News Release
| Release Number: | 03-119 |
| Dated: | 7/25/2003 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from two North Bend applicants to remove 13,130 cubic yards (cy) of sediment from drainage ditches adjacent to China Creek near Coquille, Ore.
The proposed project would take place over five years; annual removal would be about 2,600 cy. The removed material would be spread over 50 acres of adjacent wetland pastures.
The purposed project would provide adequate drainage and prevent flooding to maintain agricultural productivity to farmed wetland pasture.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permitting decision for the work.
For a copy of the Corps’ Public Notice 2002-00504, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GE (Lisa Grudzinski); 2201 N Broadway, Suite C, North Bend, OR 97459 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/200200504.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Aug. 2, 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 and Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act 1899, for work in or affecting navigable 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 and/or essential fish habitat for groundfish, coastal pelagic, coho salmon and chinook salmon, the Corps will initiate consultation with the NOAA Fisheries, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and Section 305 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 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.