News Release
| Release Number: | 03-043 |
| Dated: | 4/18/2003 |
| Contact: | Heidi Y. Helwig, 503-808-4510 |
Portland, Ore.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to install a gravel-bedded plastic perforated collection pipe in an existing spring water collection facility near Enterprise, Ore.
The project would impact .012 acre of waters of the United States. The purpose is to reduce the pathogen risk of whirling disease transmission to Imnaha steelhead and Grand Ronde spring chinook.
The applicant is requesting authorization to remove about 125 cubic yards (cy) of material within the existing spring-fed drainage ditch to allow for pipe and fill placement. A 360-foot-long, 12-inch diameter perforated plastic water collection pipe would be installed within the existing open spring water collection system and then covered by 120 cy of gravel and 360 cy of larger diameter rock.
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 2002-00969, which describes the proposed project in detail, please write to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Karla Ellis), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4377. 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/200200969.pdf.
Written comments must reach the Corps by May 5, 2003 and should be mailed to the above address. Send e-mail comments to Karla.G.Ellis@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.
A permit will be issued or denied 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.