News Release
| Release Number: | 01-049 |
| Dated: | 4/18/2001 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from Oregon Investment and Development (OID), which is seeking authority to place an underground culvert in Dawson Creek in Washington County.
OID proposed to develop an 18.75-acre commercial site near the intersection of Cornelius Pass Road and Highway 26. To prepare the site for development, a 500-foot-long underground culvert would be placed in McKay Creek and would connect with culverts at both the upstream and downstream ends of the creek. In addition, about 540 feet of Dawson Creek will be relocated to allow for the proposed development.
To mitigate for impacts to the environment, the applicant proposes to enhance and recreate a new 640-foot segment of Dawson Creek that will meander and have variable widths and flows. Also, about one-third of an acre of wetland will be created adjacent to the downstream portion of Dawson Creek that will not be used for development. This same area of Dawson Creek also will be the site of restored riparian vegetation.
As part of its permit evaluation process, the Corps is requesting public review and comment on the proposed project prior to making its permitting decision for the work.
For a copy of the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00049, 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 https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/notices/200100049.pdf. Photocopies of drawings supporting the proposed project are included in the public notice.
Written comments must reach the Corps by May 7, 2001, and should be mailed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CENWP-OP-GP (Richard Gebhart), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. Send e-mail comments to richard.a.gebhart@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 evaluate the permit request under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Corps has not determined whether or not the proposed work would affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat. If there are expected impacts, however, consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act with the National Marine Fisheries Service will be initiated. A permit will not be issued or denied until the consultation process is completed.