News Release
| Release Number: | 03-099 |
| Dated: | 6/26/2003 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Oregon State Department of Transportation to widen Highway 26 near Rhododendron, Ore.
The project would involve widening about 1.35 miles of Highway 26 from two lanes to four and replacing an existing bridge. The work is intended to enhance traffic safety and increase highway capacity. Total impacts to waters of the United States would be about .063 acre.
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 2002-00276, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (John Barco), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4385. 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/200200276.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by July 23, 2002, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to John.W.Barco@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.
Also, because the proposed project may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Federal Highway Administration has initiated 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 Federal Highway Administration found no National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) archaeological sites within the project area. However, there were nine NRHP eligible historical resource sites identified. It was determined that of the nine sites identified, one site (Kempenich House) would be adversely affected by the project. The Federal Highway Administration proposes to mitigate for the adverse affect, by planting native vegetation to buffer the project from the historic property. This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office.