Public meetings to collect comments scheduled for April 14-16
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District has released its Southwest Coastal Louisiana Study Revised Integrated Draft Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement for a 45-day public comment period.
This report revises the draft “Southwest Coastal Louisiana Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement” previously released in December 2013 and contains modified Tentatively Selected Plans (TSP) for the National Economic Development (NED) and National Ecosystem Restoration (NER) components of the study.
The NED purpose is to reduce the risk of hurricane and storm surge and flood damages. The NED TSP still consists of a programmatic nonstructural plan for the flood proofing of eligible structures in the 25-year floodplain by various methods including the elevation of eligible residential structures, dry flood proofing of eligible non-residential commercial structures, and the construction of berms and floodwalls of less than six feet in height around eligible industrial complexes and warehouses.
The purpose of the NER portion of the plan is to restore environmental conditions for the Chenier Plain ecosystem. The NER TSP consists of 51 ecosystem restoration features that are now being recommended for construction, in addition to the recommendation for a long-range study of the Calcasieu Ship Channel salinity control structure. The plan includes nine marsh restoration measures, one hydrologic and salinity control measure, five shoreline protection measures, and a Chenier reforestation program consisting of planting seedling trees and invasive species control at 35 locations in Cameron and Vermilion Parishes.
Community members and stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft integrated 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
Vermilion Parish
When: April 14, 2015
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: Abbeville High School, 1305 Wildcat Drive, Abbeville, La. 70510
Calcasieu Parish
When: April 15, 2015
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: Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, La. 70602
Cameron Parish
When: April 16, 2015
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: Cameron Police Jury, 119 Smith Circle, Cameron, La. 70631
The report is available online at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District website: <www.mvn.usace.army.mil> at the Southwest Coastal Study project page:
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/SouthwestCoastal.aspx
In addition to comments received during the public meeting, the Corps will accept written comments between March 20, 2014 and May 5, 2015. Comments on the integrated report should be directed to:
Sandra Stiles
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 SWCoastalAdmin@usace.army.mil or by Fax at (504) 862-1892.