News Release
| Release Number: | 01-002 |
| Dated: | 1/12/2001 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from BAIC, Inc., to dredge an area of the Willow Creek arm of the Columbia River near Boardman, Ore., to maintain water flow to an irrigation pumping station.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public comments on the proposed project prior to making its determination on whether to issue or deny a permit for the work.
About 4,000 cubic yards of sand and silt would be dredged from a previously-developed 1,800-foot-long channel. The dredged materials would be pumped to an existing dredged material disposal site located near the pumping facility. Dredging would occur between Dec. 1 and March 31 – the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s preferred "in water" work period – every other year for the next six years. Up to 12,000 cubic yards of material could be dredged from this area.
The Corps will consider whether the proposed project meets standards of the Clean Water and Endangered Species acts and will look at the overall impact of the project on the affected area. Any consultations required under the Endangered Species Act must be completed before a permit could be issued.
For a copy of the Corps’ Public Notice 2000-01038, 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 http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/200001038.pdf. Photocopies of drawings supporting the proposed project are included in the public notice.
Written comments should reach the Corps by Jan. 30, 2001, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Jim Anderson), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to jim.l.anderson@usace.army.mil.
The Corps also is soliciting comments from federal, state and local agencies and officials, Native American tribes, and other interested parties.