LOIS Values Humans and the Environment
September 29, 2008Protecting the public’s health and safeguarding the environment are the two primary purposes for reconstructing the sewer interceptor in Oswego Lake. The current system is susceptible to earthquakes and cannot provide the capacity needed to avoid overflows, which are not good for humans or the environment.
Good environmental stewardship also requires that construction activities occur in a sensitive way. A comprehensive environmental review process has ensured that the LOIS Project meets or exceeds all environmental safeguards.
The LOIS project team has turned to federal and state agencies including the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Oregon Department of State Lands (ODSL), and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) for expertise in protecting the lake. As stewards of important federal and state legislation like the Clean Water Act and the Removal-Fill Act, these agencies provide the best knowledge and expertise in waterway and natural habitat protection. Scientists and biologists from the environmental firm, Anchor Environmental, were hired to conduct research, submit permit applications and coordinate construction activities with the USACE, ODSL, and ODFW as well as:
• The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• The National Marine Fisheries Service
• The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
• The Grand Ronde Tribe
Through the permit process, all of the above agencies have supported the proposed construction practices for the LOIS Project. The project is in compliance with federal and state regulations and has been granted all required environmental permits to begin construction. Click here for examples of project approvals the project has obtained.