NEW ORLEANS, LA – The New Orleans District Commander, Colonel Edward Fleming, has signed the Decision Record for the environmental document confirming that the Corps can move forward with plans to refine features of the Western Tie-In project. The Western Tie-In will connect the Lake Cataouatche Levee to the Mississippi River Levees on the west bank of St. Charles Parish, closing the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.
“Residents and commuters on the west bank of St. Charles and Jefferson parishes were particularly interested in what traffic impacts may be caused by the approved refinements to the project,” said Jeff Williams, project manager. “By working closely with community members, the parish and other stakeholders, our team developed a plan that would satisfy the project mission and produce the least amount of impacts to community members.”
The original environmental compliance for the Western Tie-In project was completed in June 2009. As project designs were completed and construction began, the team identified elements of the plan that needed refining. Plan refinements and their impacts were described in Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 16.a which was released for public review and comment in July 2010.
Refinements proposed in the draft included:
• Relocating utilities near the project construction site
• Degrading a section of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Guide Levee to re-use the clay in the new hurricane system levee and improve water exchange to about 60 acres of wetlands near the project site
• Replacing the Hwy 90 pump station to maintain drainage in the project area
• Adding bank stabilization elements to specific risk reduction features
• Converting a detour road into a permanent inspection and maintenance road for the bridge over the floodway on Hwy 90
• Constructing a ramp instead of a floodgate at LA 18 (River Rd) at the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion
The Corps discussed the approved modifications to the project at public meetings on April 27, June 9 and June 29, 2010. Comments received during the public review period led the Corps to make slight alterations to the draft environmental document. As a result, the Corps will no longer be degrading a section of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion levee to re-use the clay in the new hurricane system levee and during construction of the ramp at LA 18, there will now be a two-lane bypass road.
Copies of IER Supplemental 16.a are available for download at www.nolaenvironmental.gov or by contacting the Corps.
Questions or comments concerning the Western Tie-In project should be addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Public Affairs
PO Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-2201
Fax: 504-862-1724
E-mail: AskTheCorps@usace.army.mil