News Release
| Release Number: | 03-141 |
| Dated: | 8/27/2003 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Turner Energy Center, LLC to construct a new natural gas-fired power facility near Wipper Road and the Turner Bypass, near Turner, Ore.
The applicant proposes building a 620-megawatt natural gas-fired power generation facility on a privately owned 89-acre site to serve the Pacific Northwest energy market. The project also includes construction, or extension of utility lines to serve the new facility, as well as a new two-mile pipeline extension through farm-use areas. Construction of the proposed facility and related or supporting facilities would involve temporary or permanent impacts to 5.22 acres of U.S. waters.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project before making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2002-00249, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Mary J. Headley), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4392. 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/200200249.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Sept. 18, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Mary.J.Headley@usace.army.mil. Comments must reference the public notice number.
The Corps previously issued a public notice last September under the same number. The current proposal reflects modifications to Turner Energy Center's original application, and is intended to further clarify proposed impacts to waters of the United States. The Corps will give full consideration to all comments received earlier.
If a permit is issued, the Corps will determine appropriate and practicable compensatory mitigation. The applicant's proposed mitigation plan includes creating, enhancing and restoring more than nine acres of emergent and forested wetlands.
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 NOAA Fisheries 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.