Coordinated Project Plan for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion updated
Plan identifies environmental review timeline for state of Louisiana’s proposed project
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District has updated the environmental and regulatory coordinated project plan for assessing the state of Louisiana’s proposed Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.
In accordance with Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, the CPP includes identification of all agencies that have National Environmental Policy Act or federal authorization responsibilities and their corresponding roles; a comprehensive schedule for reaching all environmental reviews and authorization decisions; a discussion of potential avoidance, minimization and mitigation strategies; and public and tribal outreach and coordination planning. The revised permitting timetable is now available on the federal Permitting Dashboard at https://www.permits.performance.gov.
USACE, in coordination with the state of Louisiana and engaged federal agencies, conducted a careful review of the initial CPP permitting timeline using the best available information while adhering to the Office of Management and Budget/Council of Environmental Quality’s “Guidance to Federal Agencies regarding the Environmental Review and Authorization Process for Infrastructure Projects,” the Presidential Executive Order on Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the state and federal partners. Based on this review, the anticipated permit decision date has been revised from October 2022 to November 2020. In compliance with FAST-41, USACE will continue to conduct quarterly reviews of the permitting timeline and make adjustments as new information becomes available.
“The unprecedented size and scope of the proposed Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project requires an extensive environmental review process to ensure the final permit decision is the right decision,” said Col. Michael Clancy, New Orleans District Commander. “I would like to thank our Congressional leaders, our federal partners and the state of Louisiana for their extensive efforts in helping establish a permit review process that is as thorough as needed yet as expeditious as possible.”
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is a large-scale, complex ecosystem restoration project proposed by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana. When operated, up to 75,000 cubic feet per second of sediment-laden water would be diverted from the Mississippi River to the Mid-Barataria Basin to reconnect and re-establish the natural or deltaic sediment deposition process between the Mississippi River and the Barataria Basin to deliver sediment, freshwater, and nutrients to reduce land loss and sustain wetlands.
In addition to the above Permitting Dashboard, more information on the proposed project and corresponding permit evaluation process can be found on the USACE New Orleans District website at http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permits/Mid-Barataria-Sediment-Diversion-EIS/.