News Release
| Release Number: | 01-048 |
| Dated: | 4/18/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Haynes Drainage District in Coos Bay, Ore. The district is requesting authorization to excavate up to 34,100 cubic yards of sediment from mile 0.7 to mile 2.8 of Palouse Creek and adjacent drainage ditches near North Bend to provide adequate depth to prevent pastures from flooding.
The excavated material would be placed on a 30-foot-wide dike, which is along the south and east sides of the creek, or spread thinly over adjacent wetland pasture.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permitting decision for the work.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00241, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. A copy of the public notice is posted on the Corps' Internet site at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/200100241.pdf. Photocopies of drawings supporting the proposed project are included in the public notice.
Written comments must reach the Corps by May 3, 2001, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Ron Marg), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to ron.e.marg@usace.army.mil.
The Corps also is soliciting input from federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties to help permit reviewers consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed project on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors.
The Corps will issue or deny the permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. A Water Quality Certification, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, also will be needed from the State. Also, because the proposed work may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps has entered into consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service. A permit will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is completed.