05:57 PM CDT on Monday, July 10, 2006

WWLTV.com

The Army Corps of Engineers issued a preliminary technical report on the feasibility of category-5 levee protection that was quickly denounced by Louisiana Senators David Vitter and Mary Landrieu as short on specifics.

Corps’ spokesman Dan Hitchings said the report included three main areas: Technical analysis of information analyzed to this point, a study of the types of hurricane protection and a plan ahead for what still needed to be done before the final report is issued in December 2007.

Hitchings said the report featured a difference in the way the projects had previously been authorized. He said the Corps has gone from a strict cost/benefit analysis to a look at the risk to people, property and resources from major hurricanes. He said the analysis would include the benefits not just to the region, but to the entire country from protecting southeast Louisiana.

Vitter quickly expressed his displeasure on the report and added a shot at the Corps’ recent history of missing two deadlines for finishing floodgate projects.

"This lack of leadership and ineptitude has become the rule rather than the exception,” he said. “Two weeks ago I expressed frustration with the Corps on their repeated failures to meet self-imposed deadlines and goals. This report is nothing more than another slap in the face of Louisiana."

Landrieu called for congressional hearings into the Corps’ report after saying much of the important information was missing.