News Release
| Release Number: | 05-003 |
| Dated: | 1/6/2005 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is issuing a second notice for an after-the-fact permit application for discharge of dredged material on West Hayden Island in Portland.
The first public notice describing a request for an after-the-fact Department of Army permit was originally issued on June 13, 2001. Due to the time lapse and changes in the proposed compensatory mitigation plan, the Corps is providing another opportunity for interested parties to provide comments.
Port of Portland, the applicant, requested an after-the-fact permit for discharge of dredged material into 1.19 acres of wetland on West Hayden Island, which occurred when the applicant was performing maintenance dredging of the Vancouver Turning Basin in 1996.
The applicant's revised mitigation plan will be considered. 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 2001-00062, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Judy Linton), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4391. 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/200100062.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Feb. 3, 2005, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Judy.L.Linton@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 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 for work in or affecting navigable waters of the United States and 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.
The Corps will review the described activity, including any proposed compensatory mitigation, and determine whether endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat will be affected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (87 Stat. 844). Consultation will occur with NOAA Fisheries and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if it is determined the activity will affect a listed species.
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. -30-