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Hurricane Katrina Update
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Published on September 7, 2005
As JCC reported earlier, the MMS COOP Office is up and running in
Houston. The MMS is planning to open a different, temporary office in
Houston by September 10, 2005 for 60 to 90 days. The office will
accommodate approximately 100 MMS employees.
The long-term plan is to try to re-occupy the Elmwood Towers Building
in the next 60 to 90 days.
MMS is currently drafting an NTL similar to that issued after
Hurricane Ivan, requiring certain inspections to be conducted to both
structures and pipelines with potential damage from the storm. In the
interim, MMS advised operators can re-board their facilities and come
on line following the Ivan NTL. MMS should be notified prior to reestablishing
production.
DNR Special Public Notice
The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources has determined
that damage done to the infrastructure in that part of the Louisiana
Coastal Zone impacted by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath has
resulted in an emergency situation and that damage is covered by the
emergency use provisions of the Rules and Procedure For Coastal Use
Permits. Further, the Secretary has determined that due to fact that
Hurricane Katrina has caused an impact of statewide significance, all
emergency uses under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Coastal
Resources Program which are necessitated for response to Hurricane
Katrina and its aftermath shall be considered to be uses of state
concern.
Because of the overwhelming destruction associated with Hurricane
Katrina, the Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management
Division is temporarily modifying its usual emergency authorization
procedures for storm related repair/restoration projects located east
of and including Terrebonne Parish. This modification applies ONLY to
those activities needed to restore infrastructure. The Department
requests that emergency users be as environmentally sensitive as
possible in conducting repair operations.
The Secretary is also authorizing those activities necessary to prevent
additional damages. In the event that new construction is needed, an
after-the-fact permit application might be required.
In the event that emergency repairs are needed, emergency users are
authorized to commence the necessary work at the earliest opportunity.
The Coastal Management Division reminds emergency users to provide the
Department with notification via letter, email, or fax as soon as
possible for documentation purposes. The notification should include
the name of the entity undertaking the repairs, a description of the
work performed and a vicinity the location of the emergency.
Notifications should be directed to:
Coastal Management Division
P. O. Box 44487
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-4487
vickiea@dnr.state.la.us
Fax: 225/342-9439
Phone: 225/342-3781
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