Washington DC – Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) condujo Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in requesting additional time for community engagement on the proposed drawdown of Detroit Lake. Specifically, the members called for a 45-day extension on the public comment period for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The members expressed concern that the current 45-day period, which overlaps with the holidays, will inhibit the ability of constituents in impacted communities to robustly engage with this proposal.
“While a 45-day comment period is already a relatively short timeline for a document like this, the currently scheduled comment window also spans Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, among others,” the Members wrote. “These weeks are among the most challenging of the year for public participation, as reduced staffing, competing obligations, and widespread travel mean most Oregonians are far more concerned about weather delays and family recipes than comment periods. The combined effect of a shortened timeline and a holiday-dominated review period will significantly hinder the ability of Oregonians to provide thoughtful and informed feedback.”
Full text of the letter is available by clicking aquí and below:
Dear Lieutenant General Graham,
We write to respectfully request a 45-day extension of the public comment period for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) regarding operations of the Detroit Dam within Oregon’s Willamette Valley System. The draft SEIS was released on November 14, with the comment period closing on December 29. We urge the Corps to provide a longer and more accessible comment window that will allow meaningful and informed public engagement on this highly impactful document.
The SEIS is both lengthy and technically complex, addressing issues that directly affect drinking water quality, economic stability, and public health across several communities in the Santiam Canyon and Willamette Valley. Recent experience with deep drawdown operations, including those at Green Peter Reservoir, have revealed the potential for extensive turbidity, severe impacts to drinking water systems, and significant economic losses for surrounding communities. These concerns underscore the importance of ensuring that residents, local governments, Tribal governments, utility providers, business owners, and other stakeholders have sufficient time to review and respond to this SEIS.
While a 45-day comment period is already a relatively short timeline for a document like this, the currently scheduled comment window also spans the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah, among others. These weeks are among the most challenging of the year for public participation, as reduced staffing, competing obligations, and widespread travel mean most Oregonians are far more concerned about weather delays and family recipes than comment periods. The combined effect of a shortened timeline and a holiday-dominated review period will significantly hinder the ability of Oregonians to provide thoughtful and informed feedback.
Given the anticipated impacts of potential operational changes at Detroit Dam, including those related to drinking water for more than 200,000 downstream residents, the Kokanee fishery, and economic conditions in the Santiam Canyon, it is essential that the review process maximize transparency and accessibility. A reasonable extension of the comment period would help accomplish this goal and ensure that the Corps receives the robust, substantive input needed to support a well-informed decision.
Accordingly, we respectfully request that the USACE extend the comment period by an additional 45-days to provide stakeholders with adequate time to fully assess the SEIS and prepare comprehensive comments. We believe this extension is both necessary and in the public Interest.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to continued collaboration to ensure that the management of the Willamette Valley System supports the recovery of endangered fish species while also meeting the needs, safety, and well-being of Oregonians and the communities they call home.
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