News Release
| Release Number: | 02-061 |
| Dated: | 4/1/2002 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) to enhance fish passage and make other improvements at Walterville hydroelectric facility near Walterville, Ore.
The proposed project would consist of 11 areas that the applicant plans to improve during the project. Improvements include: placement of three rock-drop diversion structures upstream from the Walterville Power Canal; construction of two small diversion dams between Rodman and Kaldor islands; construction of a 2,200-foot-long, 54-inch-diameter fish bypass pipeline from the canal to the McKenzie River and an evaluation facility.
The applicant stated that the work is needed to comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements for the re-licensing of the hydroelectric facility, and to comply with agreements among EWEB, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service reached during the re-licensing process. The agreements were developed to protect and promote the conservation of chinook salmon and bull trout in the McKenzie River.
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 2002-00155, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Mark Gronceski), 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/200200155.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by April 26, 2002, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Mark 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 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.
Also, because the proposed project may affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps will initiate consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. A permit for the proposed activity will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is complete.
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.