Wastewater Treatment Plant Incinerator Replacement

With flood water destroying the EBWTP incinerator, the S&WB requested a replacement PW. However, FEMA’s staff determined inaccurately that the incinerator was “abandoned” prior to the storm and issued a “Zero PW” (Denial of funding) although the S&WB provided documentation that although used infrequently (due to environmental restrictions) the incinerator was in active use.

The incinerator replacement denial was used as an example of recovery obstacles during an official visit of FEMA’s leadership. During this visit a complete file documenting the damages to the incinerator, replacement cost, and proof of operations with EPA regulatory filing. After this meeting, FEMA restored the $5.5 million dollars for the replacement of the incinerator.

In this photo, standing next to the incinerator at the EBWTP is FEMA’s Deputy Administrator, Vice Admiral Harvey Johnson and James Stark, Director of Louisiana Transitional Recovery Office and S&WB Management listening while Jake Gruber details the EBWTP incinerator’s “Zero PW” issue (denial of funding).