NOAA 98-R157


CONTACT:   Stephanie Dorezas                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
                                             10/30/98

FEDS SEEK COMMENTS ON A PROPOSED AUTHORIZATION FOR THE INCIDENTAL TAKE OF HARBOR SEALS AT McNEIL ISLAND, SOUTHERN PUGET SOUND

The Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking comment on an application and proposed permit that would authorize the Washington State Department of Corrections to harass harbor seals while conducting non-explosive demolition and construction of the Still Harbor Dock Facility on McNeil Island in southern Puget Sound.

The Still Harbor Dock Facility is utilized by the Department of Corrections as a foul weather landing facility for the McNeil Island Corrections Center near Steilacoom, Wash. Significant deterioration of the existing dock facility, including the collapse in 1994 of the steel-pile-supported center portion of the facility, has resulted in the need for major renovation to maintain a safe facility. All new structures will be constructed within the footprint of the existing facility. As construction may potentially result in disturbance of seals on the nearby Gertrude Island, an authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) is warranted.

Harbor seals use the nearby Gertrude Island as a rookery. The maximum number of harbor seals using the island during construction will vary from 215-634, depending upon the month. Some of the seals may be disturbed by the noise from the construction and may seek refuge in the water. To mitigate this effect, the Department of Corrections will not conduct inwater activities during the seal's pupping and nursing period and will establish a 1,000-ft no-entry buffer zone around Gertrude Island to minimize the impact of vessel traffic on harbor seals during the project.

NOAA has preliminarily determined that mitigation efforts will result in a small number of harbor seals being incidentally disturbed and will eliminate any potential injury to the marine mammals.

NOAA will accept comments on the application and proposed authorization through Nov. 30, 1998. Comments should be addressed to Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225.