Corps of Engineers seeks comments on Pool 8 environmental assessment

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is seeking public comments on its draft environmental assessment of the Goose Island cultural resource protection project, proposed for Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River.

The primary goal of the proposed project is to protect a section of shoreline of the island, which would preserve the existing archaeological site within the area. To accomplish this, the Corps is planning to place rock riprap onto the existing shoreline to reduce the erosive forces of the river acting on the site. The project area is within the of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Cultural resources are integral, nonrenewable elements that are often fragile tangible objects subject to damage. Preserving and minimizing the degradation of known cultural resources on their property is one of the many responsibilities of the Corps.

The draft report can be viewed and downloaded from the St. Paul District website at: http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/PublicNotices.aspx.   

A public review and comment period on the draft environmental assessment begins today and will end March 22. Questions and comments concerning the project should be directed to Trevor Cyphers, biologist, at (651) 290-5031 or trevor.w.cyphers@usace.army.mil. Please address all correspondence on this project to Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Attention: Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 180 Fifth St. E., Suite 700, St. Paul, MN 55101-1678.

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