News Release
| Release Number: | 03-091 |
| Dated: | 6/23/2003 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application to remove gravel from two adjacent bars on the Chetco River near Brookings, Ore.
The proposed project would involve the removal of up to 30,000 cubic yards of gravel over the three-year life of the permit. Pre-removal and post-removal surveys of the river bars would be conducted.
The applicant would use a crawler tractor with a blade to scalp the gravel, and then use a front-end wheel loader and dump trucks to transport it to a stockpile location for private use.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps’ Public Notice 1996-01727, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GE (Lisa Grudzinski), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401-2156, or call (541) 756-5316. 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/199601727.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by July 19, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Lisa.A.Grudzinski@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 affecting land or water uses in the Coastal Zone complies with State Coastal Zone Management Program, Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
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.
The proposed project is not located on property registered in the latest version of the National Register of Historic Places. This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office.