Home / Environment / Judge Halts Louisiana Coastal Project
Judge Halts Louisiana Coastal Project
7 Apr
Summary
- Federal judge revoked a coastal restoration permit in Atchafalaya Basin.
- Environmental groups sued, claiming permit ignored public opposition.
- Two separate lawsuits resulted in permit revocations for bayou projects.
A federal judge has revoked a crucial permit for a coastal restoration initiative within Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin. This decision, issued on March 31, marks a significant win for environmental organizations that had filed a lawsuit challenging the project. U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson determined that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers improperly granted the permit to the state's Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority for the East Grand Lake flood control project.
Environmental groups, including Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and Healthy Gulf, contended that the Corps of Engineers failed to adequately consider public objections and alternative locations before issuing the permit in 2023. They argued that the Atchafalaya Basin does not require additional sediment, as it would harm existing wetlands and fishing grounds. This legal action followed a previous withdrawal of the permit application in 2021 due to inadequate assessment of wetland impacts.
In parallel, Judge Jackson also presided over a separate case concerning a dirt dam constructed in Pat's Throat Bayou. Environmental plaintiffs successfully argued that the dam impeded access for crawfishermen. Consequently, the permit for this dam was also suspended, further reinforcing the court's stance on protecting the basin's ecological integrity and traditional uses.
