News Release
| Release Number: | 04-109 |
| Dated: | 5/27/2004 |
| 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 Albany to remove and discharge fill material into the South Santiam River near Lebanon, Ore. The proposed project would improve fish passage and an existing diversion dam.
The project would entail modifying and replacing fishways on the existing dam. The work would require removing 760 cubic yards (cy) of material and discharging 1,485 cy of fill material. Rehabilitation work also would be performed on portions of the dam as well as installing a new fish screen. The installation of the screen would require removing 740 cy of material and discharging 630 cy of fill material.
If the permit is issued, the Corps will determine what is appropriate and practical compensatory mitigation.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project before making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2003-00796, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Karla Ellis), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4377. 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/200300796.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by June 9, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Karla.G.Ellis@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 work 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 NOAA Fisheries, 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.