News Release
| Release Number: | 03-165 |
| Dated: | 9/29/2003 |
| Contact: | Public Affairs Office, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.-The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Ridgetop Development, LLC, to construct a residential subdivision in Veneta, Ore.
The proposed project would require the discharge of 4,017 cubic yards of fill material into .83 acre of wetland.
The proposed subdivision would have 39 lots, eight of which would contain wetland areas. The associated drainages will be relocated to maintain the hydrology in existing wetlands and then discharged into a storm-water management system.
Construction and mechanized land clearing was initiated prior to submittal of application. On May 21, the Oregon Division of State Lands issued a Cease and Desist Order and required the applicant to restore the impacted area. The applicant has since complied and submitted an application package.
The applicant proposes to offset developmental impacts by creating a .21-acre wetland area at the project site and to enhance 2.4 acres of wetland at an offsite location. The remaining wetland on the project site will be deed restricted to prevent subsequent wetland impacts by landowners.
The applicant's mitigation plan will be considered. If a permit is issued, the Corps will decide on the 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 2002-00710, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Dominic Yballe), 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, OR, or call (541) 465-6894. 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/200200710.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by Oct. 8, 2003, and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Dominic.P.Yballe@nwp01.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 the proposed project may have no affect on endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat. However, a permit for the proposed activity will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is complete.
This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office. If you have information pertaining to cultural resources within the permit area, please provide this information to the Corps project manager at the contact information above.