PEARL RIVER BASIN, MISSISSIPPI FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECT
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Presentation July 10-11, 2024

Presented in Jackson, MS - Slidell, La - Monticello, MS:

• Meeting Transcript - July 11, 2024 at Slidell, LA
• Meeting Transcript - July 10, 2024 at Jackson, MS Trade Mart
• Meeting Transcript - July 10, 2024 at Jackson, MS Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB)

Meeting Documents (etc.) :

• Virtual Public Meeting Presentation
• Virtual Meeting Chat Box Text
• Virtual Meeting Transcript (Coming Soon)
• Virtual Meeting Video Link
• Commander(s) Welcome Video

Virtual Public Meeting Scheduled for Pearl River Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

The public meeting will provide an overview of the DEIS and its findings, and participants may submit comments via the chat function. Your input is valuable in shaping the final Environmental Impact Statement.

Meeting Details:

• Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024
• Time: 6:00 PM (central)
• Location: Virtual Meeting
• Meeting Link: https://usace1.webex.com/meet/VICKSBURGDISTRICT
• Access Code: 2761 069 4978

Join by Phone:

• US Toll Free: +1-844-800-2712
• US Toll: +1-669-234-1177
• Access Code: 2761 069 4978

US Army Corps of Engineers Extends Comment Period for Pearl River Draft Environmental Impact Statement

VICKSBURG, Miss. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, has announced a 15-day extension of the public comment period for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) related to the Pearl River Basin, Mississippi Federal Flood Risk Management Project. Originally set to conclude on July 22, 2024, the new deadline for submitting comments is now August 6, 2024.

Click to view the UPDATE MEMORADUM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Pearl River Basin, Mississippi, Federal Flood Risk Management Project – Commander’s Report and Environmental Impact Statement

• The Pearl River Basin, Mississippi Federal Flood Risk Management Project Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) published today to the Federal Register.  The Notice of Availability, DEIS, and its appendices may be accessed through the links below.
• A Commander’s Report will be posted to this page soon. Please check back regularly for updates.
• The 45-day public review period for the Pearl River Flood Risk Management Draft Environmental Impact Statement will remain open through Monday, July 22, 2024.
• During the review period, USACE will conduct public meetings to receive feedback and accept comments from the public on the DEIS.
  • A virtual meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of June 24, 2024. Specific details regarding this meeting will be posted on this page as soon as they are available.
  • In-person public meetings are scheduled as follows:
    • Wednesday, July 10 – 2:00PM – Mississippi Public Broadcasting Auditorium, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211
    • Wednesday, July 10 – 6:00PM – Mississippi Trade Mart, 1200 Mississippi St, Jackson, MS 39202
    • Thursday, July 11 – 11:00AM – Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 2056 2nd Street, Slidell, LA 70458
    • Thursday, July 11 – 6:00PM - Monticello Civic Center, 125 E Broad Street, Monticello, MS

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  Public comments may be submitted:
  • Verbally or via a written comment card at an in-person session;
  • Via email to pearlriverFRM@usace.army.mil <mailto:pearlriverfrm@usace.army.mil> ;  or
  • Via mail addressed to:

Mr. Eric Williams; Chief, Environmental Branch

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Planning and Environmental Division South

CEMVN-PDS

7400 Leake Avenue

New Orleans, Louisiana 70118.

• USACE will compile all significant comments and provide responses to be included in a Public Involvement Report. Any resulting changes from the feedback and comments, as appropriate, will be incorporated into the final EIS.
• A final Environmental Impact Statement and appendices, will be published in the Federal Register later in 2024.
• A Record of Decision from the ASA(CW) will accompany these final documents.

The expected date of publication of the Pearl River Flood Risk Management Draft Environmental Study (DEIS) is Friday, June 7, 2024.

Once published, a Notice of Availability will be advertised in the Federal Register announcing a 45-day public/agency review.

During the review period, USACE will conduct public in-person listening sessions to receive feedback from the public on the report.  Additionally, feedback may be submitted by mail or email during the review period.

USACE will incorporate the feedback received, as appropriate, into the final report, along with conducting all necessary peer and legal compliance reviews.

A final environment impact statement, appendices, and corresponding Commander’s report will be published later in 2024.

A record of decision from the ASA(CW) will accompany these final documents.

Current Status:

Mr. Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, has determined that additional time is needed to refine the analyses of flood risk management alternatives for the Pearl River basin prior to the release of the Draft Environmental Impact statement (DEIS).  Public engagement sessions will be held following the release of the DEIS.  

• Delivering solutions that will reduce the community’s risk from flooding in the Pearl River basin remains a priority. 
• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated over $220 million to implement a comprehensive flood risk reduction plan for the Pearl River basin.
• Once the refined analyses are complete and the findings are incorporated into the report documents, USACE will:
  • update the project website to announce initiation of a 45-day public and agency comment period
    • https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/Pearl-River/
  • provide details for virtual and in-person meetings to present findings and receive feedback.

• The USACE performed review and analysis on the final array of alternatives in the non-Federal interest, Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, Section 211 draft Final Integrated Feasibility Report and environmental impact statement.
• Additionally, USACE conducted initial analysis on a modified nonstructural plan and identified additional flood risk mitigation measures for consideration based on analyses, public testimony and comment, and agency coordination.
• Closer to publication, USACE will update the project website and provide notification to the Congressional delegation and project stakeholders with additional details and timeframes for conducting public involvement activities (beyond the following).
  • USACE will publish a draft environmental impact statement for public input and feedback in early 2024.
  • Once the report documents are prepared and ready for review, a Notice of Availability will be advertised in the Federal Register announcing a 45-day public/agency review.

Next Steps:

• USACE will conduct public in-person and virtual listening sessions in the spring of 2024 to obtain feedback from the public on the report.
• USACE will incorporate the feedback received, as appropriate, into the final report along with conducting all necessary peer and legal compliance reviews.  
• A final environmental impact statement, appendices, and corresponding Commander’s report will be published in the summer of 2024.
• A record of decision from the ASA(CW) will accompany these final documents. 

Background:

• USACE was charged with providing the people of Jackson with effective near-term solutions to their flood risks through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• The USACE and Non-Federal Interest, Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood & Drainage Control District, have worked collaboratively on a report that will provide an analysis of flood risk management alternatives.
• The technical report will not make a recommendation. Rather it will provide an analysis of alternatives so that the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)) may decide on a range of flood risk management options.
• Study funds were exhausted in August 2023.  Additional investigation funds have been received and the USACE Team is fast-tracking completion of the (draft) project reports and preparing for upcoming public engagements in 2024..

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District (District) is aware that pre-decisional planning documents, which included preliminary cost estimates, were made public through a Freedom of Information Act request. The documents, marked as "Preliminary Planning Document, Not for Public Release" and dated August 8, 2023, were initially created during the early stages of plan review.

Since the creation of these documents, the District has actively collaborated with the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District (RHPRFDCD), gaining valuable insights on their plan's scope. The District and the RHPRFDCD have worked together to better understand the plan, refine information, and address additional considerations, including public input. The District would like to emphasize that the information contained in these materials is outdated and does not accurately reflect the current evaluation and our growing knowledge of the plan.

The District apologizes for any confusion the release of this document has created and remains committed to delivering the draft Environmental Impact Statement by early 2024. Furthermore, the District is dedicated to providing an effective flood risk solution for the Jackson Metropolitan Area.

Mr. Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, has decided to postpone publication of the Pearl River documents for no more than 60 days.

•  We remain committed to delivering solutions for the Pearl River basin that will reduce the community’s risk from flooding.
• While our analyses are not exhaustive, we are doing our best to ensure our evaluation of the Rankin-Hinds Feasibility Report is comprehensive, uses the best available information, and can inform decision making on next steps.
• We have received numerous public comments and input over the past few months.
• While we cannot thoroughly assess all comments received, we are working to make sure our analyses address some of the more frequently received comments like flooding issues on the tributaries.
• Given these reasons, we are delaying the release of the draft Commander’s report and draft environmental impact statement by no later than 60 days to allow for additional analysis and coordination.
• We look forward to input and feedback from the public on these documents in the near future.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this process.