News Release
| Release Number: | 99-097 |
| Dated: | 11/1/1999 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has suspended a permit issued to the Port of St. Helens for proposed work on the Columbia River near Rainier, Ore.
The permit, issued in June 1995, was for building a dock, dredging and placing riprap at Columbia River Mile 65.5. The work was associated with loading and unloading of material for a proposed steel fabrication mill. No work has begun under this permit.
Since the permit was originally issued, additional salmon species have been added to the list of Federally endangered species, and the Corps has been advised that the dock will now be used as part of a wallboard manufacturing plant. Because of these changes, the permit was suspended until the Corps can consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service to determine what effect the previously authorized work and work related to the wallboard plant will have on the listed fish. After consultation with NMFS the Corps will decide to reinstate, modify or revoke the permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
The Corps currently is evaluating a permit application from U.S. Gypsum, Inc., of Chicago, Ill., to establish a 112-acre wallboard manufacturing plant to service the West Coast at this same location near Rainier.