[EagleUSA]

Read the revealing Draft Request. Again we add another black mark to the CLINTON LEGACY.

You may directly access the Federal Record by going to their web site, enter the SIMPLE SEARCH MODE, and enter (with quotes) "fr23jn98-32" to review the entire document.

[Mad Dawgg]

Eagle I read the request from the link you provided above, however I see no mention in it where Clinton denied the request. Am I missing something or is there another document that shows he denied the request?

I would really like this info to use on another website.

[Mush MouthPhil]

I'm new to Free Republic.What does MSM stand for?

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

Interesting.

[MayflowerMadam]

Please don't tell me he donated his underwear.

[jsh3180]

Here's some similar info I came across earlier today:

February 17, 1995
An Army Corps of Engineers "hit list" of recommended budget cuts would eliminate new flood-control programs in some of the nation's most flood-prone spots - where recent disasters have left thousands homeless and cost the federal government millions in emergency aid.

Clinton administration officials argue that the flood-control efforts are local projects, not national, and should be paid for by local taxes.

Nationwide, the administration proposes cutting 98 new projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico, for an estimated savings of $29 million in 1996.

Corps officials freely conceded the cuts, which represent only a small portion of savings the corps ultimately must make, may be penny-wise and pound-foolish. But they said they were forced to eliminate some services the corps has historically provided to taxpayers to meet the administration's budget-cutting goals.

June 23, 1995

A hurricane project, approved and financed since 1965, to protect more than 140,000 West Bank residents east of the Harvey Canal is in jeopardy.

The Clinton administration is holding back a Corps of Engineers report recommending that the $120 million project proceed. Unless that report is forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget, Congress cannot authorize money for the project, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's office said Thursday.

On June 9, John Zirschky, the acting assistant secretary of the Army and the official who refused to forward the report, sent a memo to the corps, saying the recommendation for the project "is not consistent with the policies and budget priorities reflected in the President's Fiscal Year 1996 budget. Accordingly, I will not forward the report to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance."

[backhoe]

I appreciate the information and the source link. It needs to be pointed out, as the smear campaign against Mr. Bush is ratcheting up to full song.

Thank you.

[null and void]

Thanks for posting this. It will come in very handy after all the crap stops flying.

Maybe the MSM and lib-uh-rhuls will back off a little bit knowing that this information is readily available should they get too strident with the blame game.

[coconutt2000]

The size and scope of the levee problem could not have been solved by any governmental agency operating under non-emergency procedures in anything less than 15-20 years.

Unless we want to go back and blame every local administration and federal administration for the forty years preceding 1980 for not adequately planning for Hurricane Katrina, I suppose we should lay off the blame game. Nothing started during Clinton's administration would've changed the outcome of the disaster, unless they were operating with urgency, which they wouldn't have been. The proposed levee projects from President Bush's first term cited a 30 year program and I think over 10 billion dollars. The President cut their proposal down to 2 billion and limited them to only the most promising projects.

My own curiosity is in finding out how far along the projects were along before Katrina hit. If I'm right, none of them were really that far along because such projects take a lot of planning.

[bigsigh]

If that's true of Clinton in 98 wouldn't it be true of the following administration which hasn't done the project either?

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I can't believe I would ever say this, but today I give Clinton full credit for common sense, he said this is no time for politics, but a time for pulling together.

[fullchroma]

I knew it would show up here sooner or later.

[silverleaf]

ping

[cricket]

Perhaps someone would be kind enough to take this to DU or any other popular lefty sites they might know of.

[ntoddp]

Okay, where can I find proof that Clinton rejected the DEIS?

[Tatze]

There was another similar, more comprehensive thread yesterday, I think. Now I can't find it. Anyone remember it, have a link??

[spycatcher]

http://corner.nationalreview.com/05_08_28_corner-archive.asp#075067

"I teach history at a small liberal arts denominational college in central Louisiana, and spend too much time on NRO every day. Among the classes I teach is one on Louisiana Politics and Government, and thought you mind the following interesting and useful.

Regarding the levee system in New Orleans, one cannot truly understand how lucky the city was just have the system that was in place without understanding the truly Byzantine structure of New Orleans politics, which requires separate governing boards for each levee that is built.

Rather one agency that is in charge of flood prevention, there are scores. Building in redundancies would have required more boards, which would have lessened the political power of those on the existing boards. I seriously doubt that even now, after this catastrophe, that we in Louisiana will see this system change because the structure is mandated by the Louisiana Constitution. Any change requires not just statewide approval, but must also be approved by a majority of voter in Orleans Parish. Given how many local politicians whose fiefdoms would disappear, that will not happen, and so we will see this disaster occur again."

[Smartaleck]

[Federal Register: June 23, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 34151-34153]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn98-32]

"Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the West Shore--Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Hurricane Protection Feasibility Study"

It's a fact that this in no way by itself says anything about Clinton. What are you talking about?

[DocRock]

Eagle,

The link you posted is dead. Is there another link or is it possible for someone to post the contents here for future reference.

Thanks,

[ladyinred]

It will do no good because the media will never report this.

[EagleUSA]

Here is the entire text of the Draft Request from the Federal Register.
------
[Federal Register: June 23, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 34151-34153]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn98-32]

---

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army
Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the West Shore--Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Hurricane Protection
Feasibility Study

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

---

[[Page 34152]]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District
proposes to determine the feasibility of providing protection against
hurricane-induced flooding for residents located in portions of St.
Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes, Louisiana. The
study area, with a population in excess of 25,000 residents, is bounded
by the Bonnet Carre Spillway to the east, the Mississippi River to the
south, Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas to the north, and the St.
James/Ascension Parish line to the west. There are no Federal hurricane
protection projects protecting the study area from a tidal surge coming
from Lake Pontchartrain and Maurepas. The vulnerability of the study
area to a hurricane tidal surge is demonstrated by the fact that there
are an estimated 1,000 residential structures subject to flooding from
the 25-year storm, 3,990 residential structures subject to flooding
from the 100-year storm, and 4,020 residential structures subject to
flooding from the 500-year storm. The equivalent annual flood damages
for the without-project conditions are estimated at $9.4 million. A
reconnaissance study completed in June 1997, evaluated two alternative
alignments for providing hurricane protection to the study area at the
100-year and the standard project hurricane (SPH) levels of protection.
Both alternative alignments were determined to be economically
justified at both levels of protection. Hence, the reconnaissance
report recommended that the study proceed to the feasibility phase,
contingent upon the execution of a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement
(FCSA) with a non-Federal Sponsor. An FCSA was executed with the
Pontchartrain Levee District on March 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the proposed
action should be directed to the study manager, Mr. Brett H. Herr,
CEMVN-PD-FG, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, Louisiana 70160-0267,
telephone (504) 862-2495. Questions regarding the DEIS may be directed
to Dr. William P. Klein, Jr., CEMVN-PD-RS, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70160-0267, telephone (504) 862-2450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Authority

The study was authorized by a resolution adopted on July 29, 1971,
by the Committee on Public Works of the U.S. House of Representatives;
and by a resolution adopted on September 20, 1974, by the Committee on
Public Works of the U.S. Senate.

2. Proposed Action

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District proposes to
investigate the feasibility of providing hurricane protection to
residents living west of the Bonnet Carre Spillway between the
Mississippi River and Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. The study area
is located on the ``east bank'' of the Mississippi River and includes
portions of St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James Parishes.

3. Study Alternatives

Two alternative alignments for providing hurricanes protection to
the study area were evaluated during the reconnaissance study phase.
The two alignments are identical except for a portion located west of
Belle Terre Boulevard. Both alignments (Plan 1 and Plan 2) begin at the
west guide levee of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, approximately 2 miles
south of Lake Pontchartrain. Both alignments end at U.S. Highway 61 in
the vicinity of the Reserve Relief Canal. The alignment for Plan 1 more
closely follows the existing limits of development and encloses less
wooded swamps and bottomland hardwoods than Plan 2. The alignment for
Plan 2 parallels Interstate 10 for an additional 1.2 miles west of the
Belle Terre Boulevard interchange before turning to the southwest and
heading back towards U.S. Highway 61. The alignments for Plan 1 and
Plan 2 do not follow the wetland/nonwetland interface. Plan 1 and Plan
2 would enclose approximately 3,269 acres and 4,614 acres of wooded
swamps and bottomland hardwoods, respectively.
An alternative alignment (Plan 3), provided by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be evaluated during this study. This
USFWS alignment more closely follows the existing wetlands/non-wetlands
interface. These three alternative plans, along with other alternative
plans developed during the feasibility phase, will be evaluated in more
detail such that the level of protection provided by the proposed
action will be optimized based on an economic analysis of the benefits
and costs. Design features will be fully evaluated to ensure compliance
with current Federal and state laws and regulations. Any adverse
effects of the alternative plans will be identified and appropriate
mitigation measures will be included in the plans. An Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared during the feasibility phase
because of the potential for significant direct and indirect impacts on
the human environment in general, and on large tracts of forested
wetlands, in particular.

4. Scoping Process

An intensive public involvement program will be initiated and
maintained throughout the study to solicit input from affected Federal,
state, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and interested private
organizations and individuals. Scoping is a critical component of the
overall public involvement program. The scoping process is designed to
provide an early and open means of determining the scope of issues
(problems, needs, and opportunities) to be identified and addressed in
the DEIS.

5. Public Scoping Meeting

In the summer of 1998, the New Orleans District of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers will hold at least one public meeting in the study
area to receive oral and written comments on the proposed action.
Notices will be mailed to the affected and interested public once the
date of the public scoping meeting has been established. Comments
received as a result of the scoping meeting will be compiled and
analyzed; and a Scoping Document, summarizing the results, will be made
available to all participants.

6. Interagency Coordination

The Department of Interior will provide a Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act Report. Coordination will be maintained with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service
on threatened and endangered species. Coordination will be maintained
with the Natural Resources Conservation Service regarding prime and
unique farmlands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be consulted
regarding the ``Swampbuster'' provisions of the Food Security Act. We
will prepare a Section 404(b)(1) evaluation. Coordination will be
maintained with the Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation and the
State Historic Preservation Officer. The Louisiana Department of
Natural Resources will be consulted regarding consistency with the
Coastal Zone Management Act. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries will be contacted concerning potential impacts to Natural and
Scenic Streams. Application will be made to the Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality for a Water Quality Certificate.

7. Availability of DEIS

It is anticipated that the DEIS will be available for public review
during the

[[Page 34153]]

summer of 2000. A 45-day review period will be allowed so that all
interested agencies, groups and individuals will have an opportunity to
comment on the draft report and EIS. In addition, a public meeting will
be held during the review period to receive comments and address
questions concerning the draft EIS.

Dated: June 9, 1998.
William L. Conner,
Colonel, U.S. Army, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 98-16642 Filed 6-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-84-M