News Release
| Release Number: | 01-084 |
| Dated: | 5/31/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pursuing a tool that will cut red tape and ease headaches for both members of the public and its own staff. Before it takes the plunge, however, it's asking members of the public to comment on its proposal to issue a Statewide Programmatic General Permit for work in waters of the United States within the state of Oregon.
A statewide programmatic general permit (SPGP) is a type of general permit issued by the Corps that authorizes certain activities that also are regulated by another level of government, in this case the Division of State Lands under the authority of the state removal-fill law.
The proposed SPGP is intended to reduce duplication, simplify the application process for applicants and make better use of limited government resources. These goals would be achieved by the Corps deferring to DSL for the review and evaluation of permit applications for proposed activities, which meet the criteria for authorization under the SPGP. Adoption of the SPGP also would provide opportunities for both agencies to enhance the protection of aquatic resources by increasing their efforts to ensure compliance with permit requirements through on-site inspections.
The following types of work, regulated by both the Corps and DSL, would be authorized by the SPGP: erosion control, water control, utility lines, road construction, repairs and improvements, site preparation for construction of buildings and related features, fish habitat enhancement, wetland restoration and enhancement, boat ramps, recreational and small scale placer mining, maintenance of drainage channels upstream of tidegates and gravel removal.
There are some limitations, such as filling wetlands shall not exceed one-half acre and filling and excavating in waters other than wetlands shall not exceed 1,000 cubic yards below the ordinary high water line.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00283, which describes the proposed SPGP in more 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/.
Written comments must reach the Corps by July 24, 2001, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-G (David Kurkoski), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to david.l.kurkoski@usace.army.mil.