News Release
| Release Number: | 02-067 |
| Dated: | 4/9/2002 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Jackson County School District to build new middle and elementary schools in White City, Ore.
The project will require filling 1.26 acres of seasonal wetland in the Agate Desert. The applicant proposes to mitigate for the impacts by enhancing and restoring 2.9 acres of on-site and adjacent, off-site seasonal wetland.
The proposed work would provide classroom and other educational facilities for the growing local population.
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 2002-00097, 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/200200097.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by May 1, 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 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.