View Rule

Pursuant to Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), upon application from Columbia River Crossing (CRC), plans to issue proposed regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to construction and demolition activities in the Columbia River and North Portland Harbor, Washington and Oregon, in association with bridge construction. The proposed regulations will set forth the permissible methods of taking, other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks and their habitats (i.e., mitigation), and the requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking. Letters of Authorization (LOAs) issued under the regulations would authorize the take of marine mammals incidental to construction and demolition for a five-year period. CRC is proposing a multimodal transportation project along a five-mile section of the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor connecting Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. As a component of this project, CRC proposes: 1) replacement of the existing Columbia River bridges with two new structures; 2) widening of the existing North Portland Harbor bridge, and construction of three new structures across the harbor; and 3) demolition of existing Columbia River bridges.