Endangered Species Act Section 7 Biological Opinion: 3-D Seismic Surveys of Cook Inlet, Alaska by Apache Alaska Corporation

The National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division (PRl), in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), has requested formal consultation on the 3-D Seismic Surveys of Cook Inlet, Alaska by Apache Alaska Corporation (Apache or operator). This document constitutes NMFS Alaska Region's (NMFS AKR) opinion on the effects of that action on the endangered species in accordance with section 7 of the ESA. Specifically, this opinion analyzes the effects of the Cook Inlet 3-D Seismic Surveys on the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) (73 FR 62919, October 22, 2008), Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat (76 FR 20180, April 11, 2011), and the endangered, western DPS of Steller sea lions (62 FR 24345, May 5, 1997).