Breaux Act Newsflash - COASTAL WETLANDS PLANNING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ACT TASK FORCE MEETING AGENDA
BREAUX ACTCOASTAL WETLANDS PLANNING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ACT
TASK FORCE MEETING AGENDA
Date:
October 25, 2007 9:30 a.m.
Location:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office
7400 Leake Ave.
New Orleans, Louisiana
District Assembly Room
Purpose:
The purpose of the meeting is for the Task Force to consider the status of
CWPPRA Program funds and projects, and to make decisions on budget
requests, project selections, and programmatic changes based on Technical
Committee recommendations established at the September 12, 2007 Technical
Committee meeting.
Documentation of Task Force and Technical Committee meetings may be found
at:
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pd/cwppra_mission.htm
Agenda Item
1.Meeting Initiation 9:30 a.m. to 9:35 a.m.
a.Introduction of Task Force Members or Alternates
b.Opening remarks of Task Force Members
2.Adoption of Minutes from the June 27, 2007 Task Force Meeting: 9:35
a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
3.Status of Breaux Act Program Funds and Projects (Gay Browning,
USACE/Melanie Goodman, USACE) 9:40 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. Ms. Gay Browning and
Ms. Melanie Goodman will provide an overview of the status of CWPPRA
accounts and available funding in the Planning and Construction Programs.
4.Decision: FY08 Planning Budget and FY08 Outreach Budget (Melanie
Goodman, USACE/Scott Wilson, USGS) 9:55 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
a.The Technical Committee recommends approval of the FY08 Planning Budget
in the amount of $4,531,534.
b.The Outreach Committee recommends approval of the FY08 Outreach
Committee Budget in the amount of $464,470.
5.Decision: Requests for Funding for Administrative Costs for those
Projects Beyond Increment 1 Funding (Gay Browning, USACE) 10:10 a.m. to
10:20 a.m. The Technical Committee recommends funding approval in the
amount of $17,119 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administrative
costs for cash flow projects beyond Phase II, Increment 1 funding.
6.Decision: Request for Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Funding (Troy
Constance, USACE) 10:20 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. The Technical Committee
recommends approval of requests for total O&M funding required in FY08 in
the amount of $3,368,508 for the following projects:
a.PPL 1-8 Projects requesting funding increases totaling $1,070,503.
Cameron-Creole Maintenance Project (CS-04a), PPL-3, NRCS: Request for an
increase in O&M funds in the amount of $174,928.
Cameron-Creole Plugs Project (CS-17), PPL-1, USFWS: Request for an
increase in O&M funds in the amount of $47,897.
East Mud Lake Marsh Management Project (CS-20), PPL-2, NRCS: Request for
an increase in O&M funds in the amount of $640,831.
Highway 384 Hydrologic Restoration Project (CS-21), PPL-2, NRCS:
Request for an increase in O&M funds in the amount of $153,339.
Black Bayou Hydrologic Restoration Project (CS-27), PPL-6, NMFS: Request
for an increase in O&M funds in the amount of $53,508.
b.PPL 9+ Projects requesting FY11 O&M funding in the total amount of
$2,298,005.
Barataria Basin Landbridge Shoreline Protection Project - Phase III
(BA-27c), PPL-9, NRCS: Request for FY11 O&M incremental funds in the
amount of $21,200.
Coastwide Nutria Control Program (LA-03b), PPL-11, NRCS: Request for FY11
O&M incremental funds in the amount of $2,276,805.
7.Decision: Request for FY11 Coastwide Reference Monitoring System
(CRMS)-Wetlands Monitoring Funds, and FY11 Project Specific Monitoring
Funds for Projects on PPLs 9+ (Greg Steyer, USGS) 10:35 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Following a presentation by USGS on the status/progress of CRMS over the
past year, the Task Force will vote on the following Technical Committee
recommendations:
a.The Technical Committee recommends approval of the following requests
for project specific FY11 monitoring funding for projects on PPLs 9+ in
the amount of $237,591 for the following projects:
GIWW- Perry Ridge West Bank Stabilization (CS-30), PPL-9, NRCS
Grand-White Lakes Landbridge Protection (ME-19), PPL-10, USFWS
Coastwide Nutria Control Program (LA-03b), PPL-11, USFWS
b.The Technical Committee recommends approval of the request for CRMS FY11
monitoring funds in the amount of $4,697,824.
8.Decision: 17th Priority Project List (Troy Constance, USACE): 10:50
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The Environmental Workgroup Chairman is available to
present an overview of the ten PPL 17 candidate projects and three PPL17
candidate demonstration projects.
a.The Technical Committee recommends Phase I funding approval in the
amount of $7,660,313 for four candidate projects.
Bohemia Mississippi River Reintroduction Project, $1,395,699
Caernarvon Outfall Management/Lake Lery Shoreline Protection Project,
$2,665,993
West Pointe a la Hache Marsh Creation Project, $1,620,740
Bayou Dupont Marsh and Ridge Creation Project, $2,013,881
b.The Technical Committee vote on the Candidate Demonstration projects
resulted in a tie between the following two projects:
Bioengineered Oyster Reef, Demonstration Project, $1,981,822
Sediment Containment System for Marsh Creation, Demonstration Project,
$1,163,343
The Technical Committee did not arrive at a clear consensus on which of
the two demonstration projects was better, so they decided to ask the Task
Force to revote or approve both projects.
11:30a.m.-11:45a.m. - BREAK
9.Decision: Project Deauthorization Requests (Troy Constance, USACE)
11:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Technical Committee recommends
deauthorization of the following projects:
a.Mississippi River Reintroduction into Bayou Lafourche Project (BA-25b),
PPL-5, EPA
b.Labranche Wetlands Terracing, Planting and Shoreline Protection Project
(PO-28), PPL-7, NMFS
c.Opportunistic Use of Bonnet Carre Spillway Project (PO-26), PPL-6, USACE
d.Myrtle Grove Siphon Project (BA-24), PPL-5, NMFS
10.Decision: Project Transfer Request: Bayou Lamoque Freshwater
Diversion Project (BS-13) (Troy Constance, USACE) 12:00 p.m. to 12:10 p.m.
The State has requested that this PPL 15 project be transferred from the
CWPPRA program to the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) because it
is a Tier 1 project in the State's Draft Coastal Impact Assistance Plan,
and the State is currently designing the project to be executed under that
plan. The Corps of Engineers, the Federal sponsor, concurs with the
transfer. The Technical Committee recommends that the Bayou Lamoque
Freshwater Diversion Project (BS-13) be transferred from CWPPRA to CIAP.
11.Decision: Raccoon Island Shoreline Protection/Marsh Creation Project
(TE-48) (Britt Paul, NRCS) 12:10 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. NRCS and DNR are
requesting approval to transfer $319, 255 from the construction budget of
Phase A (breakwaters) to the E&D budget of Phase B (marsh creation). The
Technical Committee recommends approval of the request to transfer
$319,255 from the Phase A budget to Phase B for the Raccoon Island
Shoreline Protection/Marsh Creation Project.
12.Decision: GIWW Bank Restoration of Critical Areas Project (TE-43)
(Britt Paul, NRCS) 12:20 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. NRCS and DNR are requesting
approval for a change in project scope for the GIWW Bank Restoration of
Critical Areas Project (TE-43). The Technical Committee recommends
approval of the change in project scope for the GIWW Bank Restoration of
Critical Areas Project.
13.Discussion: Status of Unconstructed Projects (Melanie Goodman, USACE)
12:35 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. As directed by the Task Force, the P&E
Subcommittee will report on the status of unconstructed CWPPRA projects
that have been experiencing project delays. Discussions will include the
status on milestones and the Task Force may discuss potential directions
to take on the following projects:
a.West Point a la Hache Outfall Management Project (BA-04c), PPL-3, NRCS:
project update and status on change project scope.
b.Brown Lake Hydrologic Restoration Project (CS-09), PPL-2, NRCS: update
on revised WVA milestone, request for construction approval.
c.Periodic Introduction of Sediment and Nutrients at Selected Diversion
Sites Demonstration Project (MR-11), PPL-9, USACE
d.Mississippi River Sediment Trap Project (MR-12), PPL-12, USACE:
Presentation by Mr. Greg Miller, USACE
e.Benney's Bay Diversion Project (MR-13), PPL-10, USACE: Induced Shoaling
Issue
14.Discussion/Decision: Impacts of Converting PPL 1-8 to Cash Flow
(Melanie Goodman, USACE) 12:45 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. The P&E presented an
overview of the impacts of converting PPL 1-8 projects to cash flow
procedures on cost share and land rights agreements at the last Technical
Committee and Task Force meetings. A summary of the preliminary estimated
potential construction and long-term O&M and Monitoring funds tied up in
PPL 1-8 that could be used to fund projects that are eligible for
construction in the near term was also provided. A completed analysis of
Construction and long term O&M and Monitoring funds will be presented to
the Task Force. The Technical Committee, at its September 12, 2007
meeting, weighed the impacts on cost share and land rights agreements, the
total amount of funds that could be available to fund construction of
eligible projects, whether or not unexpended construction funds from
unconstructed projects would be included, and if those projects would then
be subject to the standard operating procedures for cash flow projects
(i.e., 30% and 95% design review and Phase II approval and funding
requirements). The Technical Committee recommends that PPL 1-8 projects
not be converted to cash flow procedures.
15.Report: Public Outreach Committee Quarterly Report (Andre Williams,
IAP Contractor / CWPPRA Staff) 12:55 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Mr. Andre Williams
will present the Public Outreach Committee Quarterly Report.
16.Additional Agenda Items (Col. Lee, USACE) 1:00 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.
17.Request for Public Comments (Col. Lee, USACE) 1:05 p.m. to 1:10 p.m.
18.Announcement: Date of Upcoming CWPPRA Program Meetings (Melanie
Goodman, USACE) 1:10 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. CWPPRA Projects Dedication Ceremony
for Southcentral Louisiana will be held Friday, October 26, 2007 at 10:30
a.m. at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), 8124
Highway 56, Cocodrie, LA.The next Technical Committee meeting will be held
January 16, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. at the LA Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries, Louisiana Room, 2000 Quail Dr., Baton Rouge, LA.
19.Announcement: Scheduled Dates of Future Program Meetings (Melanie
Goodman, USACE) 1:15 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. * Dates in BOLD are new or revised
dates.
2008
January 16, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Technical Committee
Baton Rouge
February 13, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Task Force
Baton Rouge
February 19, 2008
1:00 p.m.
RPT Region IV
Rockefeller Refuge
February 20, 2008
9:00 a.m.
RPT Region III
Morgan City
February 21, 2008
9:00 a.m.
RPT Region II
New Orleans
February 21, 2008
1:00 p.m.
RPT Region I
New Orleans
March 5, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Coast-wide RPT Voting
Baton Rouge
April 16, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Technical Committee
New Orleans
May 21, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Task Force
Lafayette
September 10, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Technical Committee
Baton Rouge
October 15, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Task Force
Baton Rouge
November 18, 2008
7:00 p.m.
PPL 18 Public Meeting
Abbeville
November 19, 2008
7:00 p.m.
PPL 18 Public Meeting
New Orleans
December 3, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Technical Committee
Baton Rouge
2009
January 21, 2009
9:30 a.m.
Task Force
Baton Rouge
Adjourn
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