Public meetings to collect comments scheduled for Sept. 10 and 17, 2013
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District has released its West Shore Lake Pontchartrain (WSLP) Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Study Integrated Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for a 45-day public comment period.
Based on current analysis, Alternative C is the draft Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP). This alternative includes a levee from the Bonnet Carré Spillway to Hope Canal to the Mississippi River and non-structural risk reduction in St. James Parish. The alternative would avoid some oil and gas pipelines and would include non-structural features such as elevating some homes and commercial buildings that are outside of the proposed levee. However, before this alternative can be confirmed as the alternative that is in the best interest of the federal government, the Corps must fully review and evaluate all comments received during a public comment period.
“Public comments are a critical part of the plan selection process,” said Jeff Varisco, project manager for the Corps. “We need to ensure that the Tentatively Selected Plan was identified using the best information available.”
After the public comments are fully evaluated, the Corps will focus on analyzing the TSP as its single alternative. The TSP cannot be recommended to the Chief of Engineers until it has been fully vetted and determined to be in the federal government’s best interest.
Community members and stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft integrated WSLP feasibility report and Environmental Impact Statement. The report contains a description of the project, an evaluation of the four alternatives under consideration and an analysis of potential environmental impacts.
Public Meeting Details
St. James Parish
When: September 10, 2013
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Open house and opportunity to provide one-on-one comments to a certified court reporter
6:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Brief presentation outlining the project and planning process
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Acceptance of public comments
Where: Knights of Columbus
1905 W. Main Street
Lutcher, La. 70071
St. John the Baptist Parish
When: September 17, 2013
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Open house and opportunity to provide one-on-one comments to a certified court reporter
6:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Brief presentation outlining the project and planning process
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Acceptance of public comments
Where: St. John Community Center
2900 Hwy. 51
Laplace, La. 70068
In addition to comments received during the public meeting, the Corps will accept written comments between August 23, 2013 and October 7, 2013. Comments on the integrated report should be directed to:
William Klein
Regional Planning and Environment Division - South
New Orleans District, Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267
Comments may also be sent to WSLPAdmin@usace.army.mil
Copies of the report are available for public review during regular business hours at the following locations:
• St. John the Baptist Parish Library, 2920 New Highway 51, LaPlace, La. 70068
• St. James Parish Library,1879 West Main Street, Lutcher, La. 70071
• Earl K. Long Library – University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, La. 70148
The report is also available online at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District website: <www.mvn.usace.army.mil> at the WSLP project page: <http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/WestShoreLakePontchartrain.aspx>