This Public Notice announces the Section 408 review of the Cascade Natural Gas (CNG) project. Portland District is reviewing CNG’s proposed request to modify a federally constructed flood risk reduction project by relocating a natural gas distribution pipeline currently hanging from the Grade Street Bridge across the Coweeman River in Kelso, Washington. A new 2-inch pipeline would be installed underground beneath the river and a levee on the north bank of the river using horizontal direction drilling. A 4x6x3 foot bore pit would be excavated at each end of the bore hole for the new pipeline. Drilling would occur in one direction and would place the bore 15 feet below the bed of the Coweeman River and a maximum of 45 feet below the base of the levee. Once the bore is completed, the drill would be removed and the new pipeline would be welded in segments, pulled through the bore, and connected to the existing natural gas main lines at each end. Following, the bore pits would be filled in, regraded, and the land will be restored to its original condition. The existing pipeline would be cut off and capped where it transitions back from the edge of the bridge to underground on each side the bridge. The existing pipeline and its hangers would be removed from the bridge and disposed of in a landfill.
This proposed project would modify a federal flood protection system (levee) and federally authorized navigation channel and therefore require authorization from the Corps, pursuant to 33 USC 408 (Section 408). Section 408 provides authority to the Secretary of the Army to grant permission for the alteration or modification of Corps federal civil works projects when, in the judgment of the Secretary, such alteration or modification will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the project.
Consideration of Comments: The Corps is soliciting comments specific to this project from the public, federal, state and local agencies and officials, and other interested parties. Comments will be part of the record, and considered in determining whether it would be in the public interest to proceed with this action.
Comments: Interested parties may submit, in writing, any comments directed specifically to this proposal and not to other regulatory processes administered by the Corps or other government agencies pertaining to the CNG Project. Comments should refer to PM-F-Cascade Natural Gas-2019 and the date of this Public Notice, and be postmarked by the comment due date. Comments must be sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, ATTN: Ms. Marci E. Johnson, 333 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204-3440 or P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Alternatively, comments can be sent electronically to: marci.e.johnson@usace.army.mil, message subject MUST SAY: Public Notice PM-F-Cascade Natural Gas-2019.
For additional information, please call Ms. Marci Johnson at (503) 808-4765. This public notice is issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District.