News Release
| Release Number: | 03-188 |
| Dated: | 11/4/2003 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Copeland Sand and Gravel, Inc., to build two railroad car bridges. The 10-year permit would also allow construction of three exit channels from a series of mining pits to the Applegate River in the Rogue River Basin.
The exit channels would facilitate fish passage from the pits during times of high water flows, when fish may become trapped in the pits. The two bridges, which would be installed and removed yearly during the summer season, would allow access to the mining pits, with a fourth channel constructed to connect the pits.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2003-00464, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Dominic Yballe), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR, or call (541) 465-6894. 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/200300464.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Nov. 27, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Dominic.P.Yballe@nwp01.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.
This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office, interested Native American tribes and other interested parties. If you have information pertaining to cultural resources within the permit area, please provide this information to Dominic Yballe, the Corps project manager, to assist in a complete evaluation of potential effects.