WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Walla Walla District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is extending the public comment period for the McNary Shoreline Management Plan by an additional 60 days, or to Aug. 27, 2011. The original comment period began May 25 and was scheduled to end June 27. Comments may be submitted about the proposed plan and an associated revised Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
About 200 people participated in an open house and public meeting regarding the plan on June 9 in Pasco. Brief comments at the meeting were considered to be public comments for the record, but District Commander Lt. Col. Dave Caldwell emphasized the need for submission of written comments, especially those containing lengthy technical information, public safety considerations or other public perspectives.
“We’d like to hear from the public on this updated plan,” Caldwell said. “We’re allowing more time for that part of the process, and we encourage anyone to submit a written comment for the Corps to consider.”
The Corps has been working within a well-established environmental review process for several years to update a 1983 McNary shoreline plan. Environmental and cultural resource requirements have changed significantly since that time. The updated shoreline plan provides guidance for managing private docks on the publicly owned McNary (Lake Wallula) shoreline stretching from McNary Dam to the Tri-Cities. It seeks to balance environmental stewardship and legal requirements with the public’s desires for recreation. It addresses rules and regulations, shoreline allocations and requirements for permitting private use of public lands managed by the Corps including permits for private docks and vegetation mitigation on the public shoreline.
The June 2011 McNary Shoreline Management Plan, May 2011 revised EA and draft FONSI are available for review on the District’s website at www.nww.usace.army.mil/McNaryShoreline/default.asp. Public comments may be submitted to the Corps through August 27 by email to McNarySMP@usace.army.mil; by fax to (509) 527-7832; or by U.S. Mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District; ATTN: Cindy Boen/MSMP; 201 N. Third Avenue; Walla Walla, WA 99362.
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Release no. 11-87