Corps public meetings to discuss risk reduction project at Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

NEW ORLEANS, LA –An environmental document describing the impacts construction of a concrete T-wall, an overpass bridge and detour lane bridge spans at the south shore of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway may generate is currently available for public review. The Corps is accepting comments on Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 3.a titled "Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity, Jefferson East Bank, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana," through Dec. 4, 2009 and will host two public meetings to detail its content.

"The Corps is hosting public meetings on both sides of the lake to ensure people who may be impacted by the construction have an opportunity to learn more about the project," said Rebecca Constance, project manager.

Construction of a concrete T-wall, an overpass bridge and detour lane bridge spans at the south shore of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge would affect residents and businesses in both St. Tammany and Jefferson Parish who use the Causeway to commute.

Meeting details are:

South shore

North shore

Once complete, the project would reduce the impacts of a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year.

In addition to discussing impacts at the Causeway, the IERS 3 also discusses:

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Construction of wave attenuation berms and foreshore protection along the Lake Pontchartrain Jefferson Parish lakefront

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An earthen ramp in lieu of a gate within a recurved I-Wall

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Movement of a breakwater access bridge

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Addition of rock armoring at a breakwater along the Lake Pontchartrain Jefferson Parish lakeshore

Copies of IERS 3.a are available for download at:

www.nolaenvironmental.gov or by request. Comments on the proposed action may be submitted to the Corps at anytime on www.nolaenvironmental.gov , by submitting an e-mail to MVNenvironmental@usace.army.mil or by regular mail.

Note - The original Notice of Availability post marked November 5, 2009 mistakenly stated Draft Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 3.a (IERS 3.a) titled "Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity, Jefferson East Bank, Jefferson Parishes, Louisiana," was "enclosed for review and comment." The intent of the Notice of Availability was to inform interested parties that a document is out on public review and provide information on how to obtain and comment on the document, the draft document was not enclosed along with the Notice of Availability.

Questions or comments concerning Individual Environmental Reports or the Corps’ environmental processes may be addressed to:

E-mail: mvnenvironmental@usace.army.mil.

For more information or to sign up to be on a meeting notification list please visit the following web site: www.nolaenvironmental.gov .