News Release
| Release Number: | 04-218 |
| Dated: | 12/6/2004 |
| Contact: | Diana J. Fredlund, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the City of Eugene to fill wetlands adjacent to Amazon Creek in Eugene, Ore.
The proposed project would be to construct two full-sized multi-use playing fields and walkways in Amazon Park. The fields would be constructed over the unimproved baseball field.
The project would require placing a total of 2,404 cubic yards of fill impacting 2.98 acres of wetlands.
The applicant has proposed to use 2.51 acres of wetlands enhanced in a previous permit authorization as partial compensation and also to purchase 0.47-acre from the West Eugene Wetlands Mitigation Bank to mitigate for project impacts. If the permit is issued, the Corps will determine what is appropriate and practicable 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 2004-00784, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Michele Hanson), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR 97401-2156 or call (541) 465-6878. 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/200400784.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Dec. 28, 2004, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Michele.E.Hanson@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.
Preliminary determinations indicate that the described activity will not affect endangered species, or their critical habitat designated as endangered or threatened, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
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.