The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting public comments on its controversial plan to place dredged material in three nearshore locations off the mouth of the Columbia River.

The corps says the plan is one way to reduce coastal erosion and use a sand resource that is otherwise "lost" if it is placed in a deep-water disposal site out at sea. Coastal fishermen are concerned the plan could smother Dungeness crab, though the corps says its studies show that should not be a problem.

Millions of tons of sandy sediment must be dredged from the river's mouth annually to keep shipping lanes open.

The Corps is hosting an informational meeting Tuesday to discuss its updated draft environmental assessment on the project. The public is invited to meet corps representatives at the Warrenton Community Center at 225 S. Main Ave., Warrenton, Ore. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. Corps officials will give a brief description of the project and answer questions until 7:30 p.m.

The plan is available for public review and comment on the Portland District website at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/projects/crcip.asp. Comments can be submitted by mailing them to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Attn: CENWP-PM-E, Gretchen Smith, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Ore., 97208-2946. They postmarked by May 8 and should reference Public Notice Number CENWP-PM-E-03-01-2012.

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