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Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

Letter to Mr. James Lee Witt Director of FEMA

November 17, 1998
 CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECIEPT
REQUESTED Mr. James Lee Witt
Director of FEMA
Federal Center Plaza
500 “C” Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20472

RE: Approximately 2,600 flood plain acres schedules for development on North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, St. Tammany Parish, Slidell, Louisiana, East of I-10, T10S, R14E, titles Oak Harbor East and Lakeshore Estates

Dear Mr. Witt:

Unfortunately, this once vast coastal estuary was permitted to be drained illegally and possibly criminally, by various government agencies. In regard to the historic background and documentation drainage of this area, enclosed is a letter from SOWL attorney Arthur Lemann IV to Col. Frank Ellis and Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard dated March 26, 1998.

In line with the New Orleans Corps’ policy of permitting large scale developments on the North Shore of St. Tammany Parish in wetland-flood plains, without requiring an EIS under NEPA, the New Orleans District of the Corps of Engineers recently granted permits to St. Tammany Holding Corporation to develop a mega residential-commercial development in this area, extremely susceptible to hurricane tidal surges.

The devastation to lives and property from the coming flood to this area will be a disaster to all tax payers, and to our federal treasury, subsidizing federal flood insurance. It will, of course, result in increased insurance rates to all Louisiana taxpayers. And there might even come a time, when the federal government might have to buy out the homeowners in this vast flood plain. The resulting loss to all of us could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

SOWL is attempting to stop development in this flood basin and on September 21, 1998, filed suit in Baton Rouge (Time Picayune press clipping enclosed).

SOWL has also drafted a lawsuit hopefully to be filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans against the New Orleans District of the Corps of Engineers for violations of the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Administrative Procedure Act.

SOWL is also requesting a United States Congressional and Senate investigation, relating to the destruction of Louisiana wetlands acting as barriers to flood surges, and the resulting economic chaos to our federal subsidized flood insurance program.

In the meantime, SOWL requests your agency to survey this area, to insure all height and FEMA building requirements are mandated upon the present and future builders. It’s our understanding that a Holiday Inn is presently being constructed. Also, Slidell based O’Neil Theaters plan to build a movie megaplex in this flood plain (See Times Picayune press clipping enclosed dated November 15, 1998).

SOWL requests your agency to immediately contact St. Tammany Holding Corporation, Holiday Inn, and O’Neil Company’s President Mr. Tim O’Neil, the City of Slidell, the St. Tammany Parish Police Jury and any and all other to insure all FEMA requirements are mandated.

SOWL is not only concerned about the environment, but also about the economic well- being of SOWL’s over 1,200 tax paying Louisiana citizens being forced to subsidize corporate buildings in our Louisiana flood plain coastal-estuary-wetland areas.

Please advise.

Sincerely yours,
SAVE OUR WETLANDS, INC

LF/kcm
Enclosures
cc: Louisiana State Attorney General
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Brown
SOWL Executive Attorney
Melinda Leonard, Esq.
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
Earth Justice
Tulane Environmental Law Clinic

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