NEW ORLEANS, LA – New Orleans District Commander, Colonel Alvin B. Lee, has signed the Individual Environmental Report Decision Record for the Eastern Tie-In project (IER 13). The approval of this environmental document allows the Corps to move forward with the tasks needed to begin construction of a project that would reduce risk to residences and businesses in Algiers, English Turn, Oakville, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station and the Belle Chasse sub-basin.
“I considered the risk and reliability, impacts to the human and natural environment, time, constructability, cost, and operations and maintenance of the Eastern Tie-In project before identifying the most effective plan to reduce risk for the Belle Chasse sub-basin,” said Col. Lee. “The approved project features have proven to be reliable and are the superior option to reduce risk for the area.”
The Decision Record to IER 13 was signed Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. An Addendum to IER 13 was completed to address substantive comments provided by the public during the public review period of draft IER 13. The Corps slightly modified the plan proposed in the summer of 2009 based on public feedback. The government’s plan consists of several major features:
• Raise and enlarge the current earthen levee on the north side of the Hero Canal
• Construct a 56 ft navigation closure and 70 cubic feet per second (cfs) pump station at the Hero Canal
• Build new earthen levee and concrete T-wall
• Construct a 150 cfs pump station to discharge intercepted interior storm water
• Construct a double swing gate across LA Highway 23 and a railroad swing gate closure in the vicinity of Oakville, LA
• Build an earthen levee to tie-in the hurricane levee to the Mississippi River Levees in Oakville
• Construct an Emergency Bypass Road
The Corps hosted more than 30 public meetings to collect feedback on the development of the Eastern Tie-In project. The draft IER 13 document was available for public review and comment from Apr. 3 through Jun. 1, 2009. The Addendum to IER 13 was available for public review from Oct. 27 to Nov. 25, 2009.
Copies of the Decision Record and final Addendum to IER 13 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 or to sign up to be on a meeting notification list please visit the following web site: www.nolaenvironmental.gov .
Release no. 09-013