Cameron Parish approves pipeline maintenance permit amid resident safety concerns near Grand Lake school
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Summary
Cameron Parish members approved a permit tied to the CP Express/Venture Global pipeline but several members and residents urged delay and more public notice after a nearby pipeline incident; staff said they would contact Williams and the permit agent to clarify timing and public outreach.
Cameron Parish members voted to approve a permit for work described as part of the CP Express/Gulf Intercoastal Waterway Crossing, despite residents and several jurors expressing concern about safety and public notice.
The permit approval came after prolonged discussion about recent pipeline activity near the parish and questions about proximity to a school. An unidentified speaker warned that "people are very nervous about where this is gonna be," and told the body the line "passes within 300 400 feet of the school," pressing the jurors for more information and an opportunity for public input. A parish staff member or representative (Speaker 7) responded that they would "reach out to Williams and to the agent on the permit to see when the project's going to start and to make sure that they let the police jury know when the project's gonna start," and to get information out to the public.
Board members debated whether to table the permit to allow more outreach. Some jurors argued for immediate action to avoid delaying routine maintenance; another juror said the board should not withhold necessary repairs if safety inspections indicate digging is required. After discussion and a motion to approve, the permit was carried.
The meeting record shows members sought follow-up information: Speaker 6 said the parish would "still get that information to you" and that staff or the permit agent would contact the parish and the public. The body asked staff to verify the project's start date, the nature of the work (described in the record as routine maintenance and anomaly digs after a smart pig inspection), and whether further community notice or a delay should be considered.
Next steps recorded at the meeting included outreach by staff to the pipeline operator/agent and distribution of scheduling information to concerned residents; no formal conditions or tabling of the permit were recorded in the motion itself. The transcript does not record a detailed mitigation plan, nor a timeline for when staff will report back to the body.
The permit conversation is part of a wider set of infrastructure and permit items the body addressed during the session, including other permits, CEAs, and project change orders.