[StBernard] EPA Modifies 1985 Bayou aux Carpes Decision

[Westley Annis]

EPA Modifies 1985 Bayou aux Carpes Decision 

  

(Dallas, Texas - May 28, 2009) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
today announced a decision to modify its 1985 determination prohibiting the
discharge of dredged or fill material in the protected wetlands of the Bayou
aux Carpes area south of New Orleans.  Today's announcement will allow for
discharges associated with construction of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
(GIWW) West Closure Complex within the Bayou aux Carpes site as part of the
proposed enhanced levee system in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. 

  

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Congress directed the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps) to enhance the existing hurricane risk reduction
system that serves the west bank of the Mississippi River.  As part of this
upgrade, the Corps proposed to build a new levee within the Bayou aux Carpes
wetlands in Jefferson Parish, where discharge of dredged or fill material
has been prohibited by EPA since 1985.  The GIWW West Closure Complex
project is part of a much larger project which will reduce flooding risks to
250,000 people living in south Louisiana. 

  

"Today's decision achieves a balance between the national interest of
reducing overwhelming flooding risks to the New Orleans area and critical
infrastructure of south Louisiana while ensuring protection of a vital
ecosystem," said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield.
"We are pleased that earlier this year Congress recognized the area for its
uniqueness, ecological integrity, and beauty by making it part of the
National Park system." 

  

"The Interagency Team assigned to this project engaged the navigation
industry, local non-government organizations and parish leadership to
identify the best engineering, least damaging and most effective risk
reduction measure for people living and working on the west bank," said
Colonel Alvin Lee, New Orleans District Commander. 

  

The Corps' GIWW West Closure Complex would include the construction of a
concrete "T-wall" style floodwall along the boundary of the site in lieu of
a levee bisecting the site in order to minimize the environmental impacts to
the Bayou aux Carpes wetlands.  The placement of the wall within the 100
foot by 4,200 foot perimeter corridor in the Bayou aux Carpes area, along
with the commitment by the Corps to fully mitigate for the unavoidable
wetlands impacts and to implement additional ecological enhancement
features, provides the most practical approach from an environmental
perspective while ensuring the 100-year level of risk reduction is
accomplished. 

  

EPA has a long record of protecting these wetlands, dating back to the
earliest days of the agency's history, and this decision will provide
adequate protection of the ecological integrity of the Bayou aux Carpes
wetlands.  The projected construction impacts will be limited in time and
area, the unavoidable impacts will be appropriately mitigated, additional
features will be developed and implemented to enhance the wetlands, and the
site will be monitored and managed for any adverse changes for the life of
the Corps project. 

  

More about activities in EPA Region 6:  http://www.epa.gov/region6
<http://www.epa.gov/region6>  

  

EPA audio file is available at
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/may2009.html
<http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/may2009.html>