WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District (Corps) will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 12, to provide information and solicit written comments on a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for maintenance to occur along the landward-side of the Corps-managed portion of the Mill Creek Levee System in Walla Walla.
Doors open at 5 p.m. in the Walla Walla Airport Terminal Building Conference Room, located at 45 Terminal Loop Road in Walla Walla, Washington. At 5:30 p.m., the Corps will give a presentation on the need for levee maintenance, answer questions from attendees and accept written comments. Comments on the draft FONSI and EA are due no later than August 24.
The meeting is scheduled to end at 6:30 p.m. to allow time for attendees to relocate to Rooks Park, at the end of Rooks Park Road, just east of Walla Walla, where District Levee Safety Program experts will offer a tour of the proposed action area. Although the route is mostly paved, it is recommended that tour participants wear sturdy walking shoes.
For safety, the Corps proposes to remove woody vegetation from the landward side of the levees, beginning in October 2015. The maintenance is being proposed in order to meet National Levee Safety Program maintenance requirements in accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters regulations and policies.
The EA and draft FONSI are available on the project webpage -- www.nww.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects/MillCreekLeveeMaintenance.aspx. Also see additional links to a fact sheet and video about the levee maintenance to be conducted, a levee cross-section graphic, work-area map and other related information.
Public comments will be accepted July 24 through Aug. 24, 2015. Comments may be submitted electronically via email to NEPANWW@usace.army.mil, or by U.S. Postal Service to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
CENWW-PM-PD-EC, ATTN: Mill Creek Levee Maintenance
201 North 3rd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Questions about the EA or draft FONSI should be emailed to the Corps’ environmental coordinator at NEPANWW@usace.army.mil.
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Release no. 15-049