Coastal Issues | Energy and Government | Case Studies
Energy Facility Siting: Case Studies
Below are examples of projects states have supported with their coastal zone management funding.
Lake Pontchartrain Pipeline Corridor
Petroleum facility along Louisiana coast.
There are hundreds of pipelines currently in Lake Pontchartrain. The number and placement of pipelines in the lake is a significant issue in Louisiana in terms of environmental impacts, user conflicts, and public perception. To address this issue, the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program contracted for a project to develop pipeline policies for the lake. Based on the information and recommendations in the study, the Louisiana Coastal Management Division developed Lake Pontchartrain pipeline corridor policies, generally referred to as the "corridor policy." Effective July 1, 2004, all pipelines installed in Lake Pontchartrain must be processed (via permit application and issuance) according to the corridor policy. There are specific design and construction criteria/constraints that must be incorporated into pipeline projects and that will be included in permit specifications and/or conditions. The policy identifies a north/south corridor and an east/west corridor as preferred routes for pipeline installations in Lake Pontchartrain. For any proposed pipeline outside either corridor, the applicant has the burden to demonstrate why the situation is exceptional and deserving of an exemption to the siting. The Louisiana Coastal Management Division holds a public hearing for every case proposed outside of a corridor, and public comments at the hearing are considered in the Division's review and evaluation of the permit.