U.S. Senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy, M.D. have applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fiscal Year 2016 Work Plan that included increased funding for additional Louisiana projects and priorities.
“Louisiana’s ports and waterways are at the core of our state’s economic prosperity, which is why ensuring their safety and efficiency is so vitally important, ” said Senator Vitter.
“We’ve also been pushing hard to increase the funding for important flood protection and ecosystem restoration projects so we can strengthen our defense against destructive storms and flooding, protecting Louisiana families and businesses.”
“The Senate Appropriations Committee allocated additional funding for the Corps-it’s good to see it being spent in our state, acknowledging that our state’s needs are important to the nation,” added Dr. Cassidy.
The following Louisiana projects received funding:
Investigations funding
1) $350,00 for West Pearl River, LA for a study to deauthorize and convey the navigation project to the state.
Construction funding
1) $1,000,000 for Ascension Parish Environmental Infrastructure to enable the Parish to reroute sanitary sewer overflow and for pump station rehabilitation.
2) $4,000,000 for Comite River, LA to design modifications of Hwy. 61 Bridge;
3) $8,379,000 for the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway LA;
14) $1,250,000 for East Baton Rouge Parish Environmental Infrastructure for Highland Road Pump Station Improvements, LaSalle Park Drive and South Darryl Drive Pump Station Improvements.
Operation and Maintenance funding
1) An additional $250,000 for Bayou Bodcau Reservoir, LA;
2) An additional $165,000 for Caddo Lake, LA;
3) An additional $10,300,000 for Calcasieu River and Pass, LA;
4) An additional $7,200,000 for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, LA;
5) An additional $6,000,000 for J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, LA;
6) An additional $1,185,000 for Lake Providence Harbor, LA;
7) An additional $146,000 for Madison Parish Port, LA;
8) An additional $40,000,000 for Mississippi River, Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico, LA.
O&M Energy Transfer Ports funding
1) $548,000 to Calcasieu River and Pass, LA for Energy Transfer Port funding which will provide dredging the Port of Lake Charles berthing areas.
2) Total funding of $1,927,000 for Mississippi River, Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico, LA for Energy Transfer Port funding for the Port of Baton Rouge, the Port of New Orleans, the Port of Plaquemines Parish and the Port of South Louisiana which will provide dredging for improved navigational access to the Ports.
Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) funding
1) An additional $4.575 million for Atchafalaya Basin, LA;
2) An additional $120,000 million for Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System, LA;
3) An additional $1,300,000 for Bonnet Carre, LA;
4) An additional $300,000 for the Inspection of Completed Works in LA;
5) An additional $250,000 for Old River, LA.