Subject: The purpose of this Special Public Notice is to announce the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District’s (Corps) Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Notice of Scoping Meetings for the proposed NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon project. The NOI is available in the Federal Register (Vol. 87, No. 90, page 27991) at the following website: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-05-10/pdf/2022-10035.pdf.
The Corps has received an application for a Department of the Army (DA) permit from NEXT Renewable Fuels Oregon, LLC to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States to construct a facility to produce renewable fuels. A DA permit is required for the proposed project pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344). The project is proposed at the Port Westward Industrial Park near Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon. The facility site is in Section 22, Township 8 North, Range 4 West at Latitude and Longitude: 46.167233°, -123.16195°.
As part of the DA permit application process, the Corps issued a public notice on November 5, 2021. The purpose of the public notice was to initiate an early public scoping process to solicit comments and information from the public to identify relevant issues and concerns associated with the proposed project. The Corps, as the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has determined the proposed project may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and will prepare an EIS. Information regarding public scoping meetings for the EIS is provided below. All comments received to date, including those provided during the public notice comment period, will be considered by the Corps during preparation of the EIS.
EIS Scoping: The scoping period will continue for 30 days from the date of the NOI. During the scoping period, the Corps invites federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, other interested parties, and the public to participate in the scoping process. The purpose of the scoping process is to provide information to the public and to serve as a mechanism to solicit agency and public input on the issues, alternatives, and potentially significant effects to be considered in the EIS. The previous public notice, including project drawings, and additional information on the scoping process is available on the Corps’ website (https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/). At the Corps’ website under Regulatory Pages, select Environmental Impact Statements.
Submitting Comments: The Corps’ public involvement program includes several opportunities to provide verbal and written comments during the EIS process. Scoping comments may be submitted by email, conventional mail or voicemail. All comments must include the Corps number NWP-2020-383. In order to be accepted, email comments must originate from the author’s email account. 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. Scoping comments may be submitted to the addresses below:
By email to: nexteis@usace.army.mil
By conventional mail to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District,
Attn: Ms. Kate Mott, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946
By voicemail to: 503-808-4041 and include your name and email/mailing address
Scoping Meetings: The Corps will conduct virtual public scoping meetings in which agencies, tribes, organizations, and members of the public are invited to present comments regarding the issues, alternatives, and potentially significant effects to be considered in the EIS.
Virtual scoping meeting dates and times:
June 1, 2022: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
June 2, 2022: 1:00– 3:00 p.m.
Join the virtual meeting online at: https://zoom.us/j/92009468278
Join the virtual meeting by phone-only at (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799
Enter Webinar ID: 920 0946 8278
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/acCuAQ6h3
The virtual scoping meetings will include an overview of the NEPA process and an overview of the proposed project. The Corps will accept oral comments from the public at the scoping meetings. One speaker per participant/phone number will be allowed. If you would like to deliver oral comments at a scoping meeting, please pre-register for one of the scoping meetings by sending an email with your name, phone number, date of scoping meeting you will attend, and your request to speak to nexteis@usace.army.mil. Please pre-register to provide oral comments by May 25, 2022. After receiving oral comments from pre-registered speakers, the meeting will be opened for others to comment as time allows.
Each speaker will be given 3 minutes to provide comments. If you have additional comments that you’d like to submit beyond the allotted time, please submit them in writing. Written comments will not be accepted via the virtual scoping meeting (e.g., chat). Please submit written comments by the methods listed above. The Corps will consider written comments and oral comments equally.
The virtual scoping meetings will be conducted in English. If you require the services of a translator or special accommodation, please pre-register for the scoping meeting by sending a request with your name, accommodation needs, the date of the scoping meeting you plan to attend, and email address to nexteis@usace.army.mil by May 23, 2022. The Corps will try to accommodate all reasonable requests. Please see the information below regarding the virtual meeting format.
Any comments received during the scoping period and at the virtual scoping meetings will be considered by the Corps in preparing the draft EIS. All comments must be received or postmarked by June 9, 2022.
Additional Information: Additional information about the proposed project and the scoping process may be obtained from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Attn: Ms. Kate Mott, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946; by telephone at (503) 808-4041; or by email at nexteis@usace.army.mil
Zoom Meeting Information: Participants may join the meeting 10 minutes before the meeting start time. Enter or copy and paste the Zoom meeting address (https://zoom.us/j/92009468278) into your computer or mobile devise browser. You may log in using an existing Zoom account; however, it is not necessary to create an account or to download Zoom. If a window opens to download Zoom you may close that window and click on the “join using browser” option. This option will allow you to join the meeting without a Zoom account. You will be prompted to enter an email and your name. Please be sure to enter your first and last name so we can easily identify you if you wish to speak (your email will only be shared with the host of this meeting and not with other attendees). Upon entry to the meeting, attendees will be muted with no video capability. In the bottom left of the Zoom screen you will see “audio settings” or “mute.” Please click the arrow and use this to select your audio and microphone settings if you are having trouble hearing. Under “select a speaker” you should be able to select your device speakers or headphones. You can also test your speakers and microphone here to be sure you are properly connected. If joining from a mobile device, at the bottom of the Zoom screen, you may see “Join Audio.” Click here and choose “WiFi or Cellular Data.” It may ask to allow Zoom certain permissions on your phone. Please choose accordingly.
If participating by phone-only call:
US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799
Enter Webinar ID: 920 0946 8278
Phone participants will be muted upon entry and will be unable to communicate with the host. If you pre-registered your phone number, we will call you when it is your time to speak and provide instructions on how to unmute your phone. You may also press *9 to virtually raise your hand. For more information on attending a Zoom Webinar, see the Windows/macOS section in the following link: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us