Environmental Compliance

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.

Barber Pool Conservation Area, Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study

Learn more about the project and leave a comment for the public scoping period here: https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/missions/projects/barber-pool-conservation-area-ecosystem-restoration-feasibility-study/

City of Kimberly Wastewater System Improvement System Project, Section 595

Collapse All Expand All
 About

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District has conducted an Environmental Assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended for USACE’s proposed cost share assistance to the City of Kimberly to implement an increment of work associated with the City’s proposed Water System Improvements Project. The proposed action is authorized according to Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, as amended by Public Law 108-7 (February 20, 2003), which allows USACE to participate in environmental infrastructure projects in several states including Idaho. The draft EA, dated September 2024, discusses the purpose of and need for the proposed action and considers the potential environmental effects of the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action Alternative. Implementation of the proposed action is intended to rehabilitate the sewer conveyance lines identified, by the City, as being in a deteriorated condition.

 Links

Long-Term Sediment Management for Long-Term Sediment Management of the Federal Navigation Channel at or Near the Confluence of the Lower Snake and Clearwater Rivers

Collapse All Expand All
 About

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), intends to prepare a Tiered Environmental Impact Statement (TEIS), in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for long-term sediment management of the federal navigation channel at or near the confluence of the lower Snake and Clearwater Rivers (Confluence), in support of the commercial navigation project purpose within the Lower Snake River Projects (LSRP). The TEIS would be tiered from, and prepared in accordance with, the 2014 Lower Snake River Programmatic Sediment Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement (PSMP FEIS).

Per the PSMP (2014 PSMP FEIS Appendix A, Section 3.3.3.1), the triggers for development of a long-term solution have been met. TEIS alternatives will be formulated based on the PSMP’s eight (8) measures applicable to Future Forecast Need Actions for Navigation and will be analyzed to determine the most cost-effective, technically acceptable, and environmentally acceptable action(s) to manage the sediment depositing at the Confluence.

Questions about the project and TEIS can be answered by Ms. Kathryn Wenger, Project Manager, Walla Walla District, Corps of Engineers, CENWW-PPL-P, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla, WA  99362-1876, phone (509) 527-7294, email kathryn.f.wenger@usace.army.mil; or Mr. Ben Tice, Biologist, Walla Walla District, Corps of Engineers, CENWW-PPL-C, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla, WA  99362-1876, phone (509) 527-7267, email ben.j.tice@usace.army.mil.

 Links

City of Dayton Water System Improvements Project

Collapse All Expand All
 About
Commander KingSlack of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, (USACE), reviewed and signed the final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the City of Dayton, Idaho – Water System Improvements Project on May 3, 2024.  USACE proposes to financially assist the City of Dayton with upgrades to their water system under the authority of Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999.  USACE Environmental Compliance Section drafted an Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft FONSI to identify, consider, and disclose potential environmental effects of the proposed action on relevant environmental resources in the project impact area, however, in the analysis in the EA, no significant effects were found. These documents were sent out for a 15-day public review and comment period from April 1 through April 15, 2024.  No comments were received.  The signing of the final FONSI completes USACE’s environmental compliance requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act, therefore USACE will provide cost share assistance to the City of Dayton to implement improvements to their water system when funds are made available for that purpose.
 Links

Stilling Basin Sediment Removal of Lower Granite, Little Goose, and Lower Monumental Lock and Dams

Collapse All Expand All
 About

Interested parties are hereby notified that Commander KingSlack of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), signed the Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Stilling Basin Sediment Removal Project located at Lower Granite, Little Goose, and Lower Monumental locks and dams. 

USACE prepared a draft FONSI and Environmental Assessment for the proposed action which was sent out for a 15-day public review period which began on March 15, 2024. No significant impacts to environmental resources were identified during the environmental analysis or public comment period, therefore an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Questions regarding the Stilling Basin Sediment Removal Project can be directed to Laura Wiggins at Laura.A.Wiggins@usace.army.mil.

 Links

Federal Participation in Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control – Russian River Basin

Collapse All Expand All
 About

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), will release the draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Integrated Letter Report and Programmatic Environmental Assessment (LR/EA) for the Federal Participation in Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control – Russian River Basin for a 30-day public review and comment period beginning on June 22, 2024.

USACE proposes to participate in a cost-share program for ongoing or future non-federally managed programs to prevent and to coordinate the establishment of new, or bolster existing, watercraft inspection stations maintained and operated by non-Federal sponsors (NFSs) in California to help reduce the risks associated with infestations of aquatic invasive species (AIS) at USACE reservoirs and waters of the United States within the Russian River Basin (RRB). This program, if funded by Congress, would be cost shared at 50 percent with each non-Federal entity. Eligible activities would include, but are not limited to, the establishment and operation of watercraft inspection stations, monitoring programs, contingency planning, and rapid response planning and preparation.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Environmental Resource Specialist, Mr. John Hook, at 509-527-7239 or john.d.hook@usace.army.mil.

 Links

Federal Participation in Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control, Draft Integrated Letter Report and Programmatic Environmental Assessment, Arkansas River Basin

Collapse All Expand All
 Links
 About

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), invites public comments on the Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Federal Participation in Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control in the Arkansas River Basin (ARB).

USACE proposes to participate in a cost share program for ongoing or future state-managed/non-Federally managed programs to prevent and control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas within ARB. The ARB AIS program, if funded by Congress, would be cost shared at 50 percent with each state/non-Federal entity. Eligible activities would include, but are not limited to, the establishment and operation of watercraft inspection stations, monitoring programs, contingency planning, and rapid response planning and preparation. Federal participation in these activities would aid in the prevention, control, and progressive eradication of noxious aquatic plant growths and aquatic invasive species from the navigable waters, tributary streams, connecting channels, and other allied waters of the United States, in the combined interest of navigation, flood control, drainage, agriculture, fish and wildlife conservation, public health, and related purposes

The 30-day public comment period starts on June 22, 2024, and concludes on July 22, 2024. Comments must be postmarked or emailed no later than July 22, 2024, to be considered as part of the public record. Comments should be mailed to:

Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CENWW-PPL-C-Area 380
201 North Third Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1876
 

You may also submit comments via email to NEPANWW@usace.army.mil,  inserting: “AIS Arkansas River Basin Cost Share Program NEPA Comments” into the subject line.

If you have questions or need additional information, please email or call John Hook, Environmental Resources Specialist at john.d.hook@usace.army.mil or 509-527-7239.

Area 380 Drainage Improvements project

Collapse All Expand All
 About

Interested parties are hereby notified that Commander KingSlack of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), signed the Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Area 380 Drainage Improvement project. 

USACE prepared a draft FONSI and Environmental Assessment for the proposed action which was sent out for a 30-day public review period which began on April 12, 2024 and concluded on May 12, 2024. No significant impacts to environmental resources were identified during the environmental analysis or public comment period, therefore an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

Questions regarding the Stilling Basin Sediment Removal Project can be directed to Laura Ann Wiggins at Laura.A.Wiggins@usace.army.mil.

 Links

Columbia Park Land Conveyance

Collapse All Expand All
 About

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, will be releasing the draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Columbia Park Land Conveyance Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Proposed Transfer of 72-acres of Federal Lands to the City of Kennewick for public review on January 16, 2024. This EA and draft FONSI contain the USACE’s consideration of possible environmental impacts associated with the proposed land transfer.

Any questions can be directed to Mr. John Hook at 509-527-7239 or at john.d.hook@usace.army.mil.

 Links

Genesee Wastewater Improvements Project

Collapse All Expand All
 About

Interested parties are hereby notified that Commander KingSlack of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE), signed the Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the City of Genesee (City) Wastewater Improvements Project located in Genesee, Idaho.  USACE has authority to financially assist the City under Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (Public Law [PL] 106-53), as amended and may provide design and construction assistance to non-federal interests for water-related environmental infrastructure and resources protection and development projects. USACE is proposing to share costs with the City of Genesee for construction of one component of the City’s overall wastewater system improvements— a new tertiary treatment for ammonia removal referred to as the Submerged Aerated Rock Filter (SARF) system, and associated USACE review and coordination.

USACE prepared a draft FONSI for the proposed action which was sent out for a 15-day public review period which began on October 18, 2023. No significant impacts to environmental resources were identified during the environmental analysis or public comment period, therefore an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. Two comments were received and addressed.

Questions regarding the wastewater system improvements project can be directed to Michele Palmer at (509) 975-9659.

 Links

Malad Section 595

Collapse All Expand All
 About

Notice of Availability of the Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and applicant prepared Environmental Assessment for the Malad City Wastewater Treatment System Improvements Project November 2023

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE) has conducted an environmental analysis of the City of Malad, Idaho, Environmental Assessment (EA), dated May 2018. USACE will provide financial assistance under Section 595 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to Malad City (City) to help with portions of their proposed action to make improvements to the wastewater treatment system. USACE contributions include: the removal of existing fences around the old treatment facility and the installation of a new chain link fencing and gates around the newly constructed treatment lagoons, construction assistance for the Precast (Operations) Building, funding for engineering technical assistance during construction, and for Davis-Bacon wage interviews and grant administration. No significant impacts to environmental resources were identified during the environmental analysis or public comment period, therefore an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The FONSI was signed by the Walla Walla District Commander (Commander Kingslack) on October 27, 2023.

 Links

Fort Hall Wastewater System Improvements Project, October 2023

Collapse All Expand All
 About

Notice of Availability of the Final Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Environmental Assessment for the Fort Hall Wastewater System Improvements Project October 2023​

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District (USACE) has conducted an environmental analysis of the Fort Hall Wastewater System Improvements Project dated October 2023.  USACE will provide Section 595 assistance to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes for upgrades to the Fort Hall wastewater system for two project elements (increments of work), out of fifteen improvements identified in a 2017 Wastewater Facilities Planning Study, specifically: (1) Old Housing Sewer Main Replacement and (2) Fort Hall Interceptor Main Replacement. Cost share assistance will be provided when funds are made available for that purpose. No significant impacts to environmental resources were identified during the environmental analysis or public comment period, therefore an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.  The FONSI was signed by the USACE Walla Walla District Commander (Commander KingSlack) on October 5, 2023.

 Links

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

Collapse All Expand All
 About

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.

 Links

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

Collapse All Expand All
 About

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.

 Links

Contact Us

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

NEPANWW@usace.army.mil