Please define the long-term benefits that will be seen by my constituents as a result of this project.

1. Has the COE conducted recent studies defining the nature and costs of the economic, social, environments and physical impacts (both direct and indirect) that will be borne by the surrounding neighborhoods? Are negative community impacts weighed against environmental impacts at other potential sites?
2. Why have alternative locations for the lock been removed from consideration? Any viable alternative location would avoid my constituents while still providing improvements for our navigation industry.
3. When will the economic modeling that justifies this project be available to the public?
4. Does this project pose a significant public health threat to the surrounding neighborhoods and region? What science is the COE presenting to guaranty safe excavation, handling, shipping and long-term storage of the documented toxic sediments that will be dredged from the bottom of the Industrial Canal? Will these activities release toxins downriver into the St. Bernard drinking water intake system?
5. What specific demolition methodologies will the COE employ for the safe removal of the historic lock structure and its massive foundations? Can the COE demonstrate that foundations for the new 24-foot floodwalls in the vicinity of the demolition will not be compromised during the process?
6. Given the volatile political climate in this country, how can the COE guaranty long-term continued funding for this project. What assurances are in place that the anticipated 13-year timeline is realistic and how is the ultimate project budget reasonably assumed?
7. Will consistently higher Spring and Summer Mississippi River elevations influence the timeline of this project? Will the COE face dormant periods where certain key pile driving operations will be prohibited? With unpredictable River levels the new norm does it make sense to bring this high-water 12-blocks further North into the City?
8. Does the COE have data documenting that project pile driving will have no direct physical impacts on the hundreds of shallow foundation homes and businesses that surround the project area?
9. Why have the current designs for the new St. Claude Bride (with the “S”-curve) not been uploaded to the COE website for public review?
10. Has the COE engaged in traffic studies to assess the effects of this project on on the already difficult daily commuting over the industrial canal and emergency hurricane evacuations? Will the completion of this project result in more frequent and longer bridge closures at both St. Claude and Claiborne Avenues? Is the COE relying on other, un-funded transportation projects (such as the Florida high-rise bridge) to alleviate traffic congestion and guaranty public safety?
11. With rising sea levels and limited Federal resources, is it of greater benefit for our region to have the COE complete the Coastal Master Plan prior to undertaking improvements at the Industrial Canal?
12. Has the COE identified the exact number of structures that will be demolished and is there a final count on area residents who will be permanently displaced as a result of this project?
13. What is the economic and cultural loss to the Bywater and Holy Cross Historic Districts of the demolition of the 100-year-old IHNC Lock and Bridge complex? Will this project significantly alter the setting of these historic neighborhoods through the addition of 24-foot flood walls.