News Release
| Release Number: | 05-022 |
| Dated: | 2/6/2005 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Wildish Standard Paving to replace a bridge spanning Miller Creek on Highway 20 southwest of Burns, Ore.
The applicant proposes to remove an existing 69-foot long by 30-foot wide bridge and replace it with a new 75-foot long by 44-foot wide bridge. Construction of the wider bridge would require filling 0.77 acre of palustrine emergent wetlands.
To compensate for the lost of 0.77 acre of wetlands, the applicant proposes to create 1.25 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife-owned Burns Ponds, located one mile east of Burns. Mitigation would also include creating a stream channel to connect the existing ponds to improve water quality and fish habitat. 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 200500016 which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Susan Sturges), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4381. 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/200500016.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Feb. 18, 2005, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Susan.M.Sturges@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. -30-