FEMA hosts meeting on McKay Creek

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is holding a meeting today (Wednesday) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Vert Auditorium to take public comment as it prepares an environmental impact statement regarding work on McKay Creek and its impact on endangered species.

Elkhorn Media Group and My Columbia Basin did not receive any notice of this hearing, but learned about it by word of mouth and confirmed it on FEMA’s website.

“In response to a lawsuit brought against FEMA, FEMA initiated consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act,” the notice on the website reads. “NMFS requires FEMA make several changes to how the National Flood Insurance Program is implemented in Oregon to avoid continued jeopardy for the threatened and endangered species and habitat described in the biological opinion.”

In addition to today’s meeting, FEMA is hosting a virtual meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday. Comments from the public will be accepted through May 5. Information on the impact statement and other elements can be found at https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/region-10/oregon/nfip-esa-integration.

File photo of the McKay Creek flood in April 2019