Biological Opinion National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division Hilcorp Cook Inlet Tugs Towing and Jack- up Rig, Cook Inlet, Alaska

This opinion considers the effects of tugs towing, holding, and positioning a jack-up rig, production drilling, vessel support operations, and aircraft support operations.

The action may affect the endangered fin whale, threatened Mexico distinct population segment (DPS) humpback whale, endangered Western North Pacific (WNP) DPS humpback whale, endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, endangered Western DPS Steller sea lion, and Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat. There is no critical habitat for Mexico or WNP DPS humpback whales or Steller sea lions in the action area. The nearest critical habitat for the Mexico and WNP DPS humpback whale is located over 100 km from the action area (86 FR 21082, April 21, 2021), as is the nearest Steller sea lion critical habitat (58 FR 45269, August 27, 1993). The action area is considered outside of the range of the proposed for listing Sunflower sea star. No critical habitat has been designated for the fin whale.

This opinion is based on information provided in the IHA application and the proposed IHA (89 FR 60164, July 24, 2024). Other sources of information relied upon include consultation communications (emails and virtual meetings), recent consultations completed in the same region, previous monitoring reports, and marine mammal surveys conducted in Cook Inlet. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS’s Anchorage, Alaska office.