Corps of Engineers seeks comments on Oregon LNG permit review funding proposal

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is seeking public comment on its plan to accept funds from Clatsop Diking Improvement Company #9 on behalf of Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas.

The Portland District will review Oregon LNG’s proposed request to modify federally constructed flood risk reduction projects, to include horizontal directional drilling, auger boring, or over-crossing operations across such projects; and review potential effects to the Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel of horizontal directional drilling and dredging to create a ship turning basin.

The Corps may accept and expend these funds pursuant to Section 214 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law No. 106-541), as amended, which provides that the Secretary of the Army, after public notice, may accept and expend funds contributed by a non-federal public entity to expedite the evaluation of a permit of that entity related to a project or activity for a public purpose under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army. In doing so, the Secretary must ensure that the use of such funds will not impact impartial decision making with respect to permits, either substantively or procedurally. 

A public notice describing this action is available for public review and comment on the Corps’ Portland District website at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/Announcements.aspx. 

For questions, comments regarding the Public Notice or to request a copy, call Marci Johnson at 503-808-4765 or e-mail Marci.E.Johnson@usace.army.mil. Comments also can be submitted by mailing them to:

District Engineer
Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN: Ms. Marci E. Johnson
P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR  97208-2946

Comments must be postmarked by March 23, 2015, and should reference Public Notice Number PM-F-DD9-2015.