Corps to update community on status of construction and refinements to Westbank risk reduction projects Sept. 14, 2010 public meeting will also discuss proposed refinements

Published Sept. 8, 2010

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Construction of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex is about 40 percent complete and the Corps is hosting a public meeting to discuss its status and the status of other Westbank risk reduction projects. The public meeting will begin with an informational open house at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010 at the Belle Chasse Library, 8442 Hwy 23, in Belle Chasse. A presentation and discussion period will begin at 6:30 p.m.

“The GIWW West Closure Complex is one of the many projects of the Westbank Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System that involve different features,” said Kevin Wagner, senior project manager. “This meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the features of this large project and better understand the refinements we’ve made to the original design.”

In addition to an update on the GIWW West Closure Complex, the meeting presentation will also provide a brief status of construction of the Hero Canal Levee and Eastern Tie-In project which will connect the Westbank hurricane levee system to the Mississippi River Levees in Plaquemines Parish. These projects are being constructed on the west bank of Plaquemines Parish near Oakville.

The meeting presentation will also include a discussion of a proposal to use the “Westbank N” borrow site as an alternative disposal site for levee material that has been removed during the construction of the GIWW West Closure Complex eastern floodwall and road realignment, and from construction of the Hero Canal Levee.

The proposed action is fully described in Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 12 which is available for public review and comment through Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010. IERS 12 may be downloaded at www.nolaenvironmental.govand is available by request. To request a copy of IERS 12 contact Patricia Leroux at patricia.leroux@usace.army.milor call 504-862-1544.

Public meeting details are:

When: Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010

Informational open house is from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

Presentation and discussion is at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Belle Chasse Library

8442 Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037

Questions or comments concerning the hurricane system should be addressed to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

c/o Public Affairs

PO Box 60267

New Orleans, LA 70160-0267

Phone: 504-862-2201

Fax: 504-862-1724

E-mail: AskTheCorps@usace.army.mil

For more information on the Corps’ projects visit www.mvn.usace.army.milor www.nolaenvironmental.gov.

Contact
Ken Holder
504-862-1522
ken.holder@usace.army.mil

Release no. 10-022