Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan - IHA - November 2024

Aug 28, 2026

Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan provides a structured monitoring protocol for the City & Borough of Sitka Vessel Haulout Project in Gary Paxton Industrial Park, Sitka, Alaska. The plan supports the Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) application under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and addresses impacts to species protected by the Endangered Species Act. Monitoring will operate during specified construction activities using defined mitigation zones, protected species observers, and procedures to avoid or minimize exposure, while collecting data on takes, occurrences, and animal responses and reporting injured or dead marine mammals.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time1 h 13 min

AccessFree to download

1. Introduction

1.1 Proposed Action

1.2 Project Activities

2. IHA Authorization

2.1 Permitted Species

2.2 Authorized Take Numbers

2.3 Mitigation Zones

3. Mitigation Methods

3.1 Protected Species Observers

3.2 Project Impact Avoidance and Minimization Measures

4. Reporting

4.1 Injured or Dead Marine Mammal

4.2 Annual Report

MARINE MAMMAL MONITORING AND MITIGATION PLAN Gary Paxton Industrial Park Vessel Haulout Project, Sitka, AK November 2024 PND Project 232023 PREPARED FOR: City & Borough of Sitka PREPARED BY: ENGINEERS , INC . TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................................... II LIST OF APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................................ II LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................................. II LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................................................... II 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 PROPOSED ACTION........................................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 PROJECT ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 2. IHA AUTHORIZATION................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 PERMITTED SPECIES ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 AUTHORIZED TAKE NUMBERS ..................................................................................................................................... 5 2.3 MITIGATION ZONES....................................................................................................................................................... 5 3. MITIGATION METHODS............................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 PROTECTED SPECIES OBSERVERS................................................................................................................................ 8 3.2 PROJECT IMPACT AVOIDANCE AND MINIMIZATION MEASURES............................................................................ 14 4. REPORTING .................................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 INJURED OR DEAD MARINE MAMMAL ..................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 ANNUAL REPORT........................................................................................................................................................ 16 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX 1. MONITORING AND SHUTDOWN ZONE MAPS......................................................................... 1-1 APPENDIX 2. SAMPLE PROTECTED SPECIES OBSERVATION RECORD ................................................... 2-2 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. APPROXIMATE OBSERVER STATIONS WITHIN SILVER BAY....................................................10 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. EFFECTIVE SHUTDOWN ZONES; PHASE 1 CONSTRUCTION......................................................... 7 Acronyms & Abbreviations 4MP.... ............ Marine Mammal Monitoring and Mitigation Plan BA ..................................... Biological Assessment BMP .......................... best management practice CBS City and Borough of Sitka cy ......................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of the plan?

The plan establishes a protocol for monitoring marine mammals affected by the proposed Vessel Haulout Project and supports the IHA application and assessment of ESA-protected species impacts.

What activities trigger the monitoring program?

Monitoring begins at the start of specified construction activities and follows the protocols defined in the plan.

How does the plan reduce impacts to marine mammals?

It uses mitigation zones, protected species observers, and project impact avoidance and minimization measures to limit exposure to established noise thresholds and document animal responses.

Aug 28, 2026

Uploaded by Ethan Miller