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CWPPRA
COASTAL WETLANDS PLANNING, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ACT
TASK FORCE MEETING

AGENDA
June 4, 2013, 9:30 a.m.

Location:
Estuarine Fisheries and Habitat Center
Conference Room 119
646 Cajundome Blvd.
Lafayette, Louisiana

Documentation of Task Force meetings may be found at:
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/CWPPRA.aspx
*Please note new link. Bookmarks to old link will no longer work*

Tab Number Agenda Item

  1. Meeting Initiation 9:30 a.m. to 9:40 a.m.
    1. Introduction of Task Force or Alternates
    2. Opening remarks of Task Force Members
    3. Request for Agenda Changes/Additional Agenda Items/Adoption of Agenda

  2. Decision: Adoption of Minutes from the January 24, 2013 Task Force Meeting (Brad Inman, USACE) 9:40 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Mr. Brad Inman will present the minutes from the last Task Force meeting. Task Force members may provide suggestions for additional information to be included in the official minutes.

  3. Report: Status of CWPPRA Program Funds and Projects (Susan Mabry, USACE) 9:45 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. Ms. Susan Mabry will provide an overview of the status of CWPPRA accounts and available funding in the Planning and Construction Programs.

  4. Report: Request Approved by Task Force Electronic Vote to Increase Monitoring Incremental Funding and Budget for the PPL 1 – Bayou Labranche Wetland Creation Project (PO-17) (Brad Inman, USACE) 9:55 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) requested approval for a monitoring funding and budget increase for the Bayou Labranche Wetland Creation project (PO-17). USACE and CPRA requested approval for a monitoring budget and funding increase of $116,632 to allow the completion of planned activities for project data collection, including a site visit, topographic survey, vegetation survey, and compilation of an Operations, Maintenance, and Monitoring (OM&M) report. The revised total project cost would be $3,934,560. The Technical Committee voted at the April 16, 2013 meeting to recommend approval for a monitoring funding increase in the amount of $138,277. The requested amount has been subsequently amended to $116,632 after cost-saving measures taken by the local and Federal sponsors. The Task Force approved the request via electronic vote on May 29, 2013.

  5. Report: Construction Update (Brad Inman, USACE) 10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. The CWPPRA agencies will provide a report on projects that are currently under construction and projects that have been recently completed construction.

  6. Report: Briefing on Strategic Planning for Oil Spill Related Project Efforts (Bren Haase CPRA) 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. CPRA will provide an overview of oil spill related funding source outlook, projects being considered for implementation, and ongoing efforts to advance project development.

  7. Report: Public Outreach Committee Report (Susan Bergeron, USGS) 10:30 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Ms. Susan Bergeron will present the quarterly Public Outreach Committee report.

  8. Report: Selection of Ten Candidate Projects to Evaluate for PPL 23 (Kevin Roy, USFWS) 10:40 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. At the April 16, 2013 Technical Committee meeting, the Technical Committee selected 10 projects as PPL 23 candidates for Phase 0 analysis as listed below. The Technical Committee did not select and does not recommend further review of any demonstration projects based on a recommendation from the Environmental and Engineering Work Groups that the demonstration projects lacked sufficient merit for further investigation.

    Region
    Basin
    PPL 23 Nominees
    1
    Pontchartrain
    New Orleans Landbridge Shoreline Stabilization & Marsh Creation
    2
    Barataria
    Caminada Headlands Back Barrier Marsh Creation
    2
    Barataria
    Wilkinson Canal Marsh Creation & Nourishment
    2
    Barataria
    Bayou Grand Cheniere Marsh & Ridge Restoration
    3
    Terrebonne
    Island Road Marsh Creation & Nourishment
    3
    Terrebonne
    Grand Bayou Freshwater Enhancement
    3
    Tech-Vermilion
    Southwest Pass Shoreline Protection
    4
    Calcasieu-Sabine
    West Cove Marsh Creation & Nourishment
    4
    Mermentau
    Southeast Pecan Island Marsh Creation & Freshwater Diversion
    4
    Mermentau
    South Grand Chenier Marsh Creation – Baker Tract

  9. Decision: FY14 Planning Budget Approval, including the PPL 24 Process, and Presentation of FY14 Outreach Budget (Process, Size, Funding, etc.) (Brad Inman, USACE) 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The P&E Subcommittee will present their recommended FY14 Planning Program Budget development, including the PPL 24 Process.
    1. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve that the PPL 24 Process Standard Operating Procedures include selecting four nominees in the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins; three projects in the Breton Sound and Pontchartrain Basins; two nominees in the Mermentau, Calcasieu/Sabine, and Tech/Vermilion Basins; and one nominee will be selected in the Atchafalaya Basin. Additionally, demonstration projects will be screened by the work groups before the April meeting for technical merit, and the Technical Committee will decide whether to move them forward.
    2. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve the FY14 Outreach Committee Budget, in the amount of $445,800.
    3. At the April 16, 2013 Technical Committee meeting, the Technical Committee recommended the Task Force approve the FY14 Planning Budget request of $5,064,238. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) later requested to remove a line item under Supplemental Tasks for Core GIS Support in the CPRA Planning Budget in the amount of $10,995. The Technical Committee voted by email on May 6, 2013 to approve this requested Planning Budget decrease. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve the FY14 Planning Budget, in the amount of $5,053,243.

  10. Report/Decision: 20-Year Life Decision Matrix (John Jurgensen, NRCS) 11:15 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. At the January 23, 2013 20-Year Life (20YL) Workshop, the Task Force directed the P&E Subcommittee to develop a decision matrix to assess project closeout activities. The Technical Committee and P&E Subcommittee have evaluated and discussed the first two projects nearing their 20-year lives as well as other projects to demonstrate that the matrix can be used for all four of the different 20YL options: extension of project life, close out, transfer of responsibility, and close out with removal of features. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve the path forward for the Bayou LaBranche Wetland Creation (PO-17) and Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (ME-09) projects.

  11. Report: Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS) Report (Dona Weifenbach, CPRA) 11:35 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. Ms. Dona Weifenbach will provide a report on CRMS.

  12. Decision: Request for a Change in Scope and Name for the PPL 10 – Mississippi River Reintroduction Into Northwestern Barataria Basin Project (BA-34) (Ken Teague, EPA) 11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CPRA request approval for a change in project scope and name for the Mississippi River Reintroduction Into Northwestern Barataria Basin project (BA-34). We propose to change the scope of the project by eliminating the siphon, due to limited ability to reintroduce Mississippi River water at reasonable cost (i.e. high cost, small flows). Instead, we propose focusing on restoring hydrology within part of the original approved project area (impounded) by gapping spoil banks and installing culverts, which would be highly cost-effective. We propose to change the project name to Hydrologic Restoration and Vegetative Planting in the Lac des Allemands Swamp (BA-34-2). The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve the scope and name change.

  13. Decision: Request for a Change in Scope for the PPL 10 – Rockefeller Refuge Gulf Shoreline Stabilization Project (ME-18) (John Foret, NMFS) 12:05 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and CPRA request a project scope change to proceed with the design to 30% and 95% for the Rockefeller Refuge Gulf Shoreline Stabilization project (ME-18). The NMFS and CPRA are proposing to scale down the project from 9.2 miles to 2.0 miles. The net acres protected are estimated as 198 acres, while the original concept was targeting 920 net acres protected. The NMFS and CPRA also request a fully funded cost estimate decrease from the original $95,988,680 to an estimated $28,082,507. In 2009, the NMFS de-obligated the $877,476 Phase 1 MIPR funds. If the change of scope is approved, the NMFS and CPRA are requesting that $502,842 of the project’s de-obligated MIPR be reissued to complete the project design. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve the scope change.

  14. Decision: Request for Approval for Final Deauthorization on the PPL 9 -- Weeks Bay Marsh Creation/Shoreline Protection/Commercial Canal/Freshwater Redirection Project (TV-19) (Stuart Brown, CPRA; Hilary Thibodeaux, CB&I) 12:20 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. Mr. Stuart Brown will provide a presentation on Weeks Bay, followed by a presentation by Mr. Hilary Thibodeaux. The USACE and CPRA are requesting approval for final deauthorization procedures on the Weeks Bay Marsh Creation/Shoreline Protection/Commercial Canal/Freshwater Redirection project (TV-19). The Task Force voted to initiate deauthorization at the October 11, 2012 meeting, allowing the project team to give a presentation about the project changes at the January 24, 2013 meeting, and making a final decision at the June meeting. The Technical Committee did not believe that the modeling presentation justified a change in action from their original recommendation for final deauthorization. The Task Force will consider and vote on the approval for final deauthorization of the Weeks Bay Project.

  15. Decision: Request for Approval for Final Deauthorization on five projects (Bren Haase, CPRA) 12:35 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. CPRA is requesting approval for final deauthorization procedures on the five projects listed below. These projects face technical implementation issues, have an unfavorable benefit-to-cost ratio, or have languished for an extended period. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve the final deauthorization of the following projects:
    • Delta Building Diversion North of Fort St. Philip (BS-10), PPL 10, USACE
    • Avoca Island Diversion and Land Building (TE-49), PPL 12, USACE
    • Spanish Pass Diversion (MR-14), PPL 13, USACE
    • White Ditch Resurrection (BS-12), PPL 14, NRCS
    • Bohemia Mississippi River Reintroduction (BS-15), PPL 17, EPA

  16. Decision: Request for Approval for an Inactive Status, SOP Language for Inactive Status, and the Inactivation of the PPL 9 – Freshwater Bayou Bank Stabilization Project (TV-11b) (Brad Inman, USACE) 12:50 p.m. to 1:05 p.m. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee recommendation that unconstructed projects that are considered feasible but have not been funded for construction due to programmatic issues (e.g., high costs, cost share agreement issues, etc.) and have completed a 95% Design Review may be approved for inactivation. If this occurs, all project funding will be returned to the program. If conditions (e.g., economic and/or programmatic) change, then the project may be considered for a return to active status with an updated funding request. The Technical Committee has provided draft language detailing this new status for the CWPPRA Standard Operating Procedures. The Task Force will consider the Technical Committee’s recommendation to approve inactivation of the PPL 9 – Freshwater Bayou Bank Stabilization Project (TV-11b).

  17. Additional Agenda Items (Col. Richard Hansen, USACE) 1:05 p.m. to 1:10 p.m.

  18. Request for Public Comments (Col. Richard Hansen, USACE) 1:10 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

  19. Announcement: Date of Upcoming CWPPRA Program Meeting (Brad Inman, USACE) 1:15 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. The Technical Committee meeting will be held September 11, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Room, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

  20. Announcement: Scheduled Dates of Future Program Meetings (Brad Inman, USACE) 1:20 p.m. to 1:25 p.m.
    2013
    September 11, 2013
    9:30 a.m.
    Technical Committee Meeting
    Baton Rouge
    October 10, 2013*
    9:30 a.m.
    Task Force Meeting
    New Orleans
    *This date may be changed*
     
     
     
    November 13, 2013
    7:00 p.m.
    PPL 23 Public Comment Meeting
    Baton Rouge
    December 12, 2013
    9:30 a.m.
    Technical Committee Meeting
    Baton Rouge

  21. Decision: Adjourn

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