List of Incidental Harassment Authorizations in Alaska

Currently Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations 

  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southwest Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Kodiak, Alaska. See (May 8, 2025) and Regulations.gov
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Sitka, Alaska. See (May 7, 2024) and Regulations.gov Docket

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

  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southcentral Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Whittier, Alaska. See (July 23, 2024) and Regulations.gov Docket
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southwest Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Kodiak, Alaska. See (January 25, 2024) and Regulations.gov Docket
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for the Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears on the North Slope of Alaska. See (December 26, 2023) and Regulations.gov Docket 
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southcentral Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Cordova, Alaska. See (November 6, 2023)
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southcentral Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Whittier, Alaska. See (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  (February 15, 2023)
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in Ketchikan, Alaska. See  (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 (November 5, 2021).
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southeast Alaska Stock of Northern Sea Otters in the Queen Charlotte Fault Region, Alaska. See  (June 9, 2021).
  • Incidental Harassment Authorization for Northern Sea Otters in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. See  (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 

2024Whittier, Alaskain-water construction Northern sea otter
2024Kodiak, Alaskain-water constructionNorthern sea otter
2024North Slope of Alaskaenvironmental remediation Polar bear
2023Cordova, Alaskain-water constructionNorthern sea otter
2023Whittier, Alaskain-water constructionNorthern sea otter
2023North Slope of Alaskaenvironmental remediationPolar bear
2022Ketchikan, Alaskain-water constructionNorthern sea otter
2021North Slope of Alaskaoil and gas activitiesPolar bear
2021 Southeast Alaska seismic surveys  Northern sea otter 
2021 Northeast Pacific seismic surveys  Northern sea otter 
2019 Hoonah, AK in-water construction  Northern sea otter 
2018 Monterey, CA  in-water construction  Southern sea otter 
2018 Cook Inlet, AK aerial surveys  Northern sea otter 
2017 Elkhorn Slough, CA  in-water construction  Southern sea otter 
2017 Arctic waters fiber optic cable-laying   Pacific walrus; polar bear 
2016 Arctic waters fiber optic cable-laying   Pacific walrus 
2014 Monterey, CA  in-water construction  Southern sea otter 
2014 Cook Inlet, AK seismic surveys  Northern sea otter 
2014 Cook Inlet, AK exploratory drilling  Northern sea otter 
2011 Akutan, AK airport construction  Northern sea otter 
2010 Parson's Slough, CA in-water construction  Southern sea otter 
2010 Akutan, AK airport construction  Northern sea otter 
2008 Akutan, AK airport construction  Northern sea otter 
2007 Chukchi Sea seismic surveys  Pacific walrus; polar bear 
2006 Chukchi Sea seismic surveys  Pacific walrus; polar bear 
2006 Chukchi Sea seismic surveys  Pacific walrus; polar bear