Corps seeks comments on proposed permitting changes

PORTLAND, OR, UNITED STATES

06.21.2011

Story by Michelle Helms 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District

PORTLAND, ORE. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests public comments on changes to proposed regional conditions for nationwide permits. The modifications are based on public comments received on the draft regional conditions proposed in February 2011. The Portland District has also added regional conditions for new nationwide permits proposed and published Feb. 16, in the Federal Register.

Nationwide permits are designed to streamline authorization of projects that are similar in nature and cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts to aquatic resources, such as commercial developments, utility lines or road improvements. Corps division engineers are authorized to add conditions to those permits to meet the needs and requirements of a particular region or state.

The Portland District is responsible for developing regional conditions to ensure aquatic resources within the state of Oregon are protected. Fifty nationwide permits authorize a range of activities in Oregon and contain general and regional conditions. An example of a regional condition is requiring all in-water work to be conducted during the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s published in-water work window.

The modified draft regional conditions are available on the Portland District’s website at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil; click on “Regional Conditions for 2012 Nationwide Permits.”

Comments should be addressed to Portland District, Eugene Field Office, 1600 Executive Parkway, Suite 210, Eugene, Ore. 97401-2156. Comments can also be emailed to Shelly Hanson at [e-mail] or Judy Linton at [e-mail]. All comments must be received by July 19, 2011.

• Date Taken: 06.21.2011
• Date Posted: 06.21.2011 13:19
• Story ID: 72485
• Location: PORTLAND, OR, US