Comment period closed April 7, 2026; Corps decision pending. The state found no coastal use permit was needed (Feb. 4, 2026), and LDEQ issued its water quality certification (July 27, 2026). The Corps had published no decision as of Oct. 7, 2026. Status as of 2026-10-07.
Stop the Industrial Barge Fleet at Luling
GNOTS Reserve wants to moor 72 industrial barges next to IMTT's new Luling property, opening a river highway for petrochemical cargo through a community already drowning in pollution. The fight isn't over.
Nothing to file yet
Get an email when the Corps decides or a new comment period opens.
- 72 Barges Proposed at Luling
- 14.1 Acres of River Impacted
- 597 Acres IMTT Bought in 2023
- Pending USACE Permit Decision
Connect the Dots
The GNOTS permit isn't just about barges. It's about who those barges serve.
What GNOTS Reserve Filed
On March 9, 2026, the US Army Corps of Engineers published a public notice for GNOTS Reserve, Inc. (Permit No. MVN-2026-00154-EDM): a 9-tier by 8-barge mooring facility at Mississippi River Mile 120.5 in Luling, Saint Charles Parish. That's 72 barges covering 14.1 acres of river, and the comment window closes April 7.
GNOTS Reserve was founded in 1967 and already operates one of the largest fleeting operations in the country. The question is: why here, why now, and who does it really serve?
The GNOTS–IMTT Connection
The Proposed Site: Mile 120.5, Luling
The circled area shows the proposed 72-barge mooring at River Mile 120.5, immediately downriver from the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge, next to IMTT's newly purchased Luling property.
The Geography Tells the Story
The proposed barge mooring sits directly adjacent to IMTT's newly purchased 597-acre Luling property. Right now, IMTT has land in Luling but no convenient river access. GNOTS's barge fleet changes that, creating the connection between the Mississippi River and IMTT's property that would allow loading and unloading of petroleum and chemical cargo.
September 2023
IMTT purchases 597 acres in Luling under a holding company, without alerting the community. IMTT CFO Matthew Rosenboom later admitted they "did not intend to use subterfuge," but residents weren't notified.
August 2024
GNOTS expands its commodity authorization to include tank barges, exactly what a petroleum terminal like IMTT would need. The timing lines up directly with IMTT's Luling acquisition and rezoning push.
March 2026
GNOTS files permit MVN-2026-00154-EDM for a 72-barge mooring facility at Mile 120.5, in front of IMTT's Luling property. The Corps gives the public 28 days to comment. No public hearing scheduled.
IMTT told residents at their August 2024 town hall that they plan to connect the St. Rose terminal to a potential Luling terminal through a pipeline under the river. The GNOTS barge fleet is the missing piece: it provides the river access that would make the Luling terminal operational.
What the Corps Is Not Analyzing
The USACE's own preliminary determination claims "no effect" on Essential Fish Habitat or endangered species, and "no impacts to wetland areas." But the permit was reviewed without a cumulative impact analysis, without accounting for what IMTT intends to build next, and without a public hearing.
The Corps is required to consider the welfare of the people. The public comments submitted before April 7 are now part of the official record.
Health & Safety
A community already carrying a toxic burden, with no fire protection for what comes next
IMTT's Fire History in St. Rose
IMTT has had several fires at its St. Rose terminal in recent years. Fire Chief Barry Minnich of the Luling Fire Department stood up at IMTT's 2024 town hall and said the department is not equipped to handle an IMTT terminal, and does not support this project.
"How is Luling's fire department supposed to protect the community from a terminal that's paying only 20% of its taxes for the first ten years?" —Luling Fire Chief Barry Minnich
Fire Protection the Parish Can't Afford
- Nine volunteer fire departments in St. Charles Parish
- IMTT plans to claim an 80% industrial tax exemption for 10 years, paying just 20% of their share while LFD bears the risk
- A fenceline homeowner at the town hall was told his insurance would increase ~$2,300/year due to industrial proximity
IMTT CFO Matthew Rosenboom was asked directly at the town hall if he would want to live in St. Charles Parish. He said no.
Environmental Impact
Five endangered species, a coastal restoration project, and 14 acres of river floor
What the Corps Called "No Effect"
The USACE's preliminary determination says this project has no effect on Essential Fish Habitat and no impact on wetlands. Scientists and local advocates disagree — and the Corps' own review process didn't include a cumulative impact analysis or a public hearing.
Wildlife Under Threat
- Pallid sturgeon, one of the most endangered fish in North America, spawn in the natural bank habitat that deadman piles and riprap would destroy
- West Indian manatees are increasingly showing up in Louisiana waters; barge collisions are their leading cause of death
- Eastern black rail, confirmed in only three Louisiana parishes including ours, nests in nearby marsh
- Research shows 82% of plant life dies under mooring structures, a dead zone bigger than 10 football fields on the river floor
Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion
The Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion sits right here near Luling, channeling river water into the Barataria Basin to restore Louisiana's vanishing coast. It is one of the most significant coastal restoration projects in the state.
Any fuel spill or bilge discharge from 72 barges could poison the water feeding that restoration. This is the coast we're counting on to protect our communities from future hurricanes and preserve our fishing grounds for future generations.
The Corps permit does not analyze the cumulative risk to Davis Pond restoration from a potential spill at this scale.
IMTT's Prior Environmental Track Record
At their August 2024 Luling town hall, IMTT admitted that their required wetland mitigation plantings at another site had failed multiple times. The employees responsible had moved on and left no documentation. IMTT had to purchase mitigation credits to close the gap.
This is the company that community members and local advocates believe would operate the terminal the GNOTS fleet appears positioned to serve — based on property adjacency, GNOTS's 2024 expansion into tank barge authorization, and IMTT's own statements at the August 2024 Luling town hall. The Corps permit does not account for IMTT's track record or what comes next on those 597 acres.
The Comment Window Is Closed. The Fight Isn't.
The Army Corps received public comments and will now review the permit. That process takes months. And the GNOTS permit is only one piece of what's coming.
Permits to Watch
USACE Permit Decision — MVN-2026-00154-EDM
The Army Corps will issue a decision that could take several months. They may approve it, deny it, or require conditions. Every public comment submitted before April 7 is now part of that record.
LDEQ Section 401 Water Quality Certification
Federal law requires Louisiana DEQ to certify that the project won't violate state water quality standards before the USACE can issue its permit. This review almost certainly runs concurrently with the USACE process — GNOTS would have filed jointly, and the Corps forwards the application to LDEQ automatically. That means LDEQ is reviewing this right now, and their decision is a separate veto point. The Corps cannot issue the permit if LDEQ withholds certification.
Louisiana Coastal Use Permit
St. Charles Parish lies entirely within Louisiana's coastal zone, which means this project requires a Coastal Use Permit from the Office of Coastal Management (Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy). This review also runs concurrently with the USACE permit — likely filed as part of the same joint application. OCM makes its own independent determination. Like the 401 certification, this is another agency that can say no.
IMTT's Own Permits
GNOTS is the river access. The terminal is what follows. If IMTT builds at Luling, they'll need a separate USACE permit for any dock or in-water construction, LDEQ air quality permits for terminal operations, and land use approvals from St. Charles Parish. Each is a public process. We'll be watching.
Stay in the Loop
We'll let you know when permits drop, decisions come down, and new comment windows open.
We stopped IMTT's rezoning because 250 of us showed up to a gym. Every permit in this pipeline is another chance to show up.
Resources
To comment on the permit (Reference: MVN-2026-00154-EDM):