Pump to the River Information
Scalise on Obama's "Drive-thru Daiquiri Summit" 10/15/09 - You Tube
Scalise on CNN's The Situation Room - You Tube
NO City Counsel Meeting vote - Video
Scalise Fighting for Hurricane Protection
Update from Joseph Rault 9-30-09
Vitter/Landrieu PUMPPS Language Removed
from the final FY10 E&W Appropriations Bill
Matt McBride - "The fix was in" Fix the pumps on Blogspot.com
CPRA Chair Issues Statement Regarding Removal of Landrieu-Vitter Amendment from Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Council President Fielkow Believes Current Corps Plan is Flawed
Editorial: Taking a strategic step on New Orleans outfall canals
The Times-Picayune editorial page staff September 18, 2009
Flood concerns at Orleans, Jeff. parish line hit Council
The City Council listened to officials with UNO and the Pump to the River group about ways to fix flooding in the Holly Grove neighborhood. Scott Satchfield reports.
Click video to view
Dear Pump to the River Friends,
This is a report from Joe Rault in Washington together with Pres. Aaron Broussard, Dr. Bill LaCorte and 25 members of the Jefferson Parish delegation, along with our Washington lobbyist Jeff Brooks on a 3 day Fly-in during which we have met on PTR issues with most of the entire Louisiana delegation who are resoundingly of continuing full support.
The two big legislative opportunities in Washington are:
1) The stand alone Bill under the jurisdiction of Sen. Barbara Boxer's Environment and Public Works Committee before whom I testified in June remains in place pending further action through Sen. Vitter and Sen. Landrieu.
Meanwhile,
2) The amendment passed by the Senate and introduced by Sen. Landrieu and Vitter putting PTR authorizations affecting 1, 2 & 2a in the Energy and Water Bill was approved by the Senate. As previously reported, this was a remarkable accomplishment by our Senators. That Bill now proceeds to the House & Senate conference committee where final version will be agreed upon. The House Bill does not include the critical Senate amendment, so it is imperative that we come out of that committee successfully. Sen. Mary Landrieu is a member of that committee as a part of the Senate representation. The House representation will be from the House Appropriations Sub-committee which includes Louisiana member Congressman Rodney Alexander and also New Jersey representative Rodney Frelinghuysen. Today, Pres. Broussard, Ken Brown, of Metairie and myself met with both and were able to put forth our position in support of including the Vitter/Landrieu Senate amendment in the final Bill.
On the local front in N.O., you have been reading in the press of developments there with the City of New Orleans and the State regarding further support and activity for Pump to the River.
It is further reported to us that the State, the N.O. Sewerage and Water Board and Jeff Parish are considering a joint undertaking to pay for its own study on PTR as an expression of confidence in the project. We are meeting with them further on this ourselves.
Stay tuned as these developments continue to unfold. Regards,
Joe Rault
Pump to the River/Jefferson Orleans
The Scalise Capitol Report
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Comprehensive Hurricane and Flood Protection for Southeast Louisiana
What you should know about the proposals being considered by Congress and local officials to improve, modernize, and enhance drainage along the Jefferson / Orleans Parish line…
Since Katrina, your local officials and drainage personnel have been working diligently with neighborhood civic associations, Congress, and the Corps of Engineers to improve the safety of lives and property against hurricane overflow and rainfall flooding. There is now an acceptable plan that can achieve those goals. It will benefit residents and businesses that are dependant upon the 17th Street Canal and Pump Station #6, and the Monticello Canal.
The locally preferred proposal recommended by the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, and other officials is commonly referred to as option 2a by the Corps of Engineers and is comprised of four (4) essential components that are shown on the map below.
1) Improve the depth and efficiency of the 17th Street Canal between existing Pump Station #6 and Lake Pontchartrain to move rainwater more quickly to the Lake.
2) Build a new pumping station at the lake end of the 17th St. Canal to replace the existing Pump Station #6 and prevent lake water from entering the canal.
3) Supplement the new pump station at the Lake with a pipeline system and separate pumping station that will discharge directly into the Mississippi River, rather than into the 17th Street Canal and Lake Pontchartrain; - “PUMP TO THE RIVER!”
4) Remove existing Pump Station #6 from the system because it will no longer be needed.
We must have better hurricane protection for our properties,
better drainage of our streets and neighborhoods,
and less reliance on the 17th Street Canal walls!
This will also greatly improve the quality of life in our communities, our growth potential, and our access to public services, hospitals and emergency vehicles required to meet
our recovery needs.
With this plan, businesses and opportunities can return with confidence. Residents can feel safe once again from the risk of flooding in Broadmoor, Uptown, Lakeview, Carrolton, Hollygrove, and the Hoey’s Basin areas of Old Metairie and Old efferson.
Point of View: Don't let corps decide what's acceptable
Posted by Jim Harlan, Guest Columnist, The Times-Picayune June 22, 2009
EDITORIAL: Ally on outfall canals
EDITORIAL: Pursue best solution on canals
Senate Passes Supplemental with Landrieu Amendment
to Expedite Non-Profit School Rebuilding
Thanks to all who attended last night’s meeting held by the Corps of Engineers. We had a great turnout of the 400+ in attendance. Senators Landrieu and Vitter filed two amendments yesterday afternoon and they are trying to get them included in the FY09 Defense Supplemental Bill.
Amendment #1 would authorize and appropriate funding to construct a pumping station that shall be specifically designed to evacuate storm water from the area known as Hoey’s Basin, generally described in the Corps’ IER #5 and specifically known as Pump to the River. The Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 100% of the total cost of the project.
Amendment #2 requires the Corps to temporarily suspend implementation of permanent pump stations at the outfall canals along Lake Pontchartrain in Orleans and Jefferson Parish and to conduct a further analysis of the alternate options identified in a Report to Congress dated August 30, 2007 within 30 days.
After submitting the report, the Corps shall proceed with implementation of the option which is more technically advantageous, more effective operationally in providing greater reliability and reducing the risk of flooding to the New Orleans area over the long term, which increases the region's overall drainage capacity, and reduces local flooding to the greatest extent and offers the greatest system flexibility.
Of interest during the meeting, the overwhelming majority of the crowd was against the Corps proposal for Option 1 and clearly stood behind the representatives of the City of N.O., the Parish of Jefferson, the S&W Board, Congressman Scalise, Councilman John Young, Councilman Cao, Councilwoman Lee-Sheng and other elected officials who unanimously agreed that Option 1 woul d be bad and supported Option 2 and 2a.
During the discussion, the Corps admitted several times that technically speaking and from an engineering view point both Options 2 & 2a were far superior to Option 1 and only proceeding with Option 1 because it was20originally authorized several years ago with the money being approved by Congress at that time and it was the cheapest of the alternatives. The Corps also confirmed that the Pump to the River cost was $205M which compares to $170M by our own engineers and thus under the proposed Landrieu-Vitter pending legislation it could be done quickly and low budget, while option 2 is better evaluated for its action. The timeline to finish Pump to the River is less than 2 years. The timeline for the others is as much as 10 years.
ACTION LINE - we now thank all of you for your support which has produced these great results and ask you to communicate by email to Senators Landrieu and Vitter and your representatives thanking them for their support and the new proposed legislation20and offering our continued assistance.
Senator Mary Landrieu, (202)224-5824; landrieu.senate.gov
Senator David Vitter, (202) 224-4623; vitter.senate.gov
Congressman Charlie Melancon, (202) 225-4031; melancon.house.gov
Congressman Steve Scalise, (202) 225-3015; stevescalise.com
Congressman Joseph Cao, (202) 225-6636; josephcaoforcongress.com
Plug pulled on Pump to the River WWL TV
Officials Fight To Save Pump The River Plan on WDSU TV 
Watch the Interview with Lisa Ludwig from PTR on WWL TV 