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<< Back E-mail Update – July 2, 2003 – Volume 3, Number 11 State Environmental Agencies Approve Channel Deepening: Early last week Oregon’s Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and Washington’s Dept. of Ecology (DOE) issued approved permits for 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Management Consistency (401/CZM) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Channel Deepening. With both federal and bi-state environmental approvals, it is confirmed that deepening the Columbia River navigational channel 3-feet can and will be performed in an environmentally sound manner. Even though the project has achieved this major milestone after 14 long years, the Corps still needs take time to thoroughly review the permits and evaluate necessary adjustments to the project to meet conditions required in the permits. To review the permits go the following websites: Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality: http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/401cert/ColumbiaRiver/WaterQualityCertification.pdf http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/401cert/ColumbiaRiver/EvaluationAndFindings.pdf Oregon Dept. of Land Conservation & Development: www.lcd.state.or.us. Washington Dept. of Ecology: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/cr-channel.html U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: https:www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/crcip Once the Corps completes their review and evaluation of the permits, they will issue their Record of Decision sometime in late summer 2003. Potentially, the Corps may begin ecosystem restoration this fall. However, actually construction of the 43-foot channel is not anticipated to begin until summer of 2004. Keep in mind that construction of the project is dependent on both congressional and state funding through the appropriations process for each year of the project. Finally, we would like to thank the states of Oregon and Washington for working hard to conduct a rigorous public process over the last seven months. In addition, thanks goes to the many individuals that participated in the public hearings and those that provided written comments in support of this project. Once again, the Columbia River Channel Deepening project proves to be environmentally sound. Coalition Keeps Expanding: We welcome the following organization that officially joined the Coalition: City of Walla Walla, Washington Did You Know? Over 40 states ship their grain and products through Columbia River ports, creating tens of thousands of jobs and major economic development for our region’s economy.
Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or information requests. Thanks for your partnership in building a stronger economy through maritime trade.
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