# 2026-16379: Sea otters get official permission to be mildly annoyed by pile driving 2026-16379, Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Juneau, Alaska, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service published 2026-08-12, effective Comments must be received by September 11, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16379 - As of: 2026-08-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-16379 - Title: Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Juneau, Alaska - Type: Notice - Agencies: Interior Department; Fish and Wildlife Service - Citation: 91 FR 52067 - Published: 2026-08-12 - Effective: Comments must be received by September 11, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-09-11 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-08-19 ## In one line Sea otters get official permission to be mildly annoyed by pile driving ## Summary The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering letting Turnagain Marine Construction accidentally disturb a small number of northern sea otters during pile driving and marine work in Juneau, Alaska, for up to one year. This means some sea otters might be temporarily bothered but not harmed. The public has until September 11, 2026, to share their thoughts before a final decision is made. ## Abstract We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), propose to authorize incidental take by harassment of small numbers of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) from the Southeast Alaska stock for a period of up to 1 year from the date of issuance. We are responding to a request submitted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, by Turnagain Marine Construction. The applicant has requested this authorization for take by harassment that may result from activities associated with pile driving and marine construction within Stephens Passage in Juneau, Alaska. This proposed authorization, if finalized, would be for incidental take by Level A harassment and Level B harassment of northern sea otters from the Southeast Alaska stock. We invite comments on the proposed incidental harassment authorization and the accompanying draft environmental assessment from the public, Tribes, and local, State, and Federal agencies. ## Effects PRIA read - One-year permit for pile-driving take: mixed, medium. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to authorize incidental take by Level A and Level B harassment of northern sea otters for up to 1 year from the date the permit is issued for Turnagain Marine Construction’s Douglas Island cruise ship terminal project in Stephens Passage, Juneau, Alaska.… - Mandatory mitigation and monitoring rules: cost, medium. If finalized, the proposed authorization includes mitigation measures the applicant must follow, such as a 20-meter (66-ft) physical-interaction shutdown zone, vessel operators maintaining a minimum distance of 100 meters (328 ft) from sea otters, use of a bubble curtain for installation of 121.9-c… - Subsistence harvest access and outreach: benefit, low. The Service states the project area does not significantly overlap current subsistence sea otter harvest areas (most harvest occurs more than 19 km / 12 mi outside Juneau) and does not expect construction to preclude access to hunting areas. The Service will conduct outreach with potentially affect… ## Related documents - [2026-14629](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14629): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat, 2026-07-21 - [2026-14633](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14633): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations Pertaining to Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, 2026-07-21 - [2026-14299](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14299): Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment…, 2026-07-16 - [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14 - [2026-12955](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12955): Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting, 2026-06-26 - [2026-12951](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12951): Process for Authorizing Seasonal Migratory Game Bird Hunting, 2026-06-26 ## Sources - [2026-16379 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/12/2026-16379/marine-mammals-incidental-take-during-specified-activities-proposed-incidental-harassment) - [2026-16379 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-12/pdf/2026-16379.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-16378, Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16378) - [Next: 2026-16380, Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand From China; Scheduling of Expedited Five…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16380) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16379 (as of 2026-08-19).