Woodland Islands Draft EA and FONSI

PUBLIC NOTICE

DRAFT INTEGRATED FEASIBILITY STUDY, DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT & DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

BENEFICIAL USE OF DREDGED MATERIAL FOR ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
WOODLAND ISLANDS, LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER ESTUARY

Issue Date: March 6, 2018

Closing Date: April 6, 2018

30 Day Notice

Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps) is seeking public comments on the Integrated Feasibility Study & Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Woodlands Islands ecosystem restoration project authorized under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP), Section 204 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1992: Beneficial Use of Dredged Material for Ecosystem Restoration. The Corps is proposing to place dredged material on the east side of the Woodland Islands to create low velocity shallow water and riparian shrub habitat on the placed material, adding to existing habitat diversity in the Woodland Islands side channel area. The project includes a measure to support vegetation establishment through plantings, which also helps prevent invasive species from establishing. The action also includes an additional measure to add topographic complexity by doing additional grading that would shape the placed dredged material. A monitoring plan is included in the project as a part of the adaptive management strategy. 

The project is expected to reach the Design Implementation Phase in 2018, and construction would occur as early as September 2018. This project would be implemented using routine operations and maintenance dredged material placed by the pipeline Dredge OREGON using an existing contract for maintenance of the Columbia River Federal Navigation Channel. 

Environmental Document:  The draft EA and FONSI for the Proposed Action are available for public review and comment on the Corps’ Web site: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/notices/.  

Agency Coordination: The Corps is coordinating with the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Washington Department of Natural Resources.  

Assessment of the Need for an Environmental Impact Statement: The Corps has preliminarily determined the Proposed Action is not likely to have a significant effect on the human environment; therefore, the Corps has determined that the Proposed Action does not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement. The draft FONSI is included with the EA for public review. 

Cultural Resources and Tribal Consultation: The Corps’ professional cultural resources staff determined that the Proposed Action has no potential to affect historic properties pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Corps consulted on this determination with the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and Tribes with an interest in the affected area. DAHP concurred in the Corps’ determination on December 4, 2017 and the Tribes have not responded with any concerns to date.  

Government-to-government coordination for cultural and natural resources was coordinated via letter correspondence dated August 29, 2016, with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs.  

Clean Water Act: The Corps intends to utilize Nationwide Permit Number 27, Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Establishment, and Enhancement Activities. The Corps is coordinating with Washington Department of Ecology to ensure compliance under the Clean Water Act for use of Nationwide Permit 27. 

Endangered Species Act Consultations: The Corps is currently in consultation with the USFWS and NOAA Fisheries, as required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), for the Proposed Action.  

Project Area Maps:

Figure 1. Study area vicinity map. 

Figure 2. Conceptual terrains depicting added topographic diversity possible with additional grading. 

Public Meeting: Any person who has an interest, or who may be affected by the placement of dredged material at the sites identified above may request a public meeting. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer within the comment period of this notice and must clearly set forth the interest, which may be affected, and the manner in which the interest may be affected by this activity.  

Additional Information and Comments:  Questions or comments regarding the draft documents should be directed to Ms. Kate Wells, (503) 808-4664, Kathleen.A.Wells@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 Wells 
P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946 

In your response, please refer to CENWP-PM-E-18-03, title, and date. A “no comment” response will be assumed if no response is received prior to or postmarked by the close of business on the above expiration date.