List of Incidental Harassment Authorizations in Alaska

Currently Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations 

  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southcentral Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Whittier, Alaska. See 89 FR 59752 (May 7, 2024) and Regulations.gov Docket FWS-R7-ES-2024-0054
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Sitka, Alaska. See 89 FR 38167 (May 7, 2024) and Regulations.gov Docket FWS-R7-ES-20243-0016101

Recently Issued Incidental Harassment Authorizations (issued in past three years) 

  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southwest Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Kodiak, Alaska. See 89 FR 4970 (January 25, 2024) and Regulations.gov Docket FWS-R7-ES-2023-0212
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for the Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears on the North Slope of Alaska. See 88 FR 88943 (December 26, 2023) and Regulations.gov Docket FWS-R7-ES-2023-0209
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southcentral Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Cordova, Alaska. See 88 FR 76225 (November 6, 2023) 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southcentral Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Whittier, Alaska. See 88 FR 37556 (June 8, 2023) 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears in the Prudhoe Bay Unit of the North Slope of Alaska. See 88 FR 9891 (February 15, 2023) 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Ketchikan, Alaska. See 87 FR 33500 (June 02, 2022). 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears in the Prudhoe Bay Unit and Point Thomson Unit of the North Slope of Alaska. See 86 FR 61288 (November 5, 2021). 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in the Queen Charlotte Fault Region, Alaska. See 86 FR 30613 (June 9, 2021). 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Northern Sea Otters in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. See 86 FR 12019 (March 1, 2021)  

For Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) issued in 2024 or later, Final IHAs, Final Environmental Assessments, and responses to public comments are available in the associated Regulations.gov docket. 

Summary Table of Incidental Harassment Authorizations Issued by the Service  

Year Specified Area Specified Activities FR Citation 

Species covered 

2024Kodiak, Alaskain-water construction89 FR 4970Northern sea otter
2024North Slope of Alaskaenvironmental remediation88 FR 88943 Polar bear
2023Cordova, Alaskain-water construction88 FR 76225Northern sea otter
2023Whittier, Alaskain-water construction88 FR 37556Northern sea otter
2023North Slope of Alaskaenvironmental remediation88 FR 9891Polar bear
2022Ketchikan, Alaskain-water construction87 FR 33500Northern sea otter
2021North Slope of Alaskaoil and gas activities86 FR 61288Polar bear
2021 Southeast Alaska seismic surveys 86 FR 30613 Northern sea otter 
2021 Northeast Pacific seismic surveys 86 FR 12019 Northern sea otter 
2019 Hoonah, AK in-water construction 84 FR 32932 Northern sea otter 
2018 Monterey, CA  in-water construction 83 FR 18077 Southern sea otter 
2018 Cook Inlet, AK aerial surveys 83 FR 18330 Northern sea otter 
2017 Elkhorn Slough, CA  in-water construction 82 FR 6627 Southern sea otter 
2017 Arctic waters fiber optic cable-laying  82 FR 25304 Pacific walrus; polar bear 
2016 Arctic waters fiber optic cable-laying  81 FR 40902 Pacific walrus 
2014 Monterey, CA  in-water construction 79 FR 58796 Southern sea otter 
2014 Cook Inlet, AK seismic surveys 79 FR 51584 Northern sea otter 
2014 Cook Inlet, AK exploratory drilling 79 FR 51584 Northern sea otter 
2011 Akutan, AK airport construction 76 FR 18232 Northern sea otter 
2010 Parson's Slough, CA in-water construction 75 FR 42121 Southern sea otter 
2010 Akutan, AK airport construction 75 FR 32497 Northern sea otter 
2008 Akutan, AK airport construction 73 FR 50634 Northern sea otter 
2007 Chukchi Sea seismic surveys 72 FR 30669 Pacific walrus; polar bear 
2006 Chukchi Sea seismic surveys 71 FR 35928 Pacific walrus; polar bear 
2006 Chukchi Sea seismic surveys 71 FR 26770 Pacific walrus; polar bear