News Release
| Release Number: | 04-140 |
| Dated: | 7/30/2004 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to improve Highway 97 and North Algoma Road, near Klamath Falls, Ore.
The proposed project would entail the removal and replacement of Barkley Springs Bridge; improvement of intersections and widening of roadside shoulders; and fish enhancement in the channel northwest of Barkley Springs Bridge. The project will affect about 1.03 acres of wetlands and .14 acre of jurisdictional irrigation canals. In addition, the project will require the discharge of 1.3 acres of fill into the Barkley Springs channel for the fish enhancement work. ODOT proposes to compensate for the loss of wetlands by creating 1.63 acres of wetlands, adjacent to Lost River near the town of Olene, Ore. The applicant’s mitigation plan will be considered. If a permit is issued, the Corps will decide on the appropriate and practicable compensatory mitigation.
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 2004-00401, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Susan Sturges), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4381. 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/200400401.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Aug. 9, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Susan.M.Sturges@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, consultation with NOAA Fisheries, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, was completed. If permit is issued, conditions of the Biological Opinion will be incorporated as conditions of the permit.
An initial evaluation of the proposed project area indicated that a historic property is located nearby. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has provided concurrence that the project will not adversely affect a historic property. According to ODOT, extensive coordination has occurred with the Klamath tribe. This notice has been provided to the SHPO, interested Native American Tribes and other interested parties.