From: Patrick Courreges

Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 1:21 PM

To: Patrick Courreges

Subject: Coastit Notes from the Department of Natural Resources

Coastit Notes

June 14, 2010

Greetings from Department of Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Lou Buatt. Coastit Notes is a publication of the Office of Coastal Management to inform permit applicants, the public and others of events and items that may impact them or their interaction with our office.  This e-document is intended to improve customer service and awareness of OCM works and functions and includes announcements from all OCM divisions as issues arise.  If you wish to be removed from this list or have been forwarded this email and wish to be added to the list, please contact Christine Charrier at christine.charrier@la.gov.

Information Submittal for Emergency Use Authorizations from OCM

· Provide the Applicant Name, Address, Phone Number and email address

· Provide a description of the emergency situation and how the proposed use is immediately required for the protection of lives, property, or the environment from the emergency situation.

· Provide the latitude/longitude coordinates (in degrees/minutes/seconds) of the project location(s) that require corrective actions (ie, pipeline repairs, spill cleanup, riprap installation, etc.) on a vicinity or aerial photo map.  

· If any excavation and/or filling is to be performed, provide a description of the area (length, width and depth dimensions, in feet) excavated and/or filled, if the excavated material will be backfilled or hauled offsite for disposal, and/or if offsite material (indicate type – ie, limestone, commercial dirt fill, riprap, etc.) will be used for fill.  

· Provide a description of the equipment used to access the site(s), including the width of the right-of-way required for access (if marine vessels, the maximum draft of the vessels is required and the water depths along the access route).

· Indicate if any work has already been performed and what work will need to be performed to render a non-emergency state (defined above).Summarize the activity that is proposed, where it will be conducted and how the equipment/supplies will be transported to the site(s).

Once this information is received and your emergency use authorization is granted, you will be required to submit a Joint Permit Application to this Department within 30 days. 

Regulations regarding emergency use are codified as LAC 43:I.723.B.3 (see below)

3.   Emergency Uses 

a.   Coastal use permits are not required in advance for conducting uses necessary to correct emergency situations.

           i.     Emergency situations are those brought about by natural or man-made causes, such as storms, floods, fires, wrecks, explosions, spills, which would result in hazard to life, loss of property, or damage to the environment if immediate corrective action were not taken.

          ii.     This exemption applies only to those corrective actions which are immediately required for the protection of lives, property, or the environment necessitated by the emergency situation.

b.   Prior to undertaking such emergency uses, or as soon as possible thereafter, the person carrying out the use shall notify the secretary and the local government, if the use is conducted in a parish with an approved local program, and give a brief description of the emergency use and the necessity for carrying it out without a coastal use permit.

c.   As soon as possible after the emergency situation arises, any person who has conducted an emergency use shall report on the emergency use to the approved local program or to the administrator. A determination shall be made as to whether the emergency use will continue to have direct and significant impacts on coastal waters. If so, the user shall apply for an after-the-fact permit. The removal of any structure or works occasioned by the emergency and the restoration of the condition existing prior to the emergency use may be ordered if the permit is denied in whole or in part.

Coastit Notes is a publication of the Office of Coastal Management to inform permit applicants, the public and others of events and items that may impact them or their interaction with our office.  This e-document is intended to improve customer service and awareness of OCM works and functions and includes announcements from all OCM divisions as issues arise.  If you wish to be removed from this list or have been forwarded this email and wish to be added to the list, please contact Christine Charrier at OCMinfo@la.gov.

Patrick Courreges

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Communications Director

(225) 342-0058 (ofc)

(225) 454-8223 (cell)