Corps seeks comments on draft environmental assessment for Columbia River navigation channel maintenance

PORTLAND, Ore. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on a draft environmental assessment for continued maintenance of the Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel. The proposed maintenance includes placement of dredged material on the eastern shoreline of Rice Island and re-handling material at an in-water site near Howard Island.  The public comment period ends Sept. 7, 2015.

Shoreline placement at Rice Island, located near river mile 22, would rebuild and protect the existing upland placement site and allow development of a forage area for streaked horned larks, which were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2013.  

In-water re-handling of dredged material is required near Howard Island, located between river miles 68 and 69, because shoaling is consistently forming too far away from the island for a dredge to directly pump that material to the existing upland placement site.
The draft EA is available on the Portland District website at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/Announcements.aspx.  
Public comments and/or questions or comments regarding the draft document should be directed to Kate Michie, (503) 808-4664, Kathleen.Michie@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/ Kate Michie
P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon  97208-2946

In your response, please refer to the public notice number (CENWP-PM-E-15-05), title and date. If no response is received and postmarked by the closing date, a “no comment” response will be assumed.