The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Portland District is taking comments from the public on the proposed modifications to the Coos Bay shipping channel.  

The deadline to comment is Feb. 15.

The agency has scheduled a public meeting from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, at the North Bend Community Center, 222 Broadway St.

The Army Corps will be the lead agency for a combined draft feasibility study/environmental impact statement being prepared by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, under the authority granted by Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. The study will determine if the project complies with federal laws and regulations, and therefore should be recommended to Congress for authorization.

The port is proposing to dig the Coos Bay Navigational Channel wider and deeper from the entrance at the Pacific Ocean to the railroad bridge located at approximately river mile 9.2 and to provide ecosystem restoration in the vicinity of Coos Bay. The channel would be enlarged to accommodate large container vessels, and a vessel turning basin would be added for vessel maneuvering. Maintenance dredging of the channel and inlet, and possible modifications to the jetties also would be part of the federal proposed action.

The dredged material could be disposed at a variety of locations including ocean, nearshore and at the shoreline.

Non-Federal actions that would be related to the channel modification include developing an inter-modal container terminal on the North Spit and making improvements to the railway system from the North Spit to Eugene to transport goods off-loaded from container vessels.

The public comment period would identify potential issues to analyze in the study, alternatives to the port proposal, and potential positive and negative effects of the project.

People wishing to comment can attend the public meeting, however it will not be a formal public hearing. Court recorders will be available to record statements attendees may wish to make. Maps, background information and staff also will be available.  

Comments can be submitted on the project Web site at http://www.CoosBayChannelEIS.com. People also can mail, fax or e-mail a letter to: Eric Bluhm, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Programs and Project Management Division, Planning Branch; P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946; Fax: 503-808-4736; e-mail eric.v.bluhm@usace.army.mil.

Comments received during this comment period will be considered during preparation of the draft EIS, which is expected to be available for public review in March 2009.  Another public comment period, including open houses and other public review opportunities, will be provided at that time.  Comments received on the draft EIS will be considered in the preparation of a final EIS to be completed in Summer 2009.  

For more information, those interested can go to http://www.CoosBayChannelEIS.com or contact:  Terry Buchholz of  David Evans and Associates by calling (503) 499-0370.