NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released an environmental document today that outlines the proposed action for the Seabrook Floodgate Structure, a navigable sector gate and two nonnavigable vertical lift gates approximately 540 feet south of the Ted Hickey Bridge with floodwall tie-ins on the east and west sides. When complete, the structure would reduce risk from storm surge generated through Lake Pontchartrain.
When complete, the floodgate would operate in tandem with the Lake Borgne surge barrier to reduce impacts to Orleans Metro, New Orleans East, Gentilly, Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish from a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year.
“Draft Individual Environmental Report Improved Protection on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Orleans Parish, Louisiana (IER #11 Tier 2 Pontchartrain),” investigates five alternative alignments for Seabrook and analyzes potential environmental and human impacts of these alignments, construction methods, and other design details. The document is available for a 30-day public review and comment period.
Written or verbal comments on IER #11 Tier 2 Pontchartrain must be submitted to the Corps by midnight on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. Comments received during the public review period will become part of the official record.
Questions or comments concerning the Corps’ environmental process may be addressed to:
Patricia Leroux
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-1544
Fax: 504-862-2088
E-mail: mvnenvironmental@usace.army.mil.
Comments may also be provided by visiting: www.nolaenvironmental.gov. For more information or to sign up to be on a meeting notification list please visit the following Web site:
www.nolaenvironmental.gov .
Release no. 09-012