§101. West Bank hurricane protection projects

            A. For the purpose established in this Chapter, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board shall be designated the nonfederal sponsor for the construction of the Westwego to Harvey Canal hurricane protection project, for modifications of the Westwego to Harvey Canal hurricane protection project to include the Lake Cataouatche area, the East of Harvey Canal hurricane protection project, and for any other future project modifications or additions within the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Charles. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board is authorized to negotiate and contract with the United States of America to provide such assurances and cooperation as are necessary for the purposes authorized in this Chapter, including the negotiation and contract for any future modifications to the current local cooperation agreement between the West Jefferson Levee District and the Department of the Army for the Westwego to Harvey Canal hurricane protection project. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board or the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is authorized to contract for the construction of these projects, including any future project modifications or additions, and for the financing of the nonfederal share of the construction cost by the United States to be repaid by the state, with interest over a thirty-year period.

            B. The chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board or the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is authorized to proceed and cooperate in the planning, engineering, design, and construction of the Westwego to Harvey Canal hurricane protection project, for modifications of the Westwego to Harvey Canal hurricane protection project to include the Lake Cataouatche area, the East of Harvey Canal hurricane protection project, and for any other future project modifications or additions within the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Charles; to wit, providing the highest level of hurricane protection, consisting of levees, floodwall, floodgates, and related structures, as may be economically justified for those portions of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Charles parishes located on the west bank of the Mississippi River generally between the easternmost guide levee of the Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion Project in St. Charles Parish and the community of Oakville, Louisiana, in Plaquemines Parish.

            C. Upon completion of the construction of the hurricane protection projects, the responsibility for maintenance and operation of the hurricane protection system shall be assumed by the West Jefferson Levee District, the Orleans Levee District, Plaquemines Parish, and the Lafourche Basin Conservation Levee and Drainage District, respectively for those portions of the system within each of the parishes.

            Acts 1993, No. 1012, §1, eff. June 25, 1993; Acts 2008, No. 503, §1; Acts 2009, No. 523, §2, eff. July 10, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 604, §2, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 459, §1; Acts 2024, No. 177, §1.