Nagin's re-entry plan concerns federal official

Nagin's re-entry plan concerns federal official: "New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said last week that he wanted to prepare some of the flood-ravaged city's dry sections for the return of up to 180,000 residents over the next two weeks.

But the head of the federal disaster relief effort said Saturday that the plan raises concern because of weakened levees, lack of drinkable water and heavily polluted floodwater. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen called Nagin's idea both 'extremely ambitious' and 'extremely problematic.'

'Our intention is to work with the mayor . . . in a very frank, open and unvarnished manner,' Allen told The Associated Press in an interview at Department of Homeland Security headquarters in Baton Rouge.

Allen called on the mayor to be 'mindful of the risks' and said he would inform Nagin of his concerns at a meeting set for Monday.

Nagin defended his plan in a statement issued late Saturday, saying it was developed in cooperation with the federal government and 'properly balances safety concerns and the needs of our citizens to begin rebuilding their lives.'
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