[StBernard] Corps of Engineers seeks public comment on St. Bernard Parish pump station repairs

[Westley Annis]

Corps of Engineers seeks public comment on St. Bernard Parish pump station
repairs
Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
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on February 10, 2014 at 3:39 PM, updated February 10, 2014 at 4:23 PM

The Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on seepage repairs to
two pump stations in St. Bernard Parish. The draft environmental assessment
will be available for public review and comment until March 9, according to
a corps announcement on Monday. 

The two pump stations are located northeast of Chalmette, near Jupiter Drive
and Jacob Drive. They have been out of service for about 14 months as a
result of the seepage problem from holes in the pipes, according to the
assessment.

In the interim, adjacent pump stations have handled the drainage pumping.
But without the damaged pumps, it takes longer to drain the parish
watershed, according to the recent assessment.

The repairs would reduce flood risk by pumping water from the 40 Arpent
Canal to the central wetlands area during rain events.

The stations are two of eight pump stations located on the local,
non-federal back levee. They are operated based on rainfall amounts prior to
and during storm events.

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, these two stations provided about 10 percent of
the system's drainage capacity for the St. Bernard area, according to the
assessment.

The proposed repairs would consist of a new concrete T-wall system and
replacement of discharge pipes on the flood side of the levee, according to
the corps.

Pump Station #2 is located near Guichard Canal, which is near Jupiter, Amour
Drive and Atreus Street. Pump Station #3 is located near Florida Avenue,
Jacob, and Despaux Drive.

Copies of the draft environmental assessments are available online,
www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Portals/56/docs/PD/EA-526Feb3-DraftSBPS.pdf, and by
request.

Public comments on the draft document can be submitted to:

Debra A. Wright
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regional Planning and Environmental Division
South

Environmental Planning Branch

CEMVN-PDN-NCR

P.O. Box 60267

New Orleans, LA 70160-0267

Phone: 504.862.1732

Email: debra.a.wright at usace.army.mil

Fax: 504.862.2088