News Release
| Release Number: | 03-110 |
| Dated: | 7/15/2003 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Northridge Construction to construct a road leading from New Hope Road to a residential subdivision in Grants Pass, Ore.
The proposed project would require the filling of .79 acre of wetland. A 48-inch culvert would be placed in an unnamed tributary to Allen Creek for the road crossing.
The applicant has proposed a compensatory wetland mitigation plan for the on-site enhancement of 3.82 acres of wetland. If a permit is issued, the Corps will decide on appropriate and practicable compensatory mitigation.
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 2003-00004, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Dominic Yballe), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401, or call (541) 465-6894. 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/200300004.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by August 5, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Dominic.P.Yballe@nwp01.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 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.
There are no recorded historic properties within the permit area. The permit area has been extensively modified by modern development, there is little likelihood the proposed project will affect an undisturbed historic property or other type of cultural resource.