GAO looking into faulty N.O. pumps

[babylonsister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070328/ap_on_re_us/katrina_faulty_pumps;_ylt=AiEQaXYKRT0rYaoVKvyl.VPMWM0F

GAO looking into faulty N.O. pumps

By CAIN BURDEAU, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 28, 5:25 PM ET

NEW ORLEANS -
Government Accountability Office investigators are meeting with Army Corps of Engineers officials to ask questions about drainage pumps that were installed before last year's hurricane season even though they apparently were defective.

The pumps were produced by a Florida company under a $26.6 million contract awarded after Hurricane Katrina. They provide flood protection by draining water from this largely below sea level city.

An engineer for the Corps working on the pumps project warned in a spring 2006 memo that the machinery had problems that likely would keep them from performing under hurricane conditions. Last year was a mild hurricane season, so the pumps were not tested in an emergency scenario.

Anu Mittal, the GAO's director for water resources, said a large team of investigators has been assembled to "expeditiously" satisfy a request by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (news, bio, voting record).

Landrieu, D-La., has asked the GAO, Congress' investigative and auditing arm, to investigate if there was improper influence in the way the pumps contract was awarded and handled. She also wants to know what danger the pumps posed to New Orleans, and the Corps' rationale for installing them.

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[BOSSHOG]

1. Please ya'll, say a little prayer for a mild hurricane season

which begins in 63 days. A corps spokesman in New Orleans recently told a TV reporter that the pumps worked fine last year. THE PUMPS WEREN'T NEEDED LAST YEAR.

[Monkeyman]

2. You got is BOSS

[babylonsister]

3. I know, BOSS, everyone dodged a bullet last year, but I have no

great faith that will happen again this year. x(