News Release
| Release Number: | 03-157 |
| Dated: | 9/11/2003 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Portland Development Commission to construct a recreational dock near SE Madison Street, Portland.
The dock would provide access to the Willamette River for small, light, non-motorized watercraft, such as shells, canoes, kayaks and other rowing boats, which cannot be grounded without sustaining damage.
The applicant would construct a 170-foot-long, 12-foot-wide low freeboard dock and two 200-foot long, six-foot wide ramp floats. The ramp floats would connect the dock to the adjacent land. A concrete access path would be constructed over a gravel base, with a gravel pad extending beyond the path, under the proposed ramp float within the shallow water area. The total area of impact within navigable waters of the United States would be about 0.2 acre.
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 2003-00250, 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/200300250.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Oct. 10, 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 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.