Section 401 Removal/Fill Certification

A proposal to remove material from, or place fill into, waters requires a Joint Permit Application submitted to both the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Department of State Lands (DSL). These agencies process the applications separately. DEQs 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) process is triggered when USACE makes a determination that an application 1) requires a permit and 2) results in a discharge. 

Examples of other federal activities that may require 401 certification from the state include USACE dredging and civil works actions, US Coast Guard facilities, and US Forest Service mining plans.

Federal permits cannot be issued without a 401 WQC from DEQ.

Columbia River

Columbia River Channel Improvement Project (CRCIP) 401

• Water Quality Certification - May 2008 PDF
• Evaluation and Findings - May 2008 PDF

The Columbia River 401 removal/fill certification covers both the deepening of the 600-foot-wide Columbia River Channel (RM 3 to 192) from the current 40 feet to a new depth of 43 feet, and ongoing dredging to maintain this depth after initial deepening is complete. Upland and in-water disposal are allowed under this 401 certification. DEQ's Columbia River coordinator is currently working with the Army Corps of Engineers and other state and federal partners on adaptive management of the environmental impacts of this project. 

For more information on the Columbia River, contact:

• Agnes Lut: (503) 229-5247 or by e-mail