PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal environmental review has cleared the way for navigation improvements on the lower Columbia River aimed at reducing ship delays and improving safety near the ports of Longview and Kalama, Washington.
The review — a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI), a decision that concludes the environmental assessment phase of the project — found the planned work would not cause significant environmental impacts, allowing the project to move into early design and engineering.
The project is designed to address shipping congestion and depth restrictions to improve navigation safety and operational efficiency for vessels in the lower Columbia River.
Before making this decision, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) studied how the work could affect the local environment, including water, fish, and other wildlife. The study found the project’s effects would be minimal.
“We want to thank all that provided comments and participated in the process,” said Laura Hicks, Project Manager for the Corps’ Portland District. “This determination moves us one step closer to improving navigation safety and efficiency on the Columbia River.”
To help ships move more easily, USACE plans to make the turning area near the Port of Longview deeper and wider. A new turning basin at the Lower Martin Bar near the Port of Kalama, which works like a roundabout for ships, will also be added upriver. Finally, two new anchorages will be installed to give ships a safe place to park while they wait for a spot at the port.
Currently, the vessels traveling through this area experience delays due to insufficient water depth. The improvements will help ships get in and out of the ports more safely and quickly.
The FONSI marks a milestone in the environmental assessment process that began 3 years ago. The next phase will be pre-engineering and design where USACE works with the U.S. Navy to design anchor buoys while finalizing any additional environmental clearance. The earliest construction could begin would be late 2027.
Click here for more information and to read the full text of the FONSI.