News Release
| Release Number: | 04-021 |
| Dated: | 2/3/2004 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from a Eugene resident, to remove a total of 60,000 cubic yards (cy) of gravel from a stretch of the East Fork Illinois River near Cave Junction, Ore.
The applicant proposes to remove 20,000 cy of gravel annually during the next three years to acquire aggregate for commercial purposes. The material would be removed from four gravel bar locations along a one-half-mile stretch, impacting 2,500 linear feet of streambank. The exact areas would vary according to the summer water levels of the active channel. Upon completion, the work areas would be graded and restored to a more natural streambank.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 1995-01102, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-G (Dominic Yballe), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401-2156 or call (541) 465-6894. A copy of the public notice, including photocopies of supporting drawings, is posted on the Corps' Internet site at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/199501102.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Feb. 24, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Dominic.P.Yballe@nwp01.usace.army.mil. Comments must reference the public notice number.
The Corps also is soliciting input from federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity on endangered species, cultural resources, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors.
The Corps will evaluate the permit request under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
A permit will not be issued until the state has concurred with the applicant's certification that the described activity complies with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
Also, because the proposed project may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps will initiate consultation with the NOAA Fisheries, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. A permit for the proposed activity will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is complete.
The proposed project is not located on property registered in the latest version of the National Register of Historic Places. This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office.