Notice2026-07063
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska State Waters and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings
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Published
April 13, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
In compliance with Section 7 of the Executive Order, "Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth" (May 7, 2020), NMFS intends to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to evaluate alternatives for identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in state waters within the Gulf of Alaska. The PEIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A, and NOAA's Companion Manual. NMFS is the lead agency for this PEIS and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will act as cooperating agencies. The PEIS will evaluate the potential impacts of identifying one or more AOAs in state waters of the Gulf of Alaska and will discuss the potential impacts of siting aquaculture facilities in those locations. The proposed action is a planning initiative and does not propose any aquaculture facilities or authorize any permits. This notice initiates the public scoping process for the PEIS.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 70 (Monday, April 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18832-18835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07063]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF420]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska
State Waters and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a programmatic environmental
impact statement; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with Section 7 of the Executive Order,
``Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth'' (May
7, 2020), NMFS intends to prepare a programmatic environmental impact
statement (PEIS) to evaluate alternatives for identifying Aquaculture
Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in state waters within the Gulf of Alaska. The
PEIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NOAA Administrative Order
216-6A, and NOAA's Companion Manual. NMFS is the lead agency for this
PEIS and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Alaska Department
of Fish & Game, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency will act as cooperating agencies. The
PEIS will evaluate the potential impacts of identifying one or more
AOAs in state waters of the Gulf of Alaska and will discuss the
potential impacts of siting aquaculture facilities in those locations.
The proposed action is a planning initiative and does not propose any
aquaculture facilities or authorize any permits. This notice initiates
the public scoping process for the PEIS.
DATES: The 45-day public scoping period begins on April 13, 2026, and
finishes on May 28, 2026. NMFS will
[[Page 18833]]
consider all written comments received by May 28, 2026.
Two virtual public scoping meetings will be held on:
<bullet> Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Alaska Time
<bullet> Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. Alaska Time
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments on this NOI identified by
``NOAA-NMFS-2023-0113'' using the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and type NOAA-NMFS-2023-0113 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
<bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Jon Kurland, Regional
Administrator for Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Records Office, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Verbal comments will be accepted during the two virtual public
scoping meetings described under DATES. Information on how to join
these meetings is found at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/aquaculture/identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/aquaculture/identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska</a>. The
virtual meetings are open to the public and free to attend. Comments
sent or provided by any other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. All public comments received are a part of the
public record and may be posted for public viewing on <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Bishop, Alaska Regional
Aquaculture Coordinator, telephone: 323-366-5659; or email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dfbeb3b6bcb6bef1bdb6acb7b0af9fb1b0bebef1b8b0a9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e485888d878d85ca868d978c8b94a48a8b8585ca838b92">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of the proposed action is to apply a science-based
approach to identify AOAs in state waters of the Gulf of Alaska. The
goal of identifying AOAs is to promote American seafood
competitiveness, food security, economic growth, and to support the
development of domestic commercial aquaculture, consistent with
sustaining and conserving marine resources and applicable laws,
regulations, and policies. The proposed action is needed to meet the
directives of E.O. 13921 to address the increasing demand for seafood,
facilitate long-term planning for marine aquaculture development, and
address interests and concerns regarding marine aquaculture siting.
Preliminary Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives
The proposed action is to identify one or more locations (referred
to as AOAs) in state waters of the Gulf of Alaska that may be suitable
for multiple future aquaculture projects. The PEIS will evaluate the
potential impacts of identifying AOAs and of siting aquaculture
projects in those locations. The PEIS will not consider finfish
aquaculture, as it is prohibited by state law.
An AOA is a geographic area that has been evaluated to determine
its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. NMFS will use a
combination of scientific analysis and public engagement to identify
AOAs that may be environmentally, socially, and economically suitable
for commercial aquaculture. AOAs identified through this process may be
considered suitable for aquaculture for shellfish, seaweed, or a
combination of these species. AOAs may only be identified by NMFS after
completion of a final PEIS and issuance of a final decision document.
The proposed action is a long-term planning effort. It is not a
regulatory or permitting action, and does not propose to authorize any
specific aquaculture-related activities or individual aquaculture
projects.
Background Information
E.O. 13921 directs NOAA to lead a multi-agency planning effort to
identify AOAs. NMFS published a request for information (RFI) on
October 23, 2020, identifying the first two geographic areas for AOAs
and asking the public to comment on what areas should be considered for
future AOAs (85 FR 67519). NMFS received letters of support from
individuals, industry, Alaska Native organizations, Alaska state
agencies, and the Alaska state legislature to begin the AOA process in
Alaska state waters. NMFS announced the beginning of the process to
identify AOAs in Alaska state waters in partnership with the State of
Alaska on June 1, 2023. On October 19, 2023, NMFS published a second
RFI, specific to Alaska, and held public listening sessions on the
identification of marine spatial planning study areas, and requested
data and analyses relevant to the AOA identification process in Alaska
state waters (88 FR 72046). NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science (NCCOS) in collaboration with NMFS and the State of Alaska,
initiated a marine spatial planning process to aid agency decision
makers in identifying areas that may be suitable as AOA options. NMFS,
NCCOS, and the State of Alaska hosted a two-part workshop series to
collect information for a marine spatial planning study (see August 14,
2024, workshop summary report at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2024-08/Alaska-AOA-Spatial-Planning-Workshops-Report.pdf">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/s3/2024-08/Alaska-AOA-Spatial-Planning-Workshops-Report.pdf</a>). On April 23,
2025, NMFS published a Notice of Availability (90 FR 17051) requesting
public comment on the preliminary results of a marine spatial planning
study developed by NCCOS in collaboration with NMFS and the State of
Alaska, including the identification of draft AOA options in Alaska
(<a href="https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/page-attachments/MSP/Report-for-Notice-for-Comment-for-Alaska-Draft-Final.pdf">https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/page-attachments/MSP/Report-for-Notice-for-Comment-for-Alaska-Draft-Final.pdf</a>). The notice requested
public comment on the 97 draft AOA options that had high suitability
scores relative to the planning goals to identify up to 4,000 acres
(1,519 hectares) per study area for subtidal shellfish and seaweed
aquaculture, and up to 100 acres (40.5 hectares) per study area for
intertidal shellfish aquaculture. NMFS hosted two, public virtual
listening sessions to explain the draft AOA options and receive
comments.
NMFS, NCCOS, and the State of Alaska received new information
through the public comment process which allowed NCCOS to make
improvements to the spatial planning model before finalizing the
results. NCCOS updated the model-based comments that highlighted
missing, authoritative spatial data sources and information that
supported improvements to scoring and data processing for existing data
sets. NCCOS used this information to develop the Alaska Atlas--a
technical document providing peer-reviewed geospatial planning
information. NCCOS published the NOAA Technical Memorandum, An
Aquaculture Opportunity Area Atlas for the Gulf of Alaska (Atlas), on
February 19, 2026 (NOS NCCOS 365. Beaufort, NC. 986 pp.; available
online at: <a href="https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/72440">https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/72440</a>). The
Atlas used a precision-siting, scoring, and ranking process to narrow
the suitability analysis results to
[[Page 18834]]
77 final AOA options that have high potential suitability for an AOA
across the 10 marine spatial planning study areas depicted in Figure
3.64 on page 10 of the Atlas. The final AOA options represented a 26
percent reduction in total acreage from the draft option areas in the
marine spatial planning study. The 77 final AOA options resulted in
13,031 acres (5,273 hectares) identified across Southeast,
Southcentral, and Southwest Alaska study areas. Southeast has a total
of 53 AOA options (44 subtidal and 9 intertidal) depicted in Figure
3.131 on page 298 of the Atlas. Southcentral has a total of 9 AOA
options (all subtidal) depicted in Figure 3.93 on page 238 of the
Atlas. Southwest has a total of 15 AOA options (13 subtidal and 2
intertidal) depicted in Figure 3.65 on page 184 of the Atlas.
The Atlas may be used as one source of information to assist the
agency in identifying one or more AOAs within state waters of the Gulf
of Alaska. The Atlas does not reflect any agency decision to identify
specific AOAs or foreclose the agency's ability to evaluate alternate
locations for consideration as AOAs.
Alternative Framework
The PEIS will analyze and discuss the potential impacts of a no
action alternative (Alternative 1) and the potential impacts of
identifying one or more AOAs in Alaska state waters (Alternative 2). In
Alternative 1 (No Action), NMFS would not identify AOAs in Alaska state
waters. Aquaculture projects could still be sited in state waters of
Alaska. The no action alternative will serve as the analytic basis
(i.e., baseline) for comparison of the proposed action. In Alternative
2, NMFS would consider identifying AOAs in one or more of the 77 AOA
options described in the Atlas. NMFS will determine the number and
scope of alternatives and areas explored and select the locations to be
evaluated in the draft PEIS based on the comments received during this
public scoping period.
Summary of Expected Effects
NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential
environmental effects of any major planned Federal action, and to
promote public awareness of the potential impacts, by preparing a
detailed analysis of proposed actions that would significantly affect
the quality of the human environment. The PEIS will evaluate the
potential impacts of identifying one or more AOAs in state waters of
the Gulf of Alaska and will discuss the potential impacts of siting
aquaculture in those locations, should projects be proposed, as
informed by the Atlas and best available information. The proposed
action is a planning effort and does not propose to authorize or permit
any specific aquaculture-related activities or individual aquaculture
projects, however the PEIS will discuss the potential impacts of siting
aquaculture in those locations as directed by E.O. 13921. The PEIS will
consider potential impacts on the administrative environment, physical
and biological environment, socioeconomic environment, and the
cultural/historic environment.
The PEIS will consider potential stressors associated with
shellfish and seaweed aquaculture or a combination of these types of
farms, including stressors associated with pre-construction,
construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning of
shellfish and seaweed aquaculture. Biological and physical resources
potentially considered may include: affected ecosystems, fish,
invertebrates, aquatic vegetation, seaweeds, mammals, birds, and
special status habitat. Potential impacts to these resources that may
be considered include: potential physical disturbance and strike
stressors, acoustic and light disturbance, ecosystem stressors,
effluents and emissions, entanglement stressors, ingestion stressors,
disease and pathogen transmission, and other changes in water quality.
Socioeconomic resources potentially considered may include: existing
aquaculture, fishing, seafood markets and regional food systems,
transportation and navigation, aesthetic quality, tourism and
recreation, community/regional infrastructure and ports/working
waterfronts, energy and public services, and public health and safety.
Cultural and historic resources potentially considered may include:
Alaska Native resources, cultural practices, and archaeological
resources.
Wherever possible and supported by the best available science, the
PEIS may highlight potential mitigation strategies to address impacts
associated with aquaculture siting and development in the proposed
AOAs.
Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations
The proposed action to identify AOAs is a planning process. Neither
the final PEIS nor final decision document will authorize any specific
aquaculture activities or approve any individual aquaculture projects.
Any future aquaculture operations within an AOA would be required to
comply with all applicable Federal and state laws and regulations,
including but not limited to the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors
Act, Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), Marine Mammal Protection
Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. Compliance may include
Endangered Species Act, Essential Fish Habitat (Magnuson-Stevens Act),
and National Historic Preservation Act consultations, and Marine Mammal
Protection Act authorizations. Additional NEPA analysis may be required
as part of permitting and authorization processes. Cooperating agencies
may adopt the PEIS and utilize the information to support their
permitting decisions.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The PEIS is expected to take two years from the date of this
notice. The draft PEIS is tentatively scheduled for publication in
winter 2027. The draft PEIS will be released for public comment, and
all public comments will be considered before issuing a final PEIS. The
final PEIS and associated final decision is tentatively scheduled for
publication in spring 2028.
Public Scoping Process and Meetings
This notice initiates the scoping process, which guides the scope
of environmental issues, potential impacts, alternatives, and potential
mitigation measures that could be included in the draft PEIS. Comments
will be accepted until May 28, 2026. Interested parties may submit
public comments according to the instructions described in the DATES
and ADDRESSES sections above.
Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action
NMFS requests data, comments, views, information, analysis,
alternatives, or suggestions on the proposed action from the public;
affected Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, agencies, and
offices; the scientific community; non-governmental organizations;
industry; and all other interested parties. Specifically, we are
soliciting information and feedback on:
1. The scope of the NEPA analysis, including the range of
reasonable alternatives and the number of and locations of areas that
should be considered and evaluated.
2. The types of aquaculture (e.g., species or gear) that are
ecologically, economically, and socially of interest or concern, and
could be analyzed in a proposed AOA location.
[[Page 18835]]
3. Information related to technologies and strategies that could
increase opportunities for or mitigate risks of aquaculture
development.
4. Potential impacts to biological, physical, and ecological
resources, including potential interactions with marine mammals and
other species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act or
Endangered Species Act, Essential Fish Habitat designated under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other sensitive, managed, or protected
habitats in the Gulf of Alaska.
5. Potential impacts to the social, economic, and cultural
environment, including but not limited to fishing sectors and
industries, and Alaska Native and coastal communities.
6. Current or planned activities in or near the areas highlighted
in this notice and their possible impacts on aquaculture development or
the impact of aquaculture developments on those activities.
7. Other topics relevant to the Proposed Action and its impacts on
the human environment.
Authority: E.O. 13921.
Dated: April 7, 2026.
Danielle Blacklock,
Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-07063 Filed 4-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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