, Alaska, is a Federal Register notice from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-03-12, effective Comments and information must be received no later than April 13, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04857
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-04857
- Title: Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Port of Adak Pier 5 Improvements Project at Adak Island, Alaska
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 12148
- Published: 2026-03-12
- Effective: Comments and information must be received no later than April 13, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-04-13
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Alaska's Pier Upgrade Might Accidentally Bug Some Seals

## Summary

The Aleut Corporation wants to improve Pier 5 at Adak Island, Alaska, which might accidentally disturb some local marine mammals. NOAA is thinking about giving permission for this but wants your thoughts by April 13, 2026. If all goes well, they might renew this permission for another year, helping the project move forward while protecting wildlife.

## Abstract

NMFS has received a request from The Aleut Corporation (TAC) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the Port of Adak Pier 5 Improvements Project (hereafter referred to as the Pier 5 Improvements Project), Adak Island, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in the Request for Public Comments section at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

## Effects PRIA read

- Pier Fixes Help Local Shipping and Seafood: benefit, medium. The Pier 5 improvements would let small and large commercial vessels safely moor, load, and unload at Adak, and make it easier and safer for crew to get on and off boats. NMFS is considering an incidental harassment authorization so the work can proceed, which the notice says would support the loca…
- One-Year IHA with Possible Renewal: benefit, medium. NMFS is proposing to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that would be valid for up to 1 year from its effective date and could be renewed one time for an additional year if conditions are met. The notice says the project would likely occur between April and November 2027, with pile…
- Improves Oil Spill Response and Data Support: benefit, medium. Pier 5 currently houses a NOAA data collection structure and serves as an oil spill response storage hub for the Alaska Chadux Network, but it cannot support movement of equipment now and must rely on the Adak airfield. The Pier 5 Improvements Project would repair the fender and piling system so th…

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## Sources
- [2026-04857 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/12/2026-04857/takes-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-specified-activities-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to-the)
- [2026-04857 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-12/pdf/2026-04857.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-04856, Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments for a New Inform…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04856)
- [Next: 2026-04859, Department of Defense Wage Committee; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meet…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04859)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04857 (as of 2026-06-08).