News Release
| Release Number: | 03-159 |
| Dated: | 9/11/2003 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Ash Grove Cement Company to extend a track between the Union Pacific Railroad mainline and the Burnt River near Durkee, Ore.
The proposed 1,400-linear foot extension would require installing an 880-foot-long, 12-foot-tall concrete retaining wall along the riverbank to prevent erosion into the river and bank failure beneath the new track.
Three segments of the wall, totaling 105 linear feet, would be partially located beneath the ordinary high water line (OHW). In addition, riprap would be placed below OHW along the length of the project, totaling 1,042 feet. Total fill placed into waters of the United States would be 485 cubic yards within an area of .193 acre.
If a permit is issued, the Corps will decide on the 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 2003-00558, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Mark Everett), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4388. 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/200300558.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Oct. 10, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Mark.Everett@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.
Preliminary determinations indicate that the described activity will not affect endangered species, or their critical habitat designated as endangered or threatened, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
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.