Public Notices

Draft EA: Caspian Tern Nesting Habitat Reduction, East Sand Island

Published Jan. 22, 2014

CENWP-PM-E-14-02                             30-Day Notice

Issue Date: January 21, 2014
Expiration Date: February 21, 2014

Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, is seeking public comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment for Caspian Tern Habitat Reduction on East Sand Island, Clatsop Co., Ore. The Corps proposes to reduce nesting acreage at the East Sand Island Caspian tern colony in the Columbia River Estuary from 1.58 to 1.08 acres in order to lessen the number of nesting pairs on the island. By reducing the number of nesting pairs, this project aims to reduce tern predation in the long-term on juvenile salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act. The desired reduction in nesting pairs is in response to unexpectedly high nesting density exhibited by terns at the colony.

The proposed action would address actions called for in the 2008/2010 biological opinion for the Federal Columbia River Power System. This biological opinion requires implementation of the 2005 Caspian Tern Management Plan and evaluation of the effectiveness of the plan. The proposed action is considered adaptive management toward meeting the goals of the opinion and plan, specifically with respect to number of nesting pairs of Caspian terns at the East Sand Island colony.

Environmental Document: The draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed activity is available for public review and comment on the Corps’ website at: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/Announcements.aspx.

Additional Information and Comments: Questions or comments regarding the draft EA should be directed to Steve Helm, 503-808-4778, Steve.R.Helm@usace.army.mil, or at the address below. Mailed comments must be postmarked by the above closing date and sent to:

District Engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Portland
Attn: CENWP-PM-E/Steve Helm
P.O. Box 2946
Portland, OR 97208-2946

Please refer to the public notice number CENWP-PM-E-13-10 in your response, title, and date. A response of “no comment” will be assumed if no response is received prior to or postmarked by the above expiration date.