PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting written public comments on the updated draft environmental assessment of its proposal to place dredged sediment material in three nearshore locations near the Mouth of the Columbia River. The Corps proposes to add these locations to the existing network of disposal sites as one way to address significant coastal erosion and to beneficially use a sand resource that is otherwise "lost" if it goes to the deep-water disposal site.
The Corps is hosting an informational meeting on May 2, to address questions about the updated draft environmental assessment. The public is invited to meet Corps representatives at the Warrenton Community Center at 225 S. Main Ave., Warrenton, Ore.; doors open at 5:30 p.m. The Corps will present a brief description of the proposed project and will be available to answer questions until 7:30 p.m.
The draft environmental assessment addressing the impacts associated with the activity is available for public review and comment on the Portland District website at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil. For questions about how to provide written comments on the draft EA or to request a copy, call Gretchen Smith at 503-964-6972 or e-mail Gretchen.V.Smith@usace.army.mil. Comments also can be submitted by mailing them to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Attn: CENWP-PM-E, Gretchen Smith, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946.
Comments must be postmarked by May 8, 2012, and should reference Public Notice Number CENWP-PM-E-03-01-2012.