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Message
Mississippi River Commissioner Discusses Morganza
Posted on 5/13/11 at 3:48 pm
Posted on 5/13/11 at 3:48 pm
quote:
Clifford Smith, one of the three civilians on the Mississippi River Commission, told Eyewitness News it will take a vote of the commission’s seven members to open the spillway. Smith said that might happen at a meeting in Vicksburg or on board a vessel located in Baton Rouge, which is used by the commission to survey the river.
quote:
Smith, a civil engineer from Houma, said that once the order to open the spillway is given, it would take an additional 24 hours for the district engineer of the spillway to open the structure. He said the process of actually opening the spillway takes up to five hours.
quote:
“It’s not like you flip on a light switch,” Smith said.
WWL will have full comments at 5:00
LINK
Clifford's been being ferried around quite a bit. They told him to pack his bags for awhile early last week and they sent a plane to Houma for him. The Commission has been in session pretty much 24/7 for awhile. He was in Missouri when they had to blow that levee up.
2
Posted on 5/13/11 at 3:59 pm to Bowe Knows
thanks Bowe
Posted on 5/13/11 at 4:08 pm to bolo
Hmmm. That placing is buzzing with Corps people right now. I think they could start opening the first gate within about sixteen seconds of getting the word from the Mississippi River Commission.
I personally suspect that the Corps is using the MRC for cover. The MRC is acting as though it must still decide so that the Corps can go do its work without fielding calls from politicians and others. The MRC is running interference for the Corps. It is highly doubtful the MRC would ever hesitate for a second to give the Corps the authority it asks for to open Morganza.
I personally suspect that the Corps is using the MRC for cover. The MRC is acting as though it must still decide so that the Corps can go do its work without fielding calls from politicians and others. The MRC is running interference for the Corps. It is highly doubtful the MRC would ever hesitate for a second to give the Corps the authority it asks for to open Morganza.
Posted on 5/13/11 at 4:16 pm to JudgeHolden
There are seven members of the MRC. Three are Corps. One is NOAA. Three are civilians.
Of the Corps guys, two are from other parts of the country. They will defer.
The NOAA guy is highly unlikely to push back if the Corps guys want it open.
I don't know about the three civilians, but I cannot believe they would stand in the way of the Corps.
Further, and I am going to confess I am not sure about this, I have not yet seen anything that gives the MRC the say so when it comes to flood control. The web site says they have the power to "recommend." If anyone knows that answer to that, I would be real interested in knowing.
Of the Corps guys, two are from other parts of the country. They will defer.
The NOAA guy is highly unlikely to push back if the Corps guys want it open.
I don't know about the three civilians, but I cannot believe they would stand in the way of the Corps.
Further, and I am going to confess I am not sure about this, I have not yet seen anything that gives the MRC the say so when it comes to flood control. The web site says they have the power to "recommend." If anyone knows that answer to that, I would be real interested in knowing.
Posted on 5/13/11 at 4:23 pm to JudgeHolden
Corps PR Man Ken Holder was on WWL Radio when driving around today. His interview (if you would call it that) was wierd. The guy sitting in for Garland was annoyed and amused because everytime he started to talk, within three words, Holden would cut him off and say "glad you asked about that, and then ramble on and on".
He also made it seem like the Miss River Commission had total authority over the call on Morganza. When the host asked "Who is the Commission?", the Corps guy said "You'll have to go to their website."
"Interview" ended shortly thereafter.
Host said "Maybe he hasn't had much sleep and too much coffee."
ETA - Found the link LINK
He also made it seem like the Miss River Commission had total authority over the call on Morganza. When the host asked "Who is the Commission?", the Corps guy said "You'll have to go to their website."
"Interview" ended shortly thereafter.
Host said "Maybe he hasn't had much sleep and too much coffee."
ETA - Found the link LINK
This post was edited on 5/13/11 at 4:27 pm
Posted on 5/13/11 at 4:43 pm to Bowe Knows
section 8 of the flood control act of 1928 create the mississippi river commission. it states that the commission axe under the direction and supervision of the army corps of engineers
Posted on 5/13/11 at 5:14 pm to JudgeHolden
The words "plausible deniability" come to mind.
Realize that if these guys do their jobs correctly, they will interviewed in front of Congress and seen only on CSPAN.
If there is a catastrophic failure, they will be interviewed in front of Congress with as much press as the McCarthy hearings.
I have no idea why they haven't opened Morganza yet. They seem to be sticking strictly to the playbook on this one. Part of me admires them for sticking to their guns. Part of me wonders if it just gives them a better excuse if it fails..."We followed the protocol."
Realize that if these guys do their jobs correctly, they will interviewed in front of Congress and seen only on CSPAN.
If there is a catastrophic failure, they will be interviewed in front of Congress with as much press as the McCarthy hearings.
I have no idea why they haven't opened Morganza yet. They seem to be sticking strictly to the playbook on this one. Part of me admires them for sticking to their guns. Part of me wonders if it just gives them a better excuse if it fails..."We followed the protocol."
Posted on 5/13/11 at 5:58 pm to Bowe Knows
It will be only a funding issue. The Corps is absolutely immune from civil liability when it is acting on Mississippi River flood control. That is by law. The only thing the Corps risks is a loss of funding if they screw this up. Like the MMS, they could face being rolled into some new agency if this goes badly.
I admire them for sticking to the game plan despite the enormous political pressure being brought to bear.
I admire them for sticking to the game plan despite the enormous political pressure being brought to bear.
Posted on 5/13/11 at 6:36 pm to Bowe Knows
quote:
it will take a vote of the commission’s seven members to open the spillway.
Don't know the law as it applies to Morganza Spillway, but concerning the Birds Point - New Madrid Floodway it takes only one vote. That of the President of the Mississippi River Commission.
Posted on 5/13/11 at 8:13 pm to RhodeIslandRed
quote:
That of the President of the Mississippi River Commission.
Who is active duty Corps as I recall. The MRC is cover, pure and simple, when it comes to opening floodgates.
Posted on 5/13/11 at 8:34 pm to JudgeHolden
quote:
Who is active duty Corps as I recall.
Actually he is commander of the Lower Mississippi Valley Division, USACE.
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