The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is encouraging the public to participate in scoping for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is developing an EIS to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the project. The Corps will use the EIS to inform its decision-making for permits and permissions for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project.
In April, we announced that we are conducting two phases of restoration for Barataria Basin. The first phase will prepare a strategic restoration plan for Louisiana’s Barataria Basin. The second phase will initiate restoration planning for projects or a suite of projects selected in the Phase 1 plan, potentially including the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.
We expect that our strategic restoration plan will evaluate whether the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is appropriate for restoring injuries from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. If we do select the project for restoration in Phase I, we anticipate supporting the development of the Corps’ EIS to inform that future draft restoration plan.
The public scoping comment period will be from July 6, 2017 through September 5, 2017. You can provide comments in writing or verbally at public scoping meetings. You can submit written comments to brad.laborde@usace.army.mil or via U.S. mail to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New Orleans District
c/o Brad LaBorde
7400 Leake Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
Public Meeting Information
If you're interested in learning more about the project or providing comments about the scope of environmental review for the project, consider attending one of the public scoping meetings. We will participate in the scoping meetings and provide information about how this project relates to our restoration planning process.
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2017 | 5:00 – Open House 5:30 – Presentation 6:00 – Open House 8:00 - Adjourn |
Leo Kerner City Park Multipurpose Complex 235 City Park Drive Lafitte, LA |
| July 25, 2017 | 5:00 – Open House 5:30 – Presentation 6:00 – Open House 8:00 - Adjourn |
Belle Chasse Auditorium 8398 Highway 23 Belle Chasse, LA |
| July 27, 2017 | 5:00 – Open House 5:30 – Presentation 6:00 – Open House 8:00 - Adjourn |
Port Sulphur Community Center 278 Civic Drive Port Sulphur, LA |
Verbal comments submitted during the scoping meetings must be given to designated official transcribers in order to be part of the official record.
Informal discussions with agency staff during the open house setting are not comments recorded for the official record.