The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department of State Lands are seeking comments on a gravel mining permit request on the Chetco River in Curry County.

The proposed federal and DSL general permits would authorize gravel mining in the Chetco for five years. The permit document includes specific mining locations and extraction methods that would be allowed, as well as special conditions and adaptive management techniques that might be required of the permittees.

There would be four mining spots, including:

n 2 miles up the river at the Tidewater Bar.

n Freeman Bar, between river miles 4.5 and 5.5.

n South Coast Lumber site, encompassing two gravel bars at river mile 7.

n Second Bridge Bar, 10.2 miles upriver.

The Corps and DSL are soliciting comments through Dec. 26 from the public; federal, state and local agencies; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties. 

The public notice (NWP-2008-71) describing the proposal in detail is available at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/public.asp.

The proposal is being evaluated by a team of representatives from federal, state and local government agencies and the mining industry.

The team has also made background information, meeting notes, documents, news and other information about the development of the proposal available to the public at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/chetco_background.asp.

The Corps’ and DSL’s permits would comply with state water quality and coastal zone management policies, and include Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat consultations.

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On the Net:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/home.asp

Oregon Division of State Lands

http://oregonstatelands.us/dsl/permits/index.shtml.