Council objects to proposed bulk loader
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 11, 2000
LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 11, 2000
HAHNVILLE – A proposed mid-stream dry bulk loader drew a letter of strong objection Monday from the St. Charles Parish Council, as councilmembers called for a public hearing to rally opposition.
Earl Matherne, parish coastal zone manager, said Mississippi River Ventures is applying for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to moor amidstream loader across from Oakland Estates subdivision in St. Rose.Black asked if the applicant said which specific cargo would be loaded or unloaded at the facility, and Matherne said if permitted it could handle any dry bulk item from grains to coal.
Councilman Clayton Faucheux moved to ask for a public hearing and ask for a Corps representative to attend and hear the concerns of the local residents.
Matherne said later that though the economic feasibility of being non- specific in its cargo selection would be good for the company, it would most likely be grain.
Councilwoman April Black asked for letters to state and federal legislators to invite their involvement.
In another matter, the council also approved a Christmas-tree project to protect the Simoneaux Ponds area of Bayou Gauche from salt-water erosion.
Matherne said 10,000 used Christmas trees would be used to install a 60- by-500 foot wave dampment and sediment trap on Grand Bayou, near Bayou Gauche.
Matherne added the coastal-use office had for years been looking for a west bank site to use Christmas trees to protect the fragile wetlands. Forseveral years trees have been used to rescue the LaBranche Wetlands, north of Airline Drive.
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