About Us

Environmental Compliance provides extremely broad support to all of the district’s civil works federal actions and programs in three functional areas: environmental sciences as well as compliance with federal biological compliance laws (Biological Resources Team) and general environmental compliance (Environmental Resources Team) laws. Our two functional teams conduct roughly 400 environmental effect analysis determinations and appropriate documentation annually under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, amongst numerous other environmental laws and Executive Orders.

We consult with the state, federal and tribal environmental regulatory and natural resources management agencies on federal actions where there are interests external to the Corps and ensure the Corps meets requirements for consultation.

Dayton Pond Intake Facility Weir Repair Section 408

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The proposed alteration is located within the Walla Walla watershed on the Touchet River in Columbia County. The project is proposing to repair the Weir, install a new Obermeyer Weir on the left side adjacent to the fish ladder, and stabilize the riverbed both upstream and downstream to prevent further erosion and/or failure under high flow events in the Touchet River. Construction activities will require in-water work across the entire width of the Touchet River. Construction would occur during the irrigation season and water would be diverted into the irrigation company’s system during repair of the Weir. Water may be diverted through the Dayton Acclimation Pond but only as a method to pass more flows downstream during construction to reduce flow velocities in the fish ladder and not for the acclimation of fish. Weir repair construction activities will be performed by a qualified licensed contractor in the state of Washington and the use of heavy mechanized equipment will be required in the form of excavators, loaders, and dump trucks.

Comments pertaining to this public notice must be submitted via email or conventional mail on or before May 1, 2023 and include Reference Number 408-NWW-2022-001. All comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act, including personally identifiable information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses.

All email comments should be sent to: CENWW-Section408@usace.army.mil.

Conventional mail comments should be sent to:

Planning Branch, ATTN: Section 408 Coordinator
201 N. 3rd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876

Lucky Peak Master Plan

Mill Creek Fish Passage 408

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The proposed alterations between Spokane Street and Park Street and extension upstream of Roosevelt Street would include improving fish passage conditions in approximately 1,625 linear feet of the Mill Creek flood risk management channel (1,344 feet at Spokane Street to Park Street and 280 feet at the extension). Both segments entail excavating up to 1,235 cubic yards of preexisting concrete and placing up to 845 cubic yards of pre-cast and cast-in-place concrete panels over 1,625 square feet to create channel roughness and resting pools within the existing concrete-line Mill Creek flood channel to improve fish passage for ESA-listed salmonids. Both project area would be dewatered, bypassing flows around the construction. Heavy equipment (excavators, front loaders) is required to remove old concrete. All work is designed to maintain the original capacity of the flood control channel.

Comments pertaining to this public notice must be submitted via email or conventional mail on or before March 6, 2023 and include Reference Number 408-NWW-2023-001. All comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act, including personally identifiable information such as names, phone numbers, and addresses.


All email comments should be sent to: CENWW-Section408@usace.army.mil.

Conventional mail comments should be sent to:
Planning Branch, ATTN: Section 408 Coordinator, 201 N. 3rd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876

Yakima River Delta Ecosystem Restoration

Sweetwater Creek Ecosystem Restoration

Garden City Flood Risk Management General Investigation (GI) Study

Lower Snake River Navigation Channel Maintenance Dredging

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The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the environmental compliance decision document for the lower Snake River Navigation Channel Maintenance Environmental Assessment, was signed by the Walla District Commander (Commander KingSlack) on September 27, 2022.  Signing of the FONSI confirms that the Corps did not find any significant impacts to the environment associated with implementation of the dredging and disposal action.  The Corps’ contractor completed dredging on February 25, 2023.  Please see the links below to access the signed FONSI and attached Comment Response Document, the Environmental Assessment, and all supporting appendices.

Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact for the City of Franklin Section 595 Water Improvement Project

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The Walla Walla District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will assist the City of Franklin with construction costs associated with the construction of a 512,000-gallon water storage tank, under the authority of Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 [Public Law (PL) 106-53], as amended in 2003 by PL 108-7, Section 126 to include Idaho. Section 595 provides authority for the Corps to provide design and construction assistance to non-federal interests for water-related environmental infrastructure and resources protection and development projects.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Corps prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate and consider the potential environmental effects of the proposed water storage tank construction. Because no significant environmental effects were identified, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Walla Walla District Commander on June 1, 2022, concluding the NEPA process.

Federal Participation in Watercraft Inspection Stations, Updated Integrated Letter Report and Programmatic Environmental Assessment

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The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Director of Civil Works on June 27, 2022 for the Federal Participation in Watercraft Inspection Stations, Updated Integrated Letter Report and Programmatic Environmental Assessment, Columbia River Basin (LR/PEA). In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Corps produced the Updated LR/PEA to evaluate the potential economic and environmental effects of including the states of Nevada and Wyoming in the current and successful federal cost-share program of establishing and maintaining watercraft inspection stations in the Columbia River Basin to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, specifically zebra and quagga mussels. The current program is operated in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Expansion of the program to Nevada and Wyoming will help to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to reservoirs in the Columbia River Basin, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ice Harbor navigation lock upstream floating guidewall cables repair

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Ice Harbor Floating Guidewall Cable Repair Update April 20, 2020

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District (Corps) has temporarily halted its repair of the cable anchoring system used for the Ice Harbor Dam navigation lock upstream gate floating guidewall.  The steel cables have deteriorated and need to be replaced.  The Corps was able to replace the set of cables attached to the shoreline anchor block during the in-water work window that ended in early 2020.  However, because of COVID-19 concerns, the Corps was unable to complete the dredging needed to access the anchor block on the river bottom.  The Corps proposes to complete the dredging within the winter in-water work window of December 15, 2020 through February 28, 2021 and attach the remaining cables.

The Corps issued a Public Notice for this project on December 12, 2019 and the public comment period closed January 13, 2020.  The Corps prepared a Statement of Findings documenting the results of its environmental analysis and its decision to implement the project.  The Statement of Findings was signed February 12, 2020.

For additional information, contact Ms. Sandra Shelin, Environmental Resource Specialist, at 509-527-7265.

 

Boyer Park Marina Dock Replacement Project

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*****Update: This comment period is now closed*****

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District (Corps) is seeking input on the Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Boyer Park Dock Replacement Project.

The project proposes to approve a request from the Port of Whitman County to complete a series of improvements on lands leased from the Corps in Boyer Park and Marina, including the repair, realignment, and replacement of docking facilities in the marina, as well as associated upland improvements.

The purpose of the proposed action is to repair and upgrade the existing moorage and facilities in the marina to ensure continued safe recreational boating support services. The proposed action is needed because existing facilities in the marina are deteriorating and pose a risk to marina users as well as the environment. Additionally, marina facilities, including those for potable water and electricity, are approaching the end of their planned lifespan and no longer provide an acceptable level of service.

The comment period was open from Oct. 11 to Nov. 11.   All comments submitted were included in the permanent public record

For additional information, contact Mr. John Hook, Environmental Resource Specialist, at 509-527-7239.

The Draft FONSI and EA are available in electronic form below.

Columbia Park Land Conveyance

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The Walla Walla District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is considering a request from the City of Kennewick, Washington, to dispose of approximately 72 acres of land in Columbia Park. The requested land disposal includes soccer fields, the Playground of Dreams, and Columbia Park Pond. The land disposal in Columbia Park is being considered under the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, Section 501(i). 

Public input/comments were gathered from July 8 through August 8, 2019 and the comment period has since closed.

For more information please contact the Corps’ environmental coordinator at 509-527-7256.

Sweetwater & Lapwai Creeks Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Study

Waitsburg Flood Risk Management Study

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****Update: This comment period is now closed****

 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (Corps), invites public comments regarding the scope of the Corps’ proposed feasibility study and environmental assessment (study) to evaluate alternatives and recommend a plan to reduce the City of Waitsburg’s flood risks along the Touchet River.

The Corps is particularly interested in public input about alternatives and environmental effects that should be considered. Written comments will be accepted Aug. 29 through Sept. 29, 2018.

The Continuing Authorities Program, Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948 (Public Law 80 858) 33 USC 701s, as amended in the Water Resource Development Act of 1986, and Water Resource Reform and Development Act of 2014 authorizes Corps to enter into a cost-share partnership with a non-federal sponsor to plan and construct small flood risk reduction projects that have not been specifically authorized by Congress and are not part of a larger project.

The Corps is soliciting public opinion on relevant issues and environmental effects that should be considered in the study. Scoping comments will be used in: 1) identifying potential and key issues to address; 2) exploring potential flood-risk-management alternatives, in addition to no action; and 3) identifying potential environmental effects associated with potential flood-risk-management activities.

A public notice about the proposed study is available for viewing or downloading in the "Links" section of this web module.

Written comments will be accepted Aug. 29 through Sept. 29, 2018. Information and comments submitted will be included in the public record. Electronic comments may be filed directly online using the NEPA Online Comment Form on the webpage, or by emailing to NEPANWW@usace.army.mil, noting “Waitsburg FRM” in the subject line.

Comments may also be mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Walla Walla District
ATTN: PPL-C (Waitsburg FRM)
201 North 3rd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876

Contact Us

Environmental Compliance
201 N. 3rd Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362

NEPANWW@usace.army.mil