On the west bank, where the Federally-authorized West Bank and Vicinity, Louisiana Project ends in Oakville, there are levees extending southward that were previously constructed by Plaquemines Parish and private entities. The levees extend southward from Oakville to St. Jude. In the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane season, Congress authorized funding to replace and modify certain portions of the NFL, and to incorporate these levees into the NOV, LA project. The current NFL incorporated into the NOV, LA project includes approximately 34 miles of levee replacements or modifications and a tie-in to NOV levees at St. Jude. Due to available funding limitations and constraints, a risk assessment was conducted in 2013 and updated in 2015 to optimize the levee heights and minimize the consequences based on the risk analysis results. The Oakville to LaReussite levee will be constructed using the design criteria to provide a 50-Year Level of Risk Reduction (LORR). For the remaining NFL extending from LaReussite to St. Jude, designs will be optimized to a consistent/ prioritized 20-25 year LORR. Improvements along the existing NFL include levee and floodwalls, drainage structures, two pump stations, floodgates, armoring, as well as fronting protection at existing pumping stations.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Environmental assessment #543

New right of way and mitigation for the New Orleans to Venice hurricane risk reduction project: incorporation of non-federal levees from Oakville to St. Jude and New Orleans to Venice Federal hurricane protection levee, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

Description of the Proposed Action: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District (CEMVN), has prepared Environmental Assessment (EA #543) to evaluate the potential impacts associated with proposed modifications to the right of way (ROW) necessary for the New Orleans to Venice Hurricane Risk Reduction Project: Incorporation of Non-Federal Levees (NFL) from Oakville to St. Jude and New Orleans to Venice Federal Hurricane Protection Levee (NOV HPL). (Col lectively referred to as "NFL NOV".) EA #543 also evaluates the potential impacts associated with completing compensatory mitigation for the impacts that would be incurred from construction of the NFL NOV projects using the previously identified ROW, as modified by the new ROW addressed in EA #543. As a resu lt of the NFL NOV projects, dry bottomland hardwoods (BLH-Dry), wetland bottomland hardwoods (BLH-Wet), scrub shrub, swamp, wet pasture, freshwater marsh, intermediate marsh, brackish marsh, saline marsh, and open water habitats are being impacted in the Barataria Basin.

Final Environmental Assessment #543 and Signed Finding of No Significant Impact
Appendix A Figures DCM
Appendix B Tables
Appendix E 2017-08-22, 401, 404 PN, Final 404(b)(1) Evaluation (Short Form)
Appendix F AEP Plan Selection Criteria LLW
Appendix G Public and Agency Comments and Response Summary
Appendix H WVA Model Assumptions
Appendix I Acronyms DCM
Appendix J Mitigation Planting, Monitoring and Related Guidelines DCM
Appendix K_Interagency Env Proj Delivery Team DCM
Appendix L Cumulative Impacts DCM
Appendix M Agency Coordination

Supplemental Information on #543:

• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 543a
•  Draft Finding of no Significant Impact
•  Public Notice
• Appendices A thru M