PUBLIC NOTICE
Application for Permit
Issue Date: August 1, 2018
Expiration Date: August 31, 2018
US Army Corps of Engineers No: NWP-2013-378-1
Oregon Department of State Lands No: APP0058894
30-Day Notice
Interested parties are hereby notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps) has received an application for a Department of the Army permit for certain work in waters of the United States, as described below and shown on the attached plans. The Corps is soliciting comments on the proposed work.
Applicant: Northwest Aggregates Company
Attention: David McAuley
1050 North River Street
Portland, Oregon 97227
Email:
dmcauley@calportland.com
Telephone: (503) 243-5535
Applicant’s Agent: Terra Science, Inc.
Attention: David Monnin, PWS
4710 SW Kelly Avenue, Suite 100
Portland, Oregon 97239
Email:
david@terrascience.com
Telephone: (503) 274-2100
Location: The project site is located at 53684 East Honeyman Road, Scappoose, Columbia County, Oregon. The site is in Section 5, Township 3 North, Range 1 West. Latitude and Longitude: 45.780725 North, 122.831907 West
Waterway: The project is located in Wetlands A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, Excavated Ditch, Central Ditch, SDIC North Ditch, and Mudflats.
Project Purpose: The applicant’s stated purpose is to expand upon the Bates-Roth gravel mining site in order to address the regional need for a long-term gravel source for Columbia County and greater Portland metropolitan area.
Project Description: The proposed project is to expand upon the existing Bates-Roth gravel mining operation in Scappoose, Oregon. Gravel mining is proposed within 46 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands and drainage ditches, with a total expansion area of approximately 132 acres. Approximately 30 million cubic yards of aggregate would be mined over a 30-year period.
The applicant would remove 0 to 11 feet of overburden to expose underlying aggregate. Initial cell overburden would be utilized for the construction of visual berms, then sand and gravel materials would be wet-mined to a final depth of approximately 160 feet below ground surface. A dragline and/or electric cutter/suction dredge would be utilized to remove aggregate from below the water table. The dragline would stockpile aggregate adjacent to the active pit and a front end loader would place materials into a hopper that would discharge to a series of conveyor belts from which existing infrastructure would transfer aggregate to existing processing facilities west of Honeyman Road.
Upon exhaustion of aggregate material, stockpiled overburden berms would be contoured, stabilized and re-vegetated to create wetland habitats transitioning to open water.
Mitigation: The applicant proposes to avoid and minimize impacts from the project by installing erosion control measures prior to berm formation and by utilizing existing infrastructure for the transport and processing of aggregate. The applicant has provided a proposed compensatory wetland mitigation plan to offset losses of waters of the U.S. that may result from the proposed project. The applicant proposes to restore, enhance, and/or create and permanently protect bottomland wetland habitats within the immediate proximity of the project site. Activities would include backfilling and contouring an expired aggregate pit; and excavation and contouring of leveled bottomland terraces to reflect historically present bottomland wetland complexes. The Corps will determine the type and amount of compensatory mitigation necessary to offset environmental losses from the proposed project.
Drawings: Twenty (20) drawings are attached and labeled Corps No.: NWP-2013-378-1. Copies of this public notice, which have been mailed or otherwise physically distributed, feature project drawings in black and white. The electronic version features those drawings in color, which we think more accurately illustrates the proposed project. To access the electronic version of this public notice, go to the Portland District Regulatory website at:
http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory and select Regulatory Public Notices from the list of Regulatory pages.
Additional Information: The applicant applied for issuance of a Department of Geological and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) operating permit (No. 05‐0084) on April 05, 2018 and has applied for a Department of Environmental Quality 1200-A permit. The applicant is requesting a 30-year Corps permit.
Authority: The proposed project will be evaluated under the following:
Section 404, Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines: The described discharge will be evaluated for compliance with guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under authority of Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act. The 404(b)(1) Guidelines are the substantive criteria used in evaluating discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.
Water Quality Certification: Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1341) requires applicants to obtain a water quality certification for proposed discharges into waters of the United States. A permit for the described work will not be issued until certification has been issued or is waived from the certifying state. Attached is the state's notice for a water quality certification.
Endangered Species: Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C 1536) requires federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on all actions that may affect a species listed (or proposed for listing) under the ESA as threatened or endangered or that may adversely modify designated critical habitat. The Corps’ preliminary review indicates the described activity may affect an endangered or threatened species or designated critical habitat. The Corps will initiate consultation under Section 7 of the ESA. The Corps will complete the required consultation prior to finalizing a permit decision.
Essential Fish Habitat: Section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) as amended (16 U.S.C 1855), requires Federal agencies to consult with the NMFS on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency, that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Corps’ preliminary review indicates the described activity would adversely affect EFH at the project location or in the vicinity. The Corps will initiate consultation under Section 305(b)(2) of the MSA. The Corps will complete the required consultation prior to finalizing a permit decision.
Historic Properties/Cultural Resources: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 U.S.C. 306108), requires Federal agencies to consult with the appropriate State and/or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer to take into account the effects of actions they undertake or permit on historic properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. An historic properties investigation has been conducted within the permit area. No sites determined eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places were found to exist within the permit area. The Corps has preliminarily determined this project would have no effect to historic properties. However, due to the probability of identifying cultural resources or historic properties within the action area, special conditions for an archaeological monitor to be present during ground disturbing activities will be included if a permit is issued.
This notice has been provided to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), interested Native American Indian Tribes, and other interested parties. If you have information pertaining to cultural resources within the permit area, please provide this information to the Corps’ project manager identified at the end of this notice to assist in a complete evaluation of potential effects.
State and Local Authorizations: The applicant will be applying for the following additional governmental authorizations for the project:
•DOGAMI operating permit
•Oregon Department of State Lands removal/fill permit
•Department of Environmental Quality 1200-A permit
Public Hearing: Any person may request in writing within the comment period specified in this notice that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests for public hearings shall state with particularity the reasons for holding a public hearing.
Evaluation: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact, including cumulative impacts, of the described activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the described activity, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors, which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
The Corps is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.
Submitting Comments: Interested parties are invited to provide comments on the proposed project. Comments may be submitted by conventional mail or e-mail. All comments received will be considered in determining whether authorizing the work would be contrary to the public interest.
Either conventional mail or e-mail comments must include the Corps reference number as shown on page 1 and include the commenter’s name and address. In order to be accepted, e-mail comments must originate from the author’s e-mail account and must include on the subject line of the e-mail message the Corps reference number. All comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act including any personally identifiable information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses.
Additional information about the proposed project may be obtained from the Corps Project Manager listed below. All comments, whether by conventional mail or e-mail, must be received no later than the expiration date of this public notice to ensure consideration. Comments should be submitted to the following mailing address or
e-mail address:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Branch
Ms. Danielle Erb
P.O. 2946
Portland, Oregon 97208-2946
Email:
danielle.h.erb@usace.army.mil
Telephone: (503) 808-4368
PUBLIC NOTICE
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Water Quality 401 Certification
Notice Issued: August 1, 2018
Written Comments Due: August 31, 2018
Corps of Engineers No: NWP-2013-378-1
Oregon Department of State Lands No: APP0058894
WHO IS THE APPLICANT: Northwest Aggregates Company
Attention: David McAuley
1050 North River Street
Portland, Oregon 97227
Email:
dmcauley@calportland.com
Telephone: (503) 243-5535
LOCATION OF CERTIFICATION ACTIVITY: See attached U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public notice.
WHAT IS PROPOSED: See attached U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public notice on the proposed project.
NEED FOR CERTIFICATION: Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act requires applicants for Federal permits or licenses to provide the Federal agency a water quality certification from the State of Oregon if the proposed activity may result in a discharge to waters of the state.
DESCRIPTION OF DISCHARGES: See attached U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public notice on the proposed project.
WHERE TO FIND DOCUMENTS: Documents and materials related to water quality issues as a result of the proposal are available for examination and copying at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 401 Water Quality Certification Coordinator, Northwest Region,
700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 600, Portland, Oregon 97232. Other project materials are available by contacting the Corps per the attached public notice.
Scheduling an appointment will ensure that water quality documents are readily accessible during your visit. To schedule an appointment please call DEQ Water Quality at Northwest Region at (503) 229-5263.
Any questions on the water quality certification process may be addressed to the 401 Program Coordinator at (541) 633-2007 or toll free within Oregon at (800) 452-4011. People with hearing impairments may call the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Public Hearing: Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 340-48-0032 (2) states that “The Corps provides public notice of and opportunity to comment on the applications, including the application for certification, provided that the department (DEQ), in its discretion, may provide additional opportunity for public comment, including public hearing.”
Written comments:
Written comments on project elements related to water quality must be received at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality by 5 p.m. on the date specified in the upper right section on page one of this notice. Written comments may be emailed, mailed or faxed as described below:
Email -
401publiccomments@deq.state.or.us
Mail - Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Northwest Region
700 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 600
Portland, Oregon 97232
Attn: 401 Water Quality Certification Coordinator
Fax - (503) 229-6957
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: DEQ will review and consider all comments received during the public comment period. Following this review, certification of the proposal may be issued as proposed, issued with conditions, or denied. You will be notified of DEQ's final decision if you submit comments during the comment period. Otherwise, if you wish to receive notification, please call or write DEQ at the above address.
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION: This publication is available in alternate format (e.g. large print, Braille) upon request. Please contact DEQ Office of Communications and Outreach at (503) 229-5317 or toll free within Oregon at 1-800-452-4011 to request an alternate format. People with a hearing impairment can receive help by calling the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.