News Release
| Release Number: | 04-201 |
| Dated: | 11/1/2004 |
| Contact: | Matt Rabe, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comments on a proposal to re-open the Naselle Quarry in southwestern Washington.
Rock removed from the quarry would be used for future jetty repair work. The Corps is currently working on a plan to repair the two jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River.
The quarry was last used in 1946 when rock was used to construct jetty "A" in the Columbia River near Ilwaco, Wash.
The Corps has prepared a draft environmental assessment addressing the environmental effects of the proposed action. It is now available for public review. To comment on, or to receive a copy of, this EA, write to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District - Portland, Attn: CENWP-PM-E (Helm), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. A copy is available on the Internet at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/jetty/cms/home.asp. Written comments should be mailed no later than Dec. 2, 2004. Please refer to Corps ID number CENWP-PM-E-04-12 in any correspondence.
The quarry is located on Weyerhaeuser property, but the Corps retains the rights to the rock. Initial work could begin as soon as 2005 for jetty repairs at the mouth of the Columbia River, and the quarry could remain in use for an extended period of time, perhaps 20 years.
Prior to using the site as a source of rock, the Corps would need to remove up to 10 acres of trees and reroute up to one mile of gravel road. While the quarry is in use, workers would use percussion drills and blasting equipment. Quarry production would take place only during daylight hours, most likely during the spring and summer. Heavy equipment would be required to move and transport the rock.
The Corps is developing a reclamation plan for replanting the quarry area, and working on plans to prevent runoff from entering Clearwater Creek and the Naselle River.