Council approves temporary conditional permit for Midway Cattle borrow pit, limits resale of material to parish levee projects

The Plaquemines Parish Council on Feb. 12 approved a temporary conditional permit allowing Midway Cattle LLC to operate a borrow pit at 850 West Ravenna Road in Belle Chasse until Aug. 15, 2026, unless extended or replaced by an unconditional permit. The motion, introduced and read into the record by staff, passed on a 9-0 voice vote.

Under the motion the council required Midway Cattle to provide a written description within seven days of the method for establishing a baseline for any future backfill requirement and to deliver a sufficient survey in a timely manner. The motion also restricted sale or distribution of suitable dirt and materials “from the site” to use in currently active parish levee projects funded by the federal government through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Claire Bienvenu, an attorney who identified herself as representing Midway Cattle, spoke after the motion was read and said the company “takes issue” with the third condition limiting sales to government projects. Bienvenu argued the restriction was not part of prior permits issued for the site and asked the council to consider removing or discussing that condition.

A member of the public and other speakers expressed support for allowing material to be used locally but some council members and commenters favored the sale restriction to ensure materials benefit public levee projects and to control environmental impacts.

The council’s recorded action directed staff and counsel to proceed as read, and the clerk documented passage 9-0. The temporary permit’s conditions require follow-up reporting from the applicant; council members said they could revisit the conditions or extend the permit later.

Next steps: Midway Cattle must provide the baseline description and survey as required by the motion and operate under the temporary conditions unless the council amends or replaces the permit.