By Kimberly Hopson

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District finally revealed it’s choice of alignments for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Levee Project.
Based on current analysis, the agency said that Alternative C is the draft Tentatively Selected Plan. 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. Alignment C was estimated to be the most inexpensive option of the three, with its pipeline avoidance stragies.
The announcement left St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom hopeful but also worried about residents who will fall outside of the levee protection.
“I am extremely pleased that the Corp of Engineers followed through with providing their recommendation in a year’s time, however clearly any community outside a levee system remains vulnerable to flooding,” said Robottom. “The preferred alignment would have protected the River Parishes, which is still the goal. During the 45-day comment period residents will have an opportunity to address any deficiencies or remaining concerns.”
The announcement came as predicted by St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel, who said he had an “eerie feeling” the agency would choose alignment C at a St. James Parish Council meeting earlier this month. Roussel said he is “disappointed” by the agency’s choice.
Roussel previously said that Alignment C will cause water to funnel into St. James Parish. Roussel found it “curious” that the agency would be willing to go with Alignment C, since it would likely end up costing the agency more money to build ring levees and other non-structural measures with the other two options than it would cost to add a few more miles to the levee. At the time, Roussel estimated the difference between options C and D to be about $11 million dollars — $1 million for each mile of levee built in alignment D.
“We’re going to be like a written invitation for a storm to come flood us,” he said.
Before the choice can be can be confirmed, the corps must fully review and evaluate all comments received during a public comment period. After the public comments are fully evaluated, the corps will focus on analyzing the TSP as its single alternative.
“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.”
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.
The fight is not over, but what’s left is a matter of options: Roussel said he has already contacted the levee board and local congressmen to help chart alternatives and elicited the support of legislators Cedric Richmond, Bill Cassidy and Mary Landrieu. Roussel said he would meet with the corps after they have compiled a list of options and discuss whether it is feasible to use Alignment D.
The parish president said he is willing to go the bank himself and borrow the money to make up the difference between the two options but will to hold off for the chance to receive federal funding.
“We don’t want to go to the table empty handed. I want to put some skin in the game, and I think our people are willing to put skin in the game to make sure we can get FEMA certified levees,” he said.
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.
The corps will hold public meetings that will give the public a valuable chance to share their commentary one-on-one with a certified court reporter. The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lutcher. The second meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m., at the St. John the Baptist Parish Community Center in LaPlace.
Roussel, again, encourages the public to contact the corps and local legislative representatives to voice their dissatisfaction with the choice.
“The ones who didn’t write to the corps yet, the ones who didn’t tell the senators and the congressmen their feelings, they need to reach out and let them know their deepest fears and concerns and really show some attendance at the public meetings,” he said.
“The people are going to have to show up with us and lock arms on this issue to show that we need this help, or we will get inundated with water.”
In addition to the public meetings, the corps will also accept written comments until Oct. 7. Comments on the integrated report should be directed to: Regional Planning and Environment Division – South New Orleans District, Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, LA 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 St. John the Baptist Parish Library in LaPlace, the St. James Parish Library in Lutcher and the Earl K. Long Library – University of New Orleans in New Orleans. The report is also available online at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, website: www.mvn.usace.army.mil.