NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 45-day public review, which addresses impacts anticipated from modifying/raising back levees from Phoenix to Bohemia on the eastbank and back levees and Mississippi River levees from St. Jude to Venice on the westbank of Plaquemines Parish. These levees are a part of the New Orleans to Venice, Louisiana (NOV) Federal levee project.
“The plan described in the environmental document proposes raising the current New Orleans to Venice hurricane risk reduction project by as much as 5 feet in some areas,” said Julie LeBlanc, senior project manager. “Our project team will be holding public meetings to collect feedback from community members on the proposed plan.”
The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the existing New Orleans to Venice Hurricane Risk Reduction Project is currently available for public review through May 8, 2011.
At three public meetings the Corps will discuss the proposed plan described in the SEIS and also the Environmental Impact Statement proposing improvements to incorporate the non-Federal back levees which run from Oakville to St. Jude on the westbank of Plaquemines Parish into the NOV Federal project. Meeting details are:
Meeting 1
When: Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Open house 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation and discussion 6:30 p.m.
Where: Buras Auditorium, 35619 Hwy 11, Buras, LA 70041
Meeting 2
When: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Open house 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation and discussion 6:30 p.m.
Where: Belle Chasse Middle School Gym, 13476 Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Meeting 3
When: Thursday, April 7, 2011
Open house 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation and discussion 6:30 p.m.
Where: Rev. Percy M. Griffin Community Center, 15535 Hwy 15, Davant, LA 70046
The draft SEIS and its appendices can be viewed at www.nolaenvironmental.gov. Hard copies are available upon request. The public comment period for the draft SEIS ends on May 8, 2011. The public comment period for the draft EIS (covering incorporation of the non-Federal levees into NOV) ends on April 18, 2011.
Inquiries on the proposed plan and comments may be submitted to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (PD-E)
c/o Christopher Koeppel
4155 Clay St.
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Phone: (601) 631-5410
Fax: (601) 631-5115
E-mail: Christopher.D.Koeppel@usace.army.mil