NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 45-day public review, which addresses impacts anticipated from the proposed modification of 32-miles of the current non-Federal levees running from Oakville to St. Jude in Plaquemines Parish. Once completed the levees would reduce risk from a storm surge event that has a two percent chance of occurring in any given year.
“The goal of this project is to provide enhanced storm surge risk reduction and preserve evacuation routes for the people of Plaquemines Parish,” said Julie LeBlanc, senior project manager. “The proposed plan would replace or modify 32 miles of existing non-Federal back levees, and construct from the ground up 2 miles of earthen back levees, both of which would be incorporated into the existing Federal New Orleans to Venice project.”
The Corps is expected to release a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the existing NOV project in early March. The SEIS will address impacts anticipated from modifying/raising back levees from Phoenix to Bohemia on the eastbank and back levees and river levees from St. Jude to Venice on the westbank of Plaquemines Parish.
The existing non-Federal levees were severely damaged in the 2005 hurricane season. They are currently below the authorized grade and would be raised by as much as 5 feet.
The Corps will discuss the proposed plans at three public meetings this spring. 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 EIS and its appendices can be viewed at www.nolaenvironmental.gov. Hard copies are available upon request. The public comment period for the draft EIS 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