Alaska Harbor Fix Gets Okay Despite Upset Seals
Published Date: 5/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The City of Unalaska got the green light to replace Harbor Floats A&B, which might accidentally bother some local marine mammals. This project runs for one year starting April 30, 2026, and includes rules to keep marine life safe while the work happens. It’s a win-win: improving the harbor without hurting the animals or local subsistence activities.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
City cleared to replace harbor floats
If you live or work in Unalaska, the City of Unalaska received an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that allows the Robert Storrs Harbor Floats A&B Replacement Project to proceed. The authorization is effective April 30, 2026 and lasts up to one year, and the project must follow required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures while work occurs.
Subsistence access and listed species safeguarded
If you rely on marine mammals for subsistence in Unalaska, NMFS authorized incidental take of marine mammals (including the Western DPS of Steller sea lions and Mexico and Western North Pacific DPS of humpback whale) but found the authorized taking will have a negligible impact and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species for subsistence uses. NMFS also concluded the action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of those listed DPSs.
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: 2026-08625, Exemption for Certain UBS AG (UBS) Asset Managers Located in Zurich, Switzerland
Starting May 5, 2026, UBS asset managers in Zurich can keep using a special exemption until May 5, 2035, even after some legal troubles. This helps retirement plans work smoothly with UBS managers while making sure they play fair and follow the rules. If plans want to stop working with UBS, they can do so without big costs or headaches.
Next: 2026-08627, Combined Notice of Filings
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission got new filings about natural gas pipeline rates and refunds from companies like East Ohio Gas and El Paso Natural Gas. These filings could change how much customers pay starting as soon as May or June 2026. If you want to speak up or get involved, you need to act by mid-May or later this spring.