News Release
| Release Number: | 04-122 |
| Dated: | 6/21/2004 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Port of Portland to install a wall in the Willamette River at river mile 4.7 in the vicinity of Berths 410 and 411.
The wall would provide structural stability to an existing pier and riverbank under that pier in association with ongoing maintenance dredging that was approved in a previous permit.
The proposed project is located within the designated boundary of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site. The work would require placing 1,123 linear feet of cantilevered sheet pile wall and discharging 360 cubic yards (cy) of fill, impacting .07 acre of waters of the United States. The applicant also has estimated that 100 cy of material would need to be removed to facilitate pile driving.
If the permit is issued, the Corps will determine what is practical and appropriate compensatory mitigation.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2004-003866, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (John Barco), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4385. 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/200400386.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by July 12, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to John.W.Barco@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 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 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.