Corps public workshop to discuss Westbank risk reduction plans

Published Sept. 15, 2009

Projects benefit communities in Orleans and Plaquemines parishes

New Orleans, LA – Orleans and Plaquemines Parish residents living on the Westbank of the Mississippi River will have an additional opportunity to learn about how the Corps would reduce risk to their neighborhoods.

“In the spring, a number of citizens voiced concern about the plan we proposed to reduce risk to the Belle Chasse sub-basin,” said Col. Alvin Lee, New Orleans District Commander. “This workshop will explain how and why we have incorporated public feedback into the process.”

On Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a public workshop to discuss the Eastern Tie-In portion of the West Bank and Vicinity risk reduction project and to provide an update on the federal project to incorporate the existing Plaquemines Parish Non-Federal Levees into the federal New Orleans to Venice Hurricane Project. The workshop will discuss:

• Eastern Tie-In (Individual Environmental Report 13 /IER 13) - The Corps will outline in detail the four alternatives that would connect the risk reduction features on the west side of Highway 23 to the east side of Highway 23 and tie in to the Mississippi River Levee. The alternatives under consideration are a Ramp, Swing Gate, Roller Gate and Invisible Floodwall. Presentations on each alternative will be repeated in 30-minute breakout sessions throughout the morning.

• Plaquemines Parish Non-Federal Levees (PPNFL) - The Corps will discuss the status of ongoing pre-construction efforts to incorporate the Non-Federal Levees into the New Orleans to Venice risk reduction project and outline in detail the proposed project alignment which would reduce risk to residences and businesses from the Eastern Tie-In to St. Jude, LA in a 90-minute breakout session.

Once constructed, these projects would reduce risk to residences and businesses from Algiers to St. Jude including English Turn, Belle Chasse, Belle Chasse Naval Air Station, Oakville, Jesuit Bend, La Reussitte, Alliance, Myrtle Grove and Point Celeste.

When: Saturday, September 19, 2009
Opening remarks begin at 9 a.m. – Belle Chase High School Auditorium
Breakout sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. – Auditorium and Classrooms

Where: Belle Chasse High School
8346 Highway 23
Belle Chasse, LA 70037-2694

The workshop will also include staffed Resource Room in which people who attend the meeting may learn more about the overall status of the hurricane system, get information on how to submit packages for borrow which could potentially be used in the hurricane system and learn more about the Corps’ environmental process.

Questions or comments concerning these projects should be addressed to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Gib Owen
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-1337
Fax: 504-862-2088
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 or www.mvn.usace.army.mil


Release no. 09-054