Coastal restoration project faces crisis as reports emerge of Louisiana's alleged concealment of crucial documentation
Louisiana's ambitious plan to restore a swiftly disappearing coast, damaged by the 2010 Gulf oil spill, has hit a snag, thanks to a feud between the current and previous governors over an alleged withheld study.
The Hidden Report Scandal
This controversy's presence was anticipated by the preceding administration while they grappled with the duality of environmental analyses for the project, a confidential memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals. The nine-page document prepared by five lawyers working under then-Governor John Bel Edwards' administration sheds some light on a hidden study Governor Jeff Landry claims was improperly suppressed from the public and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the permit-approval process for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD).
Governor Landry accused Edwards' administration of concealing damaging information that could jeopardize the $3 billion project. Edwards maintains his administration provided all necessary information, stating, "Governor Landry's accusations are demonstrably false."
The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD): A Brief Overview
The MBSD project intends to mend a rapidly eroding stretch of Louisiana's coast by creating strategically placed openings in the levees, allowing the diversion of some river sediments to foster wetlands. This diversion aims to counteract the disappearing coastline, which is a result of factors such as climate change-induced sea-level rise and the river's vast levee system. With groundbreaking happening in 2023, the delay has had a detrimental impact on the project's progress.
Stakes and Concerns
Impact on the Local Fishing Industry
Opponents have lambasted the MBSD project for its escalating cost and devastating effects on the surrounding fishing and oyster industries. Conservationists, meanwhile, view the report as a red herring, accusing Governor Landry of manipulating it to derail the project.
Financial Implications
FEMA and the EPA have raised concerns about the ballooning expenses and the negative impact on the local fishing and oyster industries. The diversion, funded primarily from BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, represents the largest sediment diversion project in Louisiana's history.
The Confidential Memo: A Comprehensive Analysis
The confidential memo reveals that the study in question, conducted by AECOM Technical Services and a subcontractor, yielded inconsistent results, including significantly lower projected land creation—as few as 7 square miles (18 square kilometers) compared to the 21 square miles (54 square kilometers) estimated under the primary model. Officials familiar with the study said this discrepancy occurred due to the report's failure to consider sea-level rise and underestimation of the river's flow.
Legal and Reputational Concerns
The lawyers outlined potential legal and reputational consequences of withholding the study, emphasizing that not formally disclosing the modeling results to federal agencies could lead to litigation. They suggested discussing the matter informally with federal agencies before formally entering it into the public record for review.
The Aftermath: Suspension of the Permit
Col. Cullen Jones, head of the Corps' New Orleans District, recently stated that the Corps' technical review of the modeling analysis indicated it "would not affect" the permit. However, the Corps suspended the project's permit in part due to the alleged withheld information. It remains unclear how Governor Landry intends to respond to the permit's suspension, with the demanding deadline of Monday fast approaching, after which the Corps may revoke or modify the permit as they see fit.
The MBSD's future hangs in the balance, making for a dramatic twist in Louisiana's coastal restoration efforts. The coastal agency earmarked about $573 million for the project in its 2025 budget, though the legislature is now reviewing this allocation. If Louisiana decides to abandon or alter the project, funds allocated for it may need to be returned, as warned by federal agencies tasked with managing the Deepwater Horizon settlement money.
- The ongoing controversy over a hidden environmental study for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD) project in Louisiana has raised questions in local and general news.
- The dispute between the current and previous Louisiana governors over the alleged suppression of the report has delayed the $3 billion MBSD project.
- The MBSD aims to protect Louisiana's coastline by strategically diverting river sediments, counteracting the effects of climate change, sea-level rise, and the river's vast levee system.
- Advocates for the fishing and oyster industries argue that the MBSD poses a threat to their livelihoods, while conservationists accuse Governor Landry of manipulating the report to derail the project.
- The confidential memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that a study conducted by AECOM Technical Services and a subcontractor yielded inconclusive results, with significant discrepancies in land creation projections.
- The lawyers in the preceding administration cautioned that withholding the study's modeling results could lead to legal and reputational consequences, suggesting informal discussions with federal agencies instead.
- The Corps' suspension of the project's permit due to the alleged withheld information has cast uncertainty over the MBSD's future, with federal agencies warning that funds may need to be returned if Louisiana abandons or alters the project.
- As the deadline approaches for the Corps to revoke or modify the permit, Governor Landry's response to the situation and the future of the MBSD remain undercovered in the face of scientific, environmental, and political discussions.
