The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation have further extended the public comment period for their re-do environmental review of Columbia River systems operations to Aug. 15.

The agencies first announced in December their intent to supplement the 2020 Columbia River Systems Operations environmental impact statement.

It’s the second extension; the original deadline was March 30, the next deadline was May 9.

Virtual public meeting dates will be announced.

The agencies extended the scoping period and delayed meetings in response to the Council on Environmental Quality’s removal of National Environmental Policy Act implementing regulations.

The rescinded implementing regulations gave a “whole of government approach” to NEPA, Tom Conning, Corps spokesman, told the Capital Press.

Each agency tends to have its own NEPA rules and regulations. Now that the implemented regulations have been rescinded, each agency must look at their own guiding regulations, Conning said.

Conning said the NEPA changes don’t affect the agencies’ approach to the supplemental review.

“I haven’t heard of any substantive changes in the sense of our interpretation of what we’re doing with NEPA now,” Conning said. “We’re still looking at changes to operations in maintenance configuration, new species that have been listed (as endangered) and new reports and studies. I think it’s more about processing than anything.”

Seeking more helpful comments

The delay allowed time to assess NEPA process changes, align agency objectives and “better describe their proposal to the public for more informed feedback during the scoping period,” according to a joint press release from the Corps and bureau.

The agencies have received thousands of form letters.

“Those are fine, but they’re treated as one comment,” Conning said. “We need substantial comments that give us supporting evidence, questions, assumptions, provides new information. Those kinds of things are certainly more helpful than a form letter from thousands of people.”

For more information,access the website at https://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/columbiariver/