News Release
| Release Number: | 01-029 |
| Dated: | 3/21/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.--The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Rose City Yacht Club to remove sand and silt from the Columbia River near Marine Drive in Portland. The Yacht Club is requesting the work to allow it to maintain adequate depths within the marina.
If the permit is approved, the Yacht Club would remove up to 9,000 cubic yards of sediment each year for five years from the area and temporarily deposit the material in an upland disposal site. Water will drain off there and the sediment would later be transported by truck to other areas for use as construction fill.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its determination on whether to issue or deny a permit for the work.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 1999-00853, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946. A copy of the public notice is posted on the Corps' Internet site at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/199900853.pdf. Photocopies of drawings supporting the proposed project are included in the public notice.
Written comments must reach the Corps by April 2, 2001, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Judy Linton), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to judy.l.linton@usace.army.mil.
The Corps also is soliciting input from federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian tribes, and other interested parties to help permit reviewers consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed project on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and other public interest factors.
The Corps will issue or deny the permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. A Water Quality Certification, as required under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, also will be needed from the State. Also, the Corps has preliminarily determined the proposed project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, listed fish species in the project area. Therefore, the Corps has entered into consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service. A permit will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is completed.