News Release
| Release Number: | 03-112 |
| Dated: | 7/17/2003 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Columbia River Sand and Gravel Inc. to remove up to 210,000 cubic yards of sand annually from the Columbia River for use as aggregate for concrete and asphalt.
Dredging will be done in the Columbia River federal navigation channel and within 100 feet of the south edge of the channel between river miles 90-96 and river miles 98.5 to 101 in Columbia and Multnomah counties, Ore. The dredged material would be transported and unloaded by pipeline to upland dewatering sites presently used at Vancouver, Wash., Linnton, Ore., and Santosh Site near Scappoose, Ore.
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 1995-00961, 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/199500961.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Aug. 6, 2003 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 and it will be issued or denied under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 for work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States and 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 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
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.