PUBLIC NOTICE
Columbia Stock Ranch Ecosystem Restoration Project
Columbia County, Oregon
CENWP-PM-E-16-03
Issue Date: April 25, 2016
Expiration Date: May 25, 2016
Interested parties are hereby
notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District (Corps),
together with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), is seeking public
comment on the Columbia Stock Ranch Section
536 Ecosystem Restoration Project, Draft
Environmental Assessment (draft EA) and a draft Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI). The Corps is the lead
agency and BPA is a cooperating agency for the draft EA under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321-4347.
The Corps and BPA are proposing to implement an
ecosystem restoration project on the Columbia Stock Ranch to restore structure
and function of floodplain habitats to improve juvenile and adult fish survival. This floodplain habitat restoration in the
lower Columbia River and estuary helps the Corps and BPA meet Reasonable and
Prudent Alternative Actions 36 and 37 in the Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Supplemental Biological Opinion,
Consultation on Remand for Operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System,
issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service on January 17, 2014. The proposed action restores hydrologic
connectivity between the Columbia Stock Ranch project site and the Columbia
River. This provides fish access to wetlands and off-channel habitats in the
project area, thereby increasing rearing and foraging opportunities for
juvenile fish to improve survival in the lower Columbia River and estuary.
The draft EA has been prepared for
the proposed federal action in accord with the Council on Environmental
Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act regulations [Federal Register 40
CFR 1508.9(a)]. At the end of the public
comment period, the Corps will consider all comments received by close of
business on the expiration date of this public notice and will update the EA
and FONSI accordingly. The FONSI will make
a determination on whether the recommended
plan constitutes a major federal action that would significantly affect the
human or natural environment and if an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to
Section 102(C) of NEPA is required.
Environmental Document: The draft EA is available on the Corps web page in the Announcements section at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Media/Announcements.aspx.
Additional Information and Comments: Questions or comments regarding the draft EA should be directed to Kristine.A.Lightner@usace.army.mil or to the address below. Mailed comments on this notice must be sent to the address below and received by close of business on the above expiration date.
District Engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Portland
Attn: CENWP-PM-E/Kristine Lightner
P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946
In your response, please refer to the above public notice number (CENWP-PM-E-16-03), title and date. Should no response be received by the above closing date, a “no comment” response will be assumed.