News Release
| Release Number: | 05-015 |
| Dated: | 1/27/2005 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Roseburg Forest Products to convert a log pond and adjacent wetlands, sediment settlement pond and abandoned quarry into a new industrial development site in Roseburg, Ore.
The proposed project is located in a log pond and wetlands adjacent to an unnamed tributary to Roberts Creek at the former Green plywood mill, west of Interstate 5 and south of Carnes Road.
The applicant proposes to fill 2.79 acres of wetlands and drainages, and drain and fill 23.10 acres of an old log pond and abandoned quarry on a 100-acre site. Development would require filling at least 1.28 acres of emergent wetland seeps, 0.52 acre of emergent swale, 0.44 acre of drainages and 0.55 acre of emergent pond fringe wetland. The project would also drain and fill the log pond (22.42 acres) and the abandoned quarry (0.67 acre), which are tributaries to waters of the United States.
The applicant has proposed both offsite and onsite mitigation. To compensate for the 25.89 acres of impacts, applicant has proposed 14.81 acres of mitigation. Proposed onsite actions include reconstruction of flow-through drainage, restoration of 3.82 acres of wetland, 0.52 acre of drainage, enhancement of 1.47 acres of wetland and creation of a 2.5 acre buffer. Offsite mitigation would include draining a partial filling of nine acres of log pond for conversion to wetlands, which could cause dewatering of up to 15.91 acres of lacustrine fringe wetland. The applicant's 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 2004-00884, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Merina Christoffersen), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401-2156 or call (541) 465-6882. 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/200400884.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Feb 17, 2005, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Merina.E.Christoffersen@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.
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.