Abstract:
This is a Biological Assessment (BA) addressing the potential effects on aquatic species
currently listed or proposed for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) from the
construction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine
Operations Center – Pacific (MOC-P) in Newport, Oregon. The MOC-P is proposed for
construction in Yaquina Bay at approximate river mile 1.5 in Township 11 South, Range 11
West, and Section 17. The MOC-P provides centralized management of ten NOAA ships on the West Coast, including
Alaska and Hawaii. It provides the permanent homeport for four of these ships. The MOC-P is
currently based on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. The current lease on Lake Union is with
private landowners and expires June 30, 2011. NOAA conducted a competitive lease acquisition
process and solicited proposals from interested ports in Washington and Oregon. Based on a
careful review of all proposals, which included technical and price considerations, NOAA
selected the Port of Newport (Port) as the new MOC-P site. The new facility will be a permanent
homeport for four NOAA ships and will be able to accommodate up to six.
This BA focuses on aquatic species currently listed or proposed for listing under the ESA. This BA was prepared by Pacific Habitat Services, Inc. on behalf of the Port, and ensures
compliance with Section 7c of the 1973 ESA, as amended. Section 7c assures that, through
consultation (or conferencing for proposed species) with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), federal actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened,
endangered or proposed species, or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated
or proposed critical habitat. This BA also evaluates the project’s potential for adverse impacts to
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as designated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA) of 1996. The main body of this document addresses the potential effect of the project on the species listed
above. The report includes a project description, the environmental baseline, and conservation
measures proposed to avoid or minimize potential adverse effects of the proposed project on
listed species and their critical habitat.
