News Release
| Release Number: | 02-096 |
| Dated: | 5/31/2002 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Oregon State Department of Transportation, (ODOT), to widen a portion of U.S. Highway 26.
The purpose of the project is to improve safety and increase highway capacity on 1.35 miles of the U.S. 26 corridor.
The proposed work would widen the highway from two lanes to four 12-foot wide travel lanes, with a 14-foot median, and 6-foot shoulders, for an overall average highway width of 73-feet, between Zigzag and Rhododendron, Ore., in Clackamas County.
The project also would provide shoulder bikeways, left turn pockets, and deceleration lanes.
The project would impact 1.84 acres of waters of the U.S., require removal of about 4,700 cubic yards of material in wetlands or below the ordinary high water mark, and placement of about 10,000 cy of fill in wetlands below the ordinary high water mark.
In addition to the existing Bear Creek corrugated metal pipes (CMP) double CMP culverts where Bear Creek crosses U.S. 26 will be replaced with about a 26.2-foot span bridge cast in place.
For mitigation, the application proposes to create 2.75 acres of wetlands within the same watershed, if permitted and the Corps determines that compensatory mitigation is required.
As part of the 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 2002-00276, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Ms. Susan M. 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/200200276.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by June 24, 2002, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Ms. Susan M. Sturges), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to Susan.M.Sturges@usace.army.mil. Comments must reference the Public Notice number.
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, construction or operation of the described activity, which may result in any discharge into navigable waters, complies with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
Preliminary determinations indicate that the described activity may affect endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat. The Federal Highway Commission, the lead federal agency for the project, will initiate consultation 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 is completed.
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.