News Release
| Release Number: | 04-171 |
| Dated: | 9/3/2004 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Port of Tillamook to construct a convention center south of the airport near Tillamook, Ore.
The convention center would include a 150-room hotel, 18-hole golf course, 256 residential lots and an 80-foot high earthen dam to create a 20-acre reservoir.
The construction process would impact wetlands adjacent to Raccoon and Anderson creeks and their tributaries. Total impacts from dam and roadway construction on wetlands and streams would be 1.28 acres and an additional 5.3 acres of stream and wetland would be inundated by the reservoir. Additionally, development of the fairways would impact an undetermined amount of wetland through selected vegetation removal.
The applicant proposes to mitigate for project impacts by creating 2.77 acres of wetland, enhancing 2,400 linear feet of Raccoon Creek and creating 840 linear feet of overflow channel on Raccoon Creek. 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 prior to making its permit decision.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2003-00640, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Kathryn Harris), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4387. 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/200300640.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Sept. 27, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Kathryn.L.Harris@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 and Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
Also, because the proposed project may affect a species proposed for listing as a threatened species or its critical habitat, the Corps will consult with NOAA Fisheries to determine if formal consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 will be required.
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.