The legislative basis for the mitigation plan is provided in Section 326 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. As part of the March 1997 project evaluation report, the New Orleans District recommended a community impact mitigation plan (CIMP) that was developed through a broad-based community participation process. The plan includes direct and indirect mitigation measures that address impacts related to noise, transportation, cultural resources, aesthetics, employment, community and regional growth, and community cohesion. The implementation cost of the plan was authorized at $33 million. Each year the costs of the mitigation plan are adjusted for inflation; the current estimate is $38 million.

With approval of the project as a Construction New-Start in the FY 99 Appropriations Bill, the New Orleans District initiated implementation of the CIMP feature. We awarded a contract in September 1999 to a team of consultants headed by gcr & associates, inc. to establish a community-based citizen committee to develop the procedures and priorities for implementation of the CIMP. Between November 1999 and February 2000, the Community-Based Mitigation Committee (CBMC) was established and a formal partnering agreement between the CBMC and the Corps was developed. The CBMC's working meetings began in March 2000 and continue on a monthly basis.

Working in partnership with the CBMC, we are committed to broad-based community participation in the planning and implementation of the mitigation plan. As an integral feature of the project, the mitigation plan is being implemented as construction gets underway. Mitigation expenditures will be consistent with the pace of construction impacts and will continue over the life of the construction period. The Corps and the CBMC agree that our partnership represents a unique opportunity for urban revitalization through rational and prudent expenditure of mitigation funds.

Detailed and current information on implementation of the CIMP is provided at the CBMC's web site.