News Release
| Release Number: | 98-012 |
| Dated: | 2/11/1998 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality are hosting a public hearing on March 5 to hear comments on a proposed programmatic general permit (PGP). The Corps is proposing to issue the PGP on a trial basis in Douglas and Linn counties.
The hearing will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Linn County fair grounds at the Willamette Events Center, conference room no. 1, 3700 Knox Butte Road in Albany. Comments also may be submitted in writing, either at the hearing, or by sending to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, ATTN: Regulatory Branch, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. Written comments must be received by close of business March 16, 1998, to be included in the official record.
A PGP is a type of general permit that authorizes certain activities that also are regulated by another level of government, such as the Oregon Division of State Lands (ODSL). This proposed PGP is based on the existing regulatory program administered by the ODSL under the authority of the state's Removal-Fill law.
With the PGP in place, a permit applicant need only apply to one agency rather than applying for both state and federal permits for the same work.
"The PGP has a number of advantages for our permit customers," said Corps regulatory specialist Dave Kurkoski. "It reduces duplicative regulatory processes, simplifys the application process and makes better use of our limited government resources." The PGP also will serve customers by helping the Corps and ODSL enhance protection of aquatic resources, he said.
Proposed projects that are eligible for Corps authorization under the PGP would be evaluated by ODSL either as an individual permit or as a general authorization.
The following types of work, which are currently regulated by both the Corps and ODSL, would be authorized by the PGP within Douglas and Linn counties: erosion control, water control, utility lines, road construction, site preparation for construction of buildings and related features, fish habitat enhancement, wetland restoration and enhancement, boat ramps and small scale placer mining. The PGP would replace nationwide and regional permits normally granted for these types of work, Kurkoski said.
The proposed PGP will be in effect in Douglas and Linn counties on a trial basis for one year with the potential for an additional one-year extension. If the PGP is considered successful in these two counties, a statewide PGP may be proposed.