# 2026-16316: OK to Harass Seals for Alaska Barge Expansion Project?

2026-16316, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental To Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the North Barge Expansion Project at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, is a Federal Register notice from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-08-11, effective Comments and information must be received no later than September 10, 2026. (as of 2026-08-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16316
- As of: 2026-08-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16316
- Title: Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental To Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the North Barge Expansion Project at Dutch Harbor, Alaska
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 51671
- Published: 2026-08-11
- Effective: Comments and information must be received no later than September 10, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-09-10
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-08-18

## In one line

OK to Harass Seals for Alaska Barge Expansion Project?

## Summary

NMFS has received a request from the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska (QTU) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the North Barge Expansion Project at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to 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.

## Effects PRIA read

No economic effects identified for this document.

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## Sources
- [2026-16316 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/11/2026-16316/takes-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-specified-activities-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to-the)
- [2026-16316 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-11/pdf/2026-16316.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16315, Administrative Updates to the General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to th…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16315)
- [Next: 2026-16320, New Postal Products](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16320)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16316 (as of 2026-08-18).