News Release
| Release Number: | 01-163 |
| Dated: | 12/12/2001 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Morse Bros., Inc., to excavate sand from the Columbia River.
The proposed excavation would take place on the Columbia River, river mile 120, just south of the Sandy River. The site is about 500 feet west of the western boundary of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and at least 50 feet from the south bank of the Columbia River in Multnomah County, Ore.
Morse Bros., Inc. would annually excavate by hydraulic pipeline dredge, a maximum of 200,000 cubic yards of sand during a proposed five-year period. Water used to make up the sand slurry in the pipeline will be returned to the Columbia through a pipeline. The water will not be used for any material process.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permitting decision for the work.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00943, 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 https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/200100943.pdf. Photocopies of drawings supporting the proposed project are included in the public notice.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Jan. 7, 2002, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (William R. Davis), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to William.R.Davis@usace.army.mil.
The Corps also is soliciting input from the public, 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, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors.
The Corps will evaluate the permit request under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, for work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States.
Also, because the proposed project may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps will initiate consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, 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.