NEW ORLEANS, LA –The US Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District Commander has signed the Decision Record for Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 14.a titled “West Bank and Vicinity, Westwego to Harvey Levee, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.” The signature allows the Corps to begin the real estate acquisition process and release a solicitation for construction of a more robust earthen levee in Marrero.
“The Harvey to Westwego levee project reduces risk from storm surge impacts to residents and businesses in Harvey, Westwego, Woodmere, Estelle, Marrero and portions of unincorporated Jefferson Parish,” said Julie Vignes, senior project manager.
The supplemental environmental document describes the impacts and benefits that construction of an improved earthen levee and floodwalls may generate to the community along the Westwego to Harvey stretch of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.
The refined plans are to shift an earthen levee approximately 40 ft. into a portion of property that was recently transferred from the Corps to the National Park Service to become part of the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve. The Corps and the National Park Service are currently coordinating to determine what portion of the property is needed for the hurricane risk reduction system. The shift would stretch approximately 3 miles total, and less than one mile would be in park lands. The Corps would require new right of way and materials to construct the wider, stronger earthen levee.
The supplemental environmental document also outlines proposed revisions to the fronting protection and floodwall alignments at the Ames and Mt. Kennedy pumping stations in Marrero.
Once complete, the Harvey to Westwego levee project will reduce the impacts of a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year.
Copies of the IERS 14.a decision record are available for download at: www.nolaenvironmental.gov or by request. Questions or comments concerning individual environmental reports or the Corps’ environmental processes may be addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Patricia Leroux
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-1544
Fax: 504-862-2088
E-mail: MVNenvironmental@usace.army.mil
For more information please visit: www.nolaenvironmental.gov.