Plaquemines Parish, La., oyster companies and the Earth Island Institute environmental group say they plan to sue the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop the planned Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.
The project is one of the state’s almost $50B coastal restoration projects.
In a notice of intent (NOI) to sue, the group alleged that the diversion violates the Endangered Species Act and is likely to harm several imperiled marine animals.
The complainants allege CPRA and Corps “failed to fully evaluate the effects of the project" on the listed species.
The restoration project aims to recreate the Mississippi River's natural land-building processes by diverting a portion of the river’s freshwater, sediment and nutrients into the Barataria Basin.
The CRPA estimates the diversion will rebuild about 21 square miles of land and wetlands in Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes over the next 50 years.
It’s clear the diversion will have effects.
According to a Corps environmental assessment, the added sediment and freshwater “would likely have major, adverse impacts” on the basin’s oysters and brown shrimp. It would also harm populations of speckled trout and flounder, according to the Corps.
CPRA officials on Wednesday declined to comment. The Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jurisich Oysters, an Empire-based company owned by Plaquemines Parish council member Mitch Jurisich, Jr., who also serves on the state Oyster Task Force, is listed as the lead complainant.
Other complainants were oyster harvester Matthew Tesvich, AmeriPure Processing, a company that has an oyster processing facility in Belle Chasse, and the International Marine Mammal Project of San Francisco-based Earth Island Institue was also listed on the NOI.
It’s unclear what impact the legal action may have on the project. Construction has been underway for the past two months. CPRA expects to complete the project by 2028. (NOLA.com 11/08/23) Oyster harvesters threaten lawsuit over sediment diversion | Environment | nola.com
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