Summary of the January 23, 2006 Memo from Linda Labure Chief or Corps Real Estate Department for

the New Orleans District This memo is to her superior, the Chief Realty Officer at the Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps (Vicksburg Office (CEMVN-PD-SP) She is requesting to purchase the rear portions of the properties along the 17th Street Canal as well as the London Ave Canal. (The memo is interwoven with a request regarding borrow pits in Plaquemine Parish. It clearly includes our properties. Background section explains that additional rights of way are needed. She explains that this is in accordance with the ASA(CW) (Assistant Secretary to The ArmyCivil Works) one time exception to policy the Corps is buying the property for the locals. I believe that this may explain why they purchased many of these properties, then began to fabricate a scheme to steal the remainder. Explanation of the issues: Explains that policy normally requires the acquisition of a perpetutal easement. But then goes on to give the reasons why it is better to purchase the property. The cost of that easement is essentially equal to the cost of purchasing the property. They believe that homeowners are more willing to sell the property that an easement. The Corps recommends acquiring additional right of way in order to clear any trees, sheds etc that may have contributed to the levee failure. As well as for inspection, maintenance and operation of the levee. Purchasing the property is recommended to make sure the area is kept clear and cost to do that with an easement would be as costly as purchasing the actual property. Interface with Other Federal and State Issues: The Orleans Levee District agrees that under the circumstances described herein, the acquisition of fee, excluding minerals, in lieu of perpetual/temporary easements, will greatly facilitate both the acquisition process and future operations and maintenance. Impact to schedule: In Orleans Parish, for LP&V, if perpetual easements are required over a portion of the landowners backyards, the landowners will remain the fee owner of this portion of their property and will be required to pay taxes over this area that they can no longer use. Under these circumstances, condemnation will be very likely, which will increase the timeline for providing compensation to the owners. Impact to budget: Condemnation will increase the cost to acquire each property by about $30,000-$35,000 per right-of-way. There are 45-50 ownerships on the LP&V (Lake Pontchartrain & Vincintity-a description for projects in our area) affected this acquisition. This is important because it shows that we are included in this. There is no way to split this amount that would not and does not include our properties. Please look at the below green map produced by the Corp AFTER they acquired the dozen or so properties to the north of us under virtually identical circumstances as is being stolen from us. It shows 49 affected properties.