NOAA 97-R163

Contact: Scott Smullen             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   9/10/97

CALTRANS WORKING TO MAKE BRIDGE EARTHQUAKE SAFE WITHOUT HARMING NEIGHBORING SEA LIFE; AGENCY SEEKS COMMENT ON AUTHORIZATION

The California Department of Transportation has proposed ways to minimize disturbance of seals and sea lions as it conducts retrofit construction to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in San Francisco Bay, announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency responsible for researching and protecting marine mammals.

The bridge is being retrofitted to withstand a future severe earthquake. As construction between piers 52 and 57 of the bridge may potentially disturb seals and sea lions resting at Castro Rocks, the California Department of Transportation (CALTRAN) applied for an incidental harassment authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has preliminarily determined that the CALTRANS activity will not result in more than an incidental disturbance of small numbers of harbor seals and possibly California sea lions and would have only a negligible impact on these stocks. The agency is seeking comment on the CALTRANS application and proposed authorization.

To protect adult seals and pups resting at Castro Rocks, CALTRANS will limit construction noise levels there during the pupping/ molting season, will not work on piers and pilings from piers 52 through 57 between Feb. 1 and June 30, and will not deploy watercraft during the year within an exclusion zone located between piers 52 and 57 on the south side of the bridge, except when construction equipment is required for retrofitting piers 52 through 57. This exclusion area will be labeled as a controlled access area on construction plans and will be marked off with buoys located 200 ft. (60 m.) from the rocks. Trained observers will monitor harbor seal activities at Castro Rocks during construction.

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service will accept comments on the application and proposed authorization through Oct. 16, 1997. Comments should be addressed to Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225. A copy of the application and an environmental assessment may be obtained by contacting the same office.