[StBernard] new Corps general's nomination

[Westley Annis]

Westley, please post for those who don't receive the TP. ddk

Vitter: Nominee not up to speed
He ignores levees' role in Katrina at hearing
Thursday, April 19, 2007
By Bruce Alpert

WASHINGTON -- Sen. David Vitter, R-La., expressed disappointment
Wednesday that President Bush's nominee to head the Army of Corps of
Engineers cited "changing weather patterns" rather than levee failures
for the devastating flooding that swamped the New Orleans area in
Hurricane Katrina.

Vitter raised the question about the flooding during a hearing by the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Lt. Gen. Robert Van
Antwerp, the president's nominee for chief engineer, responded that
Katrina was "something that was larger than I think we had predicted,"
and that as weather patterns changed over time, "you got to adjust your
thinking," even about long-established projects such as levees.

Vitter said the answer shows that Van Antwerp needs a "full briefing"
from corps officials, who have acknowledged critical levee design
failures caused much of the flooding, Vitter said after the hearing.

Vitter said many in Congress and the Bush administration seem to have
"forgotten" that the levees were intended to provide protection from a
storm like Katrina, which measured a Category 3 hurricane when it hit
the New Orleans area on Aug. 29, 2005.

The senator praised Van Antwerp for agreeing to tour southern Louisiana
today and Friday to examine post-Katrina hurricane protection and
coastal restoration needs and suggested he use the trip as an
opportunity for a full briefing from "your folks on the ground."

Vitter, who still has a hold on Van Antwerp's nomination, said he wants
to check back with the nominee to find out what he learns from his New
Orleans visit before deciding whether to drop his opposition.

"I would rather have gotten a good answer today and didn't get it,"
Vitter said.

Vitter said he still might support the nominee if Van Antwerp can
demonstrate a much better understanding of the Katrina failures and the
need for more financing for levee restoration and upgrades than so far
has been supported by the Bush administration.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who also has placed a hold on the
nomination, said she is pleased that Van Antwerp pledged during a
meeting this week to be an advocate for strong hurricane protection in
southern Louisiana. But Landrieu said she wouldn't drop her hold, which
blocks a Senate confirmation vote, until he can assure members of the
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority that he will work
with them on critical projects.

Van Antwerp repeated some of the commitments he made to Landrieu during
Wednesday's Environment and Public Works Committee meeting.

In response to questions from Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer,
D-Calif., the nominee promised to offer his personal views on corps
issues, even if they are different than the Bush administration's, and
to produce materials and testimony sought by Congress in a timely
manner.

. . . . . . .