Alaska Ferry Rebuild May Disturb Local Marine Mammals
Published Date: 3/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The Alaska Department of Transportation is rebuilding the Cold Bay Ferry Terminal from May 2028 to April 2029. During this project, some marine mammals might be disturbed, but the government says it won’t harm their populations. This approval lets the project move forward while protecting local sea life and respecting subsistence needs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Rebuild Allowed: Cold Bay Ferry Terminal
NMFS issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) that allows the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to carry out the Cold Bay Ferry Terminal Reconstruction project between May 1, 2028 and April 30, 2029. This authorization lets the project proceed while complying with the MMPA conditions described in the notice.
Authorized Number of Marine Mammal Takes
The final IHA corrects the authorized take counts: Steller sea lions — 3,451 Level B harassment takes (6.96% of the population/stock); harbor porpoises — 95 takes (0.32% of the population/stock); harbor seals — 2,260 takes (8.13% of the population/stock). These corrected totals are carried forward in the final authorization.
No Unmitigable Harm to Subsistence Uses
NMFS found that the authorized takes will have a negligible impact on marine mammal species or stocks and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species for subsistence uses. That finding supports issuance of the IHA for the Cold Bay project.
300‑Meter Shutdown Zone for Harbor Seals
The final IHA sets a 300-meter (984 ft) shutdown zone for harbor seals during impact pile driving at specified piles; NMFS removed an earlier, incorrect 500-meter (1,640 ft) shutdown zone for this species. The 300‑m zone aligns harbor seal protections with those for other small species during impact pile driving.
ESA Biological Opinion: No Jeopardy Finding
NMFS' Alaska Regional Office issued a Biological Opinion under the Endangered Species Act concluding the action is not likely to jeopardize humpback whales (Mexico and Western DPS) or Western DPS Steller sea lions and is not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat for these species.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-16870, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North Atlantic Swordfish, South Atlantic Swordfish, North Atlantic Albacore, and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quotas
In this final rule, NMFS is implementing binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) on quotas for North Atlantic swordfish, South Atlantic swordfish, North Atlantic albacore tuna (northern albacore), and Atlantic bluefin tuna, including aspects of the management procedures for North Atlantic swordfish and northern albacore. For bluefin tuna, this action implements the increased U.S. baseline quota adopted by ICCAT in 2025, dividing it among the established regulatory domestic subquota categories, and implements changes to the bluefin tuna quota associated with pelagic longline bycatch adopted by ICCAT in 2025. Finally, this action transfers 30.8 metric tons (mt) of bluefin tuna quota from the Longline category to the Reserve category and temporarily adjusts the baseline quotas for U.S. North and South Atlantic swordfish, northern albacore, and the Atlantic bluefin tuna Reserve category for 2026 based on 2025 underharvests and applicable international quota transfers.
2026-16758, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Petrogas Pacific, LLC (Petrogas) to harass marine mammals incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-05280, Preparation for International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation Twentieth Annual Meeting (ICCR-20); Request for Comments
The FDA is asking for your thoughts on cosmetics rules before the big International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation meeting in Tokyo this July. If you make, sell, or love cosmetics, now’s your chance to speak up by May 18, 2026. Your input could shape safer, smarter rules worldwide—no extra costs yet, just your ideas!
Next: 2026-05284, Palisades Energy, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Exemption
Palisades Energy got a special okay from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to let some workers at the Palisades Nuclear Plant work longer hours than usual for short periods in March and April 2026. This one-time break helps keep things running smoothly without extra costs or delays. It mainly affects certain plant workers and lasts for about two months.