News Release
| Release Number: | 02-036 |
| Dated: | 3/6/2002 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the city of Veneta to begin a construction project that will impact 2.45 acres of forested wetlands.
The proposed work would extend 8th Street about 880 feet north to Highway 126 in Veneta, Ore.
The purpose of the project is to improve access to city center and residential areas.
To compensate for project impacts to wetlands, the applicant has proposed to enhance 7.5 acres of farmed wetland pasture along Coyote Creek in Lane County, Ore. The enhancement would involve developing 5.75 acres of forested wetlands and 1.75 acres of prairie wetlands.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permitting decision for the work.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00921, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Mark E. Gonceski), 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/200100921.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by April 1, 2002, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Mark E. Gronceski), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to Mark.E.Gronceski@usace.army.mil. Comments must reference the Public Notice by number as given above.
The Corps also is soliciting input from the 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 proposed project will not affect endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. Formal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 is not required for the described activity.
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.