IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District invites public comments on a Heise-Roberts levee system repair project environmental assessment (EA). Comments are due by Jan. 29.
The Corps proposes to repair three sections of the Heise-Roberts levee system on the Snake River near Rigby, Idaho. The Heise-Roberts levee system is located in rural Madison and Jefferson Counties, Idaho, and was damaged by high flows in 2011. This levee system protects a local bed and breakfast, the approach to a railroad and highway-bridge, a wetland complex, and a canal system. Without repair, these levees would continue to erode and may eventually fail, leading to the loss of private property and public infrastructure. As a federally constructed levee system, locally maintained to acceptable standards under the National Levee Safety Program, the Heise-Roberts levee system is eligible for emergency assistance from the Corps. On Aug. 31, 2011, the flood control district requested assistance from Corps to repair the priority sites identified during an August 2011 inspection.
The Corps invites public comments on an environmental assessment that evaluates alternatives for the project and documents the environmental effects of the project. The EA will also determine if an environmental impact statement (EIS) is necessary. The EA and draft Finding of No Significant Impact are available for viewing or downloading at http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/HeiseRobertsLeveeSystem.aspx.
Public comments should be postmarked or e-mailed no later than Monday, Jan. 29, to (e-mail) charles.b.chamberlain@usace.army.mil; or (mailing address) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CENWW-PD-EC, ATTN: Charles Chamberlain EA, 201 North 3rd Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362.
The Corps of Engineers has authority under Public Law 84-99 to supplement local efforts in the repair of both federal (Corps-constructed, locally operated and maintained) and non-federal (constructed by non-federal interests or by the Work Projects Administration) flood risk management projects damaged by flooding events. Several criteria must be met to satisfy eligibility for flood rehabilitation assistance, including participation in the National Levee Safety Program and complying with maintenance standards.
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NOTE TO MEDIA: All media queries should go to Walla Walla District Public Affairs at 509-527-7020
or cenww-pa@usace.army.mil, and not to Mr. Chamberlain.