NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District Commander, Col. Alvin B. Lee, signed the Decision Record on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 for the Permanent Pump Stations at the outfall canals.
This approval designates the maximum footprint for the permanent closure structures and pump stations to be built at the three outfall canals, as authorized and funded by Congress. The Corps has committed to working with the public to minimize the impacts of the pump stations to the greatest extent practicable, including working with the contractor to design the pump house to be as low as possible.
The Corps is utilizing the design-build process for these structures. The next step will present the public opportunities to provide input on the technical Request For Proposal (RFP), including project design criteria, at a series of three meetings to be held in September, October
and November 2009.
“This is a significant step in the process but, the Corps has not made any decisions on the types of pumps that will be used, or other technical specifications at this time,” said Col. Robert Sinkler, Commander of the Hurricane Protection Office. “We want to include the public in this
process during design of the pump stations and the next phase of public meetings will provide that opportunity.”
Once completed in late 2013, the new pumps will operate in series with the existing Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) pump stations. Demolition and removal of the existing Interim Closure Structures (ICS) would be required once construction of the new pump
stations and closures structures is completed.
Construction of the permanent gates and pump stations could support implementation of future changes to the city’s interior drainage system, if funded and approved.
The projects discussed in Individual Environmental Report (IER) 5 would reduce impacts from a storm event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year, the same level of risk reduction provided by the ICS. This will reduce risk to communities in Orleans and Jefferson
parishes such as Bucktown, Metairie, Lakeview, Lakeshore, Lake Vista, Mid City and Gentilly.
Alternative arrangements allow the Corps to expedite the environmental process required of all federally-funded projects while fully complying with the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act. IER documents are available on
www.nolaenvironmental.gov.
Questions or comments concerning Individual Environmental Reports or the Corps’ environmental process may be addressed to:
Gib Owen, PM-RS
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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.