News Release
| Release Number: | 03-078 |
| Dated: | 6/10/2003 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from La Grande Ranger District to increase fish habitat for summer steelhead, restore floodplain and riparian function and reduce sediment loads in McIntyre creek, located near Starkey.
The proposed project would remove and restore a three-mile road to pre-road conditions, relocate about 1.3 miles of displaced channel, and place large wood and boulders to improve habitat.
The proposed work would discharge about 16,000 cubic yards of fill or dredged materials into waters of the United States impacting about 2.4 acres.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project before making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2002-00579, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Mary J. Headley), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4392. 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/200200579.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by June 30, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Mary.J.Headley@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.
Preliminary determinations indicate that the described activity may affect endangered species, or their critical habitat designated as endangered or threatened, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The permit will not be issued until the consultation process is completed.
An inventory of the project area was completed, and properties were identified that may be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will complete consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act prior to the Corps completion of the permit evaluation. This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office.