News Release
| Release Number: | 98-092 |
| Dated: | 11/5/1998 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. --The first of a series of three public meetings on the Columbia River Channel Improvement Feasibility Study was held tonight at the Doubletree-Columbia River in Portland, Ore.
The Draft Integrated Feasibility Report for Channel Improvements and Environmental Impact Statement: Columbia and Lower Willamette River Federal Navigation Channel was released on Oct. 23, 1998. Public comments will be taken until Dec. 7, 1998. Tonight's meeting opened with one-on-one discussion tables from 5:30 p.m. until 6:45 p.m., and public testimony began at 7 p.m.
About six months is left of the five-year-long study of Columbia River federal navigation channel improvements. In 1994, the Corps' Portland District began the feasibility study to evaluate improvements to the Columbia River federal navigation channel. The study's non-federal sponsors are the seven lower Columbia River ports - Portland, St. Helens and Astoria in Oregon, and Longview, Kalama, Woodland and Vancouver in Washington.
The purposes of the proposed project are to improve transport of goods on the navigation channel by improving the channel's ability to handle deep-draft loads, and also to provide ecosystem restoration for fish and wildlife habitats. The need for navigation improvements has been driven by the steady growth in waterborne commerce, and the use of larger and more efficient vessels to transport bulk commodities. As the use of deep-draft vessels grows, so do limitations created by the existing channel dimensions. The existing 40-foot channel prevents many of the larger vessels from transiting the river at full capacity.
The study area extends from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to the Interstate 5 bridge between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., and from the mouth of the Willamette River upstream to the Broadway Bridge in Portland.
Alternatives evaluated during the study, and presented in the draft report, are: a regional port concept; non-structural alternatives; structural alternatives (41-, 42- and 43-foot dredged channel); and no action. Those alternatives, as well as dredging and disposal actions needed for construction and maintenance, were evaluated on the basis of technical, economic, social and environmental criteria. Potential impacts to physical, cultural and biological resources were evaluated in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act requirements, as well as those of other environmental laws and Executive Orders.
Two proposals are included in the draft report: the government's proposed Least Cost Alternative, and the Sponsor's Preferred Alternative. Neither has been selected at this point, pending public comment. The selected alternative will be included as a recommendation in the final report. That report, including recommendations to Congress regarding future work on the navigation channel, is due to be completed in February 1999.
Other public meetings will be held in Astoria, Ore., and Kelso, Wash., on Nov. 12 and 19, respectively. The meetings will begin with one-on-one discussion opportunities from 5:30 p.m. until 6:45 p.m., and public testimony will be taken beginning at 7 p.m. The Nov. 12, Astoria, Ore., meeting will be held at the Red Lion, 400 Industry Street, Astoria. The Nov. 19, Kelso, Wash., meeting will be held at the Doubletree, 510 Kelso Drive. The report is available at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil.
Copies of the 5-volume report are available in city libraries along the Columbia River. Comments may be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, CENWP-PE-E ATTN: Steven J. Stevens, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Stevens also can be reached by telephone, (503) 808-4768, or e-mail: Steven.J.Stevens@usace.army.mil.
A concurrent Dredged Material Management Study was completed earlier this year. That study examined long-term efficiencies for dredging and disposing of material originating from regular navigation channel maintenance. The DMMS will be incorporated into the Columbia River channel improvements actions, if changes are made in the current channel at some time in the future. The DMMS is available at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil